Mad Cool Festival 2025 – from 10 – 12 July in Madrid
Dreamfields 2025 – Lathum/NED on 5 July
Glastonbury 2025 – Worthy Farm in Pilton/Somerset from 25 – 29 June
Starlite Festival Marbella: what’s it like at the best boutique festival in the world?
Many top acts are back this year, which shows how much their music is loved in Marbella! Summer just isn’t the same in sunny Marbs without live gigs by international artists like Jamie Cullum, Tom Jones, Simple Minds, Ricky Martin, Placido Domingo, Juan Magán and many others. The 3000-seater auditorium makes you feel as if you’re attending a private party and the atmosphere is electric when the place gets going and is in full swing. Have you watched our video Experience The Starlite Festival Marbella With Us yet? If not, click on the link after you’ve watched this programme first…
Having a good dance open-air, surrounded by 14.000m2 of illuminated rock surface, high up in the hills above Marbella, is exhilarating! Over 350.000 festival goers from 95 different countries enjoyed over 600 hours of live music last year, having had a raving good time. So come with us this summer to create holiday memories that last a lifetime.
Where is Starlite Occident Festival?
Around one hour down the Alboran Sea coast from Malaga – the host city of Andalucia BIG Festival, Starlite Occident is an annual cultural event located in the shadows of the gorgeous Sierras Blanca mountains in Marbella.
The 8km journey northeast from central Marbella up to the Cantera de Nagüeles takes around 20 minutes, which offers enough time to take in the gorgeous scenery.
The annual event runs from mid-June to late August and brings together some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. Plus, if you time your experience towards the end of the festival, you may need to don your glad rags as superstar actor Antonio Banderas hosts a grand charity event – just like the gala we experienced at the Santa Maria Polo Club.
Away from the glamour of the gala, around 60,000 people attend the festival each year and previous acts include the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Lenny Kravitz, Maluma and Sting!
What Type of Music is Played at Starlite Occident?
As you may have guessed from that distinguished and varied line-up of previous performers (or our experience where Nicky Jam and the great Tom Jones rocked the stage), Starlite Festival has a space for all performers.
But the most magical thing about the whole experience is the open-air vibes. From your seat in the auditorium, you can sing along to all the hits and dance the night away – while overhead, the starry night sky puts on its own performance.
Truly a unique experience that everyone needs to feel at least once! In fact, when Jamie Cullum played at Starlite, he described the feeling as like being “on the moon”.
Top Things to do at Starlite Festival
Of course, music is the top attraction at Starlite Festival. But it’s not the only pleasure your senses can delight in.
The three main music areas are the Auditorium Stage, Sessions Stage and DJ Sessions. But away from the beats, you could also indulge your tastebuds and even go shopping.
Let’s break down the best things to do at Starlite Occident now.
Auditorium Stage
The Auditorium is the main stage in the venue. This is where we saw Nicky Jam and Tom Jones ripping it up. But the great thing about this area is, because it only has a capacity of 3,000, you get the feeling of seeing huge stars in an intimate setting.
Also, the quarry’s unique layout and high rock walls offer incredible acoustics. In fact Plácido Domingo and Julio Iglesias said it is “one of the best acoustics they have ever found”.
Sessions Stage
If you don’t fancy the big tunes and bright lights of the main stage, why not take yourself off to the Sessions area, where big-name acts perform stripped-back versions of their hits.
Plus, this even more intimate setting offers the opportunity for more crowd interaction from the artists.
DJ sets
On the other hand, if the EDM scene is more your flavour then the DJ sessions which run after the main concert are your best bet.
Gastronomy
Not to be outdone by the music, the spectacular range of gastronomic options at Starlite also offers a feast for the senses. Across four main restaurants, you can enjoy delicious dishes from across the world.
Restaurants at Starlite Occident
- Tanabata: Treat your tastebuds with a trip to Tokyo, fine Japanese cuisine adorns every plate here. Taking inspiration from the legend of shepherd Hikoboshi and the seamstress Orihime, romance is injected into every element of the experience.
- Temazo: A gorgeous open-air Mediterranean grillhouse. Feast on delicate cuts of meat, succulent fish and vibrant veg all coloured from the hot coals.
