While Slovenia pulsed with techno in the 90s and early 2000s – from Umek’s juggernaut sets to Random Logic’s cerebral live performances and the hedonistic haven Ambasada Gavioli – by the 2010s, the country had quietly slipped off the global dance music radar. The scene receded into shadow, splintering into microscenes: Waft, Italo disco, dub techno, psytrance, footwork, neurofunk, and more. All there, but almost invisible. That changed with the arrival of Butik Festival in 2019, a sleeper hit that coaxed Slovenian talent back into the light, drawing it out of basements and into international view.
In just six summers, Butik has shape-shifted from a local curiosity nestled along the emerald Soča River into one of Europe’s most sought-after boutique raves. It’s not just the lineups, thoughtfully curated combinations of regional rising stars and global fixtures, but the intention. A mid-size capacity, a loyal crowd, and a sincere drive to uplift Slovenian artists distinguish Butik from other similar regional festivals run by foreign promoters. Here, local acts aren’t an afterthought. They’re the draw.
The sixth edition was a technicolour mosaic: feet caked in sand, marathon dance sessions, vibrant techwear, and serendipitous afternoon discoveries. Even with 3,000 attendees from across the continent, the energy felt intimate, genuinely communal. The air buzzed with a polyphony of tongues: English, Slovenian, Italian, Croatian, German, Dutch, Spanish and more. And though we missed the typically scorching July sun, and the Soča stayed stubbornly cold until Saturday, the more moderate temperatures allowed for introspective moments on the floor. From early afternoon until 1 a.m., the Beach and Garden stages set the pace. The latter, with its surreal setup – ravers dancing knee-deep in an alpine river just metres from the decks – remains one of the most unique party experiences on the planet.
The Garden has become a launchpad for homegrown talent. Akaj, the boy with the golden curls, rockstar presence, and a taste for murky elegance, has cemented himself as a household name. His return to the Garden after an acclaimed 2023 performance proved he’s peerless. He played two slots during the weekend, a DJ set at the Garden and a much-anticipated live set at a packed Forest stage. Once again, his name floated through overheard conversations all weekend, proof of his popularity among the Butik crowd.
The Ljubljana selector Maša, another breakthrough artist with a heavy record bag full of minimal-via-tech-house gems, also returned to the Garden and delivered a memorable set defined by the waft, “a flick of the wrist, bobbing up and down in wave-like fashion,” as RA described it. The Garden is a paradise for “wafty music”, and the Sunday morning closing set by the Luckison collective felt like a spiritual gathering for wafters. When Mayell dropped an edit of the Talking Heads, the dancefloor transformed into a congregation of inflatable Tube men in ecstatic flailing motion. Dancers also highlighted standout performances by Lottie, who specialises in the trippy end of progressive house and trance, and Zvèn, whose relaxed approach to DJing and eclectic taste make him one of the most intriguing selectors of the younger generation.
But the revelation of 2025? The Living Room stage, a warmly lit, carpet-lined space curated by DJ SunnySun (BigNose Shop) and powered by Boris Soundsystem. Styled like a high-end listening lounge and permeated by the spirit of the Loft, its selections spanned downtempo, funk, cosmic disco, deep house, and more. Intended as a transitory chill zone, it became one of the festival’s main highlights. People came to sit down for a minute, only to stay until the lights went up.
This year’s edition reaffirmed that Butik is in excellent shape: thriving, refining, evolving. In contrast, Slovenia’s club scene remains precarious; it lacks proper infrastructure, from venues and festivals to labels, booking agencies, and a dedicated press. But at least there’s plenty of talent, and Butik acts as a vital bridge to the international scene. At a time when Slovenian artists can hardly get a club residency, it’s all the more important that Butik is developing its own residents and increasing their visibility. When someone abroad mentions Slovenia now, it’s no longer met with blank stares. It’s more likely that they’ll bring up some names.
Written by: Jaša Bužinel
DISCLAIMER: Jaša Bužinel has collaborated with and performed at the festival multiple times throughout the years.
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