With the legendary afterparty, the 11th edition of the Sonus festival ended on Friday, August 23. One of the world’s most famous festivals gathered several thousand fans of electronic music from all over the world for 5 days and 5 nights in the clubs on Zrće beach,
More than 70 international, regional and domestic performers provided an unforgettable time in the clubs Papaya, Aquarius, Kalypso and Noa on Zrće beach, as well as parties on the boat.
One night of the festival, it rained, which did not discourage the visitors, but contributed to an even better atmosphere.
Over 70 renowned DJs, Fans from all over the world
Adam Beyer, Dennis Cruz, Adriatique, Jamie Jones b2b Joseph Capriati, Ben Klock b2b Marcel Dettmann, Dax J, Ellen Allien, Enzo Siragusa, I Hate Models, Indira Paganotto, John Summit, Loco Dice, Marco Carola, Reinier Zonneveld live, Ricardo Villalobos, Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Stephan Bodzin live, Sven Väth, Vintage Culture and many other artists enjoyed their performances as the fans who came to dance to their sets.
“We are extremely pleased with this year’s edition of Sonus festival. It was truly fulfilling to witness thousands of guests enjoying performances from over 70 world-renowned, regional, and local artists. Each year, we welcome electronic music fans from over 90 countries, with this number continuing to rise. People travel from all corners of the globe, including the US, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and beyond, to soak in the Sonus vibes, dance under the open sky, and bask in the beauty of the Adriatic Sea. Being a part of this unique experience is truly amazing“, said Lana Borić, Regional head of marketing & PR for Sonus festival.
Every day of the festival, in clubs and at boat parties, representatives of the regional and local scene performed at the mentioned venues. Ani., Antonio Žuža, AR:TE, Baggi, Dejan Milićević, DJ Jock, Elena Mikac, Glia, Haktal, Kali, Martin Zorko, Mate Čeko, Mony, Shipe, Veztax and Virgin Helena once again proved that top music is created and performed in our area.
‘As the lineup was so rich, it was a tough choice to decide which club to attend first’
This year, our team participated on the third and the fourth day of the festival. It is always a tough choice to decide which club to attend first as the lineup is so rich that gives you the feeling of missing out, knowing what was happening in other clubs. However, last Tuesday, we decided to start our night with higher BPMs at Kalypso, where we started our night with Sama’ Abdulhadi and Hector Oaks, who definitely stole the show. Hector’s set was, in our opinion, an absolute highlight of day three. His vinyl only set was a perfectly crafted mix of classic and progressive techno, hard groove, trance, breakbeat with Latin and Brazilian Funk beats and vocals. The Spanish producer masterfully held the vibrant atmosphere and maintained the dynamic of his set, which captivated the crowd from the beginning until the end.
After the thrill in Kalypso, our night continued in Papaya with Chris Stussy who delivered a set that is a true showcase of his unique approach to house music, influenced by early house, raw production, jazz, disco and Chicago styles. The floor was full throughout his set, and the audience enjoyed the most when he played his two tracks, the iconic ‘Midtown Playground‘ and one of his newest releases ‘Desire‘.
Later on, we continued our night with two Italians techno superstars, Sam Paganini and Deborah de Luca. When we entered a completely full Aquarius, Paganini was building his set with his classic techno selections. The techno institution as he is, delivered a typical Paganini set, showcasing the clearest form of techno, a style that is enjoyed by all fans of electronic music in general. Deborah de Luca also stayed true to her unique style, a good fusion of hard techno and minimal sounds, as she perfectly describes it.
An hour into Deborah’s set, we decided to finish our night with Loco Dice and returned to Papaya. The German producer concluded the day 3 with his unique tech house beats, leaving the floor full until the sunrise.
On day 4, we once again began our night at Kalypso, where a strong lineup of female headliners delivered an intense session of hard techno that kept the energy high from start to finish. The night kicked off with Glia, followed by a dynamic set from Lee Ann Roberts. The energy kept rising with Clara Cuvé, who took the crowd on a journey through various electronic sub-genres, blending fast, groovy techno with elements of jungle and hardcore. As the night continued, Kalypso filled to capacity with the arrival of Indira Paganotto. Her set maintained the groove but introduced a sharp, acid-infused edge. The night reached its peak with Sara Landry, whose dark, feminine sound unified the crowd. Her set, featuring her tracks like “Pressure” and “Prisoner,” blended with classic trance vibes, especially when she dropped Phantasia’s “Inner Light.”
Over at Club Papaya, the sound atmosphere was a bit lighter but no less thrilling. The night opened with a tech-house set from Chelina Manuhutu, followed by Wade, who kept the dance floor alive with his upbeat tempo. However, it was John Summit’s final set that truly stole the show. In what many expected to be a mainstream conclusion, Summit surprised the crowd with a more complex, artistic set. However, when he finally played his hit “Where You Are,” the crowd’s energy reached its peak, creating a unique experience. He also mixed in other anthems of summer 2024 like “Move” and “Pick Up the Phone,” solidifying his growing reputation and respect as an artist.
While Kalypso and Papaya drew massive crowds, Aquarius was equally packed, thanks to the legendary acts on its stage. Although we couldn’t catch every set, we made sure to experience some of the magic brought by Sven Väth and Kölsch. Sven Väth, a true icon of the electronic music scene, closed out the night with a mesmerizing three-hour set.
Overall, the 11th edition of Sonus festival once again showed why it holds the title as one of the best festivals in Europe. As we look forward to the next year’s headliners announcement, the organisers already opened the registrations for the blind tickets on their official website. Looking back at all of the previous years, there is no concern that the next year will, again, exceed all expectations.
written by: Ena Gasparac & Gracija Plestina
