Positivus Festival Explained

Positivus Festival is an annual, three-day summer music and culture festival that was held in Salacgrīva, Latvia from 2007 to 2019. After two cancelled editions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival moved to the capital city of Riga from 2022.[1]

First held in 2007, Positivus combines a variety of genres, including indie, pop, folk, electronic and more styles in between. The festival is organized by Positivus Music. The festival always takes place during an extended weekend — from Thursday afternoon until Sunday morning of the third week of July. Positivus Festival is the largest music and arts festival in the Baltic States that takes place every year in the middle of July. Every year Positivus Festival is becoming more and more popular in Europe. It is a festival with international chart toppers and underground emerging talent set in an idyllic holiday location. Positivus Festival has been awarded the title "Best European Festival" and is mentioned in many shortlists as one of the top music festivals to visit in Europe.

Positivus festival has a vibe of Bohemian, friends, and family-oriented sort which weighs over the loud party vibe more common at music festivals. Positivus attendance has been around 30000 people for the last few years.

Over the years there have been up to six live stages featuring around 60–70 artists every year on average, most notably including Pixies, Alt-J, Ellie Goulding (multiple years), The Lumineers, Hot Chip, John Newman, Placebo, M83, Air, Iggy Pop, Tom Odell (multiple years), Elbow, Daughter, Kraftwerk, Bastille, The Kooks, Sigur Rós, Imagine Dragons, The XX, Hurts, OK Go, Muse and many others. The festival line-up usually consists of a number of chart topping artists as well as new and exciting performers from all over the world, with Latvian and Estonian artists having a strong presence. At its Salacgriva location, the festival took place only 12 km from the Estonian-Latvian border and therefore saw a strong attendance of Estonian visitors, musicians, caterers, and marketers as well as festival personnel, rendering Positivus an unofficial yearly meeting of the two neighbour countries. Estonians called it "Estonia's biggest music festival in Latvia".

Landscape

From 2007 through 2019, Positivus was held in the Latvian coastal town of Salacgrīva located between the A1 Via Baltica highway and the beach of the Riga Bay. The festival offered access to meadows, forests, the beach, as well as the local town of Salacgrīva.

Camping

From 2007 through 2019, the festival camping site was located on the other side of the A1 Via Baltica road, directly across from the festival venue, and it was sponsored by Merrild Coffee, which provided complementary coffee refills for campers during the entire festival. The camping grounds also had catering services. The car parking was located within a short distance from the camping site. As of 2016, there was a separated area for caravans and trailer houses.

Positivus Festival 2023

The 2023 festival was held on July 14 and 15 in Lucavsala Park, Riga, Latvia. It was headlined by Sam Smith and Metro Boomin.[2]

LMT Stage Lāčplēsis StageEvolution Stage
July 14, 2023
  • Tommy Cash
  • Banda Banda
  • Elīza Legzdiņa
  • Bel Tempo
  • Miks Galvanovskis
  • Aminata
  • Laika Suns
  • Vēstnieks
  • Patrisha
  • Marko & Hottee
  • MC Apšaude
  • Grēta
July 15, 2023
  • Mauku Sencis & Grandmasters Neons
  • Fiņķis
  • ZEĻĢIS
  • I MEAN LOVE
  • HUNN
  • Vultura
  • Perestroika

Positivus Festival 2022

The 2022 festival was held for the first time in Lucavsala Park in the capital city of Riga on July 15 and 16.[3] [4] It was headlined by ASAP Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jamie xx.[5]

LMT Stage Lāčplēsis StageNarvesen Stage
July 15, 2022
  • Arturs Skutelis
  • Būū
  • rolands če
  • Grupa Sigma
  • PRUSAX
  • ZEĻĢIS
  • Ods
  • Elizabete Gaile
July 16, 2022
  • Citi Zēni
  • Edavārdi
  • MUUD
  • Chris Noah
  • Wiesulis
  • $ourJ
  • Nova Koma

Positivus Festival 2020

The festival was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Positivus Festival 2019

The festival took place on July 26–27, 2019.[6] [7]

Line-up

Main stage Lāčplēsis stage
Friday, July 26
July 27

Positivus Festival 2018

The festival took place on July 20–22, 2018.

