For a festival only in its fourth year Electric Castle has already made quite a name for itself. A joint venture between three friends, the first year they sold 32,000 tickets. In its second year it was already Romania’s largest festival. Now they entertain 100,000. Their concept centered around three unique offerings, music, history, and new technology.
Central to the site is the Banffy Castle now belonging to the Transylvania Trust, its 16th century beginnings and subsequent burning by a retreating German army in World War II, provides the historical element.
Reconstructed in 1970 with new materials, part of the festival proceeds will go to returning the impressive structure back to its true original form. To that end there are also pay-what-you-want tours of the buildings.
Historically Electric Castle is a three-day festival, although this year, Wednesday became ‘day zero’, its aim to showcase local talent and very successfully it was enticing a healthy 10,000+ audience.
The main stage welcomed a varied range of respected international artists including Sigur Ross, Bastille, Rusko, Dub Pistols, Skrillex and Gorgon City. Old skool hip-hop was represented with Dilated Peoples, and Enter Shikari orchestrated the circle mosh pit around their guitarist. Other main stage highlights included Slow Magic, Flux Pavillion, and Bring Me The Horizon.
With six stages positioned across the site the new layout was well worked and easily covered. Electric Castle is a 24-hour festival with the Booha Mansion stage open throughout, the DJs on constant rotation pumping tunes as Marlboro representatives offer free cigarettes in exchange for temporary tattoos.
Other activities across the site are almost too numerous to mention but include a silent disco, hot air balloon trips, eco cinema, beach volleyball, fashion corner, rocking boat, workshops, speakers, interactive wall, smoke lab, swing ride and zip wire. Tech World is its own self-contained area in the former castle stables and offers you the chance to explore the latest software and gadgetry whilst bagging prizes as you go. All are free including storage lockers.
With all this and more happening simultaneously a handy app keeps you happily informed of happenings minute by minute. A friendly vibe is ever-present with all ages welcome (under 12’s go free).
Camping areas are offered on site or free busses ferry you to the surrounding areas for alternative accommodation.
The Red Bull Music Academy Stage is enclosed in the castle walls and when night falls plays host to incredible beats with projected light images to match.
Saturday saw the heavens open with thunder and lighting the unexpected backdrop to Skrillex on the main stage, blending in perfectly with the fireworks to create a truly spectacular set. The deluge did not dampen spirits with the sea of revelers enjoying every heaven sent moment.
The Boiler Stage showcased more homegrown talent with our highlights including a triumphant set from Deliric, his home-grown brand of rap clearly striking a chord with the die hard fans braving the turbulent conditions. Coma, Injektah and Aria Urbana also performed noteworthy sets.
A cashless system operates across the site, which ensures no queues for food and drink with any unused amounts refunded back onto cards. With a beer costing £1.20 and an abundance of international cuisine available around the £4 mark you really cant get better value for money.
A welcome surprise was finding out Romanian internet speeds are second only to South Korea. Any ill-judged preconceptions of Romania have been blown away. This is an undiscovered tech rich country with an abundance of history, art, music and culture.
One add-on excursion not to be missed is the nearby Turda Salt Mine, a vast underground chamber hewn out of compressed salt deposits discovered by the Romans. It even offers you the opportunity to row in its icy waters in scenes reminiscent of a Star Wars film and, of course, a Ferris wheel, table tennis, bowling, and crazy golf… truly bizarre.
Electric Castle offers up so much more than your average European festival it will stimulate you creatively, artistically and perceptually.
With a full festival ticket costing £80 I would start making plans now for 2017.
electriccastle.roCheck out our exclusive on-site interviews with some of the acts below.
Enter Shikari Deliric Elliphant Alternosfera
@electric_castle #ElectricCastle
