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INTO THE UNKNOWN

Get to know Croatia's most exciting new festival concept

Having secured ownership of the Croatian dance festival circuit, attracting swarms of youngsters from all over the UK (and beyond) to Hideout, the minds behind the Warehouse Project have teamed up with hip East London boutique event Field Day to bring something fresh to the Adriatic Sea with UNKNOWN.

Combining The WHP's expertise for throwing large scale dance events with Field Day's eye for curating new talent — not forgetting the experience acquired working in Croatia, throwing epic blow-out Hideout — UNKNOWN is the latest string to the bow of a group of promoters showing no signs of abating in their quest for underground domination on a global scale.

“I think we all offer expertise in completely different areas, working with Field Day has been great as they have an amazing eye for new and breaking talent and can offer a really diverse mix of live artists,” explain's WHP/Hideout's Dan Blackledge. “The WHP has proven over and over again it's the best in delivering the world's most renowned electronic music events, and myself and my partner Mark have worked hard to ensure that Hideout Festival continues to offer a diverse and innovative line-up year on year. Perfect all round, really!”

Springing from the fertile soil set by the Garden Festival in Petrchane eight years ago, Hideout took the Croatian dance fest concept to a whole new level. UNKNOWN, however, is scaling down, focusing on the finer details, booking smaller, lesser-known acts within a more intimate, boutique setting. Taking place between 10th — 14th September at a previously unused location, Rovinj, Dan is convinced the site is placed in a gorgeous setting unrivalled by way of beauty.

“There is only one word to describe the location really: paradise,” Dan tells DJ Mag. “Literally, it's beautiful and the site is completely self-contained, meaning that everything is at your fingertips while you're on site, including food, accommodation, beach, forest, water sports — literally everything!”

So far, a collection of live acts and DJs from across the house and techno spectrum have been announced to play over three main stages (see below), plus other smaller areas scattered across the location, hidden in obscure places and on “unexpected” islands. Bass, disco and electro are all covered — programmed by the likes of Beats In Space, Eat Your Own Ears and Secretsundaze —  with even a touch of indie, but more mainstream acts (perhaps those associated with the top-line of Hideout) are nowhere to be seen, so the event is likely to attract a crowd slightly older than the average Hideout goer. Venturing away from its sibling's pure dance ethos, Dan believes it's a festival formula not entirely defined by the music, something aided through the creative direction of Mad Ferret, who'll help with the production.

“UNKNOWN is not solely dance music,” he concludes. “It offers ticket holders an eclectic mix of the best of live music and DJs. In addition to this, it is set in one of the most stunning places in the world, and we will be using our setting to full effect! By working with immersive artists and designers, we will be able to create much more than the typical festival experience and the music will only be one element of UNKNOWN.”

UNKNOWN FESTIVAL, 10-14th SEPTEMBER, ROVINJA, CROATIA

LINE-UP: ACTRESS| DISCLOSURE| DJANGO DJANGO| FOUR TET| HENRIK SCHWARZ| JESSIE WARE| LINDSTROM| MODERAT| TOTALLY ENORMOUS DINOSAURS AME| CYRIL HAHN| DAMIAN LAZARUS| DANIEL AVERY| DANIELLE BALDELLI| DIXON| DJ KOZE| EROL ALKAN| FLOATING POINTS| FRANCESCA LOMBARDO| GEDDES| GEORGE FITZGERALD| GILES SMITH| JACKMASTER| JAMES HOLDEN| JAMES PRIESTLY| JAMIE XX| JOY ORBISON| JULIO BASHMORE| KERRI CHANDLER| MICHAEL MAYER| OPTIMO| PBR STREETGANG| PRINS THOMAS| RICHY AHMED| SBTRKT| SCUBA| SUBB-AN| TIM SWEENY| TODD TERJE AND MORE...