For electronic music lovers with a passion for house and techno, this festival is a magnet for summer party tourists. Set along the iconic Zrče Beach, it spans four legendary beach clubs—Papaya, Kalypso, Aquarius, and Noa. Each stage is equipped with state-of-the-art sound systems and mesmerizing production lights, creating an immersive experience.
World-Class Lineup & Festival Attendees
With five nights of programming, Sonus offers something for everyone. The festival brings together some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene, including Jamie Jones, Ricardo Villalobos, Ben Klock, Ellen Allien, Sven Väth, and Deborah De Luca. But be prepared—this isn’t a festival for the faint-hearted. It’s five days of full-power dancing, attracting festival-goers from Seoul, São Paulo, Los Angeles, Mexico City, London, and beyond.
A Festival Rooted in Croatian Culture
For us, this festival is special because it is one of two Croatian organizations doing festivals within Croatia. In my previous article, The Croatian Underground Music Scene, I mentioned that there are 40+ music festivals in Croatia each Summer, with the majority being foreign entities. Sonus is one of the few Croatian-led events. Operated by the Zagreb-based group We Love Sound, the festival embraces Croatian party culture while also involving international partners. This local involvement is crucial in preserving and promoting the authentic Croatian festival experience.
When tourists rave about their love for Croatian festivals, it’s important to note that many are attending foreign-run events with mostly foreign attendees. Sonus, however, offers a genuine taste of how Croatians like to party. If you want a taste of how the Croatian people like to party, and trust me its amazing, check out my article that lists some of the best homegrown initiatives.
My Role at Sonus: Behind the Scenes
This year I served on the media team. One of my favorite roles to play is a content creator and this year I went around the stages capturing the point of view or POV for the Sonus Instagram. From there you saw videos from the dancefloor, showing the people, DJs making a remarkable music moment, and elements from the festival experience. You can watch back on Sonus Instagram Story Highlights and catch a cute fan moment Reel.
Imagine 5 days of working from 22:00 - 6:00, and all the magic that transpired. Its not easy to pick a top moment, but I will try. One of the most memorable experiences for me was impromptu going on the boat party on the last day to film Ellen Allien b2b Miro Von. I did not know what to expect, but it was a sunset boat party so I knew we were in for something beautiful.
They took us around the gorgeous islands off the coast of Pag, and we got a show! Both from nature with the golden sun casting pink reflections on the water, and from Ellen and Miro. They played such nice minimal groove baselines with techno instrumentation. It was a wonderful soundtrack to what we were witnessing in the sky. Everyone was dancing so freely, we had liberties at Sea, and we all contributed to making the mood special.
The Final Day: A Celebration of Friendship and Music
The last day of Sonus is always the most special, particularly at Kalypso, where we danced to sets by Mochakk, Ricardo Villalobos, and Quest. It’s a time when all the friends who worked throughout the festival come together to celebrate everything we’ve accomplished. It’s a moment of gratitude, reflecting on how we’ve helped put a Croatian music festival on the map and created unforgettable summer memories on the Adriatic Sea.
Join Us Next Year
If you want to find out how to attend next year, sign ups are available here. It's a lovely experience to be part of this celebration of music, culture, and community on Croatia’s stunning Zrče Beach amongst international friends.
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