2024 fests: Superbloom, Pinkpop, La Prima Estate
With the 2024 festival season now upon us, a number of forthcoming events are unveiling their completed bills.
Germany’s Superbloom Festival has announced OneRepublic as its final headliner, joining acts such as Sam Smith, Calvin Harris and Shirin David at Munich’s Olympic Park on 7-8 September. The 50,000-cap festival debuted in 2022 and will also feature The Chainsmokers, Burna Boy, Louis Tomlinson, Nothing But Thieves, RIN, Tokio Hotel, Niall Horan, Jorja Smith and Kenya Grace, among others.
In Portugal, Super Bock Super Rock will be headlined by Måneskin, 21 Savage and Stormzy, backed by the likes of Royal Blood, Tom Morello, Black Coffee, Slow J, Mahalia, Fisher, Vulfpeck and Will Butler on Meco Beach, South Lisbon, from 18-20 July.
Måneskin and Royal Blood will also grace legendary Dutch festival Pinkpop, which will also welcome superstars such as Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Keane, Nothing But Thieves, Avril Lavigne, Hozier, Greta Van Fleet, Louis Tomlinson, Yungblud, Pendulum, Babymetal, James Arthur, Oliver Heldens, Corey Taylor and Jane’s Addiction to Landgraaf between 21-23 June.
Plus, the third edition of La Prima Estate in Tuscany, Italy, will star Peggy Gou, Paolo Nutini, Fontaines DC, Kasabian, Phoenix, Jane’s Addiction, Dinosaur Jr and Michael Kiwanuka across two weekends – 14-16 & 21-23 June.
Multi-day London open-air concert series South Facing Festival will host headliners Grace Jones (26 July), Future Islands (27 July), Popcaan’s Unruly Fest (28 July), The Roots, De La Soul and The Pharcyde (1 August), Cloud X (2 August),Major League DJz (3 August), Yussef Dayes presents Summer Dayes (4 August), Jess Glynne (9 August) and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley (10 August).
Meanwhile, the 12th Elbjazz Festival in Hamburg, Germany, will be topped by Faithless, Jungle, The Streets and BADBADNOTGOOD from 7-8 June.
Taking place in creative hub Nuanu City, 15 minutes outside of Canggu, from 26-28 July, Bali’s Suara Festival has dropped its phase two lineup with talent including Neil Frances, Youngr, Brandt Brauer Frick, Ramengvrl, Yung Raja and Aussies Angus and Julia Stone. Previously announced acts include LP Giobbi, HVOB (live), Rodriguez Jr. (live), Mansionair and Lastlings, as well as Geju, Deer Jade and Sainte Vie (live).
Elsewhere, Oasis Festival returns to the The Source in Marrakech, Morocco, from 6-8 September. Its first wave of acts includes Laurent Garnier, Jungle, Amine K, HAAi, Jyoty and TSHA.
And Latin music spectacular Besame Mucho Festival will return to Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium on 21 December, topped by Shakira. It will showcase more than 65 artists including Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Los Tigres del Norte, Juanes, Banda MS, Enanitos Verdes.
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Site switch for Moroccan festival’s second edition
Organisers of Morocco’s Oasis: Into the Wild have announced a brand new location for the festival’s second edition.
The boutique event will take place from 27-29 October at the Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate, Morocco, a popular filming location used for blockbuster productions including Gladiator, Game of Thrones and The Mummy.
The first wave of acts unveiled include Honey Dijon, DJ Koze, Jyoty, Partiboi69 b2b LB aka Labat, Romy, Sofia Kourtesis and TSHA, as well as a roster of Moroccan acts.
There will also be showcases of Moroccan cuisine with an on-site pop-up dining experience, plus art and culture pop-ups from North African creators and tastemakers, along with a host of wellness activities.
Into the Wild is being staged by the team behind Morocco’s Oasis Festival, which launched in Marrakech in 2015
The festival site, which boasts views over the surrounding desert landscape, is a three-hour drive from Marrakech. Dedicated coaches for festival attendees will run directly from various points in Marrakech, including the airport.
A two-day festival pass costs €180, with three-day weekend passes (including opening party) at €230.
Into the Wild debuted last year at Dakhla Club and is being staged by the team behind Morocco’s Oasis Festival, which launched in Marrakech in 2015.
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Lost Nomads Festival set for Dubai debut
Electronic music festival Lost Nomads has announced details of its inaugural Dubai edition.
Staged by Farra World, the brand will make its UAE debut on the exclusive Soul Beach on 11 February.
Headlined by Dennis Cruz, Andrea Oliva, Apache, and Cuartero, ticket prices start at 200 dirhams (€50), with VIP options also available.
Organisers describe the festival as “a meeting point where those attending can expand their senses in some amazing locations around the world”.
The first edition of Lost Nomads took place in Morocco’s Agafay desert in June 2022
“It is one of the most exclusive beach clubs and restaurants… located on a paradisiacal beach bathed by crystal clear waters and white sand,” says a statement.
The first edition of Lost Nomads took place from 11-12 June last year in Morocco’s Agafay desert, 40 minutes from Marrakech.
Capacity was limited to 2,000 people per day, with the line-up including Black Coffee, Agoria, Themba, Angelos and Amine K, among others.
