Dreambeach Music Festival, Retamar, Almeria 2024 |
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Dreambeach Music Festival, Retamar, Almeria - 1st to 4th August 2024
Contemporary music and dance festivals in Andalucia
Dreambeach moved to a new location for its 10th Aniversary in 2024 at La Toya, Retamar close to Almeria City and Airport leaving behind nine years at Playa Villaricos (Cuevas del Almanzora, Almería). Dreambeach was originally a two-day dance festival featuring top electronic music that has now grown to a five-day event. This festival usually takes place up to the first weekend (Tuesday to Saturday) in August and around 30,000 attend each day. In 2024 it was Thursday to Sunday. There is camping zone for 30.000. Strictly over 18s for this festival. Dreambaeach was the effective successor to Creamfield Andalucia which was held in Playa Villaricos from 2004-2007 and then in other locations until 2012.
Previous years dates were 1st to 4th August 2024, 9th to 13th August 2023, 13th to 17th July 2022 (One month earlier to accommodate Dreambeach Puerto de Santa Maria on 13th August 2023), 4th to 8th August 2021, 2020 was cancelled, 7th to 11th August 2019.
The first confirmed artists in 2024 were David Guetta, 1991, Brennan Heart, Fedde Le Grand, Nina Kraviz, Ran-D, Ghost Stories, Cera Khin, Indira Paganotto, Modestep, Morten, Octave One, Patrick Mason, Paul Van Dyk, Stanton Warriors and Svdden Death.
New Dreambeach Festival Site - Retamar Almeria
The new festival site was controversial. In Retamar there was strong opposition from local residents who formed a pressure group called 'No al Dreambeach en El Toyo' (No to Dreambeach in El Toyo) and generated much media coverage. They pointed out that the natural environment on land adjacent to the festival site, which is classified as 'Red Natura 2000', is unprotected. They also expressed concerns about the proximity to Almería airport, despite the fact that Aviación Civil filed a non-objection. They also expressed concerns about noise pollution, particularly given that the city of Almería had suspended local noise limit by-laws for the long weekend. However, the authorities at all levels did not support their position. The residents claimed that permission was granted first, and environmental studies and conditions were imposed later.
The National Police Force was responsible for security at the festival for the first time, They reported that there were only nine arrests. This edition saw 120,000 people attend the festival over four days. In other words, on average 30,000 people attended each day. The Hotels Association (Asociación Provincial de Empresarios de Hostelería de Almería) announced a 25–45% drop in occupancy around the festival, claiming this resulted in a loss of income of €450,000. Meanwhile, the Almería City Council, the regional government and the festival organisers jointly announced that the festival had economic impact of €12 million. However, economic impact should not be confused with economic benefit.
Much less attention was paid to the 2025 edition, which featured three stages, over 500,000 watts of sound, 600 square metres of screens and more than 200 mobile projectors. The organisers expected 120,000 spectators (40,000 per day), which was the same figure as in 2024. However, Almeria City Council reported 'more than 90,000' (i.e. 30,000 per day).
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2024 Lineup
Day Three
Saturday 3rd August the main Dreambeach acts closed festival. The headlining this last day was David Guetta, French DJ and music producer. The British group Chase & Status joined the line-up with a DJ set format. On the urban spectrum of this line-up was Argentinian Nicki Nicole. RVFV from Almeria participated as a special guest for the urban style. The line-up continued Brian Cross, Inmita Palmerita, Meduza, Paul Van Dyk, Vicente One More Time, Cuartero, Loco Dice and Jamie Jones on stage with Joseph Capriati. Within the Spanish scene played influences such as Paco Osuna and DJ Nano. DJs ranging from classic house to soulful techno such as Aerea, Álvaro Sánchez, Francisco Allendes, Gnro, Manda Moor and Noemi Black. Followed by Paula Kasbaeh, Pole Position S.O.K.A.R and XZYJO. The festival came to a close with Dirtyphonics, 1991, Fox Stevenson, Modestep ‘Classics’, Jzik, Oto and a collaboration between Tortu and Jose Rodriguez.
Day Two
Friday 2nd August, the day started with the traditional Opening Set, this year by Fatima Hajji. Timmy Trumpet, R3hab, W&W, Brennan Heart and Ghost Stories on the MainStage, while Joris Voorn, Reinier Zonneveld and Adam Beyer were the biggest names in the Dreams Tent. the Open Air stage kicked off with Sullivan King, Svdden Death and Stanton Warriors. At the The Cage were national names such as Héctor Llamazares, Raúl Pacheco, Fran DC and Manu Sánchez.
Day One
Thursday 1st August on Mainstage with names like Gordo, the Andalusian Wade, Miguel Bastida the B2B of Gordo and Nico Moreno. Dreams Tent featured stars such as Indira Paganotto, Nico Moreno, Cera Khin or the B2B of Dexphase and Skryption. On a new new stage called The Cage feature names such as Karpin and Rasco.