Line-up

Main stage Other stagePiena svētki stageArts And Nature Stage
Friday, July 20
Saturday, July 21
  • The Prodigy
  • Arturiks Šaginovs
  • Maigonis Stirnpisis
  • Imka. Shipsea. Nepariet
  • MESA
  • Youngr
  • Artikus Seksulikus
  • Rolandos Se Tankos
Sunday, July 22

Positivus Festival 2017

The festival took place on July 14–16, 2017.

Line-up

Lattelecom Stage Nordea StageElectric Room StagePalladium StageArts And Nature Stage
July 14
  • Bandmaster
  • Singapūras Satīns
  • Edavārdi
  • Beyond Beyond
  • Chris Noah
  • Okym & Tiiu
  • Matīss Čudars
  • Riga Improvisation Theatre
  • DJ Music DJ
  • Polifauna
  • DJ Oriole & VJ Linda Konone
  • Kosmodisk
  • Mad Ant
July 15
  • Crookers
  • Kingdom
  • DJ Aspirīns vs DJ Toms Grēviņš
  • NOËP
  • Riga Improvisation Theatre
  • Comedy Latvia
  • Tehnikums
  • Viņa
  • Platon Buravicky
  • Pachamama Beats
  • Sign Libra
  • Āres
July 16
  • Rudelies
  • Rīgas DJ Skola: DJ Dubra, DJ PM2Theam, DJ Aspirins
  • Mārcis Auziņš
  • Sūdi
  • Tīna Šipkēvica
  • Woman Stand Up
  • Comedy Estonia
  • Kapelmeistars Group

Positivus festival 2016

The festival took place on July 15–17, 2016.

Line-up

Lattelecom stage Nordea stage Palladium stage I Love You stage Red Bull Music Academy stage Arts and Nature stage
July 15
San Fermin
Years & Years
Hot Chip
Ellie Goulding
Rīgas Modes
Sofi Tukker
Ho99o9
Arthur Beatrice
Minor Victories
Richard Hawley
Mark Ronson
Grässhopas
Estrada Orchestra
Milk
Singapūras Satīns
Laika Suns
20syl & Mr. J. Medeiros present AllttA
Mielavs un Pārcēlāji
Kristaps Bedrītis
The Boondocks
Chomsky Chess Club
Tehnikums
The Pink Elephant
NOËP
JoyCut
DJ Kārlis Dagilis
MakeMake
Mr. Nestor
Avoid Dave
Chloe Martini
Kashuks
DJ Craze
DJ Slow
Two
Kikit
ImproZoo
Elizabeta Lāce
Ezeri
Starmetis
7Synths
July 16
Baio
Joss Stone
Latvian Radio Big Band & Ralfs Eilands
John Newman
M83
Super Besse
Alise Joste
Dzelzs Vilks
C Duncan
Seinabo Sey
Mercury Rev
Ouu
I Wear* Experiment
Bandmaster
Postaal
Liima
Satellites LV
Skyforger
Ozols
Mionia
Kasetes
Blue House
Howling Owl
Irving Ark
Židrūns
Pienvedēja Piedzīvojumi
DJ Pēteris Bajārs
Smthing Smthing
Mario Moretti
NiklāvZ
Dave Storm & Stee Downes
Fingalick & Vaiper
Mike Skinner & MURKAGE present TONGA
Branko
Cartoon
MHKL & Quest
I-DEJAS MĀJA morning workout
Prieka Ministrija
Art-i-šok
Comedy Latvia
Riga Improvisation Theatre
Anneli Arro
Vladislavs Nastavševs
Coals
Colin Johnco
Northern C
MMMM
Gas Of Latvia
Tonik Ensemble
Indriķis Ģelzis
July 17
Carnival Youth
Hælos
Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires
Wolf Alice
Air
Iggy Pop
Choir of Young Believers
The Japanese House
The Very Best
Oh Wonder
Grimes
Frankie Animal
Lexsoul Dancemachine
Kali Briis Band
Daddy Was A Milkman
Cigarettes After Sex
Reiks
DaGamba
THE ROOP
Kashuks
Markas Palubenka
Brothers Water
Erki Pärnoja: Himmelbjerget
Kaminsky
Alaska
KAMP!
Sander Mölder
I-DEJAS MĀJA morning workout
Comedy Estonia
Orbīta - Slow Show FM
Reinis Jaunais
Levīti
HANA
Anna Pluto
Regīna
Sūdi

Positivus festival 2015

The event took place on July 17–19, 2015.