- Anima: From tacos to tequila this rooftop-style Mexican cantina delivers all the Latin vibes in a kaleidoscope of incredible colour and flavour.
- Sandra’s Caviar Bar: Go lavish, you deserve it. Grab a unique experience by heading to Starlite’s caviar bar. Sandra’s is all about gourmet selections and classic cocktails. If it wasn’t for the majestic mountains and bumping beats, you’d swear you were on the glitzy shores of Monaco.
Shopping and Fashion
Speaking of Monaco, if it’s glamourous shopping you’re after, you can get that done too!
Alongside the Starlite Festival store for all your merch needs, find boutiques from international brands like Kiehl’s and Fnac among others.
Festival stores open from 8 pm and close up and 1:30 am, leaving plenty of time for you to enjoy some music and food before grabbing some products
Starlite 2025 Line Up
As we mentioned earlier, previous line-ups have been glittering with huge stars. And the 2024 instalment of the long-running festival looks well set to continue that trend.
Catch all of these incredible acts across the 60-day event this summer! We’ll be there, will you?!
| Artist | Date |
| Emilia | 13 June |
| Duki | 14 June |
| Nathy Peluso | 20 June |
| Kool & The Gang | 27 June |
| Gente de Zona | 2 July |
| Marc Anthony | 3 July |
| Marc Anthony | 4 July |
| Raphael | 5 July |
| Europe | 8 July |
| Duran Duran | 9 July |
| SEAL | 10 July |
| Gilberto Sta Rosa | 11 july |
| Fito Páez | 14 July |
| Pica Pica | 15 July |
| Pet Shop Boys | 16 July |
| Erreway | 17 July |
| Jhayco | 18 July |
| DJ Nano | 18/24/31 July + 21 Aug |
| The Script | 19 July |
| Scorpions | 21 July |
| UB40 | 22 July |
| Bosé | 23 July |
| Bosé | 24 July |
| Il Divo | 25 July |
| Will Smith | 26 July |
| Beach Boys | 28 July |
| Zaz | 29 July |
| The Kooks | 30 July |
| Ana Belén | 31 July |
| Rels B | 1 Aug |
| Natalia Lafourcade + Valeria Castro | 2 Aug |
| Santana | 3 Aug |
| Gipsy Kings | 4 Aug |
| Walls | 4 Aug |
| Tom Jones | 5 Aug |
| Clean Bandit | 6 Aug |
| Guitarricadelafuente | 7 Aug |
| Hermanos Martinez | 8 Aug |
| Texas | 11 Aug |
| Beret | 12 Aug |
| DJ Nano + Oro Viejo | 12 Aug |
| Los Secretos | 14 Aug |
| Carolina Durante | 15 Aug |
| Fran Perwa, Alex Ubago + Despistaos | 16 Aug |
| Flamenco & Friends | 18 Aug |
| Siempre Así | 19 Aug |
| Alejandro Fernández | 20 Aug |
| India Martinez | 21 Aug |
| Tomatito + Israel Fernandez | 22 Aug |
| Sangria – Nancys Rubias | 23 Aug |
| Al Bano & Romina Power | 27 Aug |
| Camilo | 29 Aug |
Check Out More Amazing European Music Festivals Today
If Starlite Occident sounds like your cup of tea, then you’ll love the other festivals we’ve been to across the continent.
Check out our Music Channel where we reveal all, including exclusive interviews with top acts, huge festival news and unique events that you need to know about – like Lost Nomads for example.
Or head over to our Arts & Culture Channel for more details about big performances across the superb stages of Europe
Triip Festival 2025 – Malta from 30 May – 1 June
LOVE SAVES THE DAY 2025 – Bristol from 24 – 25 May
MUSIC ON Festival 2025 – Amsterdam from 10 – 11 May
MINT Festival Leeds 2025 – Newsman Green Farm from 3 – 4 May
Go crazy in the woods at one of the best outdoor festivals in the UK: Noisily Festival from 10-13 July/Barkestone Wood
This has to be one of our all-time greats: Noisily Festival came back for its 9th edition in 2022 with a vengeance, after a 2-year hiatus, due to covid! The build-up of excitement in 2021 (also watch our exclusive interview with Will Hazlerigg, one of the festival’s co-founders) with the subsequent let-down of being told by reviewed government guidelines on covid one week before the festival, that it still cannot go ahead, left everybody devastated. Not just the organisers, but the ticket holders too, who loyally allowed for their tix to be carried forward yet again, looking forward to party again in 2022.
