Future Music Festival Asia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What: The overseas edition of this Aussie music festival is one of the largest in Southeast Asia, having drawn a whopping 55,000-strong crowd last year. Its third edition is set to be the biggest yet, with over 70 international and local acts taking over multiple stages at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium across three days.
Who: EDM royalty including deadmau5, Armin van Buuren, Martin Garrix and Paul van Dyk, alongside hot names like Pharell Williams, Tinie Tempah and Wu-Tang Clan.
Why you should go: It’s only about an hour if you fly ($77 for round-trip ticket with AirAsia) and there’s plenty of different music genres for audiophiles.
March 13-15. Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Malaysia. www.futuremusicfestival.asia. RM 208-588 ($79-224).
Ultra Korea
Seoul, South Korea
What: One of the most talked-about music festivals in the world (the original Miami edition’s early bird tickets sold out within minutes), this high-energy, buzzing juggernaut, with an impressive stage setup, had around 100,000 ‘Ultranauts’ raving over two days last year to a star-studded lineup of top DJs including Carl Cox, Armin van Buuren and Afrojack.
Who: Already confirmed for its phase one lineup are EDM’s biggest names—Avicii, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, W&W and Alesso.
Why you should go: Ultra is famous for its amazing party vibe, thanks in part to a killer schedule of EDM’s brightest superstars. Just watch the official after-movie on YouTube and you’ll see why.
June 13-14. Seoul Olympic Stadium Complex, 10 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. www.umfkorea.com. KRW 120,000-250,000 ($142-295).
Summer Sonic
Osaka, Japan
What: This annual two-day rock, pop and indie music fest is a worthy rival to Fuji Rock—and you don’t even have to camp. Festival-goers can look forward to impressive acts across a number of stages; Muse, Metallica, Linkin Park and Fall Out Boy topped the bill in the last edition.
Who: Headlining this edition are Arctic Monkeys, Robert Plant, Phoenix, Avenged Sevenfold, The 1975, Azealia Banks, Kasabian, Metronomy and many more.
Why you should go: Because no-one loves indie music quite like the Japanese. Plus, there’s an amazing venue setup on an island at the edge of the city, (typically) great weather and a 60,000-strong crowd.
August 16-17. Maishima Summer Sonic Osaka Site, 2-2-15 Hokukoryokuchi, Konohana Ward, Osaka, Japan. www.summersonic.com/2014. JPY 13,000-28,000 ($161-348).
Stereosonic
Sydney, Australia
What: One of Australia’s most happening and fastest growing music festivals—also held in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne—this awesome electro shindig saw over 200,000 attendees and seven stages last year.
Who: The lineup is slated to be announced in July, but after 2013’s edition featuring David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Calvin Harris and Nero as headline acts, alongside major players like Afrojack and Sebastian Ingrosso, 2014 shouldn’t fall short.
Why you should go: OK, so you don’t know who’s scheduled to play at the event, but based on its track record, the lineup
is sure to be packed with famous DJs as well as local Aussie acts that are unique to
each city.
November/December. Venue TBA. www.stereosonic.au.
Sunburn Festival
Goa, India
What: Goa sure knows how party, and this seven-year-old EDM festival, which has since cast its net in Colombo, Mumbai and Dubai—and is rumored to be hitting Singapore in the near future—is proof. It’s not just mind-blowing sets you’ll be getting; last year, Sunburn had its own cruise, a flea market, a Ferris wheel and multiple after-parties within walking distance.
Who: The lineup for this year is still unconfirmed but expect its organizers to pull out the big guns, with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Axwell, Tiesto, Above & Beyond and Dash Berlin, having made appearances in previous years.
Why you should go: It’s a massive three-day carnival with great music covering all genres of the electronic spectrum and more.
December 26-28. Venue TBA. www.sunburn.in. INR 4,891-6,521, ($100-132).
