words by Melissa Santos
Dimensions Festival has long been a renowned fixture in the electronic music scene, drawing music enthusiasts from around the world to the picturesque town of Tisno, Croatia. Since its inception in 2012, this annual gathering has established itself as a must-attend event. It is celebrated for its stunning natural setting, world-class sound production, and diverse lineup of cutting-edge artists. Dimensions had long been on my radar, and now I was finally getting the chance to immerse myself in its captivating world. From the moment we stepped off the plane and into the welcoming embrace of the Croatian coastline, I knew I was in for a truly special experience. The drive to Tisno was a scenic delight, with the turquoise Adriatic waters and rocky coastline creating an idyllic setting for a music festival.
Day 1: Easing into the Vibe
My journey began at the The Haze stage, where Lis Sarroca’s downtempo set provided the perfect introduction to the weekend’s sonic delights. Her organic, hypnotic sounds set the tone for the adventure ahead. I then made my way to the stunning Beach Stage, where the sun began to dip below the horizon, and the crowd – a vibrant mix of international music enthusiasts – danced joyfully in the crystal-clear waters to the sound of electrifying house beats. The highlight of the day, however, came when Garrett David took the stage for his live set. I had been eagerly anticipating this performance, and it did not disappoint. Seamless transitions and a flawless command of the performance elevated the entire crowd to a state of pure bliss. The set was followed by a dynamic b2b from the lovely DJ couple of Tau Car and International Mac, whose vocal-driven house grooves had everyone moving and shaking. This was perfectly setting the stage for the friendship goals-worthy performance of Liquid Earth b2b Huerta, whose energy and synchronicity captivated the dancers, putting the perfect exclamation point on the day.
Day 2: Boat Parties and Electro Odyssey
The early afternoon at the Olive Grove stage saw Baldo’s eclectic set full of unreleased gems from Subwax distribution and nostalgic UK tech house vibes, giving way to Anderson’s energetic progressive set. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we boarded the Slow Life boat party for a 3-hour journey that left an indelible mark on our memories. Junki Inoue’s deep, hypnotic house set laid the foundation for the performance of Laurine & Cecilio, heads of Slow Life Music. Their vinyl-centric set, complete with perfectly timed skips and jumps from the rocking boat, had the crowd in a frenzy of joy and appreciation. Old-school house, deep vocals, smooth basslines, and warm, expressive tones, capped off by an “Erase and Rewind” edit that had everyone chanting along and stealing a piece of my heart. This was the highlight of my day.
As night fell, Helena Hauff’s electro-techno set at the Cosmos, surrounded by mesmerising blue and purple laser lights and exceptional sound quality, created a warm and enveloping atmosphere for the devoted dancers. To wind down, I made my way to the beach stage to catch the Heels & Souls lineup, where Prosumer played timeless classics like a remix of Depeche Mode’s “I Just Can’t Get Enough” and Shanti Celeste’s vocal-driven house grooves and smooth dancing left me longing for more.
Day 3: Emotional Journeys and Analog Elegance
Our third day began with a captivating b2b set from Melody & Mari.te at the Beach Stage, curated by Dr. Banana. The duo’s effortless chemistry and performance that balanced progressive and tech house with an abundance of energy, passion, and even some tears of joy from Melody while playing Ralph Dee’s “Till the Clouds Roll By”. Next, the Phone Traxxx (live) trio of Alec Falconer, Harry Wills, and Rob Amboule brought their nostalgic yet forward-thinking blend of UKG and breaks, adding a touch of humour with their vocals and ringtone-inspired opening.
As the night deepened, Radioactive Man’s analog set at the Cosmos was a true highlight, evoking movement with every element added to the initial breakbeat foundation. Progressive, electro, techno – it was a cohesive, profound performance with the best sound quality. Where “elegance meets darkness,” as one DJ in the crowd aptly described it. This was my personal favorite of the night, if not the entire festival. To cap off the evening, I ventured to the Barbarella’s Discotheque after-party, hosted by Resolute, where the legendary Mathew Jonson treated us to an eclectic, minimalistic, and jazzy techno set, complete with his own vocals from one of his latest productions “That Bass”.
Day 4: Island Escapades and Sunset Bliss
The fourth day brought the much-anticipated secret island party by Butter Side Up, which had sold out months in advance. I boarded boat 2, waving goodbye to the mainland and dancing to the sounds of Penelope followed by Tomas Station and his impromptu b2b partner Garrett David.
Arriving at the paradise of Obonjan Island, the saltwater pool party was a refreshing surprise, providing a change of pace from the beach. Malika’s chill, deep house set paved the way for Mari.te’s infectious performance that truly stole the show. Her tunes danced between deep house, breaks, and house music, igniting pure happiness in the crowd and providing a sunset-drenched soundtrack that we’ll never forget. Thankfully, The MUDD Show was there to capture it all, allowing us to re-live this magical day again and again.
As the day drew to a close, The Ghost took on the island’s closing duties. And we were back on the boat accompanied by the sound of Matthew Neequaye playing his edit of Chimo Bayo’s “Extasy Extano” to hand the decks to DJ Masda, who gave us a hypnotic, electro-tinged set that provided the perfect send-off.
Back on the mainland, the Olive Grove hosted an electrifying live set from Giammarco Orsini & Jacopo Latini aka Data Memory Access, whose techno and electro sound stirred up the crowd, while the ever-reliable duo of tINI & Anthea kept the beach stage vibes flowing.
Day 5: A Bittersweet Farewell
The final day of Dimensions had a bittersweet feel, as we knew the end was near. The Mudd Show’s hosting of the Beach Stage set the tone for the day, with Laidlaw b2b Youandewan bringing the right balance of house and acid as the sun dipped below the horizon.
At the Olive Grove, Croatian DJ/producer Dea’s hard-hitting, hypnotic, and progressive set, accompanied by captivating visuals, had the eager dancers making the most of the remaining minutes. DMX Krew’s dynamic and engaging MPC-driven live set at the Cosmos, blending electro, breaks, and synth-pop, was a true highlight, showcasing his exceptional talent-
As the festival drew to a close, Sugar Free & Fonte’s stylish and atmospheric “malandreo” set, a mix of electro, slow techno, and dark progressive sounds, paved the way for the grand finale – XDB’s masterful performance that had the crowd captivated with timeless classics like Cajmere ft. Dajae “Brighter Days”, as the last sunrise bid us farewell.
In the end, I can only express my deepest gratitude to the Dimensions team. This festival truly feels like an extended family gathering, a place to connect with your favourite artists, discover new music, and end the summer on a high note. A special shout-out to the unsung heroes – Zack, everyone’s favorite stage manager, Christian from the boats, who has been part of the crew since its beginnings, the amazing light and sound technicians who meticulously crafted the best audiovisual experience possible, and to Patrick and Hamish, whose dedication has turned Dimensions Festival into a transcendent experience, and a true celebration of the electronic music community and the power of shared passion and connection. I can’t wait to return next year and continue this remarkable journey.
The date has already been released for Dims 2025, so make sure and mark August 28 – September 1st in your diary.
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