The Night Bazaar Review: Back to Kappa FuturFestival We travelled to Turin, Italy to experience one of the worlds best electronic music festivals from 5th to 7th July. Here's what we thought.

KAPPA FUTURFESTIVAL 2024 proved to be an electrifying experience at Parco Dora in Turin, Italy.

This year’s festival, held from 5th to 7th July, featured a stellar lineup, including techno titans Carl Cox and Jeff Mills, the legendary Tiesto, and the vibrant Purple Disco Machine. The diverse lineup also included global superstars like Skrillex, Bonobo, Black Coffee, and Four Tet, alongside avant-garde acts such as Mochakk and Floating Points.

Celebrated for its unique blend of industrial charm and cutting-edge electronic music, Kappa FuturFestival stands out on the European festival circuit. With five stages and an extended three-day lineup, the 2024 edition delivered an unparalleled musical journey.

Kappa FuturFestival began its journey in December 2009 as FuturFestival, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Futurism in Turin’s Oval Lingotto stadium. In 2012, it evolved into the first Italian daytime summer festival, adopting the name Kappa FuturFestival. The festival quickly established itself as Italy’s premier urban electronic music event, consistently drawing international audiences.

 

Set in Parco Dora, a former industrial site turned urban park, the festival leverages Turin’s rich industrial heritage and vibrant cultural scene to create a unique festival experience. The city of Turin, once the first capital of Italy and a major industrial hub, now serves as a dynamic backdrop for this world-class event, blending history with cutting-edge music and art.

 

Music and Line-Up: 8/10

Kappa FuturFestival sets itself apart by offering a broad range of artists, from house to techno and everything in between. This year featured an impressive lineup with techno heavyweights like Carl Cox and Jeff Mills, former trance legend Tiesto, and the lively tunes of Purple Disco Machine.

The diversity in the lineup ensures there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a hardcore techno fan or just love to dance to good music. Our stand out sets were from Carl Cox who played two sets, one back to back with ANNA on Sunday afternoon and then closing out the festival on the Voyager stage on his own with his groundbreaking hybrid set. Jamie Jones rocked on Saturday afternoon followed by Seth Troxler back to back with Skream.

 

Venue and Facilities: 10/10

Kappa’s compact layout might seem daunting at first, but the venue flows seamlessly, akin to a musical journey at each stage. A centralised VIP hub accessible from every stage and a concrete walkway ensured quick and easy access to whichever stage we wanted to dance at next.

The myriad bars around the edges of each stage and conveniently halfway down the dancefloors meant no fighting back through a crowd to get a much-needed Jaeger. Top-up stations for the cashless drinks bands were well placed, and the queues were small, making the overall experience incredibly smooth and enjoyable.

 

Atmosphere and Cultural Impact: 9/10

Set in the visually stunning site of an old FIAT factory, Kappa FuturFestival is a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

The atmosphere was extremely friendly, with a crowd that included ravers from countries as far apart as Mexico and Japan, as well as plenty of locals. The police presence was minimal and focused solely on health and safety, which contributed to a relaxed and enjoyable vibe. All the staff were friendly and engaging, enhancing the overall experience.

 

Accessibility and Value: 10/10

Site access is extremely easy with wide walkways and concrete paths throughout the site. With a weekend pass priced at only 200 euros, the quality of the lineup offers exceptional value for money, far exceeding anything comparable in the UK. The convenience and affordability make it a top choice for festival-goers.

 

Food and Beverage: 6/10

The only downfall to Kappa, and to be fair, many other festivals, is the drink pricing. At 16 euros for a small vodka/red bull or equivalent, you can quickly find yourself spending upwards of 100 euros a day just to stay suitably lubricated. There was a reasonable variety of drinks with seltzers and soft drinks also available, but the rules of no outside water permitted, power banks being confiscated at the entrance, and no complimentary water inside the festival felt like a forced expenditure. Given the festival’s regular high temperatures exceeding 30°C, paying 6 euros per small bottle of water just to stay hydrated seemed unreasonable.