“The rave that made history in Colombia’s electronic scene” returns to Medellin this Saturday, as Freedom Festival 2014 brings artists from all over the world for an entire day and night of music in the state capital’s Plaza Mayor.
Thousands are expected to attend the festival that organizers MedellinStyle.com have described as a “melting pot” of musical talent, in which international artists will fill the city with modern dance beats with a fresh Latin feel.
“The character of every performer makes Freedom special,” the founder of MedellinStyle.com Jose Luis Gmid tells Colombia Reports. “We’ve brought both legendary artists and new, contemporary talent.”
At least 18 electronic performers will be flying in from the United States, Germany, Ireland, Nigeria, and more. Ten of the selected DJs are from Colombia.
“Nobody here was chosen randomly,” Jose Luis explains. “The objective is for everyone to find the best artist for them, some will ‘speak’ to you more than others.”
Paco Osuna performing at a festival in Amsterdam, Holland in 2013
Guests will have an array of choices with over 15 hours of festival music across three stages in the central city square, where they will also experience what is apparently the biggest laser show in Colombia.
“The best thing is to get your head in the mind game and let yourself be swept freely between all of the spaces,” Jose Luis says.
This year in particular, these spaces will “elevate electronic music to the next level” through the theme of “darkorganic,” taking electronic into the spectrum of techno and underground house.
Among those performing will be the world-famous Spanish techno DJ and producer Paco Osuna; the German Robag Wruhme, who has been making electronic music for decades; Par Grindvik, a central player in the Swedish electronic scene since the 1990s who is now based in electro heaven Berlin, Germany; and the Chilean Alexi Delano, a minimalism and dark techno musician who combines heavy Swedish beats with vibrant New York sounds.
The festival organizers run this and dozens of other events every year, and saw 12,000 people attend Freedom in 2013.
For them, this yearly electronic party is more than just a rave.
“The message of freedom evolves with music, because music itself is [freedom] and makes [freedom] happen,” they tell us.
“Electronic music has been, is and will continue to be one of the main elements for a transformation towards the definitive dawn of a global culture.”
The event will kick start at midday on Saturday, March 15, in Medellin’s centrally located Plaza Mayor, and end at 4 AM the next day. Tickets are still available online from $40.50 (83,000 Colombian pesos) at Tuboleta.com, Eventbrite and Resident Advisor.
Sources
- Interview with Jose Luis Gmid
- GMID Facebook Page
- Festival Facebook Page
- FREEDOM (Tuboleta.com)