Burning Man Festival News
Hardwell Returns At Ultra Music Festival And Announces ‘Rebels Never Die’ Album World Tour!
Nearly ten years on from when he performed one of the most electrifying performances at perhaps one of the most influential electronic music events in history. Dance music pioneer and former 2 x World No.1 DJ Hardwell returned to the stage at Ultra Music Festival to make history with undoubtedly the most anticipated return show of 2022.
In Autumn 2018, after more than a decade of playing the biggest festivals on the planet, Hardwell announced he would be taking a sabbatical from touring. So his emphatic return on Sunday night, his first official show since his concert with the Metropole Orkest Symphony at the Ziggo Dome back in October 2018, was unsurprisingly a moment for the history books. Playing a surprise set on the main stage, closing out the festival’s weekend, the 150,000 capacity crowd excitedly greeted Hardwell’s return. Whilst online, his performance also broke Ultra’s numbers via the live stream, with fans tuning in from around the globe, all eager to watch Hardwell’s first official live set in some 3.5 years.

Revealing a new show and new sound, alongside announcing a 24-date world tour supporting his new artist album, Rebels Never Die, Hardwell used his headline slot at Ultra over the weekend to mark a new era in his career. This momentous occasion during Ultra not only served as Hardwell’s first show back but a chance for him to ignite the attention of fans worldwide. Always a leader, with a quest to evolve, not repeat. Hardwell’s new 14 track solo album, released on his label Revealed Recordings, represents a critical point in the musical shift for one of electronic music’s biggest known stars.
The brand new Rebels Never Die world tour is a large-scale production concept that will give fans a unique multi-dimensional experience to witness Hardwell perform live back on stage. Throughout 2022, the Rebels Never Die album tour will see Hardwell on the road with already 24 dates booked on the biggest stages across Europe, Asia, North and South America.
For millions of fans worldwide, Hardwell’s shock announcement from touring back in 2018 came as a huge surprise. After more than a decade of chasing his dream and at the peak of his career, Robbert van de Corput, better known as Hardwell, chose to take a step back, to move out of the spotlight. Stepping away from a journey that bore over 120 x singles, 80 x remixes, 1 x artist album, 11 x compilation albums, 2 x documentaries, 2 x arena world tours, countless international headline performances, and more. Leaving fans uncertain if they would ever get to see Hardwell on stage again.
On Sunday, during the closing night of Ultra Music Festival, in the beautiful city of Miami, Hardwell once again gave the fans what they wanted – putting an end to the rumours of his retirement. Quashing any belief that his passion for electronic music was no longer burning bright and firmly answering the question of how does one of dance music’s biggest titans reinvent a peerless career of such impressive magnitude.
Burning Man Festival News
DJ SHARE: A Pitstop Talk
DJ SHARE (Sharon Pieksma) is never far from a dance floor, always on the go bouncing between gigs and festivals.
But we managed to steal a few minutes with her! In this super quick catch-up, we threw a few fun questions her way to get to know the woman behind the decks.
Can you tell us a bit about your musical journey? Did you start out in the organic house direction, or has your style evolved over time?
Actually, I started out playing deep tech and minimal. That was the sound that first got me booked at clubs in Rotterdam where I’m from, and across the Netherlands. One of the biggest turning points for me was Burning Man. It completely changed how I connect to music. The experience there opened me up to more organic sounds, deeper, more emotive, more layered, and that’s when my style really started to evolve in that direction.
What’s funny is that I’ve recently started mixing some of that older deep tech and minimal music back into my current sets, which has been a fun full-circle moment.
Which of your own produced tracks has a special meaning to you?
A track that’s particularly close to my heart is “Moon.” It stands out from my other productions because it has a deeper, more introspective feel. The whole process was super organic, because I wasn’t overthinking it, it just flowed. I even used my own voice in the track, which made it feel really intimate and honest. The message, “reach for the light, reach for the moon,” is simple but powerful.
What’s the longest set you’ve ever played and how long did it end up being?
That would be a 16-hour set I played at a private event in Moscow, definitely the longest I’ve ever done! It wasn’t planned at all… I think I was originally meant to play maybe four to six hours. But the vibe was just so good, the energy kept flowing, and I somehow ended up behind the decks for a full 16 hours.
It turned into a real journey, not just for the crowd, but for me too. I went through so many different styles and moods, I’m pretty sure I played through my entire USB, including some deep tech tracks from way back in the day. It was intense, but also so much fun.
