Defected Croatia 2024: A sun-drenched celebration of house music
After experiencing one of the UK’s wettest summers on record, it was time for HUNGER to hang up their wellies and don their Birkenstocks for four days of dancing on the beach with Defected.
The Garden in Tisno, Croatia, once again transformed into a house music haven from August 1st to 4th for Defected Croatia 2024. Nestled on the Adriatic coast, The Garden has become a legendary venue, not only hosting Defected but iconic festivals like Outlook, Dimensions and Love International. This idyllic setting is a pilgrimage site for electronic music lovers from all over the globe, offering an experience where the beats are just as intoxicating as the surroundings. From boat parties to secret kitchen discos, this year’s edition delivered unforgettable moments and created a sense of community that resonated long after the final set.
The festival kicked off with a Wednesday pre-party, and if you were lucky enough to be there, you witnessed something special. The Dunmore Brothers and Rio Tashan set the tone for the days to come, while Olive F delivered a set that positioned her as one to watch. She built excitement for the Moxy Muzik boat party featuring label founder Darius Syrossian – who, as it happens, was an early champion of Olive F’s funky beats – and Jake Adams. Darius and Olive’s new track ‘Cereal Groover’ was due for release on the Friday and was quite easily the most frequently played tune of the festival.
Whether at The Beach Stage or elsewhere, one of the most refreshing aspects of Defected Croatia was the crowd. In an era where people often experience events through their phone screens, it was a breath of fresh air to see a sea of bodies moving to the beat, fully present in the moment. Phones stayed in pockets, allowing everyone to lose themselves in the music and connect with each other on the dancefloor. It felt as if Defected was about more than just the DJs — it was about a collective experience where every person contributed to the vibe.
Tisno’s charm extends beyond the music. The location is a dream, with its crystal-clear waters, historic town, and stunning sunsets providing a backdrop that enhances what Defected was doing. The on-site restaurant deserves a special mention, offering delicious meals that refuelled festival-goers for the next round of two-stepping. The standouts were a chicken salad and tuna tacos, both of which prevented one of those all-too-familiar festival “taccy chunders”. None of that at Defected — everyone was in high spirits.
Thursday saw the return of the much-anticipated boat parties, and if you plan to attend next year, booking in advance is a must. The highlight was the Todd Edwards B2B Majestic set, followed by Sam Divine, which turned the Adriatic Sea into a floating dance floor. There was a real buzz in the air, with the sunset casting a golden glow over the waves as the music carried everyone into a state of bliss. It’s going to sound repetitive at this point, but what stood out about Defected was that it’s more than just a festival — it actually manages to capture a moment in time. Something you’ll remember for years to come.
The Olive Grove stage hosted one of the most poignant moments of the festival on Saturday: the final Kiwi Records takeover. Conducta kicked off his set with his signature blend of UK Garage, setting the tone for an unforgettable evening. He was followed by Sammy Virji, whose energetic and bouncy set kept the crowd moving before the legendary MJ Cole took over and provided the highlight of the festival when he closed the stage with “Sincere”. Goosebumps rippled through the crowd, and from 9pm to 2am – a hot five hours – We couldn’t tear ourselves away from the stage. Each DJ brought their unique flavour, creating a seamless and indelible experience for the most hardcore of UK Garage fans. It was a fitting tribute to a label that has been instrumental in shaping the sound of the genre. There were concerns about the structural integrity of the stage due to the vast amounts of people absolutely sending it, but luckily everything prevailed.
On Saturday night, those who were lucky enough to receive a coveted invite (which was, by the way, a Defected keyring handed out by members of the crew) were treated to a secret SG Lewis set in one of The Garden’s on-site apartments. The kitchen was packed and evoked the spirit of the old school house parties we all know and love. What made it even better, however, was this was one taking place in Croatia. The DJ said that it was the “sweatiest 90 mins of [his] life”.
The bookings team curated the perfect Sunday vibes with soothing, melodic artists like Girls of the Internet, Crazy P Soundsystem and Ben Westbeech performing at the Olive Grove for the Defected Live Sessions. Meanwhile, the Beach Stage was a riot of colour, glamour, and feel-good energy for the Glitterbox takeover with regulars like Melvo Baptiste and The Shapeshifters, who were spinning classic disco anthems. Add in the iconic Glitterbox dancers and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a night where the crowd is moving all night long. It was a celebration of inclusivity, love and hedonism.
Barbarella’s is the legendary open air venue famous for its afterparties, earning a reputation as the sunrise spot for clubbers. It’s now become one of Croatia’s most internationally famous nightclubs, ranking in at #29 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs. It’s definitely worth the 15 minute transfer to experience the Funktion One soundsystem pumping the sounds of some of the most iconic DJ’s as the sun comes up. Over the weekend, Barbarella’s hosted a lineup of house music royalty, including Honey Dijon, Derrick Carter, Lil Louis, Mike Dunn, Moodymann and Carl Craig.
All things said, Defected isn’t just about dancing until dawn. For those not so rave-inclined, the festival offered a variety of wellness sessions that provided the perfect antidote to the high-energy music. Attendees could start their day with a Vinyasa flow yoga class by former Space Ibiza resident Smokin Jo. Imagine house music and old school rave vibes combined with a downward facing dog. On-site massages were a welcome relief for the tired feet of festival-goers, helping them recharge and stay in peak form for the next round of festivities. It was kind of holistic, and while that might seem like one of those annoying buzzwords, at Defected it worked. We left Tisno feeling refreshed and revitalised.
As the final beat from Masters at Work echoed across The Garden at 6am on Monday morning, Defected Croatia 2024 solidified its place as a must-attend event for house music lovers. Each moment celebrated music and community in the most unforgettable way, and as attendees reluctantly packed their bags and headed back to reality, one thing was certain — memories had been made. Cheesy? Perhaps. But, ultimately, it’s true. Until next year, Croatia. We’re already counting down the days.
Tickets are now on sale for Defected Croatia 2025. Be quick, you won’t want to miss it.
