What to choose in the summer? Small festivals or club events? If you had the opportunity to attend Muse Festival, 25–27th July in Gdańsk, Poland. You probably didn’t have to make that (not-at-all-obvious) choice. The event organised by Theia Crush, Całość and Underton. Polish promoters, organizers and DJs from Warsaw and Wrocław. This is a perfect example of how to create an intimate event with the potential of the best festivals.
Where the line-up combines foreign artists with a strong (and diverse) representation of the Polish scene. The full focus isn’t given to headliners only. And that’s a really, really good sign. Thanks to this attitude, you could feel the atmosphere of the real underground firsthand, and at the same time have fun as if you were at a festival. The highest level of electronic music was served by artists such as: Setaoc Mass, Stef Mendesidis, Alarico, Zisko, Phil Berg, Nadia Struiwigh, DEAS, and Sept, among others. But the Muse Festival is not limited to music only. The program of the three-day festival, which included daytime, nighttime, and workshop parts, offered many opportunities to engage other senses (besides the hearing).
“I feel really good here.”
This feeling accompanied me from the moment I set my foot on the grounds of the Muse Festival, only the 2nd, but such a successful edition of the event. And as I crossed the threshold of St. John’s Center in Gdańsk, I immediately felt that I took part in something really special. Even now, with the growing popularity of events of this kind, it’s rare to go to a church for an electronic music festival in Poland. But the combination of a “divine” space with club-pulsing beats turned out to be a truly beautiful experience. For me, the daytime part of the Muse Festival was a mixture of a mystical experience and a rave from the “good ol’ days”, and there’s not a hint of exaggeration in those words. The St. John’s Center became a stage not only for artists representing the electronic music we know from clubs, but also for concerts, live acts, and… pipe concerts. In the church, we could hear concerts by Faustyna Maciejczuk, Szymon Weiss, and Michał Macewicz – and I would like to draw your attention to the performance of the latter artist. Michał’s pipe organ concert was something truly unusual, beautiful, and deeply moving; observing the reactions of the gathered audience, I felt that we were all experiencing a very special and intimate moment. It’s very important to remember that the term “electronic dance music” does not only refer to club sounds. And I am very happy that the organizers of the Muse Festival decided to include a variety of performances in the program.
It’s a tall order to choose the best sets from St. John’s Center. All the artists I had the pleasure of hearing there really did their best, presenting the highest level of the music served and giving the audience the opportunity to break records on the dance floor. In my personal ranking, the gold medal goes to Stef Mendesidis. He didn’t let up for a single moment, and at the request of the dancing audience he played a little longer. Did your heart melt just like mine has done there? The silver goes to Zisko’s hybrid live performance for its perfect fusion of wildness and club rhythm. I’m a huge fan of this formula and definitely could feel the unique energy and atmosphere that was created!
The nighttime part of the festival has moved participants not only in space, but also to a proper club format. Less than half an hour away from the St. John’s Center, Crackhouse. Proved to be the perfect second venue for the event: dividing the festival this way is definitely something new on the Polish scene, but the participants approached this idea with great enthusiasm. On two stages, Main and Patio, they could reveal their party faces even better and have fun while dancing to different styles of electronic music. From the organiser’s perspective, it’s a tough task to proceed: to put the line-up together in a way that you can’t (and don’t want to) leave the dance floor!
This decision was definitely worth making. And I rate the performances of both Polish and foreign artists very highly. But my personal top three are Phil Berg, Herton and Nadia Struiwigh. Although I have enormous respect for the Berlin scene (as well as I’m always proud of Polish artists and support them strongly). It is the sound of the Benelux that is closest to my heart. I am also pleased that Polish promoters are opening up to it and “educating” the audience. Not only in terms of sound, but also regarding their approach to parties. After all, the term “festival” means much more than just an all-night music party. And although trends from abroad reach Poland with a 5-10-year delay. noticed that the organizing team bravely takes on this mission and pursues what they believe in.
In addition to the music itself, I really appreciate the openness to other elements related to the club music industry. Workshops on preparing live acts, production, mixing and mastering. As well as a discussion panel dedicated to women in the electronic music fields were additional. Very interesting features that made Muse Festival a really fun and interesting place to spend time at.
Photos Jan Rosowski
What pulses louder than the beat? The community’s heart.
When I think of what captivated me most during Muse Festival, my answer is, immediate and 100% certain, the people. Both the audience and the team behind the event is passionate, open, joyful, and fully committed. Not only to the music itself, but also in creating a community. Something I pay a lot of attention to and which, for me, is the biggest and most important element of any event I attend.
In case of such a young festival as Muse is, this community and its identity are (and will, for sure) still being formed, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will develop in this particular direction and shape. Even at this stage, it is slowly becoming clear what this event is about and who it is dedicated to. No one showed up by accident – the energy that each participant brought to the dance floor was unique, contagious and beautifully shared with other dancers. The presence of exhibitors from the fields of fashion, jewelry, and ceramics, whose products could be purchased at the event was also significant. Local support and the combined forces of many art forms (not just music) can really achieve more!
And there is, actually, a reason behind this review’s title. My own words keep on coming back to me like a boomerang, call it only mine. Very personal experience, but I don’t always feel comfortable in every place where the electronic music plays. Blame it on the presence of a crowd, with which I have nothing in common. That overwhelms me and takes away the joy of being truly myself and just dancing. But it’s actually Muse Festival that proved to me that I have no reason to worry. And that among people who are aware of club culture, space, sound and dance are shared. I can experience the event with pleasure.
I would like to congratulate the organizers on such a successful and prosperous festival. Nowadays, and especially with the ultra-abundance of electronic dance music events in Poland. We often forget the values that define club culture and create the bonds between people (rather than dividing them into categories). However, when it comes to Muse Festival, you can already plan to join the 2026 edition. ‘Cause churches are good for prayers…
