OPINION: From world-class DJs to incredible food and the stunning city of Turin, Kappa FuturFestival delivered the perfect mix of sunshine, sightseeing and unforgettable dance music
We’d heard people rave about Kappa FuturFestival for years (pardon the pun) but nothing quite prepared us for what awaited in Turin. Our first ever festival in Italy was way more than just a weekend of music, it was the perfect mix of a city break, a sunshine holiday and a world-class dance festival all rolled into one.
Kappa FuturFestival takes place inside the incredible Parco Dora, a former industrial area that played a key role in Turin’s manufacturing heritage and is now enjoying its second life as one of Europe’s most unique festival sites. Festivalgoers spend the day dancing beneath towering steel structures and the remains of the old factories, creating the perfect gritty, industrial backdrop to complement the line-up.
From the moment the gates opened at midday until the music wrapped up at midnight, there was an infectious atmosphere lingering in the air. Everywhere we looked people were smiling and making new friends all with the same mission to celebrate electronic music in one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.
One of the biggest strengths of Kappa FuturFestival is, of course, the line-up. Pounding techno, uplifting house, hardstyle, melodic sounds and UK garage influences give each stage its own personality so we spent our days bopping between completely different genres to mix things up.
Across the three days, Kappa FuturFestival showcased one of its strongest line-ups to date, bringing together some of the biggest names in electronic music alongside rising stars from across the globe. Friday delivered standout performances from the likes of Armin van Buuren, Diplo, Four Tet, Solomun, Michael Bibi, Mochakk and Jamie Jones.
While Saturday kept the momentum going with huge sets from Skrillex, Richie Hawtin, Maceo Plex, Carl Craig, Solomun, Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann. The festival closed in spectacular fashion on Sunday with unforgettable performances from Peggy Gou, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, Chris Lake, Boys Noize, Sven Väth, Seth Troxler and Floating Points.
Our standout set of the festival was by far Sammy Virji. The UK garage star never stopped smiling from ear to ear while he bounced behind the decks, his energy instantly spreading across the crowd as he threw his hands in the air. Every drop felt bigger than the last and it was one of those sets that encourage you to put your phone away and live in the moment.
Sebastian Ingrosso also delivered one of our weekend highlights as he played back to back Swedish House Mafia classics. Waves of nostalgia swept over us as everybody sang along at the top of their voices while the sun beat down overhead.
We also got to see first hand why Disclosure remain one of dance music’s best loved acts. Their set perfectly blended old favourites with newer material and the unforgettable Flume remix of their iconic song You & Me made time stand still, giving us a core festival memory we’ll treasure forever.
Away from the music, Kappa FuturFestival’s organisation is unmatched. Festival bars are usually our biggest headache, but queues here were surprisingly short so less time waiting and far more time dancing. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference as we never want to miss a single moment of the action.
The VIP experience was sheltered from the blazing Italian sunshine and even featured complimentary hair and makeup stations for those wanting to freshen up for the day ahead. A dedicated DJ plays inside VIP throughout the entire day so even when we needed a quick pit stop, we were never too far from the party.
New for this year was the VIP restaurant Taverna Futurista, featuring some of the most renowned Italian chefs and Michelin star personalities including Enrico Crippa, Francesco Brutto, Davide Di Fabio, Tiziana Francoforte, and Dennis Panzeri. The multi-sensory dining experience was the ultimate place for partygoers to refuel and catch up with pals without losing steam.
We were seriously surprised with just how clean everything remained despite thousands of guests every day. Sure, it wasn’t spotless – it’s a festival after all – but things were kept in good nick and bins dotted around the site encouraged everyone to clear up after themselves. The facilities were consistently well maintained and security and staff were friendly and helpful throughout.
What really elevates Kappa FuturFestival above any other event is its location, and the beautiful city of Turin deserves far more attention than it gets. It’s easy to see why more than 125,000 festivalgoers from 152 countries flocked there this year.
Before heading to the festival each afternoon, we spent our mornings exploring piazzas, winding streets, riverside walks and all the breath-taking architecture scattered throughout the city.
We stopped for a bite to eat in a gorgeous plaza and debated skipping our flight to spend a few more days in the sun… With fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza, rich espresso and creamy gelato on every street corner, can you blame us?
Enjoying authentic Italian restaurants before spending the evening dancing to some of the biggest names in electronic music is a pinch-me moment that’s difficult to beat.
The festival itself is only a short journey from the city centre, making travel pretty straightforward wherever you choose to rest your head.
Every element Kappa FuturFestival, from the production to the line-up and everything in between, leaves you with that warm fuzzy feeling of a weekend well spent. We arrived not knowing exactly what to expect and left with a camera roll of unforgettable moments and a whole new group of friends from across the globe.
If you’re looking for a festival that offers more than just a field and a few stages, then this is it. Kappa FuturFestival is the perfect excuse to discover one of Italy’s most underrated cities while experiencing some of the very best electronic music the world has to offer right now.
At this point you could call us festival veterans, so trust us when we say that very few events nail the vibe that Kappa FuturFestival encapsulates so well. Go along for yourself and you’ll see what we mean.
After one exhausting but heart-filling weekend in Turin, we can’t wait to do it all over again next year. Yes, we’re already planning our return!
Authors: Bekka Barnard and Carly Hacon
