I was in my early twenties when the spring festival started out in the capital of Styria. The Millennium brought a new concept to Graz and the first festival for electronic Music in Austria. Yes, it is true, before them, there was nothing. Or, not that much.

Honestly, the first Issue of the spring festival was a remarkable Event. Only two Venues (Dom im Berg and PPC former Theatro) and in comparison to the massive Line Up these days, it was a small and familiar Event and a good start into a decade of annual Happenings promoted by Zeiger Graz.

Spring transform Graz

(Always more than Music. Springfestival and its Visual Installations)

In 2003, Graz was the No.1 Place for Art & Culture in Europe according to the European Union and springthree was part of the Program. On May 28th, the Austrian – Premiere of the Movie „24 Hour Party People“ happened and was the Kick Off of spring three.

The likes of Tok Tok vs. Soffy O , LTJ Bukem, Giles Peterson, Earl Zinger, Electric Indigo and many more appeared and at the „Raw Digits Symposium“ it was time for a proper discussion. At the end of the Day, more than 9.000 Visitors and 100 Acts made the springthree the most successful spring festival since 2001.

If there is an Award for „Best Festival Corporate in Austria“, the spring festival would deserve it. Since the first Issue until springten, they are always cutting edge and with a great concept behind. Green Grass or Yard tools, it was mostly a spring related thing. My  Favourite was the Campaign in 2005 with the Girl and the green Bush.

The Line Up of springfive included the likes of Shitkatapult Label Boss T. Raumschmiere or Berlin based Kissogram.

(Roisin Murphy at the EB Opening Night – Image by augennerv)

A year later, it was time for Electronic Beats to team up with the spring festival Promoter and since 2008, the Festival starts with the EB Opening Night which took place at the Kasematten and Dom im Berg//Schlossberg.

springnine figures: more than 20.000 visitors, 200 Artists and party til the sun come up. Click here for our review.

Over the last few years, DJ legends have played back to back with indie darlings and emerging artists fill yet unnamed niches at springfestival. Bands including The Gossip, The Streets, The Whip, Roisin Murphy; legends from the true ranks of greatness with Grandmaster Flash, Laurent Garnier and Goldie; drum’n’bass djs like DJ Marky, Roni Size, Alix Perez; old and young techno dons like Carl Craig, Derrick May, Ben Klock and Marcel Dettman; electro smashers like 2manydjs and Digitalism, mash-up masters such as Diplo, A-Trak and Sinden; dubstep heavyweights like Digital Mystikz, The Bug, Caspa; labels such as Warp, DFA, Ninja Tune, Ed Banger, Stones Throw, and many, many more, have all played, DJed, represented, enhanced and rocked it hard at springfestival.

Spirit

It´s not that easy to write about the Spirit for those who were not there before. At the beginning in 2001, it was a very familiar thing. These days, it is a huge Happening and take place all over the Inner- City. It still feels familiar but like every successful Festival, the spring festival grew and is an overwhelming experience where you can meet people from every Continent in the World through four days in a sunny City, who share the same Love for Electronic Music. Oh yes boy, the spring festival transformed Graz, and it will go on and on for at least 10 more years.

Celebrate the 10th Issue of the spring festival, from May 12th til May 15th. Our full Preview is coming up next week.

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