Line-up

Lattelecom stage Nordea stage Palladium stage I Love You stage Red Bull Music academy Dabas stage
July 17
Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges & Coolmans Report
Everything Everything
Jungle
Tom Odell
Placebo

















DJ Ai-Va
Without Letters
Dorian Concept Trio
Break Da Funk
Camo & Krooked
DJ Sliink
DJ Quest & Paul Oja









July 18
Dagamba+Sinfonietta Rīga+Juventus
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Ewert and the Two Dragons
Warpaint
Kasabian












Mr. Nestor
Niklāvz
Formacja
Avoid Dave
Dave Storm
Egyptian Lover
Breach
Grind Live




July 19
Basement Jaxx
St. Vincent
Fenech-Soler
Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters
Elliphant











Münzpauzn
Bandmaster
Mr. Krime
Smthing Smthing




Positivus festival 2014

The event took place on July 18–20, 2014.

Line-up

Lattelecom stage Nordea stage Palladium stage I Love You stage Red Bull Music academy
July 18
FM Belfast
The Horrors
You Me At Six
Phantogram
Elbow
Birth of Joy
Junip
Laura Mvula
Future Islands
Audience Killers
Cherub
K.Remonts
Pompeya
The Sound Poets
Daniel Levi
Freaks on Floor
The Citizens
Pyro Trees
Tallinn Daggers
Big Wave Riders
Get Your Gun
Carnival Youth
Kārlis Dagilis
Just Blaze
Rebeka
Oriole
Napo
Temper Temple
Dave Storm
Nick Hook
MHKL & K-Sein
Vaiper Despotin
July 19
And So I Watch You From Afar
Daughter
Anna Calvi
Ellie Goulding
Kraftwerk
Tricky
Pharoah Sanders Quartet
Dzelzs Vilks Jauno Jāņu orķestris
Kid Karate
King Charles
Carnival Youth
Audience Killers
The Dumplings
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Trad.Attack!
Wilhelm
Marten Kuningas
Stefan Rausch
Garbanotas Bosistas
Starmetis
Junk Riot
Super Besse
Rubenis, Eihmanis & Helmss
Pēteris Bajārs
Martas asinis
Niklavz
DJ All-viss
Leslie Da Bass
Avoid Dave
Full Crate X Mar
DJ Quest
Paul Oja
A-Trak
July 20

Aluna George
The 1975
Bastille
The Kooks
Junk Riot
Justina Lee Brown
Latvian Blues Band
NONONO
Of Montreal
Chet Faker
Temples
Argo Vals
Kali Briis
Three Leg Dog
The Velvet Supernova
Pikaso
Rīgas modes
Manta

Vincent Long
The Sinclair Sinclair
Das Sonntags Legion
Laika suns
Frankie Animal
Margaret
Sander Mölder
DFRNT
Mr Nestor

Positivus festival 2013

In 2013 for the first time ever the festival lasted for three days, taking place on July 19–21, 2013.

