13 SoundCloud Channels to Follow If You Love Dance Music Festivals
Article by: Mia Quagliarello|@miaqTue January 17, 2017 | 00:00 AM
Festival fans are so lucky these days. ‘Course there’s nothing like Being There, but short of that, there are many ways to turn on, tune in and check out the scenes and sets from cherished events. SoundCloud can be a festival fanatic’s best buddy, as many organizers have channels that compile anticipatory playlists and sets from the talent that graced their stages. Here are some SoundCloud channels you’ve just got to follow—they’re prolific, generous, and they’ve got great taste.
Dimensions Festival
Boasting an awe inspiring location and big and bashy sound systems to match, electronica aficionados with a lust for beach stomping have been heading to Dimensions in Fort Punta Christo since 2012. The fest's prolific SoundCloud, which is rife with live mixes and playlists featuring the world's hippest turntable maestros, illustrates why it's one of Croatia's finest events.
Dirtybird Records
A label showcase and a window onto events like the Dirtybird BBQs and the upcoming Campout, this SoundCloud channel is a full-on bassline bonanza. Find the “Road to Campout” mixes to whet (and wet!) yer canoe for the annual October shindig in SoCal.
Secret Garden Party
The UK's Secret Garden Party is one of our favorite fancy dress parties that always matches its music to its colorful mood. While the festival itself doesn't have a SoundCloud, its icon and founder The Head Gardener has an amazing sonic world to offer his thousands of fans. A reflection of the festival's annual and eclectic lineup of electronic superstars, his regularly released mixes coalesce SGP's attendees into a year-round community stoked for the upcoming event.
The Do Lab
The producers of festivals like Lightning in a Bottle, Woogie Weekend and the Dirtybird Campout electrify their SoundCloud presence with live sets galore. Press play to be transported to any one of their rad California events—and beyond.
Noisily Festival
Wanna see what you missed at the intimate "back-to-nature" rave known as Noisily 2016? There’s a 17-hour catch-up, as well as various re-posts and podcasts, on its SoundCloud channel. The English festival returns to the rolling hills of Leicestershire July 6-9, 2017.
Further Future
A spinoff of Burning Man’s Robot Heart art car and camp, Further Future puts up a steady drip of exclusive and mini-mixes that generally stay true to their tech-house roots.
DGTL
Popular Dutch festival DGTL prays at the altar of “music, art and revolution.” Reflecting “delightfully risky” lineups of DJs known and rising, DGTL’s SoundCloud channel captures sold-out events in Amsterdam and Barcelona, as well as podcasts with featured talent.
Mad Decent
With 749 uploads, the Mad Decent SoundCloud channel is another prolific—and terrific—label showcase. Get schooled here before attending the bumpin’ Block Parties across the U.S. (Next stops: Chandler, Arizona, then L.A.)
Symbiosis Gathering
The festival that’s the West Coast's beloved season-ender hasn’t uploaded many tracks but the ones there matter: yearly lineup mixes for bassheads and techno/house kids. All the better to get you revved up for next year.
Northern Nights Music Festival
Bringing the sounds of the Redwood forest festival to your ears, the Northern Nights SoundCloud re-shares tracks by some of electronica’s biggest artists (Zhu, Major Lazer, Autograf) as well as mixes from its own July event.
Mutek
“Mu-” in Mutek refers to the idea of mutation, and since 2002 Montreal’s digital creativity and electronic music festival has done just that, sprouting editions in Mexico City, Barcelona and Tokyo, and continually exploring avant-garde programming. This SoundCloud has previews, Hall of Fame recordings, and dispatches from the Canadian showcase.
Desert Hearts
A tribute to “house, techno and love,” Desert Hearts is a label as well as a series of festivals and one-off City Hearts events. Their 2016 “Live @ Desert Hearts” playlist is 77 tracks and 151 hours long! Now that’s a gift.
ARISE Music Festival
The Colorado festival dedicated to music, yoga and co-creative camping goes heavy on the playlists, curating sets for stretching, dancing and just feelin’ good. Namaste.
