Apgrade Festival heads back to Port of Belgrade for the 2023 edition with two days of big names and even bigger sounds

Apgrade Festival heads back to Luka Beograd for the 2023 edition with two days of big names and even bigger sounds. The exclusive event will take place in the impressive industrial complex by the Danube River, following the path of last year's edition that featured legendary performances by Sven Vath and Solomun.

Apgrade is curating an essential lineup that represents the diverse tapestry of global techno with plenty to enjoy from all corners and of this constantly evolving genre. 

Prepare to be transported through various layers and eras of the genre with headline sets from Richie Hawtin, Marcel Dettmann, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Curses, and an exclusive back-to-back set from Dr. Rubinstein &Tijana T.

The festival goes above and beyond by featuring renowned selectors, including Interstellar Funk, Sacha Mambo, and the debut performance by Berlin's MSJY, ensuring a diverse and exhilarating musical journey.

In an effort to showcase the diversity of the local scene, Apgrade has carefully selected Johana, Stellar Companion, Feloneezy, and Matej Rusmir to bring their unique styles to the stage. 

No matter how early you came into electronic dance music, it always felt like Richie Hawn had already been there for a lifetime. The British-born but primarily Canada-raised Hawtin is an elder statesman of techno, guiding the trajectory of the sound from the 1990s through to the present time.

Richie Hawtin's career is driven by an unquenchable appetite for experimentation and a relentless pursuit of new interpretations of techno. From his trailblazing productions to his influential role in shaping new technologies, Hawtin has consistently pushed the boundaries of electronic music. With a curious and daring approach, deeply rooted in the dancefloor experience, his performances flawlessly showcase the genre's trajectory as an unmatched and cohesive whole.

As the 1990s were drawing to a close, a newly opened club in Berlin was in need of a DJ with a particularly raw, dirty sound. The club was called Ostgut, and Marcel Dettmann perfectly fit the description. The relentless pulsation of the Funktion One sound system would become synonymous with Berghain, which experienced its first incarnation through Ostgut, and found its definitive ambassador in Dettmann, who travels from Buenos Aires to Ibiza, Tel Aviv, Florence, and Tokyo without missing his monthly slot at the most important European club

Curses expertly blends New Wave and Post-Punk elements with haunting vocals and guitars, accompanied by touches of '80s-leaning EBM aesthetics. Whether delivering an electrifying live set at the esteemed Convenanza Festival or commanding the main room at Circoloco DC-10 as a DJ, Curses consistently infuses dancefloors, both intimate and grand, with his punk and new wave vigor.

Possessed of an insatiable drive, Sama' Abdulhadi excels at almost everything - she is a bona fide audio engineer, a sound designer, music composer for films, and probably the most prominent Palestinian artist performing today. Internationally recognized as a powerful force in dance music, 

Sama's sound has transcended beyond the influences of her hometown to dancefloors around the globe, capturing the essence of Beirut's flourishing underground. Palestine's 'queen of techno' is on a mission to export the beauty of her homeland to the world.

Dr. Rubinstein is the alter ego of a Russian-born artist from Israel. The international recognition she has gained has led to extensive tours throughout Europe, the United States, South America, Asia, and Australia. It's easy to recognize a Rubinstein set - it's both stark and raucous, festooned with vintage-Roland TB-303 acid synth lines and an unforced bonhomie that's rare in techno.

Marina Rubinstein joins the lineup at the invitation of Tijana T, having come from a busy schedule of performances at renowned clubs like Bassiani, Fabric, Fuse, and Robert Johnson, as well as being a regular guest at Klubnacht events in Berghain. With a career spanning nearly 15 years, Tijana T has been an integral part of Serbia's music scene, and invitations to prestigious slots such as Solumun's +1 in Ibiza speak volumes about her reputation.

"Apgrade Festival has solidified its reputation as a premier event by consistently delivering sets from esteemed names in the scene. Previous editions have witnessed awe-inspiring performances by iconic artists such as Amelie Lens, Maceo Plex, Dixon, Tale Of Us, Laurent Garnier, and Nicolas Jaar, among others, showcasing the festival's commitment to presenting top-tier talent. This summer's outing lives up to those expectations." - said the organizers for our article.

Dekmantel's protégé and ambassador of the Amsterdam club scene, Interstellar Funk, adds to the already impressive bill alongside performances from Sacha Mambo, one of France's eminent collector-DJs in the less conventional areas of the dancefloor, and MSJY, a newcomer on the Berlin club circuit who is unafraid to both own and shift the script.

"Join us for a two-day extravaganza of head-bobbing techno and house set in the surroundings of a surreal industrial complex. Stamina-testing electronic music across a balmy end-of-the-summer weekend - a masterclass in the heads-down, arms-up imperatives of the rave. Prepare to go △p." - added the organizers. 

See ya there!!!!