From Psychedelic Traveller

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The capital is the city of Vienna on the Danube River.

History

Since 2003 Austria’s Psytrance scene has been associated with one of Europe’s biggest international festivals – Sonnenklang at the castle of Dobra in Lower Austria. As the 5-days-festival attracted somewhat 8000 people in 2006, because of heavy rainfalls only 1500 people came in 2007. Unforgettable was Olli Wisdoms gig with his new guitarist mixing Purple Haze and Star Spangled Banner of Jimi Hendrix. The future of the festival is still unclear – many questions are still unsolved.

[2009] Star Spangled Banner in AUSTRIA

written by Tom Rom

Unfortunately many other festivals and bigger parties had been cancelled or had troubles in 2008 – also due to problems with authorities or the police. But other summer festivals made Austria to a center-point of Europe’s psytrance scene in 2008. The 5-days-festival Spirit Base of organizer Goaran is still Austria’s 2nd biggest festival and the line-up was as impressing as every year. The vicinity of Ozora Festival in Hungary attracted lots of people from all over but most crowds came from neighboring Austria. Lots of festivals are already scheduled for 2009.

[2009]

In the last years the dark-psy scene was more based in the western parts of Austria. Now the wave hit also the western parts of the country – to mention the K.N.E.C.H.T of DJ Soth (Parties in Weberknecht), the circle around Goagnom and Lyserg in the Perchtoldsdorfer Hyrtlhaus. Now you’ll find all kinds of psy-trance in Vienna and surroundings – you can be sure there will be no weekend without at least one gorgious Goa-party in Austria throughout the year.

In Salzburg is to mention Otherland with the Unite Parade and many Goa-events, the young Syntax Sense as well as the 24/7-label-parties and in Tyrol the renowned Mystery World is still on air. Also the new Malice in Wonderland parties are finest. In Upper Austria the biggest are Klangbewusstsein, in Lower Austria Sunshine Explosion and the Samsara group and in Styria Pro.Tuberance and Alchemy in Graz. But the biggest scene you’ll find in Vienna: The Cosmic Space Disco of the “Lustige Astronaut” and DJ Samurai established a regular club up to 800 people in the WUK. The almost monthly great Sunday Chaizelt in Flex of Andi and team is THE family meeting point in FLEX. Still one of the most unique locations in Vienna is the “Sargfabrik” (“coffin factory”) where Club Dolphin of Ed takes place. In this location you have the opportunity to dance in a big hall and if you want there is a sauna, tepidarium, deck chairs and a swimming pool to dance naked if you want in a nicely visualized wet area. Other successful organizers are Funnymoon and Drops Reflections and the Wichtl events. Another favored club is the Florido Club at the Waterslide with parties indoor in winter and outdoor on a raft on the Danube river.

Artists

Some of Austrias new uprising producers are Ianuaria, IMIX, Kajola, Materia and Freelander. Austria’s most renowned Psy-VJs are Geko, playing as Psynema with Basti, the Funny Astronaut, Fade X and Sikanda. And not to forget the most psychedelic performance wonder group, the Phoenix Firedancers, which is based in Vienna.

Facts

Austria has a psy scene in Tyrol and Vienna with lots of festivals and parties with also international acts. Party folks are friendly and open-minded.

Police raids at parties are rare but happen sometimes on summer festivals. Drugs are illegal although smoking is mostly tolerated. Grow-shops are to find everywhere.

For informations check www.psyevents.at, www.goabase.de - Austria, for infos: www.goanet.at, for pictures www.psyshots.org and the website listed below.