Amelie Lens, Dax J, Héctor Oaks, Indira Paganotto, Jeff Mills, Mochakk, Nico Moreno, Richie Hawtin and Sama’ Abdulhadi are some of the first confirmed artists for the 17th edition of the Portuguese festival that will take place on 8, 9 and 10 August next to the Fort of Santiago de Barra – Viana do Castelo.

NEOPOP once again works its magic in its 17th edition and places Viana do Castelo at the epicentre of the electronic music world. Once again, the musical reasons are compelling with a line-up that includes the biggest names in the techno and house scenes, a true reflection of the extreme care that the festival takes in putting together a very complete line-up that is at the same time a source of personality and eclecticism.

Portugal is preparing to welcome artists such as Amelie Lens, Dax J, DJ Lynce b2b Violet, Hector Oaks, Indira Paganotto, Jeff Mills, Josh Wink, KETTAMA, Luisa, MOCHAKK, Nico Moreno, Octave One live, Richie Hawtin, Roundhouse kick live, Rui Vargas, Salbany live, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Serginho b2b Ze Salvador and X CLUB.

The line-up will feature many new national and international additions to be announced soon. As well as news about parallel activities and Viana’s nightlife, which are becoming more and more consolidated as additional reasons for those who choose to go to the festival. Of course, there will also be information about access, transport, camping options, opening times, catering, passes, wristbands, etc. Tickets here.

First artists confirmed

AMELIE LENS
Amelie’s journey began in Antwerp, Belgium, hosting her own parties and DJing under various aliases. Her first release was on Italian label Lyase, and soon after, a trio of releases on Pan-Pot’s Second State brought her global recognition. Today, Amelie contributes to the acclaimed Global Underground City mix series, joining other industry pioneers such as John Digweed, Sasha and Darren Emerson. She regularly headlines festivals such as Awakenings, Sonar and Timewarp, as well as playing up to six shows a week at revered clubs such as Rex, Mondo Disko, Fabric, Printworks, among others.

DAX J
Few artists are building a legacy like Dax J today. The London-based British DJ and producer went from pirate radio to magazine covers, from backstage parties to raves at the world’s leading techno institutions, staying true to the underground with a unique individual style. His technical skill as a DJ and his attention to producing a high quality sound have placed him at the forefront of the global scene and established him as a unique figure in modern dance music.

HÉCTOR OAKS
More than just a DJ, producer and renowned label boss of KAOS and OAKS, Hector is known for his exceptional mixing skills and unique style. With half his life dedicated to the decks, he came to attention when he moved from Madrid to Berlin, where he began his career and established himself as one of Europe’s most sought-after techno talents, combining the contemporary with carefully selected tracks from the history of rave culture. Hector Oaks thrives on his passion for scouring record shops around the world. Possessing extraordinary empathy and intuition, he knows well the sounds that make a crowd vibrate, and it is this gift that shapes his dedication to music, establishing him as an indispensable element of the international techno scene.

INDIRA PAGANOTTO
Paganotto is currently one of Spain’s most emblematic and recognised artists. Her father, a DJ in the 80s, was responsible for a very eclectic musical education, which began with disco, jazz and acid house. Her sets are full of elegance and effusive danceability, with a quality selection that takes us from 90s disco to the most current underground techno music. Indira’s rise has been unstoppable, headlining all the major clubs and events such as Awakenings, Tomorrowland, Circoloco, Amnesia Ibiza, EXIT festival, Pacha Barcelona, Shelter Amsterdam, Fabric London, EDC Las Vegas, Thuishaven, Bar Americas, Nordstern, Cavo Paradiso, DC-10, among others. With great support from Charlotte de Witte, Indira has performed at her KNTXT events all over the world: Europe, North America, South America…

JEFF MILLS
Deeply immersed in science fiction, DJ, producer and artist Jeff Mills embraces this universe, its ideas, concepts, stories and aesthetics from the very beginning. For him, space is an obsession and his music almost becomes a musical science fiction. Jeff Mills never dipped into his DJ status and continued to multiply exceptional performances. When creating the soundtrack for Fritz Lang’s film “Metropolis” in 2000, Jeff Mills returned to his original inspiration made of utopia, futuristic thinking and a true passion for the extraordinary worlds and scenarios offered by science fiction.

MOCHAKK
Emerging from the hotbed of formidable talent that is Brazil, Mochakk (aka Pedro Maia) embodies a level of passion and motivation that puts him in a class of his own. As those who see him in action will confirm, Pedro displays his honest love of music in an affectionate and physical manner.

Driven by his innate curiosity, Mochakk began to seek out the artists he listened to at home, exploring down rabbit holes from Pearl Jam, to videos documenting “Top Grunge Bands”, learning what grunge music really was, to Linkin Park to hip-hop. This initial foundation of research and connection between a wide variety of musical styles is the essence of what Mochakk is all about.

NICO MORENO
Nico Moreno is a French DJ and producer from Caen, recognised as a major player in the contemporary industrial techno rave scene. He attracted attention when he created hits that left their mark on the techno scene, such as “Purple Widow”, “Insolent Rave”, “Techno Crari” or “Your Bad Company”, “This is for my haters” that helped to consolidate his reputation as a producer.

But his road to success was difficult and he had to take on the challenge of finding his own place in a demanding industry, which involved sacrifice and unwavering commitment. Despite many challenges and bold sacrifices, Nico created authentic music, full of passion and innovation. As founder of Insolent Rave Records, he is committed to supporting young talent and redefining the future of electronic music.

RICHIE HAWTIN
Richie Hawtin is, perhaps, Plastikman, the quintessential electronic musician, maintaining an underground calendar of cutting-edge electronic music across six albums (and two compilations). He was born in Britain and raised in Canada. He is the entrepreneurial mind behind the Plus 8, MINUS Records and From Our Minds labels, cultivating a plethora of talent, from Speedy J in the early 1990s to Gaiser in the 2010s.

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