Balaton Sound Explained

Music Festival Name:	Balaton Sound
Years Active:	2007  - present
Capacity:	140,000^[1]
Attendance:	172,000 (2019)^[2]
Dates:	Four days, usually starting on the second Thursday of July
Website:	https://balatonsound.com/en/

46.884°N 17.9254°W

Balaton Sound (also known as Heineken Balaton Sound between 2007 and 2012 and as MasterCard Balaton Sound since 2013^[3] for sponsorship reasons) is one of Europe's largest open air electronic music festivals. Held annually since 2007 on the southern bank of Lake Balaton, Hungary, it features live acts and DJs from all around the world, from established artists to new names. The event was co-created by the organizers of Sziget Festival.^[4]

Background

As the festival gets more famous and popular each year, tickets are usually sold out before they go on sale at the official ticket vendors; this event sets new attendance records yearly.

The first Balaton Sound festival was held between 12 July and 15 July 2007. The fact that the event was held on the shore of the largest lake in Central Europe in mid-summer, its twenty-hour music schedule, and the line-up gained it significant public interest.

The festival is located on the west part of Zamárdi at the crossing of Panoráma and Zöldfa utca (street).^[5]

Inside the festival area variable stages, lounges, and tents are established for the performances. The sponsors of the festival create luxurious chill-out facilities with hammocks, bean bags, and easy chairs. Visitors to Balaton Sound can stay at a special campsite with several pubs, cocktail bars and restaurants equipped with accoutrements absent from Hungary's other summer music festivals. The Main Stage area has a capacity of about 50,000.

According to a KPMG study over the four days of the event in 2008, 88,000 attendants visited the festival while the daily average reached 22,000. Over 1.6 billion HUF was spent by visitors in total, 41,000 HUF per person, mostly spent on entrance fees, food and accommodation.^[6] In 2009, the number of festival visitors reached 94,000.^[7] In 2012 it became the second largest music festival in Hungary (after the Sziget Festival), and one of the most populated electronic music festivals in Europe.^{[8] [9]}

The 2012 festival won the European Festivals Award in the category Best Medium-Sized European Festival in early 2013.^[10]

In 2018 the festival headliners included (amongst others) David Guetta, Alesso, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and The Chainsmokers. A statement by the festival producers confirmed that the 2018 festival broke its previous attendance record, with 165,000 attending, 8000 more than the previous record.^[11]

Balaton Sound 2019 will start on 3 July and will end on 7 July, featuring headliner performances by J Balvin, Future and DJs Armin Van Buuran, Tiesto and Marshmello.^[12]

Pre-sale ticket prices:^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015
Daily ticket	6000HUF	28EUR/ 6990HUF	39EUR/ 9900HUF	50EUR/ 12500HUF	46EUR/ 12500HUF	45EUR/ 13000HUF	55EUR/ 15000HUF	50EUR/ 15000HUF	55EUR/ 16000HUF
Festival pass (4/5 days)	14900HUF	69EUR/ 16900HUF	100EUR/ 25000HUF	110EUR/ 29900HUF	111EUR/ 29900HUF	110EUR/ 31000HUF	135EUR/ 39000HUF	150EUR/ 44000HUF	165EUR/ 49990HUF

Line-ups

The following are the festival line-ups for 2007,^[17] 2008,^[18] 2009,^[19] and 2013.^[20]

2007:

	July 12	July 13	July 14	July 15
Stage Fever Arena	Junkie & Hawkie Kühl Darren Emerson Eric Prydz Sterbinszky	Junkie & Hawkie Client Muzzaik Roger Sanchez Ferry Corsten Shane 54	Junkie & Hawkie Pöli Junkie XL Hernan Cattaneo Slam Jr
Main Stage		Belga Hiperkarma,Patrice Anima Sound System Basement Jaxx	Emil.RuleZ! Leeroy (Saian Supa Crew) Oi Va Oi The Brand New Heavies Kruder & Dorfmeister	PASO Beastie Boys
T-Mobile- LG Stage	DJ Viki Mitsura Quimby Kispál és a Borz Bauchklang Yonderboi DJ Cadik	DJ Viki Keyser & Shuriken Bootsie Quartet Barabás Lőrinc Eklektric Zagar Madrid De Los Austrias Nouvelle Vague Adam Freeland Palotai	DJ Viki Dave Tipper Colorstar José Padilla Fine Cut Bodies DJ Storm Bal & Size9	DJ Viki Dj Shuriken Singas Projekt Irie Maffia Zagastic Brains Neo Tiga Hot X

2008:

