Amongst those who know, UNUM is one of the underground’s most essential festivals. It has all the key ingredients going for it as well as an international crowd that is friendly, knowledgeable and likes to party. As such this fourth edition was the best yet and once again UNUM staked its claim as one of the best small festivals in the world.

It goes down in a gorgeous setting on the Albanian Riviera. Famously, there are three stages in all with music playing somewhere pretty much non stop across the whole event. There is the Main Stage, a smaller Beach Stage, and a legendary Pine  Stage hidden in the forest playing late into the night. For us, the stage amongst the tall, sweet smelling trees is always a real standout. It is here that music never ends, playing from Thursday to Tuesday in a true marathon that always leaves indelible memories.

Friday is a real standout with The Ghost and Dyed Soundorom digging deep and dropping plenty of real heat. The famously classy selectors also go back to back for a fine musical standoff with many highlights at The Pine Stage. People go wild, climbing on shoulders and whooping each new mix. Throughout the weekend this stage offers some of the best minimal tastemakers around and no one is left disappointed.

During the day, Vitess spins some killer sounds that get everyone amped up and ready for more, which comes in the form of Raresh, followed by Rhadoo, followed by Priku from midnight until 10am – it’s a real marathon of minimal sounds where the dance floor barely ever loses anyone.

Sunday keeps the vibes coming with Sonja Moonear doing her powerful minimal thing and again showing why she is such a popular figure, while Francesco Maddalena continues the good time vibes for when Franco Cinelli serves up the best set of the festival with next level technical skills and of course plenty of sweet sounds. John Dimas plays into the morning, soothing tired bodies with nice spaced out breaks and minimal tech. For those wanting a more maximal sound, Marco Carola brought his big rolling Neapolitan techno to the Main Stage, sweeping everyone up and carrying them into the next dimension.

With the hot sun, superb attention to production detail, always innovative line up and of course the great people, UNUM really is the festival that those in the know choose. It’s organic, feels like the music is always first and happens in a beautiful spot. We’re already hyped for 2024 and so should you be.