Last February Polaris Festival was named 'Best Big Event' at the Swiss Nightlife Awards, and deservedly so - the festival has become one of standout events during the winter months here in Switzerland thanks to its outstanding lineup curation, slick organisation and awe-inspiring location. There aren't many places in the world where you can witness Seth Troxler spinning avant garde techno in front of the snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps, which makes it a very special gathering.
This December Polaris returns to Verbier for its third outing, with a plethora of top flight DJs on the bill along with some intriguing extra-curricular activities to get stuck into. Here are 10 highlights from this year's festival which is bound to be an amazing experience from start to finish...
1. Cosmic Corner
Born out of a successful run of conscious events held at Ibiza's infamous Pikes resort, Cosmic Corner takes the ideas that were carved out at the original Cosmic Pineapple events and presents them in a smaller, more intimate setting. The idea is simply to introduce festivalgoers to conscious practices; yoga, meditation, sound healing and so on, in a comfortable, accessible environment. Make sure you swing by and say hello, you're guaranteed to leave feeling refreshed and invigorated.
2. Derrick Carter Does Disco
We’re sure Chi-town legend, and all-round gent, Derrick Carter will be digging deep for this special disco set, which takes place at the Farm Club. Derrick’s legendary status has been achieved through years of solid hard work, impeccable selecting skills and his gregarious nature. He’s done it all yet remains full of enthusiasm and genuine passion for his craft. This set is bound to be one of the festival’s standout moments, so make sure you book yourself a place on the dance floor and get ready for some old school shuffling.
3. Praslesh
This link up between Praslea and Raresh is a mouthwatering prospect. Both men are amazing selectors, delivering a constant onslaught of rare gems that will take you up to the stratosphere and out into the cosmos. Their magical sets are the stuff of legend and combined with the breathtaking surrounding, Praslesh are bound to send people home with some truly unforgettable memories.
4. Le Mouton Noir
The main stage is going to be one of the main attractions at Polaris, not only because of its stellar lineup of artists but also because of the beautiful setting. Most snow-based festivals benefit from their panoramic vistas and Polaris has to be up there with the best of them. For anyone who's never been up a mountain before it is of course an extra special treat but even if you are experienced in ski resorts Verbier is easily one of the best in Europe, if not the world.
5. Larry Heard AKA Mr Fingers (Live)
One of the absolute Godfathers of house music, Larry's early catalogue was pretty much the blueprint for house and because of that he is a living legend. As Mr. Fingers he recorded some of the all-time classic house anthems including 'Can You Feel It', 'Washing Machine' and 'Mystery Of Love'. His live performance will surely be one of the most anticipated of the entire weekend.
6. Virginia
As a member of the Ostgut Ton fraternity Virginia has established a strong rep, with her exhilarating mix of high energy techno and slinky, emotive vocals. Virginia commands a crowd with panache and her music is irresistible, with just the right balance of underground vibe and accessibility - even if you don't know any of the tunes you'll be singing by the end of her set. This is one set you cannot afford to miss.
7. Princess P
Representing in her homeland, Princess P is worth checking out. If you haven't heard of her this is the perfect opportunity to get acquainted. P's ability to traverse a wide range of 4x4-based sounds, broken beats and acid means she's a formidable selector and one who can really inject the dance floor with a large dose of energy. She's going to be reppin' for the Swiss crew so we're sure she'll pull out all the stops to make hers a set to remember.
8. Virgo Four (Live)
Another hero from back in the day, Virgo Four will be flying in to perform live up on the slopes. His place in the house music hall of fame has already been assured, yet he continues to play all over the world, emanating the same joy and passion for music he had way back in the eighties when he first started. Be prepared for a life-affirming show... magic guaranteed.
9. Nina Kraviz
In the techno world Nina Kraviz is a bit of a maverick, owning her own little space where forward-thinking music, leftfield recordings and all manner of nuanced sounds are the order of the day… that and slamming techno of course. Her genuine love shines through with every set, you’ll often catch her having a full on boogie behind the decks which is always nice to see. Nina’s label, Trip, is a killer too so she’s an all round talent and the safe money is on her crushing Polaris Festival...
10. Verbier Itself
One of Switzerland's more popular ski resorts, Verbier is the perfect location for a music festival. It has multiple venues, many of which will be utilised during the event to spread the performances out, plus it attracts quite a diverse crowd. On top of this, and most importantly, the views from the resort and out of this world and will complement the excellent music perfectly. We cannot wait for the 7th December when Polaris kicks off, it's going to be unmissable.
Tickets for the main stage at the Mouton Noir have sold out but there are many ways to enjoy the Polaris experience without tickets. In addition to the main stage, there are are 5 additional stages free of charge in the resort open from 22:00 until the early morning. Every night, artists will be performing in one of the five clubs of the ski resort: l’Etoile , the Farinet, the Farm Club, the Casbah and the Crock no name.
(www.polarisfestival.ch). Dec 7-10. CHF 74.05 (Fri, Sat), CHF 52.90 (Sun), CHF 179.75 (three-day ticket).