Line-up

TELE2 stage Nordea stage I Love You stage Palladium stage Red Bull Music academy Dabas stage
July 19
Crystal Castles
Noah and the Whale
Iiris
Elektro Guzzi
Twenty One Pilots
Zodiaks
Palma Violets
Rasabasa
Elephants From Neptune
Colours of Bubbles
Franco Franco
Andis Grīva
Deeper Upper
Parára
Laika suns
Mikus Frišfelds
Milk
Luministic
Very Cool People
Elephants From Neptune
Satellites LV
DJ RAPA
Oogle Vision
Kwazar
OYT
Mr. Nestor
Jesse & Jimi Tenor
Eltron John
Jack Beats
Riton
DJ Quest & Paul Oja
Kristaps Bedrītis
Treeeye
Du Duo
Pyro Trees
Alise Ģelze
July 20
Sigur Rós
Imagine Dragons
Jauns mēness
Willy Moon
Latvian Blues Band
C2C
Charli XCX
John Grant
Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi
Zebra Island
Momend
Carnival Youth
Sibyl Vane
Alise Joste
Markas Palubenka
Them Lemons
Jagaspace
Paabel
I Wear* Experiment
Wolfredt
Galvanic Elephants
Candy Empire
Faun Racket
Outloudz
Halfbrother
Fingalick
Elvi/Dunian
Shotman
Kamp!
Firejose
B. Bravo
MJ Cole
Artwork
Superskankers
Samba De Riga
Sus Dungo
Martas asinis
Audience Killers
Y Silent
July 21
The xx
Two Door Cinema Club
Michael Kiwanuka
Tom Odell
Team Ghost
French Films
Darwin Deez
Suuns
!!!
Efterklang
No Ceremony
Laime pilnīga
Without Letters
Anete Kozlovska
Bernības milicija
Odd Hugo
Stūrī zēvele
Tribes of the City
The Stanleys
Age of Stones
Komjaunatne
Kurak
Oranžās brīvdienas
The Sound Poets
Laime pilnīga
Kaktiņš un Stūrītis
Indygo
The Coco'Nuts
Elizabete Balčus

Positivus festival 2012

The event took place on 20 and 21 July 2012.

Line-up

TELE2 stage Nordea stage Palladium stage I Love You stage Red Bull Music academy
July 20
Friendly Fires
Housse de Racket
Instrumenti
Keane
Niki & the Dove
King Charles
Lucy Rose
Vondelpark
Iļģi
The Wow
Black Apple Market
Laime Pilnīga
Rīga Metro
Triānas parks
Astro'n'out
Baložu pilni pagalmi
Galaxy Bosons
Talbot
The Big Bluff
Freaks on Floor
Alise Joste
Markas Palubenka
Mimicry
Rasabasa
Tramplīni
Audience Killers
Mācītājs on Acid
Tenfold Rabbit
Zig Zag
Momend
Brockenchord
DJ Quest
Downtown Party Network
Dave Storm
Kienra & ЯVRS
DJ Rapa
Full Crate & Mar
DJ Zinc
July 21
Ewert and The Two Dragons
Givers
Manic Street Preachers
SBTRKT
Skyforger
The Vaccines
Damien Rice
Cashier No. 9
Jamie N Commons
Wild Beasts
Brodka
Kuchenbeat
Fanfarlo
Abraham's Cafe
Elephants From Neptune
Animal Drama
ESKIMO
Sibyl Vane
The Sound Poets
Zebra Island
Elizabete Balčus
Toms Grēviņš
Jesse Boykins III
Sander Molder
Tiger Milk
Mr. Nestor
Oyt
Tiger&Woods
Tom Middleton
Hudson Mohawke
Lunice
ELVI/DUNIAN

Positivus festival 2011

The event took place on 15 and 16 July 2011.

Line-up

TELE2 stage Cēsu Alus stage I Love You stage Red Bull Music academy Tallinn Music Week Stage
July 15
Yoav
Gustavo
Hurts
Editors
Freak Owls
Dry the River
Alina Orlova
Pulled Apart by Horses
Frankie & Heartstrings
Tunng
Frekvence
Kārlis Kazāks
HMP?
Parara
ZRYA
Das Sonntags Legion
Goran Gora and The Yrs
Malcolm Lincoln
The Gaslamp Killer
Mondo in Stereo
Bassline Riga
Mr. Nestor
BrassBastardz
Mad Mats
Mimicry
Aides
Nevesis
Junk Riot
Kreatiivmootor
Badass Yuki
July 16
Satellites LV
King Charles
OK Go
Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.
James
Röyksopp
Auļi
Dzelzs Vilks
Iiris
Ewert and the Two Dragons
Alcoholic Faith Mission
Chapel Club
Glasser
Beach House
Aparāts
Momend
Bērnības milicija
Starmetis
Acid rain
Andis Grīva
Colours of Bubbles
Lie Lie Sister
Black Apple Market
The Mundane
Scratch Perverts
Crystal Sound System
Kaur Kareda
Renegades of Bump
Oyt
Big Sensation
Innocent Sorcerers

Positivus festival 2010

The festival was held on 16 and 17 July 2010.