And yes, there were definitely a few moments where I’d put on a long track, run off to grab a bite, or even just walk around and soak in the energy before jumping back into the mix. It was wild… but in the best way.

DJ SHARE
If you were forced somehow to switch jobs and not be a DJ anymore, what do you think you’d be doing instead?
Wow, that’s a tough one. I feel so deeply connected to music, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else. Music makes me genuinely happy. I listen to it and dig for new tracks literally every day, so I think I’d still stay close to it somehow.
Maybe I’d become a guitarist and focus more on live music… or I’d dive more into organising retreats. I really love the idea of creating meaningful, mindful experiences for people, though I see that more as a passion than a full-time job. Either way, it would have to be something that feeds the soul.
If you were kidnapped and locked in a room with just one song playing on repeat, which one would you want it to be?
What a scenario! But okay, if I had to choose, I’d probably go with something calming and timeless. I don’t always listen to electronic music; I really love more downtempo, dreamy stuff that helps me unwind or gets me inspired.
Something by Thievery Corporation would be high on the list. Their blend of mellow, reggae-influenced sounds always feels full of love and light. But if I had to pick just one track… I think it would be “Porcelain” by Moby. It’s been with me for so long, and I never get tired of it. It has this beautiful calming effect, slowing my mind down in the best way. I could definitely survive on that one.
Connect with SHARE on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/share.musica/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sharedj/tracks
Awakenings Festival News
DJ Mag Announces 2025 Top 100 Festivals
DJ Mag has just announced results of their annual the top 100 festivals, receiving a record-breaking number of votes recorded in the poll once again.
DJ Mag Top 100 Festivals first started in 2019, when winners were selected by a panel of DJs. After a brief hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the poll returned in 2022 with votes being opened up to the public for the first time. Increased numbers have been recorded every year since, and, in 2025, votes came from every corner of the globe, from North and South America to Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa. DJ Mag’s influence can be seen in the list below, where you’ll find festivals spanning a wide range of electronic music styles, from EDM and hard dance favorites with jaw-dropping production to major house and techno events and underground staples with a sound-system focus.
Topping this year’s ranking is Belgium’s legendary Tomorrowland, once again crowned the world’s No.1 festival. Known for its fantasy-inspired stages, impeccable production, and community-driven atmosphere, Tomorrowland continues to set the benchmark for global dance music events. In fact, DJ Mag readers will also note not far behind is Ultra Music Festival in Miami, which remains a defining moment on the global electronic calendar, signaling the start of the festival season with world-class lineups in the heart of downtown. Rounding out the top three is Romania’s Untold, a relatively newer giant that has quickly become one of Europe’s most iconic and immersive festivals.
The top 10 also features heavyweight names like EDC Las Vegas (4), Glastonbury Festival (5), and Kappa FuturFestival (6), each representing different ends of the electronic music spectrum—from colossal Las Vegas-style EDM spectacles to refined European techno celebrations. Coachella (7) retains its influence thanks to genre-spanning programming and cultural impact, while Sunburn Festival (8) continues to elevate India’s presence on the global dance scene. A testament to DJ Mag’s poll prestige, rounding out the top 10 are Creamfields (9), a UK mainstay for electronic fans, and Defqon.1 (10), the epicenter of hard dance in the Netherlands.
Further down the list, standout festivals like Parookaville (18), Awakenings (20), Neversea Festival (21), and EDC Orlando (22) showcase the diversity of scale and sound that the electronic music community now embraces. From techno purists at Dekmantel Festival (17) to desert dreamers at Burning Man (24), and DJ Mag supported events at Croatian beach settings like Sonus Festival (37) to global franchises like Ultra Europe (31) and World DJ Festival (32), this year’s list proves that the electronic music world is not only growing but thriving in nearly every region.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming and regional events are breaking into the top 100 in record numbers. Vision & Colour Festival (94) and Beonix Festival (69) highlight the rise of new markets, while S20 Hong Kong (78) and EDC China (80) signal Asia’s growing influence in the scene. Boutique experiences like Houghton Festival (86), Glitch Festival (83), and Love International (87) continue to receive recognition for their intimate vibes, curated sounds, and loyal followings. Also, DJ Mag and its festivals like Pitch Music & Arts (96) in Australia and Saga Festival (79) in Romania further illustrating the global appetite for unique, immersive electronic music experiences.
