I hazily opened my eyes to excited murmurs and chatter from fresh faced festival goers and gazed out the coach window to gauge my whereabouts. We had met at Marco Polo airport in Venice and were cruising through Italy into Slovenia on one of the many festival shuttle coaches. A profusion of languages and cultures from across the world had embarked on this coach, all heading for one place: Butik Festival.
I had arrived in Venice from Berlin, where I’d spent the long weekend with the Danube Family for another inspiring edition of their annual festival. Admittedly, my social and energy batteries were low, and I spent much of the travel catching up on sleep and recharging. But as we approached Butik, I was soon captivated by the diverse and rich green natural scenery which soothed my soul when I needed it most. This was my first glimpse into the immense beauty that is Slovenia.
Sitting cosily between the Soča and Tolminka rivers with breathtaking surroundings of the Julian Alps, lies the largest town in the upper Soča valley, Tolmin. Home to over 3500 people, Tolmin has a relaxed and comfortable feel, with an attractive Old Town Centre and several quaint restaurants and cafes. Despite its small size, Tolmin’s is entrenched in history and is a centrepiece for the rich cultural heritage of the Soča region.
Tolmin has been the host to metal, punk and reggae festivals for over 25 years and therefore no stranger to an international crowd. Now the home to Butik Festival, the small town will welcome over 3000 festival goers from over 50 countries, showcasing the diverse audience that Butik attracts. As Butik celebrated their fifth edition at the festival site, it is encouraging to hear that their strong collaboration with the Municipality of Tolmin has enabled both parties to work harmoniously to find solutions that benefits everyone. In 2024, the festival had its license extended until 2027 which is a testament to how far Butik has come in their short journey.
It is evident that Butik takes immense care in its partnership with local communities and authorities to ensure that upmost is done to reduce the negative impacts that festivals can bring. For a festival set amidst a nature reserve area, this will always be a continuous challenge, but one they are willing to take on. Initiatives such as no outdoor music after 1AM, a festival fund and a garbage-cup deposit are a few ways they are trying to reduce their footprint. Read more about Butik’s sustainability here.
For those who have dug a little deeper, you will know that Butik’s ethos is to provide a platform for Slovenian artists to shine. When speaking with the co-founder of Butik Romina Gerbec for this write up, she emphasized the focus on the Slovenian artists and the opportunity that Butik gives them. 50% of the lineup is Slovenian with many given prime ‘peak time’ set times. It’s no secret that post pandemic, music festivals across the world are struggling to stay afloat; in the UK alone 50 festivals have been cancelled in 2024. The current economic global climate is having an immense effect on the music landscape as a whole, meaning support for the local scene is needed more than ever. Overcrowded, overpriced and saturated festival lineups are now all too common and it’s refreshing to see the focus on community and culture that build Butik’s foundations. This ethos is embedded throughout as they collaborated with Slovenian clothing brands (Made In Anselma, LYC, Groove Wear, Padme Label, Solspel, Indigo Second Hand and EVOL + Nico Martin) and drinks brands (Nord Hard Seltzer, Isa’s Kombucha and Lasko Beer)
“Butik deserves Slovenia and the Slovenian Clubbing scene deserves this exposure. There are a lot of quality music and artists coming from here and the country itself its very beautiful” – Ian F
In my search for local artists I found myself spending most of the festival at a dancefloor tucked round a corner, the Garden Stage. Situated on the bank of the River Soča, its idyllic setting and infectious energy throughout, made it the stage of Butik. A large golden coloured canopy supported by tall wooden beams provided much needed shade to the dancefloor and space to gaze out onto the crystal clear lake. With a dance floor of pure sand, I found myself barefoot most days, hopping between the river and the stage. With a combination of Slovenian and ‘headline’ artists, I found the energy on this stage to be unmatched. Standout music, moments and memories all happened at the Garden. Here I listened to my favourite Slovenian soundtrack of artists such as Masa, Teo, Lottie & Lerro, Izza and Akaj.
