HORIZON Festival has always had good line-ups, but when I visited last year I found it slightly hamstrung by its setting – the rather grim and seedy ski resort of Bansko, in southern Bulgaria. This year the festival, which runs for a full week from March 26 to April 2, has wisely upped sticks and headed for the altogether more inviting environs of Andorra – easily accessible from the similarly inviting city of Barcelona. Floating Points, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Ben UFO are among the top guests, and there’s also a Scottish opening party on February 25 at The Tunnels in Aberdeen starring our very own Denis Sulta.
Barcelona itself has the latest instalment of its Mutek franchise running from March 9 to 11, with top names on a typically forward-looking bill including Actress, Vaghe Stelle and Demdike Stare (below).
Sonar Istanbul, meanwhile, is a new addition (alongside Sonar Hong Kong in April) to the venerable Barcelona summer event’s global list of satellite events. It runs on March 24 and 25, and features the likes of Moderat, Roisin Murphy (below) and Kode9.
One of the best of The Netherlands’ seemingly endless stream of quality festival options is The Hague’s Rewire, which this year runs over the weekend of March 31 to April 2. Swans, Forest Swords and Jessy Lanza (below) all feature.
And although Dutch cities tend to hog the festival limelight in that part of the world, the Belgian capital is a much-underrated and extremely affordable destination with several great events of its own. Listen! A Brussels Future Music Festival (March 30 to April 1) is one of the best, and returns after a successful first year with names such as Optimo, 808 State (below) and Inga Copeland (below, playing in her Lolina guise) heading things up.
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