Top 10 March Festivals

Credit crunch? What credit crunch? From Butlins to Brazil, we’ve got ten solid reasons for you to ignore your shrinking bank account and get on a plane next month. Whether it be the overwhelming WMC in Miami, a buttoned-down Belgian festival or a party held at a National Orange Show Events Center, you officially have no excuse.

10. How Sweet It Is
March 21
NOS Events Center
California, United States

When you think of techno, you think of oranges, right? Probably not. The organizers of How Sweet It Is are hoping the same, as they take over the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino for the 12th annual edition of the event. Looking at the photo above, we’re guessing that both the dancers and the organizers will have no problem dressing the place up to welcome the likes of Booka Shade, DJ Sneak, Kraak & Smaak and Cali-based electro DJ Mr. White. With a line-up like that—and Booka Shade playing in a room called the “Temple of Imagination”—expect this to be one to remember.

09. Moots Festival
March 20 – 22
Carretera Ajusco-Coexapan
Mexico City, Mexico

Festivals in Mexico are no rarity, but festivals in Mexico with a line-up this amazing are. Dubfire, Booka Shade, Shlomi Aber, Style of Eye, Felix Da Housecat and many, many more will play at this open air fest in this often underappreciated land of electronic music lovers. They’ll all be keeping the music going for a mind-bending 48 straight hours. To get in the fun, all you have to do is shell out $850. And to follow the rules: “No drogas.” “No armas.” “No violencia.”

08. Future Music Festival
February 28, March 1, 7, 8, 9
Various
Various, Australia
Sydney | Perth | Brisbane | Melbourne | Adelaide

Australians have it easy, some might say. As long as you live in—or near—a major city, the acts will come to you each summer in festival packages like the Future Music Festival, in which a varied group of folks all band together for five date tours across the country. For this year’s edition, the organizers have tapped Richie Hawtin, Basement Jaxx, N*E*R*D, CSS, Paul Oakenfold, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Mr. Oizo to bring their various brands of mayhem to the country in what should be one of the most wide-ranging festivals you’ll have the chance to see in 2009.

07. Kaballah
March 14, 21
Various
Various, Brazil
Curitiba | São Paulo

Kaballah is one of Brazil’s most massive festivals, taking place at various times throughout the year in different areas of the country. It makes its 2009 debut, however, in March with events planned in Curtiba and São Paulo. Because the other editions are later on in the year, it’s impossible to say who might be headlining then. For these shindigs, however, the honor goes to prog master James Zabiela and Italian export Dusty Kid. (The duo will joined by Tiefschwarz at the Curitiba date.) While São Paulo residents will have two more chances to experience Kaballah later in the year, we recommend you don’t miss out on this one.

06. Snowbombing
March 29 – April 4
Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen, Austria

Snowbombing is a week-long English festival that’s held in the picturesque Austrian Alps, which caters to ravers as much as skiers. That’s if you can drag yourself out of bed following the previous night’s shenanigans, with a raft of top DJs and live acts set to play in all sorts of crazy venues, including igloos, ice villages and even a 200 year old mountain barn. Historically, the festival has focused on breaks and drum & bass, but there’s also plenty of tech-house (Nic Fanciulli, Patrice Bäumel), disco (Lindstrøm, Kathy Diamond), dubstep (Benga, Caspa) and electro-house (Mylo) to get your stomp on to. The fancy dress street party is one of the highlights of the week’s festivities, so make sure to pack some crazy clothing to join in the fun.

05. Ultra Music Festival
March 27 – March 28
Bicentennial Park
Miami, United States
Day 1 | Day 2

The festival within a festival—Ultra Music Festival—will once again take over Miami’s Bicentennial Park in late March for mirth, mayhem and Carl Cox. Highlights of this enormous rave include Prodigy, Booka Shade, Roni Size, Cut Copy, Hercules & Love Affair, Luciano, Loco Dice, Richie Hawtin and—of course—Coxy. The show is such an event, in fact, that even some non-purely electronic acts are getting in on the fun this year: Bloc Party will play before Tiësto and the name-changing wonder that is Santigold will play after Steve Lawler.

04. Resonance Ghent
February 27 – March 1
Various
Ghent, Belgium
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Ghent’s annual Resonance festival returns for its second year in 2009, with a line-up that’s sure to get techno fans’ tongues wagging both before and after the event. Saturday night’s show at Vooruit will see dance floor friendly sets from the likes of Efdemin, Move D & Benjamin Brunn, and Claro Intelecto, which is bookended by more downbeat shows on the Friday and Sunday. We can’t think of many better ways to soothe our hangover than listening to the immersive dub techno of Echospace, and thankfully they’ll be playing the final night of the festival.

03. Brussels Electronic Music Festival
March 20 – 22
Bozar
Brussels, Belgium
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

This March sees the first annual Brussels Electronic Music Festival take place at Bozar, which is the city’s Centre for Fine Arts. The grand, eight tiered building might not be the first place that you’d think of holding a festival, but there aren’t many other places that you can see breathtaking art deco architecture whilst raving it up. Musically, the line-up is heavily shaped by label showcases, with ~scape (Pole, Deadbeat, Frivolous), Kompakt (Supermayer, Mathias Aguayo) and Raster-Noton (Byetone, Alva Noto) all taking part.

02. Bloc Weekend
March 13 – 15
Butlins Resort
West + Wales, United Kingdom
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Now entering its third year, the Bloc Weekend festival is quickly establishing itself as the hottest festival for underground electronic music in the UK. Whether you’re looking for house, techno, electro, disco or dubstep, you’ll be more than adequately catered for with their biggest line-up to date. Martyn, Metro Area, Carl Craig, Aphex Twin, Robert Hood, Green Velvet and Lee “Scratch” Perry are just a handful of the acts that will be at the Butlins Holiday Park in Minehead, which offers a more luxurious festival experience than the norm. Not only do you get a chalet to sleep and shower in, but there are amenities on offer such as dodgems, ten-pin bowling and even the South West’s largest water park if you fancy a dip. With music playing and booze flowing 24 hours a day, we wonder how much usage those chalet beds are actually going to get.

01. Winter Music Conference 2009
March 24 – 29
Various
Miami, Florida

The most important Stateside event on the dance music calendar, Miami’s Winter Music Conference will be celebrating its 24th edition in 2009. Having grown from humble beginnings, it’s become an essential stop for artists, partygoers, promoters and labels. Whether you’re going to get your groove on, schmooze, cut a deal or just kick back and admire the magnificent plastic surgery on display, there’ll be plenty to see throughout the week-long celebration. For those intent on grooving, though, you’ll be the best off: There isn’t a genre not represented in this orgy of electronic music. You name it, there’s probably a party that caters directly to your tastes.

• source RA