SUNSETS AND SUNRISES AT SONUS FESTIVAL 2024
words by Mariana Malheiro
As the sun sets and rises on the beach alongside amazing music sets and beautiful views, that mix of euphoria and calmness is what Sonus Festival has brought. Over the past week, thousands of music lovers have gathered on Croatia's stunning Pag Island, immersing themselves in a unique festival experience that blends incredible music, breathtaking scenery, and great vibes.
It's clear that the energy was electric from the start, the music was unstoppable, pumping through the air, and the crowd kept dancing under the stars or rainy skies. And that atmosphere did not change, taking the hot breath of fresh air that the Adriatic sea had to bring. The memories were just beginning to form, and Pag Island, with its rugged beauty and beautiful coastline, offers more than just a location for Sonus Festival—it's the heart and soul of the experience. Picture this: all the clubs lined up along the water's edge, offering a one-of-a-kind festival experience where the sea breeze mingles with the pulsating beats, as you pass, one person may be bungee jumping along the way. For many, including myself, this was a first-time experience, one that left a mark!
With the opportunity to party all day and night, Sonus offers boat exclusive boat parties, sunset parties, and after-parties that go on until 11 am, it is a full festival experience for 5 days in a row. In the meantime, you can relax and chill by the beach, it’s the perfect blend of festival and holidays! My highlight was the seemingly endless night. Walking alongside the Adriatic Sea from one stage to another, the lineup made us want to listen to all the artists and check the different stages. As the night transitions into dawn, there's a magical moment when the sun begins to rise over the mountains. Dancing through the after-hours with the first light of day illuminating the horizon is an experience only Sonus can offer.
Of course, no festival is complete without an impeccable sound system, and Sonus delivered! The lineup featured a diverse mix of sounds, catering to the varied tastes of an international yet local artist. From acclaimed names to rising DJs, it was a great mix when it came to music, from underground techno to pulsating house beats, the music was the lifeblood of the festival, uniting everyone in a shared rhythm.
In a conversation with one of the founders of the Sonus Festival, Robin Ebinger, I gained insight into the festival’s origins and the vision that brought it to life.
“In the beginning of this journey, early 2013, our long-time friend Dalibor—half German, half Croatian—came to our office with an idea,” he shared. “He had a location and a vision to grow a festival in Croatia, and he invited us to partner with him. As Kosovans, we had visited Croatia before and knew it was the perfect place to set something up. We just needed the right occasion, and Sonus was it. Dalibor’s passion for the project was evident from the start. The potential of Pag Island was undeniable: “It’s the only party island where you have so many clubs lined up next to each other, right on the beach, where you can party all day and night in the open air. It’s very special and rare in Europe—truly unique.”
Continuing our conversation, I asked him a bit more about the lineup, with such amazing names as Ricardo Villalobos, Adam Beyer, Vintage Culture, Indira Paganotto, Ben Klock, and much more, I was curious to know about the selection of artists.
“We would like to have new promising talents. And the local scene is very important for us as well, to be able to offer them the opportunity to play on this platform. Our goal is to match, to offer an authentic program that reflects our idea of music, of music that would draw us to the dance floor, which is authentic, which is, nevertheless, ticket-selling because we need to make a living on it, yeah, and which gives some surprises to the fans as well, so they also get to hear new music exactly. So it's like, we bring in all the different kinds of Music we like so that people can detect and discover new sounds”. That is one of the biggest takeaways from my festival experience, it was also about discovering a new location, new DJs, and exploring life in Croatia to the fullest. For me, Pag Island has once proven to be more than just a beautiful location—it's the heartbeat of Sonus, where music, nature, and a vibrant community come together in perfect harmony. Until next year, Sonus, I’ll be counting down the days!
The Sonus Festival presale for 2025 begins Thursday 29 August at 12PM CEST. Persons who register beforehand gain early access to the lowest-priced tickets - pre-register here: https://arep.co/p/sonus-festival-2025. Sonus Festival is a proud partner of HTZ - the Croatian National Tourist Board - #InspiredByCroatia #CroatiaFullOfLife.
