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FESTIVAL GUIDE: CROATIA

Croatia's crucial picks...

HIDEOUT
The Garden might be credited with bringing UK dance tourists to Croatia in the first place, but Hideout is the one that sent it mainstream. Located on the beach front of the Island of Pag — at the same location as Papaya, Aquarius and Nova — this five-day-mash-up isn't like the laid-back, Balearica-inspired hang-outs elsewhere in Croatia. Hideout is a full throttle rampage of house and techno carnage, featuring every bookable DJ under the sun. It's little wonder shufflers love it so much!

WHEN? Sunday 28th June to Thursday 2nd July
WHERE? Pag, Croatia
HOW MUCH? Duke Dumont, Eats Everything, Gorgon City, Jamie Jones, Loco Dice, Maceo Plex, MK, Nina Kraviz, Sigma, Ten Walls (live) and much more!
hideoutfestival.com

FOR
An unsung hero of the Croatian circuit, FOR is Oz electro/pop label Modular's contribution to the Adriatic utopian dance dream. Situated in the eye-wateringly beautiful seaside town of Hvar, the charming location is only a small portion of the magic of this boutique event for 2000. Drawing upon an abandoned monastery and various idyllic islands, it's the cherry picked line-up of house, disco and techno treasure that makes it really special. This year, with the likes of Hot Chip, Kindness and Cassius onboard, it's going to be as beautiful as ever.

WHEN? Tuesday 23rd – Thursday 25th June
WHERE? Hvar, Croatia
HIGHLIGHTS? Hot Chip, Kindness, Nils Frahm, Matias Aguayo, Black Madonna, Young Marco, Hunee, Cassius, Pedro Winter and more
for-festival.com 

THE GARDEN
Kick-starting the trend for UK-led boutique festivals in Croatia in Petrcane over 10 years ago, The Garden moved in 2012, bringing its entourage of family events with it (Electric Elephant, Stop Making Sense, Suncebeat) to its glorious new location in Tisno. A colourful explosion of beach bar raves, boat parties, daytime lounging and late-night dance-offs at fabulous outdoor venue, Barbarellas, The Garden Festival was the event that started it, and is sadly coming to an end, but its legacy will never be forgotten.

WHEN? Wednesday 1st July – Wednesday 8th July
WHERE? Tisno, Croatia
HOW MUCH? £120
HIGHLIGHTS? Bonobo, Seth Troxler, Gerd Janson, Optimo, PBR Streetgang, Palms Trax, Midland, Leon Vynehall, Jackmaster, Eats Everything, Lone, DJ Harvey, John Talabot, Maxxi Soundsystem, Krankbrother, Joy Orbison, Mark E and much more.
thegardenfestival.eu

FRESH ISLAND

FRESH ISLAND
The Croatian island of Pag might sum up images of boozy British shufflers rather than dedicated hip-hop fans, but Fresh Island festival sees urban music lovers flock to the hedonistic party beach every summer. Legendary acts including Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion), Eve, Iggy Azalea, Nas, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, Method Man and Redman have all performed at Fresh Island, with this year's event set to welcome controversial rappers Joey Bada$$ and Danny Brown, plus R&B selectors Melody Kane and DJ Maxxx.
 

WHEN? 15th - 17th July
WHERE? Novalja, Zrce Beach
HOW MUCH? €199 for three days
HIGHLIGHTS? Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown, Migos, Tinashe, Skepta, Tropkillaz, Statik Selektah, Shortee Blitz, Crux Soundsystem, Melody Kane, Juicy Crew Vienna, DJ Maxxx
2015.fresh-island.org

DIMENSIONS
Geared towards a different demographic than the soundsystem-fuelled dubstep, jungle and reggae of Outlook — which takes place in the same location the week after — Dimensions is all about the best in house, techno and futuristic bass music. The booking policy goes a lot further than the usual unimaginative “everyone who's hot right now” approach most other fests seem to have adopted, this year welcoming everyone from cosmic/Italo disco pioneer Daniele Baldelli to underrated house cats Recloose and Hunee, alongside bankable names like Ben UFO, Four Tet and Ben Klock. 

As if that weren't enough to whet your appetite, it takes place in one of Croatia's most atmospheric spots, in the abandoned but since fixed-up Fort Punta Christo in Pula, with live performances taking place in the amphitheatre. 

WHEN? Wednesday 26th – Sunday 30th August
WHERE? Pula, Croatia
HOW MUCH? €175
HIGHLIGHTS? Four Tet (live), Bicep, Floating Points, George Clinton, John Talabot, Gerd Janson, Recloose, Goldie and many more...

Also look out for...

ELECTRIC ELEPHANT
When? Thursday 9th – Monday 13th July
Where? Tisno, Croatia
electricelephant.co.uk

STOP MAKING SENSE
When? Thursday 16th – Sunday 19th July
Where? Tisno, Croatia
Stopmakingsense.eu 

SONUS FESTIVAL
When? Saturday 16th - Wednesday 20th August
Where? Zrce Beach, Pag Island, Croatia
sonus-festival.com

BARRAKUD 2015
When? Saturday 8th – Saturday 15th August
Where? Zrce, Croatia
2015.barrakud.com