The full list can be seen below:
100. Sónar Lisboa
99. Beats For Love
98. Lost Lands Festival
97. Medusa Sunbeach Festival
96. Pitch Music & Arts
95. Ultra South Africa
94. Vision & Colour Music Festival
93. Outlook Origins
92. Defected Malta
91. Unseen Festival
90. EDC Thailand
89. Fly Open Air Festival
88. Ultra Australia
87. Love Internarional Festival
86. Houghton Festival
85. Sunset By Neon
84. Baum Festival
83. Glitch Festival
82. Beyond The Valley
81. Groove Cruise
80. EDC China
79. Saga Festival
78. S20 Hong Kong
77. Soundstorm
76. Ultra Japan
75. Electric Castle
74. Defected Croatia
73. Jakarta Warehouse Project
72. Ultra Korea
71. Siam Songkran Music Festival
70. Creamfields Chile
69. Beonix festival
68. Lost Village
67. Together Festival
66. Ultra Taiwan
65. Positiv
64. Ravolution Music Festival
63. Sea Star Festival
62. Tomorrowland Winter
61. Blacklist festival
60. Airbeat One
59. HARD Summer
58. Les Plages Electroniques
57. A State Of Trance,
56. Snowbombing
55. S20 Taiwan
54. Ava Festival
53. Neon Countdown
52. Nibirii Festival
51. Nameless Festival
50. EDC Mexico
49. Lovefest
48. Loveland
47. Hideout Festival
46. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
45. Dimensions Festival
44. Veld Music Festival
43. Panorama Festival
42. Primer Music Festival
41. CRSSD Festival
40. Untold Dubai Festival
39. Lollapalooza
38. DGTL
37. Sonos Festival
36. Arc Music Festival
35. S20 Songkran Music Festival
34. Terminal V
33. Mysteryland
32. World DJ Festival
31. Ultra Europe
30. Neopop Festival
29. 808 Festival
28. EXIT Festival
27. Movement Music Festival
26. Sónar
25. Primavera Sound
24. Burning Man
23. Electric Love
22. EDC Orlando
21. Neversea Festival
20. Awakenings
19. Monegros Desert Festival
18. Parookaville
17. Dekmantel Festival
16. AMF
15. Boomtown
14. Time Warp
13. Sziget Festival
12. Parklife
11. World Club Dome
10 – Defqon.1
9 – Creamfields
8 – Sunburn Festival
7 – Coachella
6 – Kappa FuturFestival
5 – Glastonbury Festival
4 – EDC Las Vegas
3 – Untold
2 – Ultra Music Festival
1 – Tomorrowland
Burning Man Festival News
Alex Cecil Unveils New House Single ‘Hola Papi’ On Playero Records
Alex Cecil drops a high-energy track, ‘Hola Papi:’ releasing his newest production on Playero Records, he highlights his groove-heavy sound, underlining the creativity and technical skill behind his approach. Blending driving beats with playful details, ‘Hola Papi’ delivers a dancefloor-ready vibe – showcasing Alex Cecil‘s ability to fuse infectious energy with sophisticated sound design.
Through a soundscape where balanced rhythms meet with seductive vocal hooks, ‘Hola Papi’ unfolds into a dynamic sonic journey, revealing atmospheric moments that seamlessly manage tension and release while maintaining an engaging flow throughout. As catchy melodic motifs and bassline progressions weave amongst the arrangement, intricate percussive textures uphold the crisp, sharp groove of the track, continuing to build momentum through breakdowns and drops. With synth work layering in as the track journeys on, integrating pads, risers, and bouncy lines into the mix, ‘Hola Papi’ develops an evolving sound, introducing Alex Cecil’s diverse sonic palette and showcasing his approach to blending rhythm, texture, and melody in a cohesive and engaging way.
With a rich musical background, Alex Cecil continues to lean on his creative origins to craft work that feels fresh and unique. Refining a sonic identity with the aim to create music that resonates with listeners, he seeks to build connections through both his studio output and live performances – an approach he highlights further in this latest release. As his creative ambitions remain high, building off career highlights that include releasing on labels like 925 Music, RVDIOVCTIVE, and Deep Playa, and taking to iconic festival stages, such as Burning Man and Hideout Festival, Croatia, Alex Cecil maintains his momentum.
Now, adding another track that captures his signature style to his discography, he once again invites genre enthusiasts to explore his approach, skill, and creativity – enveloping them in his sonic world through the soundscape of ‘Hola Papi.’
‘Hola Papi’ is out now via Playero Records, available to stream and download across all major platforms.
Make sure to keep up with Alex Cecil and his evolving journey by staying tuned for his upcoming releases, projects, and performances via social media.
Listen and Buy ‘Hola Papi’ here:
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