Top Ten October 2023 Festivals (Resident Advisor)

Unsound

Kraków, Poland
October 1 – October 8

Renowned for spotlighting experimentation and leftfield scenes, Unsound turns 21 this year. With this year’s theme of “DADA,” the long-running Kraków festival includes an Artificially Intelligent Artistic Director (AIAD) as a curatorial collaborator. Over the course of the seven-day event, Unsound will present live performances from artists who have released phenomenal music this year, such as Tirzah, Iceboy Violet, Natural Wonder Beauty Concept and Rosa Pistola. DJ sets will come from the likes of ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, SHERELLE (who will go back-to-back with VTSS) and estoc, who will go back-to-back with Oldyungmayn.

RA Pick: Resident Advisor‘s Breaking Through subject Nick León makes his European live premiere.

BATEKOO

São Paulo, Brazil
October 7

Founded in Salvador in 2014, BATEKOO is the largest festival in Brazil to centre Black, Afro-diasporic and LGBTQIA+ artists. This year will feature a thrilling selection of live acts and DJ sets, including pagode legends Grupo Revelação and baile funk star DJ Gabriel do Borel. Alongside its musical programming, the festival also acts as a platform for encouraging entrepreneurship and community between emerging Black and queer artists, creatives and organisers.

RA Pick: Lauded artist and trans activist Liniker brings her signature vocal stylings to BATEKOO for the first time.

MUTEK Mexico

Mexico City, Mexico
October 9 – October 15

A flagship event in MUTEK’s international festival circuit, the Mexico City edition upholds the Montreal brand’s devotion to sound art, audiovisual installations and disruptive technologies. Taking place across four locations, including the impressive Anahuacalli Museum, home to pre-Hispanic artwork, the gathering splits its attention between avant-garde strains of club music and more dance floor-oriented styles. Regardless of genre, performances are united by a shared emphasis on immersiveness and unpredictability.

RA Pick: Inspired by gagaku (a type of Japanese classical music), opera and traditional chanting, vocalist Hatis Noit is known for transcendent shows that are deeply rooted in folk culture and nature.

Nuits Sonores & European Lab Brussels

Brussels, Belgium
October 12 – October 15

Run in collaboration with European Lab Brussels, the Belgian edition of Nuits Sonores takes over several city centre venues for a weekend in October. This year’s festival will include cutting-edge programming, a discourse schedule and a number of one-off events, such as HAAi and Richie Hawtin curating events at Bozar, the Centre for Fine Arts. Other artists on the bill include Caterina Barbieri, Nick León, DJ Gigola (who will go back-to-back with MCR-T), LUXE, DJ Lycox and Slikback.

RA Pick: Dub legend Tikiman performing at Les Ateliers Claus.

No Bounds Big Weekend

Sheffield, United Kingdom
October 13 – October 15

Despite No Bounds’ postponement until next year, the festival will still make an appearance this October, offering a compressed version of its music, art and technology showcase. Though smaller in scale, the programme remains cutting edge, combining psychedelic audiovisual performances with talks, workshops and multi-room raves across two days. With a huge list of artists pushing everything from ambient, techno and electro to UK garage, breaks and jungle, No Bounds Big Weekend is shaping up to be one hell of a gap year.

RA Pick: Don’t miss a party-starting blend of UK garage and bassline from rising DJ and producer Silva Bumpa.

Mode Festival

Sydney, Australia
October 14

Mode Festival, located on Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, takes festivalgoers to the centre of a former dockyard, a location equal parts industrial and scenic. Spread across four stages, the music programme spotlights Australian artists such as Jensen Interceptor, D-Grade and Guy Contact (who will play live), as well as inviting international names like SPFDJ, Pangaea and Tzusing. RA will host the festival’s new outdoor stage, featuring Parris back-to-back Danielle, Darwin, Kalyani and more. The festival’s accompanying arts programme will be held at Club 4A, where there’s the opportunity to experience digital art, performance and interactive visuals curated by 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.

RA Pick: Live From Earth affiliate sim0ne’s sound is fresh, ravey and bristling with nostalgia.

Amsterdam Dance Event

Amsterdam, Netherlands
October 18 – October 22

This year’s ADE will welcome more than 2,500 artists for a programme packed with talks, workshops and parties. Highlights include Carista, Jayda G, Bambounou, LSDXOXO, Peach, KI/KI and Job Jobse, while ADE Lab’s Cultivating Communities conference will feature Body Movements and other promoters working to reclaim nightlife space for marginalised communities. On October 19th, RA will host a live Exchange with midwest techno legend DVS1. Visit the website for the full programme.

RA Pick: dj sweet6teen teams up with Modus for a night at Parallel, where the Phantasy Dance founder will go back-to-back with X-Coast.

Semibreve

Braga, Portugal
October 26 – October 29

This year will mark the 13th edition of Semibreve, an experimental festival that takes place in the quaint Portuguese city of Braga. Attendees can familiarise themselves with the picturesque surroundings, dig into traditional local food and attend the programming, which takes over striking and unique venues, such as the 20th century Theatro Circo, UNESCO site Bom Jesus and the University of Minho’s mediaeval saloon. Each year the lineup offers several unique collaborations and shines a light on cross-disciplinary works. In 2023, expect the likes of Beatrice Dillon, Loraine James, Mumdance, Nkisi, Kali Malone and DJ Lynce.

RA Pick: Electro-acoustic composer Kassel Jaeger will perform in the impressive Theatro Circo, joined by French filmmaker Eléonore Huisse.

Oasis: Into the Wild

Ouarzazate, Morocco
October 27 – October 29

Oasis: Into the Wild is a three-day immersive party held in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, renowned as the gateway to the Sahara Desert and home to a 19th-century palace with views across the rugged landscape. The festival spotlights local food, art and culture, as well as having a well-being programme. Across the weekend, dance to sets from the likes of Ahadadream, Mafalda, OK Williams, Kampire, Honey Dijon and Jyoty.

RA Pick: Sofia Kourtesis’s colourful house should pair well with the stunning setting.

Shi Fu Miz

Cheung Chau, Hong Kong
October 27 – October 29

Set on a farm on a charming island off the coast of Hong Kong, Shi Fu Miz has become an essential component of Asia-Pacific’s electronic music infrastructure over the past six years. After arriving on a sampan boat, attendees walk up a hill and enter the festival’s bright red gates, greeted by an immediate rush of playful energy, warmth and colourful outfits. Each year, the lineup represents various facets of regional club circuits, bringing together established and emerging names across experimental electronics, hard club and disco. This year, the curators are celebrating 25 years of beloved label Rush Hour with a live show by legendary Japanese producer Soichi Terada, plus Antal, Esa and Gigi Testa.

RA Pick: If you’re looking to learn more about Asia-Pacific’s diverse music scenes, don’t miss South Korea’s Mogwaa and Hong Kong-based Xiaolin.

Find our full festival listings for October here