8 photos of BEONIX Festival, a transformative musical journey in Cyprus

BEONIX Festival offers a sonic oasis for music enthusiasts, where pulsating beats and enchanting melodies transport attendees to a realm of pure euphoria. From the moment the gates open, the festival grounds come alive with a palpable energy, drawing in crowds from all corners of the globe.

Held in Limassol, the Cypriot festival returned for its second instalment at a new location: ETKO, a dormant space previously inhabited by one of the city’s biggest wineries. The location was decorated with street art and megalith wine stores separating the stages, providing an immersive experience for its over 5,000 attendees and will continue to do so as the permanent venue for future editions of BEONIX.

The weekend festival boasted an impressive line-up of musical talent, featuring both established artists and emerging stars.

Day one saw Maceo Plex's deep house masterclass leave the crowd roaring after Jan Blomqvist and Stephan Bodzin's live sets smoothly warmed up proceedings.

As the sweltering sun set, the festival transformed into a throbbing hub of nightlife, further amplifying the energy of BEONIX Festival. The Hangar, an air-conditioned indoor space, became a haven for lovers of underground sounds into the early hours as the Main Stage powered down. Brazilian DJ ANNA’s stand-out two hour techno set fired up the stage’s first night.

Attendees danced with reckless abandon, losing themselves in the hypnotic rhythms and creating an unforgettable moment. "We've received an overwhelmingly positive response regarding the festival's production quality, sound, and overall atmosphere," note the organisers. The Hangar’s production quality garnered significant praise, and off the back of its success at BEONIX will continue to host events beyond the festival with organisers describing it as “the first of its kind on Cyprus.”

Saturday continued where Friday left off as crowds were in full swing throughout. Headliner Paul Kalkbrenner set the Main Stage alight with his illuminating live set showcasing the best of the BPitch Control alumni’s dreamlike techno.

While the Main Stage shut slightly earlier than expected, the Hangar and Organic stages carried on deep into the night with the former being treated to an electrifying performance from Oliver Huntemann that was an unmissable festival highlight.

Sunday’s finale began with German-Nigerian artist JAMIIE sweeping the crowd off their feet with a USB stacked with sample-heavy tunes. Fiona Kraft stepped things up a notch with a slamming techno set accompanied by one of the festival’s most eye-catching pyrotechnic displays. Kraft left the stage for Black Coffee, who she has previously played with at Ibiza’s HI, but not before displaying a graphic in support of Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia.

The South African DJ played the ultimate closing set. Black Coffee’s blissful blend of Afro house which incorporates elements of R&B, jazz and African percussion leaving festival-goers with hearts full of unforgettable moments.

One of the standout elements of BEONIX Festival was the mesmerising visual production that accompanied each performance. The main stage featured screens beaming out mesmerising visualisers to give festivalgoers a cinematic experience. Pyrotechnics, fireworks and fire-dancers accompanied screen visuals at the stage for an all-out affair. The Ukrainian team behind the festival also impressed with their top-tier audio set-up producing an almighty listening experience.

Beyond the music and visuals, BEONIX Festival fostered a strong sense of community among attendees. The Organic Stage housed Cypriot talent to the delight of its international guests, bringing the Limassol locals and foreign festivalgoers together. The grounds were alive with a shared enthusiasm and unity, as people from different walks of life came together to celebrate their love for electronic music.

While Cyprus has previously lagged behind its European counterparts to provide an electronic music experience befitting its beautiful coastal locations, BEONIX’s latest showing indicates that the nation is catching up. With news that another stage is potentially in the works for the next festival, all we have left to say is: roll on 2024.

BEONIX Festival 2024 will take place on 20-22 September at ETKO, Limassol, with tickets now available. Buy them here

Tibor Heskett is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, follow him on Twitter