It's just over two weeks until eco-friendly electronic music festival Paradise City kicks off, with tens of thousands of festival-goers due to attend the picturesque venue at a waterside castle just outside of Brussels.
A record 43,000 visitors attended last year's festival at Ribaucourt Castle in Perk (near Brussels Airport), as Paradise City has established itself as one of the Belgian music festivals "not to be missed", say organisers.
Taking place over the last weekend in June, from Friday 28 to Sunday 30, here are all the details on the full line-up and what to expect from the weekend.
Who's playing?
More than 134 artists will be performing across seven stages over the weekend, from big international acts to homegrown Belgian talent.
Highlights include Bonobo and Maribou State, two international acts that have exported their brand of warm and organic dance music across the globe for decades. Also joining the party will be some of house and techno's most esteemed acts, including Dixon, Mr. G (live), Ron Trent, DJ Koze, Jane Fitz, tINI and Voices from the Lake.
Those looking for faster tempos can catch Marlon Hoffstadt, Job Jobse, Daria Kolosova, Skin on Skin and DJ Gigola over the weekend, as well as the B2B sets of Angel D'lite & DJ Sweet6teen, Gerd Janson & Partiboi69, and Merve & Narciss.
David August will present his highly anticipated new live AV show packed with the producer's melancholic, emotive, organic electronica, while Rival Consoles and Rex The Dog are set to bring entertaining shows to the Live Stage, showcasing the deeper and creative sides of live electronic music.
Photo from Paradise City Festival
Those looking to discover something entirely new will should check out Four Tet's protégé Hagop Tchaparian, bringing a refreshing live set filled with club-ready, ethnically influenced dancefloor hitters. Meanwhile UK house sensation Sally C will be going back to back with Brussels' very own Driss Benis aka OCB on Saturday's Contrast Stage.
As for other Belgian artists, Blck Mamba, Emily Jeanne and Zouzibabe will also be centre stage, and Antwerp's Lola Haro will be going back-to-back with Berlin's techno legend Marcel Dettmann. Keep your eyes peeled too for Perk's very own RIET, breakbeat connaisseur Catalina, expert selector Bjeor, and rave energy provider Odymel, as well as YellowStraps, Jennifur, and Bibi Seck.
Check out the full line-up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday here.
New stage for 2024
Paradise City is introducing a seventh stage this year – Plantasia – a more laid-back setting where music lovers can "wake up or wind down".
A leafy getaway from the rest of the festival will offer soft guitars and slow rhythms, with a curated line-up of oddball acts from all corners of the globe.
It will be accessible to campers before and after the festival hours, strictly showcasing chill-down, ambient, and downtempo music throughout the Paradise City weekend.
Sustainability credentials
The festival prides itself on being sustainable, as the 2023 edition received an 'outstanding' four-star certification from A Greener Festival, as well as the International Greener Festival Award and the Greener Catering Award.
The Paradise City Contrast Stage is powered by 99.22% solar energy, with 372m² of solar panels on the festival site including 60 panels floating on the water next to the castle.
This summer, organisers aim to get 33% of energy from solar power, 33% from HVO (bio-fuel) and 33% from grid power. Paradise City will be supplied with 100% sustainable and locally generated power from an Eneco solar farm in Puurs.
Paradise City at the Ribaucourt castle site in Perk. Credit: Belga
Food options are either vegetarian or vegan, with the carbon emissions of each dish sold communicated through a CO2 calculator at the meat-free food court.
Organisers also promote alternative transport options rather than visitors travelling by car. Trains (and even some party trains complete with DJs and a bar, in partnership with Bombay Sapphire) are organised from Vilvoorde station, while Brussels Airport provides an electric shuttle connection. The organisers are also expanding and enhancing the bike park this year.
Weekend camping tickets are now sold out but other options are still available, with day passes starting at €69 and weekend passes sold for €155.
