A well-renowned cultural gathering, spanning nearly a week, Portuguese music festival Waking Life brings a wealth of interdisciplinary artists, musicians and like-minded individuals to the scenic Crato, in Northern Alentejo, for a marathon provision as the music runs continuously until Monday 12th of June. In tandem with the stacked musical offerings, a program of artworks, installations, performances, screenings, countercultural workshops and immersive experiences will be held across the festival site. This 6-day combination of music and art allows for a genuine escape from the banality everyday life can present and alludes to a utopia, realising a society with the arts beating at its heart and music flowing through its veins, breathing culture and connection with each breath. Waking Life also has community and work building at its very core and when not throwing one of the best festivals in Europe they are, “engaged in a large rewilding and land regeneration project around the lake. By working with the local community and municipality to transform the Barragem das Nascentes into a public park rich in biodiversity, we are building ecological resilience and reshaping endemic ecosystems that will regenerate 30 hectares of land over the next 10 years.”
With the full line up already released we have decided to cover select artists who have caught our eye. Boasting an extensive curation of live acts, Waking Life will be teeming with energy, a world premiere of Terrence Dixon and Jordan CGZ’s new live performance is definitely worth noting. The Motor-City techno legend joins Jordan Czamanski aka Jordan CGZ following a stream of successful collaboration since the pair were introduced in Europe back in 2019, the latter have cut his collaborative teeth through his part of both ‘Juju & Jordash” and “Magic Mountain High” alongside Move D.
Samuel Rohrer performs his enchanting live show, where intrinsic live drumming is met with a plethora of intriguing and extravagant synthesis forming a unique and impressively creative output, not entirely dissimilar to what can be heard in his collaborations with Ricardo Villalobos and the like. The dizzying array of live acts will also hear sets from classic performers such as Lawrence, Steevio, Losoul, Kassem Mosse, Tobias, Jan Jelinek and Melchior Productions as well as sets from DMX Krew and 100hz.
Maayan Nidam, who aside from her DJ set at Waking Life, will also be showcasing her A/V show as part of her performance as The Waves, a different project from the Perlon star and Berlin mainstay, executed with her usual grace, class and expertise.
In terms of DJs, a diverse yet carefully curated selection awaits and covers bases on all fronts. With Amir Alexander, Daphni, Darwin, Virginia, Steffi, Molly and Fred P, bringing all sorts of house-tinged flavours, with Walrus, The Lot Radio’s Can you jigit hosts O.bee & Tomas Station and BBC Radio 6 favourite Gilles Peterson catering to more eclectic tastes. Arpiar label bosses Petre Inspirescu and Rhadoo will be bringing the afterhours delicacies alongside Margaret Dygas, Magda and Eli Verveine who will be keeping the dancefloor rocking all around the clock. We are happy to see G76 has also been added to the line up, a DJ and producer who was been carving out his path with knock-kneed, experimental, minimal productions and selections that carry something different. Dark and driving grooves combine with elements of Sci-Fi soundtracks and classic house motifs, combining to create infectious, sometimes introspective, music that bends minds and bodies as it continues to tweak and evolve. Before the pre-mentioned artists appear there will be an opening performance from Breadwoman, a mythical being that made her name in folklore of 80’s Los Angeles.
Wonders await by the lake this June, check out the full line up below.
LIVE:
100hz
Alabaster DePlume
Aleksi Perälä
Azymuth
Baba Sissoko & Jean-Philippe Rykiel
Breadwoman
Carl Finlow
Caroline Lethô ambient
Christina Vantzou presents Releasing Spores
Church Andrews & Matt Davies
Collettivo Immaginario
Convextion
CZN (Valentina Magaletti & João Pais Filipe)
Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra
DMX Krew
Dorisburg (hybrid)
Edward
Eli Keszler A/V
Fred Scharf (hybrid)
Gin & Tonic
Grand River presents All Above
Greg Foat
Gyan Riley
HHY & The Macumbas
Ill Considered
James Holden
Jan Jelinek
John Also Bennett
Kassem Mosse
Kirk Barley
Lawrence
Leafar Legov
Losoul
Lula Pena
Lyza Jane
Má Estrela
Map.ache
Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force
Melchior Productions Ltd
Michelle Gurevich
Mint Field
Nadia Struiwigh
Perila
Pestana/Bassana
pigbaby
Portable
RAMZi
Rouge Mécanique
Samuel Rohrer
Schatrax
selv ikei
Space Afrika A/V
Steevio
Sun Araw
Terrence Dixon & Jordan GCZ
THE WAVES A/V
Tobias
Ulla
WaqWaq Kingdom A/V
White Pea
William Basinski
Yeah True
DJ:
AAguilAA
Actress
ADAB
Adi (CO)
AliA
Amir Alexander
Ana Pacheco
Anthony Naples
Cosmo Sofi
Daphni
Darwin
Deadbeat
DJ Dustin
DJ Fart in the Club
DJ Marcelle
DJ Narciso
DJ Qu
DJ Red
DJ Storm
DJ Vibe
Donna Leake
Drama
Eli Verveine
Elli
Eric Cloutier
e/tape
Francisca Urbano
Franziska Berns
Freddy K
G76
Gilles Peterson
JASSS
Jonas
Júliø
Karine
Kia (AU) & Koodoo
Kim Kenis
Konstantin
Kyle Toole
LaMaz
Luisa
Maayan Nidam
Magda
Mala
Margaret Dygas
Margaux
Menica
Menzi
Molly & Fred P
Mountain People
Nathalia
Nathalie Seres
nd_baumecker
Nina
Nomad Embassy Collective
Nosedrip
O.BEE & Tomas Station
Objekt
os quatro
Palms Trax
Paquita Gordon
Petre Inspirescu
Phrex
Raphael Carrau
re:ni
Rhadoo
Richard Akingbehin
Rui Vargas
Russell E.L. Butler
Sarah Farina
Selecta Fontes
Serafin
Shinedoe
Skee Mask
DJ SO
Stella Zekri
Steffi
Sybil
Telma
Tzusing
Ulf Eriksson
Vegyn
Vera
Virginia
Vlada
Walrus
XDB
Yamour
Yentl.
Zengxrl & Yizhaq
Zozo
More Info on Waking Life
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