AVA Festival 2023 returns to the iconic Titanic Slipways in Belfast, promising another seismic day of forward-thinking music and immersive rave energy on June 2nd. Known for its tight curation and commitment to the heart of contemporary club culture, AVA lands with one of its most expansive lineups to date, bridging mainstage heat and offbeat dancefloor futurism. Leading the charge is Central Cee, the UK rap juggernaut bringing chart-ready grit to AVA’s industrial landscape, while global groove architect Peggy Gou provides her signature blend of club euphoria and melodic mastery.

The festival’s pulse is driven further by slowthai’s uncompromising energy, bolstered by trusted selectors like Ben UFO, Or:la, and KETTAMA, each primed to bend genres under the Belfast skyline. Overmono’s live set is a highlight for lovers of UK techno futurism, while Eliza Rose, SPFDJ, and Héctor Oaks channel the raw, visceral power of contemporary underground. From Job Jobse’s kaleidoscopic selections to KI/KI’s high-velocity trance, the diversity in sound underscores AVA’s boundary-pushing approach.

Kojaque, southstar, DJ BORING, and Sally C provide rhythm and soul, each artist feeding off the palpable energy that the Slipways cradle. Further flux comes from Yung Singh, Interplanetary Criminal, and I. JORDAN—the vanguard of the next-gen rave continuum—matched by the genre-eluding sets of DJ Heartstring and Pretty Girl.

Homegrown talent is central, with IMNOTYOURMATE, Kessler, Holly Lester, Spray, Swoose, Timmy Stewart, and Jordan Nocturne staking claims in local and global techno discourse. Cartin, Mount Palomar, Carlton Doom, Emby, and Nez reflect the festival’s ongoing investment in homegrown innovation, pairing with emerging names like Ricky Chong, Síofra, CAOIMHE, Reger, and Blark to stoke the fires for the next wave. Further depth is delivered by Marion Hawkes, KETTAMA, Optmst, Twitch DJs, JENNA DALEY, Spray, HANNAH (NL), More Gain, Ryan Dallas, Crock, Danse Intermission, NIKKI O, and a host of other artists keeping the AVA ethos alive across every stage.

As sunlight flickers over the cranes and dusk rolls across the river, AVA’s promise is clear: to present a singular, transformative day where club culture’s past, present, and future collide in relentless motion. This is AVA Festival—adaptable, vibrant, never static—its core built on the music, the people, the place. The countdown to summer begins.