Line-up

TELE2 stage Cēsu Alus stage I Love You stage
July 16
The Climbers
Ten Bears
Happy Mondays
Unkle
Triānas parks
Shoreline
Happyendless
The Gin Riots
Lady Daisey
Popidiot
Astro'n'out
Soundarcade
Zizzou
Lie Lie Sister
Bad Apples
Alise Joste
Mona De Bo
July 17
Autumn Owls
ASIWYFA
Scissor Sisters
Muse
Svjata Vatra
Prince and Crosby
The Miserable Rich
EIMIC
Goran Gora
Giullia y Los Tellarini
Kira Kira
Stornoway
Martin Confused
100 White Souls
El Mars
S.P.B.
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Tramplīni
Ewert and the Two Dragons

Positivus festival 2009

The festival was held on 17 and 18 July 2009.

Line-up

TELE2 stage Cēsu Alus stage I Love You stage Space Dog tent
July 17
Sons of Noel and Adrian
The Tiger Lillies
Prāta vētra
Reigani
Bedwetters
Laime pilnīga
The Happy Endings
Two Door Cinema Club
Pete Doherty
Pop Beats Poetry
Voiceks Voiska
S.P.B.
Gaujarts
Hospitāļu iela
Mona De Bo
Kārlis Kazāks
Čipsis un Dullais
All Day Long
Septiņi pieauguši vīrieši
July 18
Instrumenti
Ebony Bones
The Whip
Moby
Dahling
Dun Dun
The Mundane
Zig Zag
The Hobos
Dzeltenie Pastnieki
Jurga
The Leisure Society
Sinéad O'Connor
Acid Rain
Them Lemons
Maripossa
Martin Confused
El Mars
Satellites LV
Sound Religion
Striķis
Kuchenbeat

PositivusAB 2008

The festival was held from 18 to 19 July 2008. It was attended by approximately 18,000 people.

Stages

Line-up

AB Stage TELE2 Stage Shark dance tent
July 18
I'm From Barcelona
Travis
Manic Street Preachers
Živile
Astro'n'out
The Briefing
Mitsoura
Satellites LV
Iļģi
Timo Maas
July 19
Voiceks Voiska
Gorbachov
Mofo
Gustavo
Fatboy Slim
Land
Mild
Livingstones
Kuchenbeat
Mona De Bo
Nohow
Inokentijs Mārpls
Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi
My Federation
British Sea Power

Line-up

<-- New COL -->18 July
  • Bogdan Taran
  • DJ Sun from Lithuania
19 July
  • Jānis Krauklis

PositivusAB 2007

It was the first PositivusAB festival. The festival was held from 27 to 28 July 2007.

Line-up

AB stage BBC stage
July 27
Sigma
Goran Gora
Brett Anderson
Mumiy Troll
Otra Puse
Backflow
Malcolm McLaren
Badly Drawn Boy
July 28
Mofo
DJ Lethal
The Concretes
Stereophonics
James
Martin Confused
S.P.B.
R.A.P.
Satellites LV
Tribes of the City
Hospitāļu iela
The Sun

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Positivus Festival headliner announced - A$AP Rocky . Best of Baltic Entertainment Ltd. . en.
  2. Web site: Metro Boomin, Sam Smith, new stages, comedians – "Positivus" publishes the full festival program. Baltics News. July 3, 2023. November 17, 2023.
  3. Web site: Live Report: Positivus Festival 2022. July 26, 2022. November 17, 2023. Clash.
  4. Web site: Positivus Festival Moves To New Location In Riga with A$AP Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, Jamie xx, and many more. Raver. April 13, 2022. November 17, 2023.
  5. Web site: Positivus Festival returns with A$AP Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, Jamie XX, Caribou and More. Ultimate Festival Guide. July 5, 2022. November 17, 2023. Andy.
  6. News: eng.lsm.lv . Leitholde . Aiga . LSM autore . July is festival month in Latvia! . 28 July 2019 . eng.lsm.lv . . 26 June 2019.
  7. News: Brikmane . Zane . Sācies 13. "Positivus" festivāls . 28 July 2019 . LSM.lv . . 26 July 2019 . lv.