Awakenings Festival 2024 said goodbye to its latest successful edition last Sunday night, after three days of impressive light shows, bizarre good sound, and huge stages. Luckily, this year we did not suffer cancellations, and the organisation didn't have to vacate the campsite early due to inclement weather, as unfortunately happened in the last edition that we told you about in METAL. The Dutch festival continues to prove year after year that it is in a very good moment, with many people repeating this experience and eagerly waiting for summer to arrive to enjoy their favourite artists again on the enchanting festival grounds in Hilvarenbeek.
As we told you a few weeks ago, this edition, which was held from July 5 to 7, would welcome debutants in Awakenings such as Honey Dijon, Mha Iri, and Giorgia Angiuli, as well as friends of the festival and familiar faces including Amelie Lens, Nina Kraviz, and Anfisa Letyago. There would be a very complete and extensive musical programme on its eight stages, from techno and hard techno to house and melodic, along with various art installations and extra activities. And this is precisely what makes Awakenings Festival an immersive multisensory experience suitable for all audiences.
The first thing that captures the attention of attendees who visit this festival for the first time, besides its large size and the enormous musical offering—so many things happen at the same time that it is impossible to reach everything—is the spectacular design of the stages. Here, aesthetics play as important a role as sound, and artists have the opportunity to perform in an environment that is very different from most European festivals. It’s all about living an experience, not just listening to our favourite artists, so the festival organisation works hard to offer an immersive atmosphere.
It is common knowledge that it rains a lot in the Netherlands, especially in the summer when you least expect it. The weather could adversely affect the outdoor stages, resulting in most people going to the indoor ones, sheltered from the cold in the meantime. But this is not a big problem at Awakenings Festival. The organisation is aware of the risks and prepared to give free raincoats to visitors if necessary, so the rain does not stop music lovers from giving it their all on the dance floor while getting wet. We came to play!
We were there on Saturday, the same day that the Netherlands was competing to be classified in the Euro 2024 semi-finals against Turkey. That same day, England was also playing against Switzerland, and Awakenings Festival had also thought about football lovers who did not want to miss this moment. At the venue, we saw a giant screen installed for all those who wanted to watch the match live, although it became clear that the vast majority of people had travelled from all over the world to this event to enjoy the music and share a good time with their friends. Football could wait, although it must be said that the victory of the Dutch team made some people happy, who surely extended their time back home (or to the campsite) to celebrate it.
Upon our arrival, on one of the main stages, we found Spanish DJ Andres Campo in action. His set was greatly applauded, especially by his Spanish fans, who raised their flags and sought him out as soon as the set ended to ask for a photo. Many of these groups of fans follow their favourite DJs on their festival routes throughout Europe and beyond, so it is very exciting to see the bond that the artists establish with them. In the end, if they are such big names in music and are booked for so many events, it is thanks to them, isn't it?
ANNA, who was also playing at one of the main outdoor stages, was one of those affected by the sudden rain. But nothing stopped the visitors, who were having a great time while the Brazilian DJ was performing. This was one of the best moments we experienced on Saturday, as was the Argy's set. Listening to the Greek-born artist’s hit Aria live was priceless, and I'm sure everyone who was there would agree.
On that same stage, we saw CamelPhat, the English DJ and production duo, consisting of Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala, who found success with their 2017 single Cola and have won a well-deserved spot in the industry. On Saturday, there were also profiles in Awakenings that we told you about last year, such as Shinedoe, one of our great discoveries in 2023, or artists we have spoken to in METAL in the last few months, such as Partiboi69.
Nearly 100,000 visitors have attended this year's edition, spread over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and more than 15,000 people have stayed on the campsite, making the most of their experience. Awakenings Festival has welcomed over 100 nationalities from all over the world, and over 140 artists have performed. The numbers speak for themselves. And if you’re up for more Awakenings Festival, mark your calendar for July 11–13, 2025. The dates of the next edition of the festival have just been announced and limited Early Birds will go on sale this Friday at 1 p.m. See you next year!