And now we know why so many people are just in love with this festival: Coney Woods is turned into the most enchanting, rave-friendly place on earth. Good, local food and drink allow you to recharge at all times, and, if you’ve booked yourself into a Portobello tent, boutique camping, or glamping, can be experienced at its finest. The atmosphere is super friendly, everybody seems to want the most enjoyable atmosphere possible for absolutely everybody, and this is also made possible by the lunatic dress codes, in which people make it their business to take to extreme heights. To the delight of everybody else…
The various stages provide great DJ set entertainment – either in a private party-in-the-garage atmosphere or, heading for the Liquid or Pyramid stage, where crowds heave in delight to electronic dance belters. Even though it’s all happening outdoors, the sound systems are utterly brilliant. We utterly adore the whole festival craze being lived out to the max at Noisily, as eco-friendly and health & wellness conscious as it is – your time to go CRAZIIIEEE is definitely NOW! (noisilyfestival.com)
Noisily Festival
Noisily, as it describes itself, is a ‘celebration of the individual, cultivates understanding for the collective and explores what it means to be human in this world.’ This includes proper respect for the environment, Coney Woods, and the fact that the Noisily wants to act as a leader in the UK’s festival wellness scene, also offering holistic and spiritual workshops and practices throughout the festival. Not difficult to see how that works, as these woods are just so enchanting…at the same time, the festival prides itself with being a platform for music, arts, psychedelic culture and creativity. Add to that the word ‘brilliant’ and you’re getting closer to reality!
Situated to the South-East of Leicester, you can reach the village of Nosely either by driving up the M1 or the A1 – the festival is roughly equidistant between both these highways. However, people are enticed to make their way to the festival by all sorts of transport, including bicycles and hiking. However, the nearest airport is London Luton, and taking the train from London would mean hopping on in St. Pancras to the festival’s nearest station, which is Market Harborough.
Noisily’s loyal following have allowed the festival to survive a pandemic lasting for 2 years. Through their crowd-funding efforts with ticket holders, the organisers have managed to keep it all afloat with the result, that 2022 came back with the loudest bang ever. Ravers were keen to live the experience, they’ve been waiting to make for two years, to the max. Hence, Will Hazlerigg (one of the co-founders) talks of the Noisily family with affection and a duty of care to make it all happen. The 2022 edition will be the last edition to take place in Coney Woods, as the festival will move to a larger site for their 2023 edition. Increasing capacity by a huge margin, every effort tis being made for the festival to keep its off beat character (mainstream is almost a swear word in this instance). Hence, the future looks bright and hugely exciting – see you all at the next edition, when the festival will be held from the 6 – 9 July 2023.
Henri Bergmann
Fresh talent of her quality will always stand out, and so Henri massively impressed us playing the Pyramid stage. The techno & house DJ and producer put on some absolute bangers, from older classics to brand new stuff of her own. She’s signed with Watergate’s DJ roster, hence is at home in Berlin, as she is in London. The BBc’s Radio 1 and Ibiza Global Radio have discovered her already, whilst DJ support comes from the likes of Laurent Garnier, Nick Warren, Ilario Alicante, John Digweed and many more.
After a mini-India tour in July’22 and recently debuting at Ibiza’s Pacha, she’s super excited about pushing on – also watch our exclusive interview with her after her set at the Pyramid stage! Having played iconic clubs in London like The Steel Yard, Egg London, Orange Yard, the Electric Brixton, E1 and Village Underground, she is so ready to impress the rest of the world. We love her style and we love pushing fresh talent at TA-DAH.TV…so watch this space!
