Our five fave festivals in Asia

A festival on a cruise ship? Say no more. Waking up every morning to a beautiful sea view and raving tunes is never something we tend to turn down, and with five stages of musical madness and a host of classic cruise activities such as mini golf and multiple whirlpools, we can’t imagine you would want to either.

This year's line-up so far is unannounced, but previous events have welcomed names such as Basement Jaxx, My Nu Leng, and Oliver $ on the classy vessel.

The cruise kicks off on November 4 so go ahead and book yourself one of the many lush cabins available.

[It's The Ship pictured above]

Japan’s hidden gem, The Labyrinth festival is the perfect juxtaposition of hefty techno tunes and a serene mountainside location. Musically, the festival is in a realm of its own. Elaborate stacks of Funktion One speakers next to the singular booth inside blare out a mixture of tunes from well-loved selectors and experimental live acts alike.

The festival has yet to release its line-up, but with last year's edition having featured the likes of Donato Dozzy and Mathew Jonson it’s safe to say you’re in good hands. The weekender kicks off September 17, so go ahead and open those Expedia tabs.

With a line-up featuring the likes of Rødhåd, George Clinton, LCD Soundsystem, and Sigur Ros, it’s safe to say that this year’s Clockenflap line-up is pretty strong.

If, for some reason, you want to get away from the selection of delightful music, fret not, There are stages dedicated to film, visual arts and performances, not to mention an array of pop-ups showcasing Hong Kong’s mouthwatering cuisine and vibrant culture.

Overlooking the breathtaking skyline of the metropolis, this a unique weekend that manages to make banging techno and family fun go hand-in-hand.

It all goes down from November 25 to 27.

Asia’s first all-encompassing lifestyle festival, Wonderfruit combines an eclectic line-up of musical acts with an equally eclectic range of activities, including food, architecture, art installations, film and theatre and even paragliding adventures around the lush green fields that surround the Pattaya location.

Inspired by the UK’s Secret Garden Party, you’re as likely to see carnival-type characters warming up with mid-afternoon yoga as you are to share a pig feast with Bangkok hipsters.

The festival knows how to curate a line-up, too, with Seth Troxler, Gaslamp Killer, Daedelus and De La Soul all appearing in the past.

This year’s edition takes place from December 15 to 18.

[Photo: Benjamin Suomela]

Described by most attendees as 24 hours of musical bliss, Organik Festival supplies delightful grooves from across the techno spectrum with the surreal mountain coastline of Huting, Taiwan as a backdrop.

Breaking up the usual tranquility of the land in the most recent edition was a host of forward-thinking techno heavyweights, including nd_baumecker, Dorisburg, Dr. Rubinstein, and Efdemin to name a few.

Simply put, this may be the most beautiful place to listen to techno in the world. If you missed out on this year’s edition make sure to grab tickets for next year’s event happening late spring.

[Photo: Aumega Photography]

For more Asia-focussed dance music content, head over to our sister site, Mixmag Asia.