Love International has long held sacred status amongst DJs and music lovers. Mention you’re going and the reaction is almost ritual – wide eyes and a sharp inhale and you’re told, “it’s the best place on earth”.
Set against the glittering Adriatic in The Garden, Tisno, the festival weaves through four main stages, daily boat parties, and the legendary open-air club Barbarellas. For its tenth anniversary, the lineup rose to the occasion: Bonobo, Midland, Eris Drew, Hunee, Craig Richards, and many more of dance music’s finest scattered across day and night…and day again.
A 24-hour programme isn’t for the faint-hearted, but with names like this, it could never feel like a challenge.
The festivities ran for a whole jam-packed week. I got down there from Thursday to Monday, and picking just a few highlights has been a near-impossible task…
(Credit: @siennalorrainegray + @khromacollective-760)
Thursday
Crazy P was the perfect remedy to any first-day anxieties, delivering a healthy dose of disco. As the sun set over the beach stage, they rolled out lyric-infused tracks such as Medlar & MSSS – ‘Baby Gone Batshit’, alongside their own, ‘One True Light’ and ‘Like A Fool’.
Later on, Dr Banana brought playful energy to the Garden Stage, with a high-octane mix of garage, vocal house, and forgotten gems. Festival founder Dave Harvey B2B Midland closed the Beach stage that evening with heavy grooves into the early hours. Reality’s ‘Wanna Get Busy (Armand’s Prime Time Mix)’ hit hard – a proper late-night heater that left the floor buzzing.
(Credit: @jakephilipdavis_ + @khromacollective-8458)
Friday
Having acclimatised, I was determined to make it to Barbarellas on my second day, but there was a hefty line-up to get through first. Optimo (Espacio) mixed timeless classics at the Beach Stage – from Eleven Pond’s ‘Watching Trees’ to The Beach Boys, ‘God Only Knows’. Over at The Olive Grove, Lukas Wiglex provided a hypnotic blend of techno and twitchy electronics, and Francesco Del Garda wrapped things up at the main site with an eclectic tapestry of dance beats. Umberto, ‘Lazy Diamond’ has been playing in my head on repeat ever since.
When the music wound down at the main site, the pilgrimage to Barbarellas pressed a reset button that started the whole night again. My first time passed in somewhat of a blur, but Chez de Milo, Enrica Falqui & John Talabot kept the crowd moving through sunrise, mixing deep, groovy selections with steady momentum.
Soichi Terada at the Beach Stage
Saturday
The morning was a rusty start but we headed to the Beach Stage for Scarlett O’Malley followed by S.A.S.S (Shanti Celeste, Moxie, Saoirse & Peach), who provided hours of upbeat energy. The vibes were so high, they spilled beyond the stage and into the sea, where at least thirty people joined in the Macarena. Forget bloody marys and paracetamol, some synchronised dancing and listening to ‘Tell You No Lie’ – Floor Plan is the perfect cure for a hangover.
The Garden Stage
Sunday
Two of my favourite sets were squeezed into Sunday’s lineup. I’d never seen Soichi Terada before, but his performance was pure joy – part DJ, part magician, pulling out unexpected layers of gear and live elements to create a rich, textured sound. His infectious grin and dance moves had us all in the palm of his hand.
Then came the set I’d been waiting for all day: the ever joyous Hunee closing the Beach stage. This set was nothing short of electric – a true celebration of all music that took the crowd on a journey through genres and eras. ‘Can’t Sleep’ – PH+ had all hands in the air, but the real highlight has to be Hunne playing ‘Vini Ouais’ by Djingo (Art of Tones Remix) – a track my friends and I have been trying to ID since we first heard him play it two years ago at Gala Festival. Safe to say, it was worth the wait.
I wasn’t sure what could top that, but my final Baraberallas brought in the heavyweights. Ben UFO & Craig Richards brought driving basslines through to sunrise. Word has it, this was one of the busiest Barbarellas to date, and the crowd was still surging at 6 AM – a true testament to their artistry. And only at Love International would the afters have an afters. A stage ominously dubbed ‘The Vortex’, perched just off the beach with breathtaking panoramic views. Lukas Wigflex made a welcome return, but sadly, my sleep deprivation soon caught up.
The Olive Grove
Monday
With the end fast approaching, I stepped away from the main site for some sea air, jumping aboard HMS Respectable for a 4-hour boat party (which felt ironic considering the unrespectable time I went to sleep a mere few hours earlier). Bae2bae, Itchy Rich B2B Sofa Sofa, Jamz Supernova B2B Interface & Pure Respect commanded the crowd with some stinking good 90s and 00s bangers from Craig David to the Sugababes. And back on dry land, I can’t not mention Floating Points B2B Palms Trax at the Garden Stage – their turbocharged set had the whole arena bouncing off the walls.
Love International has truly swept me away, but it’s not just the music. Festivalgoers affectionately refer to this place as ‘Tisneyland’ and they’re not wrong – it does feel like magic. On site, there’s no need to rush or chase sets, time softens and stretches and the atmosphere is carefree in a way I’ve not experienced at another festival.
The crowd is also one of a kind. People you meet become genuine friends who will hunt you down amongst bobbing heads, to keep the party going night after night. Beyond your newfound motley crew, there’s a noticeable lack of phones in the air – with more hands reaching for Shazam than cameras to immortalise favourite sets. You realise everyone is there for the music. And that makes all the difference.
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