It started out as a small bastion for rave lovers and techno enthusiasts at the Lake Bernstein Velten in 1997, relocating to Lärz Airport in 1998 until it turned Ferropolis into its home in 2000 and became a major force on the international festival circuit, offering not only electronic but pop and rock music. As every year, a sea of lights and pulsating beats awakes the City of Iron. Newcomers and international personalities of the music scene will visit the stages under the “gaze” of massive overpowering coal mining diggers, hosting gigs and parties that break the boundaries between quiet and loud, electro, hip-hop and indie or mainstream and subculture.

Melt! is also a well-rounded big-tent festival, meaning that the organization provides a camping place. No need to say that the festival is very well organized –one of the best features of Germans–, it provides shuttles to the camping site and to nearer cities; many food places as well as an open-air restaurant in The Forest with hammocks and cinema projecting the best of porno, queer or sci-fi films. Additionally, if you are willing to start the day in a relaxing and healthy mode, there are yoga and rave aerobics in the open at the camping stage #Wearemelt, where the festival also offers an interesting series of art and culture events, including a Voguing Dance Performance by House of Melody; the workshop Girl-Monsters United!, which considers the connection between body standards, monsters and feminism; Hertzberg’s performances Love & Heroine and The Slutty Matriarchy; and live comedy shows with Daniel Vezza & Paul Salamone.

According to the organization, the 2016 edition will be larger and more heterogeneous than ever before, and line-up proves it: in the shadows of epically proportioned heavy machinery, you can catch the Melt! Stage, the festival’s biggest sounds loud and soft, shrill and serious. This year musicians like Disclosure, Tame Impala, M83, Deichkind, Chvrches, Jamie XX, or Boys Noize among others will perform here.

Melt! best play has long been its dance music, which can run as deep as the offerings at best underground clubs. The Big Wheel Stage, in a short distance to the water, will offer highlights of the full spectrum of electronic beats – from house to techno, the electro-hearts will not be disappointed. This year’s line-up includes Maceo Plex, The Black Madonna, Pan-Pot, Mano Le Tough, Ben Klock, Stephan Bodzin, and more. Similarly, one of the favoured places to dance is the Medusa Stage, located under a digger, where Mura Masa, Skepta, Digitalism, Peaches, Tiga, Bob Moses, Roosevelt or Sleaford Mods will perform.

Melt! Selektor, located in a former 30KV station control centre, will host top-class audiovisual happenings: Modeselektor, now an integral part of the Melt! Family, are bringing an other choice line-up to house: Acid Arab, Vessels, Gold Panda, Ho99o9, Kode9, and Lady Leshur, to name just a few.

This year’s sand and sun comes courtesy of Gremmin Beach. This platform will have Solomun, Stimming, Kollektiv Turmstraße, Maya Jane Coles, DJ Koze, Andhim or Horse Meat Disco.

Located between Gremmin Beach and Big Wheel, the new Forest Stage with a 360o form, will present fresh sounds from Berlin’s (non-techno) underground. Several DJs from Trade, Bass Gang, Weboogie and Live from Earth will play smooth beats during the day… and wild futuristic club sounds at night.

The Orangerie, conveniently located at the heart of the festival grounds, is where newcomers and tomorrow’s heroes will perform: Drangsal, Isolation Berlin and Schwarz Dont Crack are the selected this year. In addition, the Berlin-based queer music festival Yo! Sissy, will be taking this stage with a complete drag show paying tribute to David Bowie on Sunday.

Last but not least, a strong contender for Melt!'s best stage is the Sleepless Floor, a dusty, never-ending open-air located before the festival's main gate. From Thursday evening to Monday noon La Fleur, Damian Lazarus, Dekmantel Sound System, Ellen Allien or Boris will play there. There is no better way to end this experience.