The well-known proverb that one should stop at the best does not apply to the organizers of the largest electronic dance music event in Central Europe. On the contrary – after last year's highly successful anniversary, they have stepped on the gas even more. "Last year we announced that we are looking into the future as well. In preparing for the 11th edition, we focused not only on a stellar program but also on absolutely unique work with the festival area in the Czech Republic," says Kamil Rudolf, director of Beats for Love.
Beats for Love Universe
The work with the area is the Beats for Love Universe project. The new festival universe will divide the area into four zones: LOVE, SPACE, INDUSTRIAL, and PULSE.
These are not four random English words. Each part has its own design, installations, and artistic decorations. Visitors should notice the change literally after a few steps. "We used our own ideas, but we also approached a number of designers and companies from the surrounding area. We want our fans' experience to be not only musical but also visual," claims production manager Jakub Šenkeřík. And visitors should be amazed. "We have been working hard on this for almost a year and invested a significant amount of resources into the Beats for Love Universe project. We believe it will pay off through our supporters. We are very excited to see what they will say," adds the man responsible for the design of the area with the team of designers.
The themes of the individual spheres are reflected directly in their names. The INDUSTRIAL sphere will focus on light and fire in the area of blast furnaces, the SPACE sphere will offer cosmic themes including specially made entrance gates, the LOVE sphere will stick to love. And PULSE will connect all areas like a kind of festival artery. Thanks to the festival's general partners, ČSOB bank and Proud beer, the main festival stages, Love stage by ČSOB and Techno Dome by Proud, have also been improved. "We have highlighted the most prominent Love stage and adjusted its design – it now resembles a heart in the palm of a hand. The Techno Dome, however, is undergoing a revolution in the form of a 360-degree stage located in a gigantic tent, the size and design of which have not been seen at Beats for Love before. The stage will stand right in the crowd among the fans," specifies Kamil Rudolf.
Gigantic music stars and special performances
The music program will write Ostrava onto the world cultural map in golden letters. The legendary Dutchman Armin van Buuren is returning, and the Australian showman Timmy Trumpet will also come. The organizers have managed to secure the famous Belgian duo Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, and Axwell – one third of the legendary group Swedish House Mafia – will arrive from Scandinavia. "While last year’s highlight was David Guetta's performance, this year we have a line-up evenly spread out. We want our fans to experience their best four days of the year with us," believes program director Jiří Ramík.
In Ostrava, over 550 artists will perform on 18 stages, including 160 foreign headliners.
Among them will be artists whose show carries the subtitle Beats for Love Special. Along with a large brass band, the Belgian creator of mostly film music Apashe will arrive, and his compatriot, producer Used, will perform live as well. Many fans are heading to Dolní Vítkovice for the collaboration of the partner duo A.M.C and Koven. "A.M.C. is among the best representatives of the drum and bass genre in the world, while Koven has skyrocketed her career with us. I am glad we will see them on stage together. It will be a performance that no one except the visitors of our festival will see this year," emphasizes Kamil Rudolf.
The third edition of the Talking Beats conference will also be worth attending, again in the former coke plant. A range of topics is prepared: from the differences between male and female DJs, through crisis management and curious mishaps, to "grilling" the festival's head Kamil Rudolf. Fans will be able to ask him anything they want. "Talking Beats will also connect our festival, NHL hockey, and the Oktagon organization. And really star guests will arrive," hints one of the conference moderators Miroslav Ecker, also known by the pseudonym DJ EKG.
Cashless, radio, and charity
Just like last year, there will be no rattling coins in the pockets of fans. The cashless payment system continues, which was appreciated by the visitors in the surveys.
This will apply to refreshments, where the organizers have again prepared their own hot dogs and hamburgers, but also to the festival merchandise shop, this year inspired mainly by streetwear style. "We have much more, thanks to a brand new e-shop. You will even find a unique collection of underwear... So jokingly, we say that we can't get any closer to our fans, and that the relationship with Beats is really serious," smiles production manager Barbora Kocubová, who is in charge of this year's collection.
The general media partner of the festival, radio Evropa 2, has also prepared an attraction. For the very first time, it will broadcast live from the festival area, with the participation of selected star moderators. All details can be found by the visitors of Beats for Love in the festival newspapers, which will be available not only at the entrance to the Dolní Vítkovice area.
They will also read about the next edition of the charity project Beats for Charity. Visitors will again help two selected families: grandparents from the Přerov region, who care for their grandchildren after the death of their daughter, and little Eliška from Karviná. The bar is firmly set: last year and the year before, 600,000 crowns were donated for charitable purposes.
Last tickets – including VIP ones – available in advance and on-site
The gates of the 11th edition of the largest domestic festival and the most prominent electronic dance music event in Central Europe will open on Wednesday, July 2, at 4 PM. While the organizers warn against buying tickets "from second-hand," the last tickets are still available in the official pre-sale. Both full festival tickets and single-day tickets (which will also be available at the box office on-site) are available.
According to estimates, around 160,000 people are expected to arrive at the Dolní Vítkovice area this year.
Dear visitors and fans, enjoy the start of a new decade of the festival. The eleventh edition of Beats for Love is planning to deliver a breathtaking performance at the playground in Dolní Vítkovice.