	July 10	July 11	July 12	July 13
T-Mobile Stage	Andre, Naga, Beta M.A.N.D.Y. Polymorphin	URBS DJ set Re: Jazz Federico Aubele ft. Natalie Clavier Koop Hot X Richie Hawtin Igor Do Urden	Nicola Conte DJ set José Padilla Nicola Conte Jazz Combo Erik Sumo Band Ricardo Tobar live James Holden Coyote	Negro @ The Uptown Felaz Karányi Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu Los De Abajo
Heineken Main Stage		Goldfrapp Quimby, Massive Attack	Orishas Gentleman The B-52's	Sergent Garcia Zagar feat. Underground Divas Fatboy Slim
Red Lounge	Irie Maffia Péterfy Bori & Love Band Colorstar Rewind - Palotai Cadik,Mc Zeek,Publo,Chiburi,Lee	Mike_Rosoft&DJ Mesterházy Bootsie Quartet Beat Dis Barabás Lőrinc Eklektric Deladap! Russkaja Ltj Bukem & MC Conrad Anima DJ set	The Transform Quintet Tape Underground Singas Project Varga Zsuzsa Buscemi Neo Krafty Kuts DJ Marka	Rozsnyói Trió Anselmo Crew Carbonfools Anima Sound System Fine Cut Bodies DJ Hype & Daddy Earl
Samsung Mobil Arena		Junkie & Hawky Mylo Observer Armin Van Buuren Sterbinszky	Junkie & Hawky Pöli Booka Shade David Guetta Muzzaik	Junkie & Hawky Chriss Satoshi Tomiie Kühl

2009:

	July 9	July 10	July 11	July 12
T-Mobile Stage	Cogita, Andras Toth, Duel Singas Project Beat Dis Realistic Crew The Five Corners Quintet Junkie&Hawky	URBS DJ set Re: Jazz Federico Aubele ft. Natalie Clavier Koop Hot X Sven Väth Igor Do Urden	Nicola Conte DJ set José Padilla Nicola Conte Jazz Combo Erik Sumo Band Ricardo Tobar live James Holden Coyote	Negro @ The Uptown Felaz Karányi Jimi Tenor & Kabu Kabu Los De Abajo
Heineken Main Stage	Headshotboyz, Newl, Tits&Clits Dub Pistols Nouvelle Vague Underworld	Detective Kelly, Rene Mascarpone&Wachter, Streako,Sikztah Ozomatli Neo Kraftwerk	We plants are happy plants, Kollektiva Eskorzo Brains Orbital	NVC: Zoidberg, Ioda, Subotage, Tempo Irie Maffia Röyksopp Moby
Pesti Est Stage	Mesterhazy Korai Öröm Colorstar Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra Demon Superior Mad Professor, I Ration, Mc Kemon	Mesterházy Blue Note Cafe/Maestro Nostalgia 77 Péterfy Bori&Loveband Soerii &Poolek Fine Cut Bodies Mstrkrft, Anima DJ set, Bergi	Mesterházy Blue Note Cafe/Maestro Sadant Goulasch Exotika Black Cherry Anima Sound System Sub Focus, Chris.su	Mesterházy Blue Note Cafe/Maestro Harcsa Veronika Anselmo Crew Bootsie Quartet Erik Sumo Band DJ Zinc, Bal
Samsung Mobil Arena	Junkie & Hawky Collins&Behnam Lucca Carl Cox Hot X	Junkie & Hawky Chriss Dennes Deen David Guetta Sterbinszky	Junkie & Hawky Szeifert Richard Gray Eric Morillo Muzzaik	Sanfranciscobeat Reecoba Richie Hawtin, Hearthrob, Magda
MR2/MOL Stage	Mustbeat crew Lollipop/Radiokraft Gumipop: Gasman Monkey6 Hairy:Naga, Beta Parov Stelar&Max the sax Mecca events: 30HZ, Sikztah, Metha	Love alliance Dub phaze Ninjabreakz Kollektiva MR2 Dj set: Titusz MR2 Dj set: Izil MR2 Dj set: Palotai	Bomb the Jazz Girls and Mathematics Bladerunnaz/Test Chi Recordings: AMB, Kodek, Synus0006, Anorganik Aka Raster, Mango live Justin Martin, Oliver$ MR2 DJ set: Fine Cut Bodies	Deaf Company No Vidra Crew MR2 DJ set: Karányi, Rob Lick the Click Hypnosis Allnightbreakz

2013:

	July 10	July 11	July 12	July 13	July 14
OTP Bank Stage	Edo Denova Lotfi Begi Roberto Moguai Flamemakers	Ganxsta Zolee és a Kartel Akkezdet Phiai Baskerville (NL) live Irie Maffia The Bloody Beetroots Dublic Belzebass Robotrock Kovary	Bëlga Bin-Jip Neo Modestep Vad Fruttik Matt-U & MC Kemon FuntCase Doctor P Palotai & MC Fedora, Dublic	Sonar Sena Žagar Karányi anthology Brains Ludmilla Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Wondawulf B`Andre	Soerii & Poolek Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra Odett Carbonfools Four Tet Fine Cut Bodies - "LA PETITE MORT" A/V show Amon Tobin presents Two Fingers Friction Chris.su
MasterCard Main Stage		Warm Up - Canard Crystal Castles Wu-Tang Clan Avicii	Warm Up - DJ Gozth Nas Afrojack Freelusion Interactive Armin Van Buuren	Warm Up - Paul Strive Punnany Elektro Steve Aoki The Prodigy	Warm Up - Nikola Above and Beyond Fedde le Grand Calvin Harris
Arena		Metha Stereo Killaz Sikztah Justice DJ set Brodinski Andro	Stereopalma Karmatronic Nervo Hardwell Dada Life Sterbinszky	Kühl Jay Lumen Julia Carpenter Alesso Axwell Muzzaik	Sanfranciscobeat Minicoolboyz Hot X Slam Green Velvet The Advent Gary Beck
Telekom Terasz		Eva Live Volkova Sisters Todd Terje Naga & Beta Scuba Solomun Secret Factory a.k.a. Junkie & Hawky	Zajac Plastikheaven live 20 years Anima DJs Jan Blomqvist Budai Henrik Schwartz Dixon Seth Troxler Coyote	Reecoba Invoice Erpelpelle live Bernáthy Zsiga live Bruno from Ibiza Chriss Ronson Hernán Cattáneo Fairmont Jamie Jones Dandy	Yvel & Tristan We Plants Are Happy Plants Compact Disco DJ Koze Nora Naughty & Roocha Magda tINI Loco Dice Poli & Polarize

2018

Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, NERVO, Timmy Trumpet, W&W, David Guetta, DJ Snake, TY Dolla $ign, Jonas Blue^[21]

See also

• List of electronic music festivals

External links

• http://www.sziget.hu/balatonsound/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20090412155703/http://globetrekker.hu/balaton-sound-09/
• https://archive.today/20130103062016/http://www.hungarotickets.com/balatonsound/

Notes and References

1. Web site: This is why you don’t want to miss Balaton Sound 2024! . en . Maximal Trips . 2023-08-09.
2. Web site: Balaton Sound 2019 closes with a record no. of visitors . en . Daily News Hungary . 2023-07-06 . Erdő-Bonyár . Kitti . 2019-07-09.
3. Web site: Duplájár nőtt az érdeklődés . 2013-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130607052207/http://www.sziget.hu/balatonsound/hirek/duplajara_nott_az_erdeklodes.15196.html . 2013-06-07 . dead .
4. http://hvg.hu/gazdasag/20090713_balaton_sound_volt_fesztival.aspx Balaton Sound és VOLT: nyereség nyereség hátán
5. http://www.sziget.hu/balatonsound/info/zamardi Zamárdi
6. http://kpmghu.lcc.ch/dbfetch/52616e646f6d49566944d8f750a7977c8a03534f207629f92eb54602587f2647/bs__volt__sajtotajekoztato.pdf
7. http://glmhungary.com/amenities/entertainment/ Entertainment, GLM Hungary
8. Web site: Kezdődik a Balaton Sound! « Fesztivál « Kapcsoldbe.hu Minden a hazai … . https://archive.today/20130217215158/http://kapcsoldbe.hu/fesztival_hirek/kezdodik-a-balaton-sound/ . 17 February 2013 . dead.
9. Web site: Rekordot döntött a Balaton Sound. 16 July 2012.
10. Web site: The 2012 Winners in Full | Festival Awards Europe . 2013-10-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131013095945/http://eu.festivalawards.com/news/and-the-winners-are-2/ . 2013-10-13 .
11. Web site: Balaton Sound 2018 closes with a record No. of visitors - PHOTOS. 2018-07-20. Daily News Hungary. en-US. 2019-05-06.
12. Web site: Balaton Sound Announces Electronic Music Lineup. Desk. TV News. BroadwayWorld.com. en. 2019-05-06.
13. http://www.partyphoto.hu/program/a-t-mobile-es-a-heineken-bemutatja-balaton-sound-3-nap A T-Mobile és a Heineken bemutatja - Balaton Sound 3. nap
14. http://www.kulker-online.eu/content/view/869 Külker Online - Heineken Balaton Sound 2008
15. http://www.sziget.hu/balatonsound/jegy/jegyarak Jegyárak - Heineken Balaton Sound Napijegy
16. Web site: Balaton Sound the Festivalbeach Zamárdi, Hungary. 29 June - 2 July 2022 . www.sziget.hu . 2 September 2013.
17. Web site: Zene.hu - Balaton Sound Fesztivál 2007 (2007. Július 12. - 15.) - Adatlap . zene.hu . 15 May 2012.
18. Web site: Zene.hu - Balaton Sound 2008 (2008. Július 10. - 13.) - Adatlap . zene.hu . 15 May 2012.
19. Web site: Zene.hu - Heineken Balaton Sound 2009 (2009. Július 9. - 12.) - Adatlap . zene.hu . 15 May 2012.
20. http://www.sziget.hu/balatonsound_english Program search
21. Web site: Balaton Sound in Zamardi, Hungary - July 4 - 8, 2018 - Festination.com. festination. en-US. 2017-12-13.