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Trailblazer: Nick Griffiths, Kingdom Collective
Welcome to the latest edition of Trailblazers – IQ’s regular series of Q&As with the inspirational figures forging their own paths in the global live entertainment business.
From people working in challenging conditions or markets to those simply bringing a fresh perspective to the music world, Trailblazers aims to spotlight unique individuals from all walks of life who are making a mark in one of the world’s most competitive industries. (Read the previous Trailblazers interview, with Kyō’s Godwin Pereira, here.)
This week, IQ talks to the multifaceted Nick Griffiths, founder of creative agency Kingdom Collective and director of the Beat Hotel Marrakech, a four-day cultural residency taking place near Marrakesh, Morocco.
Beat Hotel, perhaps best known from its stage at Glastonbury festival, will this year hold its inaugural festival from 28 to 31 March at a boutique hotel in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Performers include Young Fathers, Maribou State, Gilles Peterson, Hunee and Palms Trax, while an accompanying literary programme and celebrations of Moroccan cuisine will complete the cultural experience.
Launched in 2011, Kingdom Collective is a culture and communications agency based in London. The agency works with clients such as Red Bull Music Academy and Red Bull Studios, Glastonbury Festival, Pioneer DJ and Gala Festival for PR, talent booking and event management.
Here, Griffiths speaks about both elements of his professional life, the lessons he’s learnt working in the music industry and his love for live experiences.
How did you get your start in the industry?
I moved to London in 2004 with an English degree and a cheap suit in search of employment – hopefully in music. My first proper job was as an assistant at music PR company-turned-experiential agency Slice.
There are so many agencies in this space now, but back then there were only a handful, and Slice was probably among the first wave, so it was a great place to start. I learned the basics of live events, from a promotions and programming and production point of view, working for clients like Heineken, Southern Comfort, Diesel, Yahoo! and Beck’s.
Tell us about your current role.
I wear two hats, really: one as founder of creative agency Kingdom Collective, and one as a director of the Beat Hotel, both of which came into being in 2011. It was the same time I was doing Land of Kings – a multi-venue music and art festival in Dalston – and realised I loved the buzz of putting on independent events as well as the big-brand stuff. In fact, sometimes, I still get more from producing a 200-cap. club night in a basement than some of the big budget brand events.
Setting up Kingdom Collective was a way of being able to pursue both interests, in a way where one would feed the other. So, in 2011 we first did the Beat Hotel at Glastonbury, which we’ve done each year since, and has led to the four-day festival in Marrakesh this March.
Who, or what, have been the biggest influences on your career so far?
My time at Slice had a big influence on my younger self, in terms of the people I met and the work, but also seeing that it was possible, and perfectly valid, to have a variety of interests.
I also still get influenced and inspired by going to events that I’m not working at, whether it’s gigs, festivals or brand shows. It’s important to keep an eye on what everyone is up to, but I also love being at shows so I try to go out as much as I can.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Being able to work in those moments where people are having the best part of their day, week or year. Music events in particular are a release for people and, at their best, can create an energy that can be life-affirming. If that ever stops, I think I’ll know it’s time for a career change.
“Music events are a release for people and can create an energy that can be life-affirming. If that ever stops, I’ll know it’s time for a career change”
And the most challenging?
For me the challenge is around balancing the creative and the commercial. We always want to keep the excitement and passion for what we do, but there are commercial realities to consider; keeping your integrity and staying true to what you stand for across all of your work, is really important. Sometimes that means knowing when to let things go.
What achievements are you most proud of?
Taking the Beat Hotel from being a small cocktail bar at Glastonbury to doing our own festival in Morocco has been lots of fun, and we never really had any expectations about what it might become.
I’m also proud of the work Kingdom Collective has done for Red Bull. The takeover of the London Eye for Revolutions in Sound for Red Bull Music Academy’s 15th birthday will take some beating. A celebration of UK club culture, we put 30 legendary clubs into the Eye’s 30 pods and live streamed the whole event.
What, if anything, could the music industry do better?
We’ve started to see a shift towards more women and diversity across the industry, but I think a lot of it has been PR rather than real change. Most labels, agents and managers are still overwhelmingly male, in my experience, as well as the line-ups of festivals. Committing to 50/50 line-ups, as some events have, is bold and commendable, but I’d like to see more change behind the scenes in the industry, which will take more than a few magazine headlines.
What advice would you give to someone hoping to make it in live music/entertainment?
We did a campaign around regional music scenes with WeGotTickets and asked 50 promoters, venue owners and industry insiders that same question. The near unanimous answer was “Don’t be a dick”.
I can’t think of a better answer.
If you’d like to take part in a future Trailblazers interview, or nominate someone else for inclusion, email IQ’s news editor, Jon Chapple, on [email protected].
Morocco cracks down on fake tickets
Police in Casablanca have made a string of arrests as Morocco’s ministry of the interior cracks down on ticket counterfeiting.
More than 200 people with counterfeit tickets have been denied entry to the 45,000-cap. Mohammed V Stadium (pictured) since the beginning of the month, according to Moroccan daily Al Akhbar (h/t MGB), some of whom had paid up to three times’ face value to see Wydad FC and Raja Casablanca play football.
One secondary seller was reportedly set upon by a group of angry fans as a result.
In addition to making several arrests, the ministry has sent a circular letter to other government departments advising them how to “make life difficult” for ticket counterfeiters.
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