Anyone for a good news story this morning? How about a brand new festival in 2009 from the Bodytonic and Nightflight club runners? Airbound will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend in the Croatian beach resort of Petrcane.
Yep, a festival on a beach in Croatia and not in a muddy Irish field. What's not to love?
Bodytonic's Trevor O'Shea explains that he was originally approached last December about the festival. "The guy who owns the site has Irish connections and he runs his own festival there every year. He approached us about doing a weekender, but we were too busy to do anything this year."
However, DJs from the Nightflight club went to Petrcane to play some gigs, were hugely impressed by what they found, and began to put plans put in place for 2009.
It's not Bodytonic's first foray into foreign climes, with parties at Barcelona's Sonar and Malawi's Lake of Stars festival already under their belts.
The difference with Airbound, says O'Shea, is that they will be bringing the audience with them. "When we did stuff at Sonar and Lake of Stars, we weren't promoting it at home or relying on an Irish audience. I reckon 90 per cent of the people at Airbound will come from Ireland."
He says the festival will resemble what Bodytonic and Nightflight do at their nights in Dublin. "We'll have a couple of international DJs and a few good bands. And it will be predominately house, techno, soul and funk."
Bodytonic have been offered a few Irish events for 2009 following their departure from the Electric Picnic. "We have a few options, but we really don't know yet what we'll do.
"This year was all about the Twisted Pepper (their new Dublin venue) so it's bit early to know about next summer. Even the major promoters are taking a wait and see approach because no-one knows what will happen next year."
Early-bird tickets are €39 and full-price tickets will be €59. More information at www.bodytonicmusic.com
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