Outloud, a festival born from the union of Loud-Contact’s international production experience and Outcast’s deep local roots, is advancing Turin’s underground standing at an impressive rate. After a first edition that drew crowds from across the continent, the team is back with a more ambitious, more considered second chapter: a new open-air stage, deeper collaboration with Bunker’s art installations, and a lineup built on identity rather than algorithm.
We sat down with co-founders Alessio and Salvatore to talk about what it took to get here, what they got wrong the first time around, and why coming home to Turin after two decades abroad feels like closing a circle.
For Alessio, Outloud was never about chasing trends. “The idea was to create a festival that fully represented our musical vision and the style we have supported over the years, both through Loud-Contact and Outcast,” he explains. “At a time when many festivals are moving increasingly towards the mainstream, we wanted to put the music, the dance floor experience, and support for the underground scene at the very centre.” The goal, he says, was simple: create a special gathering for a community that shares the same passion and values.
That mission was validated almost immediately. Salvatore remembers the moment it clicked, and it came before the gates had even opened. “One of the strongest signs actually came before the gates even opened,” he says. “Seeing that, from the very first edition, we were selling tickets not only across Italy but also to people from several European countries made us realise that the project had an identity capable of reaching far beyond the local scene.” Once the festival was underway, the atmosphere confirmed it — strangers from different backgrounds sharing the same space with curiosity and respect, experiencing something that felt like far more than a sequence of concerts or DJ sets. “For us, it was proof that there is an audience looking for events with a strong identity, and that a city like Turin can become a destination when there is a project people genuinely connect with.”
No first edition is perfect, and both founders are candid about that. “Like any new project, Outloud needs time to grow and establish itself,” Alessio says. “The first edition gave us a lot of confirmation, but it also showed us where we can improve.” Audience feedback, he adds, has been fundamental to that process. “Listening to the people who experience the festival is the best way to keep growing. We have taken every comment and suggestion on board, with the aim of improving with every edition and delivering an increasingly complete experience, without losing the identity that makes Outloud special.”
That evolution is visible everywhere in this year’s edition. “This year, everything has been developed with greater awareness,” Salvatore says. “It’s not simply about a new lineup. It’s about a more mature project.” The team has focused heavily on the relationship between music, art installations, and physical space, aiming for a journey that feels more immersive from start to finish. The headline addition is a new open-air stage. “We wanted to create a space for people who prefer experiencing music in a different way, away from the intensity of the main stages,” he explains. “We believe a festival should offer different kinds of experiences, allowing people to move between moments of high energy and more intimate, reflective ones.”
Ask Alessio how the lineup comes together, and the answer is unambiguous. “For Outloud, artist selection always starts with the music, never with the numbers,” he says. “We support artists with a strong musical identity, a clear vision, and the ability to create a unique experience on the dancefloor.” The through-line connecting the bill, he says, is a shared commitment to craft: “Artists who dedicate themselves to musical research, deliver sets with personality, and place the quality of their selection at the heart of what they do.”
That philosophy extends to the venue itself. Bunker, Salvatore says, is far more than a backdrop. “It’s a true collaborator of the festival. It has such a strong identity that it naturally shapes many of our decisions.” The programming is always designed with the relationship between artists and space in mind, and this year is no exception — visitors will again encounter installations woven directly into the experience. “They are not simply decorative elements,” he notes, “but an integral part of the overall experience.”
For Alessio, staging Outloud in Turin carries a weight that goes beyond production logistics. Having built his career abroad for more than twenty years, bringing the festival back to his hometown feels, in his words, like completing a circle. “I left Turin many years ago with a dream, and being able to return today with a festival like Outloud represents the culmination of a journey built on passion, sacrifice, and experience,” he says. “For me, it’s not just about organising an event in my hometown — it’s about giving something back to the place where everything started. It has a value that goes far beyond the professional aspect, and it’s probably one of the proudest moments of my career.”
The festival’s structure itself mirrors that blend of local roots and international ambition. Salvatore describes the partnership behind Outloud as a genuine meeting of two worlds: “Outcast brings a deep understanding of the city and its community, while Loud-Contact contributes the experience gained from producing international events. The partnership is built on mutual respect, bringing together a strong local identity with a broader international vision.”
Neither founder frames Outloud as a one-man project. “Outloud is the result of a team that works really well together,” Alessio says. “Everyone brings different skills, from production and booking to communication and creative direction, but the most important decisions are always made together.” Open dialogue, he adds, is what holds it all together: “For me, the key is being able to talk openly and listen to each other. Everyone has a different point of view, but we all have the same goal: to create a festival that feels unique and has its own identity.”
Looking ahead, Salvatore isn’t interested in scale for its own sake. “We don’t necessarily dream of becoming a bigger festival. What matters most is becoming a recognised point of reference for the quality of what we offer,” he says. His hope for the next five years is specific: people travelling to Turin for Outloud alone, knowing they’ll live an experience they couldn’t have anywhere else — and a festival that helps strengthen the city’s reputation as a place for contemporary cultural experimentation. “Highlighting the work of the people who build culture here throughout the year,” he says, “not just during the festival itself.”
Tickets for Outloud Festival are now on final release, and you can grab them here.
More info on Outcast Torino
Facebook | Resident Advisor | Instagram
More info on Loud-Contact
Instagram | Facebook | RA
More info on Outloud Festival
Instagram
