Portugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa), is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are also part of Portugal.

History

Back in the 90´s a new movement appeared in Portugal, the psychedelic scene. It all started with small reunions, in hidden places that only some knew, and where the main ingredients were the gathering of people, the experiences and friends. Since that time many things have changed, the movement itself, the people, the parties and the music. Like some other small movements, they all grow, they become recognized and they bring attention to a larger number of people.

This country has been recognized over the years as one of the central keys in the psychedelic movement, not only because it has one of the biggest and more well known European open-air festival (Boom Festival) but also because every weekend there´s a good party to attend to, outdoor or in a club.

Since this is not an underground movement anymore in this country, big cities like Lisbon and Porto already have their weekly clubs making Trance parties with an average price between 3 and 30€.

In an overview of this past 15 years, since it all started, there´s a more media exposure of parties, a more nacional renowned Djs and producers, and widespread of parties and organizations (for week 1 to 10 parties are made all over the country), is becoming one of the main music forms in peoples interests.

[2010] A very promising year in PORTUGAL

written by Ganeisha
read this article in French

2010 the beggining of a New Era, the space continuum trajectory push us to new levels of conscience and we become aware of what Earth is saying. Portugal is a small space of that little piece of land in our world, and is one if the biggest countrys where the gathering of people is the main goal in every event that is done. Over the years the psychedelic movement as been growing in all sort of levels in this country, and 2010 is no exception. The underground movement has become a grown up experience in every way, and so the public became more demanding.

And what a better way to start this journey than with the Boom Festival, taking is 8th edition this year, from the 18th of August until the 26th, with amazing news for the lovers of this event, starting with a new location, still held in the lake of Idanha-a-Nova but in a new venue full of shade, which is flatter, greener, and has better access routes. This change, acordding to the Boom team, "was motivated by the need of offering our public better conditions to party."

With amazing views, beautiful, astonishing, these have been some of the words used to describe Boom’s venue. Since 2002 Boom Festival occurred 4 times at the same venue on the shores of the lake of Idanha-a-Nova, however in 2010 Boom Team is changing location and their main goal is to provide people with a better and more comfortable place to party! For shure it will be once more a great and amazing experience to be part of this festival. Also in the music areas, this year the festival will have three main themes in the Dance Floor- PsyTrance and Beyhond, Goa Trance, and Live Soundtracks; and of course the Ambient Area, Groovy Beach and Sacred Fire, to enjoy 8 days of all type of sounds. This year the tickets for this festival are LIMITED! So make shure to get yours in time to be part of this great experience! For more information about the festival, and tickets, go to http://www.boomfestival.org.

Also, after the Boom festival, the After Boom party, Utopia, will take place this year, from 26th August until the 29th, in the well-knowed and wonderful place of S.Gião. It is for shure the best option the relax and have fun at the same time, after the big festival.

Along the year in Portugal you can check good parties from three of the best organizations, at the moment, in this country, starting with Quest4Goa. They are promoting several indoor events in cities, such as Porto and Covilhã, and also its 11th anniversary which is already a mark in national, outdoor parties! Always with amazing professionalism, amazing decos, artists and environment, Quest4Goa is, for certain, one of the best promoters for trance parties in Portugal. For more infos about Quest4Goa events and artists go to http://www.quest4goa.com.

The other two main organizers in this country, that are building their way by building excellent events, are Moonblast and Samaveda. The first one putting on big outdoor partys in the months of April, June and October, always counting with big names from the PsyTrance and Ambient Scene, and with amazing structures, environment, and vibes; and the second directing on monthly basis, great indoor parties, specially in the city of Oporto, in the Porto Rio Club, but also two amazing outdoor parties, already knowed by the Portuguese Public, taking place in April and October, this one celebrating their 3rd anniversary.

For more informations about Moonblast and Samaveda parties you can go to http://www.myspace.com/samavedarec and http://www.myspace.com/moonblastproductions.

Talking about Portuguese artists and labels, we´re going to have some good releases this year from great Portuguese artists, beggining with D-Maniac, the well-knowed artist that blasts floors everytime he plays, released his first solo album "Obsessions" in January, after releasing in 2009 the album "Demented Diary", with his side project along with Tryambaka, called Sick Addiction. Make shure to have a listen to this one!

Also to be heared, new releases from Menog, Tryon, Khopat, Alienn (who released last year his first album "Cosmic Matter"), Sinful Reactions (who became part of 3d Vision) and Photonik (released already a music on Transient Rec, and are going to release also in the new upcoming Portuguese label Ajnagroove Rec). In the Ambient / Downtempo area please make shure to check Uasca, the new project formed by Tajmahal(FR) and Fluxo(PT), from Elektric Dream rec. They are preparing already their debut album, to be released along this year. Uasca is a tribute to the ancient, tribal knowledge of the Amazon. The goal of their music is to use our collective voice to raise awareness for the great need to respect the Amazon and all nature. Sergio Walgood, Zen Baboon & Zen Racoon, Smilie Pixie are also national names to consider and listen in this more relaxed area.

Portuguese artist agencies and Labels are also continuing their excellent work, starting with Magnetika Female Artist Agency, that focus more on the work of female dj´s, vj´s, designers and decor artists, all over the world, you can check them out on http://www.magnetikagency.com.

Also labels like Ajnagroove (this one releasing this year their first compilation), Flow Rec, Quest4Goa, Spectral Rec, Hypergate Rec, are keeping their work done, always with excellent artists and dj´s to count on.

Other areas with good Portuguese artists are Vj and Deco, and this country can be proud to have some amazing projects, such as Visual Lab decor (http://visualab.carbonmade.com), Celsius Decor, Fantasy Keeper, Cosmic Lotus, among others; and Vj´s such as Meskal (Quest4Goa) (http://www.myspace.com/meskalart), F_usion (Magnetika Agency) & Datagrama.

It´s always a good time to visit Portugal and our great party energy, but the summer for shure is the highlight of great outdoor parties. The average entrance price depends if it is an outdoor or club party, but they go from 3€ to 30€, in wich the average prices for water/beer is between 1€ and 3€. Almost every weekend there´s a good party to attend to, in a club, or outdoor, that can last from 00ha.m until 8h a.m (for club parties), or from 00h a.m to 20h p.m (for outdoor events).

Portugal continues to be the center of energic psy movement, and always a good place to visit and party!

Tell us more about PORTUGAL 2011

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