Quivver
The man is a multi-talent! His real name is John Graham, and he is not just a DJ, but producer and in-demand vocalist as well. With a career spanning over two decades, we are not surprised that he spent over five years in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs. Keeping his sound on point and current, he’s part of a staple diet of DJs in the electronic scene on an international level. ‘Gangsta House’ is one of his musical creations, mixing old-school rap with hip-hop into fresh house remixes.
TV and film scores are also part of his portfolio, having been involved with films such as ’The Taking of Pelham’, ‘Shrek Forever after 2010’, ’Twelve’ and a Charlize Theron movie trailer of ‘Young Adult’. Club-wise, he’s regularly seen at the decks across the pond, from LA, via San Fran to Miami as well. EDM runs through his veins, and there isn’t a beat he can’t handle and turn into new spun gold. At Noisily, the crowd was absolutely loving his set, where he mixed in some oldies-but-goodies floor fillers, to which people went absolutely crazy – a reinventor par excellence.
John Digweed
A man of dance music history, he clearly still has what it takes to get the crowd going! Headlining on the last day of the festival, his dance trance mixes just elated the crowd even further! Having made out as a DJ at the age of 15, there clearly isn’t a beat he hasn’t mixed, delving into pop along the way. Originally from Hastings (raves at Hastings Pier include top names like Carl Cox and The Prodigy), where he put on successful club nights, and when he hooked up with DJ Sasha (Alexander Coe), the duo Sasha & John Digweed was born. The two were the first ever Brit DJ duo to hold a residency at NYC’ most well known club at the time.
His vision and creative insight got him to seek out mixes/remixes from diverse acts such as Rui Da Silva (watch our exclusive interview with him in London on our YouTube channel in the Girl About Town section), Second Hand Satellites and POB, amongst others. His name stands for rock solid edm tunes, and whilst travelling the world, he still held down residencies at London’s Heaven and The Beach in Brighton. As part of the Bedrock label, he’s enjoyed Top 40 chart success, including the track ‘For What You Dream Of’, which was used for the cult film ’Trainspotting’. His radio show on Kiss100 became one of England’s most successful dance music shows in England – needless to say, he is in the top 20 of the highest earning DJs in the world.
As a person, he comes across rock solid, and maybe not the craziest guy on the planet, but he knows his sound and he knows how to mix, and the minute he dabbled into trance music for the set at the Pyramid stage, the place just lifted yet another notch higher in feel-good factor. He’ll be playing at the Aquasella Festival in Spain in August, will be at the BEON1X Open Mind Music Festival in Cyprus in September and has a 5-hour-set at London’s fabric coming up on 8 October’22, so sort your tickets early, ‘cos the man is totally worth it.
What is Noisily Festival
From their first festival back in 2012 with a modest crowd of 450 people, Noisily festival has been held amongst the trees of Coney Woods ever since. The organisers have been keen to put on an unforgettable event every year ever since.
With 3 main stages, 2 roaming stages and further speaker & activity stages, ravers can’t wait to have a simply awesome time in the Woods, escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immersing themselves into the creative and soulful atmosphere of Noisily Festival. Featuring 3 days of top DJ sets, playing amongst spectacular stage design and wicked light shows, you can also take part in woodland walks, yoga classes, meditation sessions and even cacao ceremonies – it’s an unmissable experience. On top of this, all beverages and food are locally sourced, supporting the surrounding communities. So, it’s all good – for visitors and locals alike.
The founders’ ethos is centred around open mindedness and sharing knowledge. With 5 pillars at the core of their message:
- Inclusion – The festival celebrates all and allows everyone to enjoy their party, irrespective of gender/sexuality/ethnicity.
- The Environment – Caring about the environment is a central part of Noisily, focusing on looking after the local wildlife and community.
- Wellness and Education – Offering a unique and alternative experience for learning holistic and spiritual practices.
- Community – Despite an attendance of more than 6,000 people, the owners and founders of Noisily festival, are proud to maintain a community feel. Promoting the message that all who attend are part of one big family for these 4 days.
- Creativity – The festival offers a platform for creativity to flourish, with music and the arts at the centre of the festival.
