These days, there is no shortage of great and interesting festivals to vie for our hard-earned dollars. That said, every now and then a new festival with a difference comes around.
Flash Festival is one such gathering and by the sounds of things, it’s one that’s most definitely up our street. And what do we like about it? Well, for starters, it’s more than just a music festival, and what sets Flash apart from its peers is that its daytime focus is more geared toward Tuscan cuisine – the likes of which serves up a welcome break from the oh-so-often bland food on the menu at festivals.
Then there’s the setting. Tuscany is practically a byword the world over for its stunning scenery, and the backdrop of Flash – Castiglion Fiorentino, a quintessential Tuscan town, is sure to make things extra spectacular.
Throw in the fact that Flash will also host a pasta-making class, scenic cycling, an Italian vintage fashion pop-up shop and yoga and massage options and we’re already getting pretty excited about May 16th. Needless to say, they’ve only gone and nabbed a brilliantly diverse and classy line-up too, and it’s definitely one that’s in keeping with the festival’s colourful vibes. Here, we picked out some of the best such artists that the camping extravaganza has to offer. See you at the front!
Although heâs perhaps best known as the first non-Detroit artist to appear on Moodymannâs much-celebrated Mahogani music, there is of course much more to Dan Shake than simply this lofty accolade. An esteemed selector and a wickedly good producer, Dan continues to leave an inimitable mark on any dancefloor he pervades, while his own productions continue to gain support from a host of globally-renowned DJs. Arguably one of the UKâs biggest house music exports of the past few years, Dan has played for Boiler Room in Melbourne, hosted a month residency show on Rinse FM and and even played b2b with the likes of Jeremy Underground, Marcellus Pittmann and Eglo boss Alexander Nut to name a few.
Although CC:Disco (aka ) first came to the attention of many thanks to her much-vaunted Resident Advisor podcast of 2018, this Australian DJ has been a core purveyor of top class house, disco, boogie and everything in-between for some time now. Known at home for her show on local radio institution PBS FM (where she hosts the brilliant âSmoke and Mirrorsâ) the last few years have seen her throw it down for the likes of NTS, Red Light Radio, Dublab and Gilles Petersonâs much-respected Worldwide FM. Her sultry, good-time sound should sound just right in Tuscany come May.
Chaos in the CBD consist of Ben and Louis Helliker-Hales, two brothers from New Zealand (now firmly based in Europe) who have wowed global audiences and discerning listeners alike over the past few years thanks to their eclectic and quite brilliant rhythms. Best known for their association with Bradley Zeroâs Rhythm Section (where they released their classic âMidnight in Peckhamâ EP a few years back), their tour diary this year sees them play in Manchester, Bordeaux and Barcelona before they even make it to Italy. Expect nothing but the classiest jams when this pair touch down in Tuscany.
Laurence Guy is another Brit on this list, and a man whoâs been threatening to blow up for some time. Over the past two year or so, this has indeed come to fruition â and with good reason too, as Guyâs killer sound is among the best and freshest weâve encountered for some time. From releases on Church to Rose Records to Fort Romeauâs Cin Cin, his records continue to be held in high esteem by record collectors. A diverse and unconventional cocktail of house, ambient, jazz and lo-fi electronica, his colourful vision is a perfect foil to FLASHâs own tendencies for a splash of the same.
Local act Bosconi Soundsystem are of course, no strange to this part of the world. Helmed by Fabio Della Torre and his partner in crime Ennio Colaci, Bosconi is arguably Italyâs best and most consistent course of top quality label on a house and techno tip. Bosconi Soundsystem is a trio consisting of Fabio della Torre, Rufus and Mass Prod. Expect nothing but fireworks when this trio throw it down together. Sure to be a massive draw with locals alike, donât be surprised if some of FLASHâs foreign visitors leave Tuscany and mention them as the highlight of the festival.
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