Oasis Festival: A Moroccan mirage bringing house and techno to Marrakesh

Since opening as an event in September 2015, Marrakesh’s Oasis Festival has never failed to provide some top-class house and techno. With the esteemed likes of Dyed Soundorom and Bicep on the bill in previous years, the 2017 edition looks set to be heading in a similarly perfect direction. Just a few days ago the phase one lineup was revealed, and already announced for this year’s festival include Ellum label boss Maceo Plex, Britain’s Jeremy Underground as well as the KDJ Records veteran Moodymann. 

This year’s Oasis Festival is located at The Source hotel, a “luxury hotel and wellness refuge dedicated to laid back vibes and music” that boasts stage side swimming pools and intimate dance floors, all within the beautiful confines of the nearby Atlas Mountains. It’s safe to say there’s something available for everyone – there’s even yoga classes to help nurse you through the dreaded “day after” feeling – then once night comes back around expect nothing less than tasty techno and hot house, all orchestrated underneath the starlit Moroccan skyline.

With the perfect space to showcase the up and coming talent that’s on offer, this year sees some of the scene’s rising producers join the heavyweights. Belgian artist Charlotte de Witte will be in attendance, who last year had major success on Andre Crom’s Off recordings with her Trip EP. Judging by her other productions expect to encounter some devilishly dark techno alongside sharp sounding synths, the perfect match for the surrounding Moroccan wilderness. On top of this the phase one line-up also revealed Polyswitch will be playing, a Moroccan native kicking up a storm in his hometown of Casablanca. He’s already produced mixes for the underground likes of Decibel records and Coda FM, and just last year featured a set on Amsterdam’s Red Light Radio. With plenty of house and disco vibes in his mixtapes, we’d say he’s the perfect act to see out a Moroccan sunset.

It may still be a couple of seasons away but the hype around Oasis Festival is certainly infectious. With tickets already on second release it’s looking like a sell out, so be quick to grab yours here. If you’re still undecided then catch the 2016 after movie below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCmEX4hBFHM