As the only stage open on the first night, The Beach Stage (Main Stage) was our playground and I settled into the sounds of Slovenian rising star and Butik regular Akaj, followed by a firm favourite of mine, Eversines (live). Akaj lifted the intensity with a blend of electro and minimal which set the pace perfectly for Eversines to take control. Closing the first night was an electric and beaming Jane Fitz who warped us through her acid – techno – electro soundscape. There was a buzz in the air, Butik 2024 was underway.
I got my first feel of the Garden Stage on the Thursday as local artist Maša took control at 5PM. If it was anything like her recording on MUDD Show at last years Butik then we were in for a treat. Maša effortlessly mixed records with style and class and provided one of my standout sets of the festival. A special moment and applause erupted as a classic Ricardo Villalobos – 808 Bass Queen oozed through the crisp Void Acoustics. A track that evokes emotion, it was the perfect setting. I remember looking out to the river with a sense of euphoria: I was in paradise.
When you are nestled in nature, there is no need for elaborate or excessive decoration. The festival design is integrated with care into the natural scenery, without the feeling of ‘overdoing’ it. A singular entrance to the river which is managed 24 hours makes access uncomplicated and easy. The grounds feel big enough to get ‘lost’, but small enough to keep that intimate feeling.
If you are looking for some downtime in the evenings, you could relax on a hammock or cushion at the Tranquility stage. Situated among the pine trees, I found myself enjoying some rest here, or engaging in long conversations as artists curated extended live or DJ ambient sets. A new touch from Butik this year, it added another special element and calm amid the chaos.
Just over the path from the Tranquility Stage was another thoughtfully curated chillout area managed by NGO DrogArt Association and Fazani. Here you could settle with a blanket or beanbag, and help was on hand if needed. Upon arrival one evening I was greeted by a team member with a smile and a “Hey how are you tonight? Would you like some water or tea?”.
In the blink of an eye it was Friday, and I started my day the tequila way listening to to sounds of local talent Izza on the Garden Stage. In 120 minutes, Izza shifted through her selection easily fusing minimal, house and electro grooves that had a crowd in a frenzy by 5pm.
Over on the beach stage, another special performance was in the works as fellow SOLVD member and pioneerAlex Ranerro had partnered with Rhythm Science founder Stipo for an electric B2B. The pair bounced off each other, expressively mixing with influences of Italo house and vocal gems that were coupled on a regular rolling baseline. There was no slowing down as Samuel Deep and tINI followed, both bringing their signature infectious styles until the sun made its descent for the day.
At the garden stage from 7pm, two more local artists Lottie & Lerro were laying down the heat and it wasn’t going unnoticed. The dance floor was packed from front to back with a bustling energy as the pair took no time in finding their groove. “Butik is this place that gives the local artist an opportunity to play something they are afraid to play” Lottie told me in our conversation the next day. “The people gave us the energy, the first tracks we mixed the crowd were like woah! And we felt like we could go all in with a big smile. That’s the whole point of Butik, there is no boundaries.”
As Lottie & Lerro handed over to Gabbs at 9pm the garden stage was in a mania. Their set, which will be going up on MUDD Show in the near future was carefully curated with records they have picked up over the years, but might not get a chance to play.
“We were picking our records for half a year” they both told me. “It is really nice to get the response from the crowd that we did. They were saying that they felt our passion for the music. We really try hard to give something to the people to express ourselves. At Butik you will likely see some artists that you may not have heard before, this is what gives that Butik magic.”
There is no doubt for many Slovenian artists this is their biggest gig of the year, with many playing either side of ‘headline’ artists in front of a rare international crowd. But I felt no sense of nerves or apprehension from anyone I saw play, just a freedom to express themselves. The Slovenian underground scene is a small and tight knit community who are pushing each other to better themselves and their environment. Butik provides the opportunities for many talented artists to push the boundaries of their craft, giving them the confidence to go and do exactly that. As a result, you create a core community on strong foundations, which is inherently essential for a festival to stand the test of time. I believe many festivals are lacking this essence, which is what makes Butik unique.
