Very few things transcend barriers and unite people from different parts of the world quite as music does. You don’t need to understand the language to feel the melody, experience the emotions and participate in a collective sense of joy. Below, we’ve compiled a list of unique music festivals held in various continents which bring people together to celebrate music.
Europe
What?: Secret Solstice
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
This unique music festival is held over 3 days during the summer solstice in Iceland. Because of Iceland’s geographic location, the summer solstice provides 96-hours of continuous sunlight: yes, you heard right, 96 hours! You can party all day and all night while jamming to the best DJs and electronic music.
Asia
What?: Pentaport Rock Festival
Where: Incheon, South Korea
If you love guitar music and rock anthems, Pentaport Rock Festival is the place to be. Held over three days at the end of July, this music festival includes both international as well as local Korean artists and is one of the biggest live music events in South Korea. There are 5 main themes of this festival: music, passion, DIY, the environment and friendship.
North America
What? Lollapalooza
Where: Chicago, USA
This festival originally began in 1991 and has shot to fame over the last two decades. 8 stages are interspersed throughout Grant Park in Chicago, with the downtown skyscrapers and Lake Michigan creating a scenic backdrop. You won’t be surprised to find big-name artists hitting the stage here with genres varying from pop, rap, hip hop to R&B.
Oceania
What? Golden Plains
Where: Victoria, Australia
Harkening back to a simpler time, Golden Plains is a one-of-a-kind camping festival in the Australian bushland. The festival has a non-commercial ethos at heart, meaning that there are no logos, sponsors or anything of the kind. Festival goers sleep in tents or vans and are able to bring to the festival anything they would like (armchairs, couches) as long as it doesn’t take away from the communal enjoyment of the festival.
South America
What? Bahidora
Where: Cuautla, Mexico
The perfect blend between a carnival and a music festival, Bahidora provides festival-goers with a tropical paradise experience. Held in an Instagram-worthy resort, with a river and palm trees serving as the backdrop, Bahidora is a 24-hour party that is slowly gaining global popularity. While music is an important part of this festival, so are other activities such as spontaneous processions and kayaking.
Africa
What? Lake of Stars
Where: Mangochi, Malawi
Set along the coast of Lake Malawi in beautiful southeastern Africa, this isn’t just any ordinary music festival but a celebration of all that Malawi has to offer: you can listen to poetry recitals or watch a short film as well. The bands that take to the stage are often less well-known and centre around African melody and beats. An open mind and willingness to discover are key to fully enjoy this festival.
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