Kala Returns To Albania For 2022
Kala took the European festival circuit by storm in 2018 by offering an idyllic combination of beach holiday and music festival that earned it a reputation as the new dance paradise, and positioned Albania as an up and coming festival destination. Now entering its fifth year, with two editions postponed due to Covid, this third event proves Kala is coming of age, further developing its festival and holiday offering to deliver a full week of quality music, blissful beach days, and an intimate festival atmosphere on the sun drenched beaches of the Albanian Riviera. Kala takes place from 9th – 16th June 2022.
The festival programming is designed to give days to party, relax and explore the incredible surroundings. From action-packed holiday fun to unusual extended sets by your favourite DJs, to sun-soaked beach days and ice cold cocktails, Kala has something for everyone. Tickets start at a very reasonable £337 per person for a 7-day stay, including accommodation and festival wristband. A limited number of tickets are still available and will be released on March 1st. Sign up for the waiting list for more details. The line up includes a carefully curated selection of DJs and live acts takes cues from the heyday of Balearic Beat and spans a wide range of genres and decades connected by spirit, rather than genre.
Juan Lopez, Head of Marketing says “Kala’s intimate atmosphere lends itself to be the perfect place to connect with people and it has become a bit of a family reunion over the years. We have definitely missed this during these past two years and we look forward to welcoming old and new friends to the stunning beaches of Dhërmi this June. We are very proud of the line-up, there are a few names in there we have been trying to invite for a long time and we cannot wait to enjoy another magical week of music by the sea. Oh, and we have a few more surprises up our sleeve that will be announced soon!”
Live shows will come from legendary disco and soul diva Jocelyn Brown, the voice behind hits like ‘Somebody Else’s Guy’, ‘Always There’ and ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, acid house pioneers 808 State, fast rising Mediterranean band Nu Genea who will bring their much acclaimed fusion of disco, neapolitan funk and african rhythms to Albania for the first time, while the afrobeat of KOKOROKO and London Afrobeat Collective, the jazz of Vels Trio, the modern synth-pop of Jessy Lanza and the ambient and downtempo of Global Communication’s Tom Middleton will make for a diverse offering with ample opportunity to discover exciting new sounds.
Emphasizing quality over quantity, the top DJs on the bill are invited to play extended sets, with DJ Harvey, Palms Trax, Avalon Emerson and Young Marco all playing 5h sets, and Lena Willikens & Vladimir Ivkovic playing an all night set. A Night in Detroit, another all night showcase, will feature Mark Flash and John Collins of Underground Resistance, as well as D3 Live and DJ 3000 who will be representing the soulful techno of the motor city. Other eye-catching additions include the wide-ranging selections of Antal, Marcellus Pittman, Optimo, Maurice Fulton, CC:DISCO!, and Pender, Street Steppers, the housier sounds of Secretsundaze, Prosumer, Lakuti, Jamz Supernova, Ash Lauryn and Bradley Zero, the clubbier sounds of Shanti Celeste & Peach, Skee Mask, Paramida, Roza Terenzi, and Laurine & Cecilio of Slow Life, and local heroes Uj Pa Gaz, Yll Megi, Naam Van and Besa M.
Rounding off the line-up, Brian Not Brian, Jan Schulte, Jamie Tiller, John Gómez, Lauren Hansom and Nick The Record will return to soundtrack the very unique Gjipe stage – a secluded beach forest sitting at the end of an impressive natural canyon that can only be accessed by boat. Complementing the refreshingly unrushed music offering, Kala will once again be offering plenty of action away from the dancefloor, with a roster of boat excursions, wellness workshops and fun holiday activities. Excursions this year include day trips to Grama Bay, a secluded beach where pirates used to shelter and ancient cave paintings can be found, and trips to the awe-inspiring castle of Porto Palermo.
Yoga classes, meditation, gong baths and beach massages will be on-hand to relax the mind and soothe those aching limbs after a little too much dancing, and for those preferring to indulge in the crystal clear waters that surround the festival site, kayaking, pedalos, paddle boarding and snorkeling will all be on offer. A wide selection of onsite restaurants and bars will be keeping festival goers fuelled throughout the week, offering a range of delicious Mediterranean food, including plenty of mouthwatering locally sourced vegetables and fresh seafood – straight from the sea to the plate!
All tickets include accommodation and festival wristband. There is a wide range of options available, from exotic beach huts to fancy 5* hotels, and most are within walking distance from the festival site. Having a comfy bed to rest is one of the aspects that makes Kala different from other festival experiences.
