Countdown to: Dimensions 2016

With just under a month to wait before Dimensions returns to Fort Punta Christo, it would be remiss of us not to look forward to one of the biggest events on the electronic festival calendar. This is the fifth time that the Fort (that also hosts Outlook Festival) has been taken over by the Dimensions team, each year bringing a higher calibre and more expansive group of artists to the idyllic site on the Adriatic coast.

This year is no different and it is difficult to know where to start analysing the huge amount of quality that will be showcased between 24^th and 29^th August. Nonetheless, we’ll try, and here are some of our picks for Dimensions 2016.

Starting from the top, it is hardly surprising that tickets for the Opening Concert are selling like hot cakes when you consider what it has to offer. As if the draw of UK trip-hop group Massive Attack, the groovy melodic techno of the Motor City’s Moodymann and the encapsulating Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington wasn’t enough, the thought of this trio of artists playing in a 2000 year old Roman Amphitheatre is surely too much for any music aficionado to resist.

In terms of the line-up of the festival as a whole, it is a monumental task to pick stand outs. Larry Heard aka Mr Fingers, the windy city deep-house originator will be playing his first live set for over 20 years. The chance to see one of the true pioneers of electronic music is one that should not be passed up by any festival goer. The prospect of hearing ‘Can you feel it’ live is one that many people will never have. A live set by Octave One and Ritchie Hawtin playing an extended set at the Moat is also on the menu and enough to make any techno head weak at the knees.

For those a bit more dub inclined, the Bug and Loefah playing on the Mungo’s Hi-Fi system will be sufficiently lively. The standout set from last year has to be Motor City Drum Ensemble b2b Jeremy Underground to close the 2015 edition. This year the duo return and although not billed to play b2b, these two will play rare gems across several genres.

It is not just the artists involved that makes Dimensions so special, the stage take-overs and the stages themselves give the festival a unique feeling. The long, high walled design of the Moat gives the stage an intimate feel and also allow the bass to reverberate from front to back. The Hessle Audio takeover on Thursday and on the Bodytonic takeover, with Helena Hauff and Intergalactic Gary on the Sunday are the two nights to look out for.

The Resident Advisor takeover of the Void is likely to be one of the highlights of the festival, with Ben Klock, Kyle Hall, and Pender Street Steppers on the bill to lay down some heavy industrial beats. Another really sumptuous piece of curation is the Rush Hour takeover of the Void. Owner Antal and Rush Hour favourite Hunee are joined by Soichi Terada. The Japanese producer, whose distinctive and almost video game like sound was recently showcased by Hunee on Rush Hour, brings his acclaimed live set to Dimensions.

As well as all the night-time frivolities, the Beach provides a venue where festival goers can enjoy good music throughout the day. Jeremy Underground, Hunee and Antal all play on this stage and demonstrate a deliberate gear towards the more chilled and laid back end of the musical continuum.

In addition to the standard fun package that one obtains with a festival ticket, boat parties run from the festival on the Adriatic daily at Dimensions, so festival goers can see their favourite artists in a completely different setting. Tickets and line-ups for the boat parties can be found here.

The full line-up and stage breakdown can be found on the Dimensions Facebook Page and any remaining tickets can be found on the Dimensions website.