There’s a brand new huge techno competition in Italy, the Adriatic Sound Pageant. This yr’s fest simply ended, having taken place on June 13 and 14 on the airport in Fano, a metropolis within the Marche area on the Adriatic Sea, with two days, two monumental levels, 28 artists, music from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., and headliners starting from Rüfüs Du Sol to the “maestro” of techno, Sven Väth. The competition was born huge — being a primary version, one wouldn’t anticipate such ranges of manufacturing and viewers (the organizers declared virtually 17,000 complete attendees).
The unique launch occasion on Thursday night (June 12) on the former church of Saint Francis, within the heart of Fano, gave a style of the ambiance of Adriatic Sound Pageant. The situation is spectacular: Courting again to the 14th century, the construction exhibits a stratification of types the place the neoclassical column and the massive apse visually dominate. With no roof, the previous church recollects the ambiance of locations such because the Abbey of San Galgano in Tuscany or the Convento do Carmo in Lisbon.
The architectural components had been revitalized by the elegant play of lights and lasers, in an excellent dialogue between previous and current. It was on this context that — amongst others — Franky Wah’s DJ set passed off, along with his introspective beats. He was joined on stage by 22-year-old guitarist Brandon Niederauer, an artist that on the age of 15 was already enjoying with Girl Gaga and Stevie Nicks, and in addition blues legends similar to Derek Vans and Buddy Man.
It’s a great way so as to add worth to the architectural heritage of Fano, which in flip is an integral a part of the fest’s idea, with its references to the Roman previous of the town (the traditional Fanum Fortunae) ranging from the design of the principle stage, which recollects Roman columns and the Arch of Augustus, as soon as the doorway to the town.
The jewel within the crown of Adriatic Sound Pageant had been its two levels: fundamental stage “The Temple,” with its enormous 360-degree open construction, and “The Hangar,” positioned in entrance of the central hangar of the three current at Fano airport (the opposite two are embellished visuals within the evening hours).
The competition’s car parking zone was significantly giant, although many spectators used different types of transportation similar to bicycles and shuttle buses; ambulances and paramedics had been current and clearly seen throughout the competition space, and there have been a superb variety of meals vehicles, bars and bogs.
Together with the idea, the situation was equally iconic. The selection of Fano Airport was one of many profitable elements of Adriatic Sound Pageant, with an vitality a bit like U2’s “Stunning Day” video. The row of three airport hangars can change into the symbolic “skyline” of the competition.
Pageant organizers revered the lineup’s schedule, with set modifications happening with minute precision and with out interruption. There have been no hitches other than Inexperienced Velvet’s last-minute cancellation. He was probably the most anticipated DJs and would have graced the principle stage for the ultimate set Saturday evening, however was changed by Nicole Moudaber, who took the stage for a shock second set after performing just a few hours earlier on the Hangar Stage.
In Italy, an occasion like this has by no means been seen south of Turin, the de facto capital of the Italian digital scene, the place main festivals similar to Kappa FuturFestival, Motion and C2C happen. Exactly as a result of it’s nonetheless “unexplored” from the perspective of mass tourism and the manufacturing of main occasions, and since it is extremely near the historic clubbing district of Rimini and Riccione, this space is in a strategic place for an occasion like Adriatic Sound.
All through the competition, one might hear accents from many alternative elements of Italy, but additionally plenty of English. With clear potential when it comes to viewers — beginning with the vacationers who usually crowd the Adriatic seashores in the summertime — Adriatic Sound has what it takes to really change into an occasion of European relevance.
This text was initially printed on Billboard Italy.