DJ sets at Noisily Festival
Noisily Festival has three main stages: Noisily Stage, Treehouse Stage, and Liquid Stage. Each year all three make sure you can get lost in dance and forget about time. Festival goers can expect a proper diverse collection of dance music with sets covering all genres such as House, Disco, Bass, Glitch, Hip Hop and Breaks. Whilst also offering one of the UK’s best outdoor psychedelic experiences from their famous Liquid Stage, lovers of EDM, house music, and deep house can dance until their feet hurt.
Despite the festival having been moved to next year, the line-up for 2021 would have been a real treat of homegrown British talent, including Eats Everything, John Digweed, Aidan Doherty, Audio Anonymous, Audley, Ben Coda, Dubspeeka, Henri Bergmann, Ipcress, John Monkman, Quivver & Tripswitch, and many others! Hopefully, many of them will make it to the next year’s edition, as they’re firm favourites with loads of ravers, so get your tix booked promptly.
Exploring mind, body, and soul at Noisily Festival
Surrounded by mother nature, Noisily festival is more than just a music festival, as it also offers an immersive wellbeing experience, allowing festival goers to connect with themselves and the event’s natural environment! This way, ravers can develop a deeper knowledge about their bodies, minds, and souls. It’s a real compilation of hedonism and escapism in a safe and inclusive space for all!
Across different areas of the festival, you will find a huge variety of classes and interactive workshops. Some of the events which take on a key feature each year include, yoga classes, cacao ceremonies, mindfulness workshops, woodland walks, and meditation practices. Not only will you leave the Leicestershire woodland full of joy and exuberance – you may even learn a thing or two about how to extend your general wellbeing, taking away the knowledge of certain rituals and practices you can implement to enhance your everyday life. There’s not a single festival around, that offers such a great overall experience quite like Noisily.
Looking forward to 2022, the festival will be celebrating 10 years since they opened their gates, hence the organisers are working super hard to make it the most fabulous summer gig ever! It is indeed a big deal, also giving them the chance to say Thank You to all the loyal fans and supporters, who make up the Noisily family, and who have helped to keep the festival alive through Crowd Funding efforts.
Be sure to go to TA-DAH.TV’s music channel to find out more about the best music festivals in Europe!
Snowbombing 2025 – go crazy in Mayrhofen/Austria from 7 – 12 April
Snowbombing Festival welcomes around 7,000 people to the slopes of The Ahorn Ski Resort, Western Austria in mid-April every year – and people absolutely love it!
We should know, the TA-DAH.TV crew has been in attendance more times than we’ve fallen off our skis! (Well, maybe not that many times…)
But, for those who haven’t been lucky enough to grab a ticket, what’s it like going to snowbombing? Does it attract big performers? And what actually goes down on those picturesque slopes in Mayrhofen?
Slow down, hold your horses! We’ll tell you everything you need to know, from our own experience
What’s it Like at Snowbombing Festival?
Snowbombing is incredible! And so very unique. Held over a week of non-stop skiing, boarding and dancing, there’s so much to take in.
The festival is split over 2 types of venues, the slopes and the town. Partying starts from noon with superstar DJs like Patrick Topping playing a host venues across the mountain. But, when the music stops around 4 pm, the party moves to the streets – where it doesn’t stop again until 6 am.
Oh yeah, only hardcore ravers need apply!
As for what it’s like at Snowbombing, the vibes are incredible. People come from all over Europe to hit the slopes, dance to huge tunes, grab a drink and have a good time.
In fact, during our last experience, we chatted with mermaids and red Indians before happening across a pregnant Mary alongside her drunken monks (don’t worry, she wasn’t really pregnant).
Do You Need to Be Good At Skiing to Go to Snowbombing?
It probably helps to have some skiing chops to experience the whole festival. But, you can still get up to the main stages, bars and cafes of the mountain part of the festival without them.
Plus, the after-dark stage of Snowbombing happens in Mayrhofen town. So, even if you didn’t want to venture up the mountain, you could spend your morning and early afternoon relaxing in the town before dancing the night away from 4 pm onwards.
On the other hand, you could take your Snowbombing adventure as an opportunity to learn a new skill as well as party. Skiing lessons are available from professional coaches across the mountain.