With no outdoor music after 1am, I eagerly ventured inside to a personal favourite, Cap, who had just started spinning. Nightfall introduced a contrasting raw and stripped back vibe to the day. A large unused and quirky casino centred at the heart of the site, transformed into multiple dark and sweaty underground raves. Opening the Casino room, Cap delivered his style of chunky minimal and twisted breaks that had sweat dripping from the walls. For those looking for differing styles, there were other stages such as the Hangar and Forest which hosted Dj’s such as Mama Snake, CCL b2b Objekt, Rosa Terenzi and BASHKKA and Sedef Adasi.
Saturday came round and I was drifting down the River Soca on a large pink flamingo inflatable, beaming with a huge smile. The turquoise blue waters shimmered in the late afternoon sun as Kayaks and Canoes would regularly glide by before fading into the distance.
Another standout set came on the Saturday afternoon as local artist Teo delivered 2 hours of slick minimal that had the Garden Stage bouncing. Listening to Teo, I had found another Slovenian favourite, and I knew there were still more to come. Next up was Butik favourite Ryan Elliot who stepped up for his fourth time playing the festival. The garden was bustling with excitement and Elliot didn’t disappoint. He immediately got into his rhythm with an excess of house, techno and drops of disco which were lapped up by the crowd.
As the evening beckoned I sat down with Slovenian legend and founder of LuckIsOn, Ian F to discuss all things music and growing up in Slovenia. We immediately got onto the topic of how raw the scene was in the early days.
“I started in around 1995 and had my first professional gig in 97. Internet didn’t exist, we had no YouTube, no Discogs, no record shops. We had to travel 5 hours to Italy or Germany to dig for records. You couldn’t dig for music anywhere else but clubs, you would have to go out and listen and watch a DJ. I was going out for 5-6 years with a little block and pencil and trying to write records down, just there like a geek!”
Moving onto Butik, Ian is playing his 4th edition this year and describes what the Festival means for many.
“For being such a small country I believe we have a strong scene. Butik is kinda a showroom for smaller talent. Every year I get good feedback from people who have never heard me before.”
The final day of a festival is typically the cherry on the cake and I had great anticipation for what Butik had in store. Friends and family of old and new gather together for a last chance to dance. The Garden stage opened at 8am meaning many took refuge after powering through the night. This provided an energy that is hard to describe with words alone. As the last baseline rippled through the Garden Stage around 2pm we wandered over for the finale on the Main. I spent the rest of Sunday relaxing or swimming in the river trying to soak it all up before my early morning flight. It was the perfect way to finish a festival.
With only their fifth edition Butik have already established themselves as one of Europe’s top electronic festivals. Each year will bring new challenges and hurdles but they are well equipped to tackle whatever comes their way. There are areas to improve, such as increasing the number of toilets, and managing sporadic long queues, all of which can be resolved with relative ease. I would also be interested to speak with local villagers of Tolmin to hear their feedback on this year’s edition.
Butik Festival 2024 was an incredible experience in so many ways. It opened my eyes to both the beauty and culture of Slovenia. I came home with a strong sense of connection with nature and my surroundings. The symbiosis of the music, people and nature creates a unique atmosphere for all involved. Butik believes in their local artists and provides the platform to show the world what they’ve got. It plays a crucial role in the development of their culture, which is something not many festivals can say. Discovering many new Slovenian artists gave me a new appreciation of their scene.. and a lot of fun.
The biggest challenge for Butik in my opinion, is maintaining that intimate feeling which makes the festival so special. In five years Butik has grown their audience organically and sustainably through involvement of the local community and artists. Balancing growth and authenticity will be key for Butik’s success in the long run. In the following weeks after Butik, the online buzz from artists and festival goers came from all over the world. Everyone is talking about Butik—and rightfully so, but it feels like they are just getting started.
Words by Owen Kennett
