RA – Top Ten Festivlas August 2010 – Number 8

08. Kazantip Republik
July 31 – August 21
Kazantip Republik
Crimea, Ukraine

With the same pool of bands, live acts and DJs making the rounds of music festivals each year, claims of uniqueness sometimes need to be swallowed with sizeable grains of salt. Not so for Kazantip. Like a hybrid between Burning Man and Ibiza circa its hedonistic 1980s heyday, Kazantip is as decadent, outrageous, and, yes, unique as it claims to be. A pseudo republic on the Crimean Black Sea coast, its annual three-week existence regularly leaves eye-widening tales of holidaying gangsters, Caligula-esque escapades and non-stop partying in its wake, long after its multiple dance floors, bars, and open air Crimean halls have been packed away for the year. While the music can sometimes get lost in the folklore, it is very much a vital factor of the Kazantip experience, with the festival regularly attracting some of the most popular marquee names within electronic music. This year will see the big man of UK techno, Carl Cox, a UK breaks contingent led by The Freestylers, the Romanian trio behind [a:rpia:r], heavy-hitting house and techno talent in the shape of M.A.N.D.Y., Ricardo Villalobos and Guy Gerber, plus special events hosted by labels like Poker Flat, Desolat and Freak ‘n Chic.

Source: Resident Advisor