Best Things to Do at Snowbombing
There are so many incredible things to do at Snowbombing. But we’ve managed to distill our excitement down into our top 5 activities that you need to try.
- Discover the unique venues
- Snowsports
- Learn to ski
- The Pond Skim
- Go exploring
The Venues
As we mentioned earlier, the festival festivities are spread out over two awesome locations. The incredible mountains and picturesque town.
The Mountain Venues
Up in the mountains, prepare to feel like you’re literally partying in heaven. The altitude means you’ll be surrounded by clouds with soft powdery snow underfoot.
When you’re not hitting the slopes or apres ski, you could be checking out the top-tier DJ talent at this collection of venues:
- The Snowpark Terrace
- The Mountain Stage
- Rompa’s Reggae Shack
- Moutaintop Brunch
- The Penken Terrace
In-Town Venues
Meanwhile, down in the town, you can pick up the pace with a collection of incredible venues like:
- The Fun Haus
- The Racket Club
- The Brück’n Stadl
- The Strass Bar
- Hans The Butcher
If you want our opinion, they’re all incredible. But you need to check out Hans The Butcher. This place goes from slinging sausages as a butcher’s shop by day, to dropping beats as a rave hot spot by night.
Snowsports
Of course, the other main activity at Snowbombing is hitting the slopes. If you love your snowy pastimes then this is the spot for you. Purpose-built cable car systems ensure there are no queues as they can ferry a staggering 3,800+ people an hour! Woah.
The slopes at The Ahorn cater to all levels, its 2,000m descent is perfect for beginners, while more advanced skiers can check out The Glacier, with over 230km of powdery trails to choose from.
Learn to Ski
As we said, this place caters to all crowds, including ski novices. If you fancy popping your slope cherry, Snowbombing is the place.
Daily lessons by qualified instructors, as well as a selection of nursery runs will ensure you have the skills and the opportunity to test your mettle in the Ziller Valley.
Check out the Pond Skim
Just here for a good time? No worries, but nothing says “good time” like watching people and pro-skiers take on the challenge of trying to skid their way completely across a swimming pool on the slopes without ending up in the drink.
Explore the Town
Last but not least, if you have some time to yourself during the week of Snowbombing, then you should definitely check out more of stunning Mayrhofen.
As Patrick Topping said in our interview, the place is like Twin Peaks. The stunning surroundings follow you everywhere you go.
But when you’re not sliding down the slopes, why not warm up with some authentic schnitzel or goulash in one of the quaint cafes and restaurants? Perfect for lining the stomach too for an evening of fun!
Snowbombing Line Up: Who’s Played There?
Snowbombing attracts some of the biggest names from the EDM and trance scene.
We caught up with artists like Jackmaster, Eats Everything and DJ Yoda during our last visit.
But incredible names like Fatboy Slim, Confidence Man, Joy Orbison, Wilkinson and My Nu Leng have all either played or have sets confirmed.
Is Snowbombing Worth It?
Unequivocally, yes! If you love snowsports and EDM then you’re gonna love this place. But you probably knew that already.
So, as you’ll see from our video, if you’re just a huge fan of having an amazing time with friends, exploring new places and experiencing new things, then you will have the best time at Snowbombing
More Snowsports Festivals in Europe
Europe is jam-packed full of winter festivals that allow partygoers to unite their love of the slopes with the love of the stage so it should come as no surprise that Snowbombing is in good company when it comes to snowsports music festivals!
Other celebrated events include Snowboxx, which takes place in Avoriaz, France each March and has earned itself a bit of a reputation for proceedings getting wild!
Elsewhere, there is also Rave on Snow taking place in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, and Sun & Snow Festival which is held every year in Sierra Nevada, Spain.
But we’re not always in the mountains either! Sometimes we’re glistening in the sunshine at BIG Festival in Andalucia. Or getting down in the sand of the Agafay Desert at Lost Nomads just outside Marrakech.
Check Out Our Dedicated Music Channel
If you like this, then you’re going to love our Music Channel.
That’s where we share all our latest news, reviews, interviews and updates from the biggest music events across Europe.
