GROOVE CRUISE UNVEILS STAR-STUDDED 2025 LINEUP WITH 35+ FESTIVAL DEBUTS FOR LARGEST MUSIC CRUISE IN HISTORY

The 37th sailing will be headlined by Eric Prydz, James Hype, MEDUZA, Nicole Moudaber, and special guest Seven Lions, all of whom will be making their first Groove Cruise performance 

Inaugural Groove Cruise label takeovers include IN THE MOOD with Nicole Moudaber, Ophelia Records with Seven Lions,  STEREOHYPE with James Hype, and Barnyard with Vavo

Returning label takeovers include Gene Farris’ Carnival, Anthony Attalla’s Incorrect, and MitiS’ RE:BORN

Groove Cruise reveals new destination for 2025 event - sailing from Miami, Florida to Falmouth, Jamaica on one of the world’s largest passenger vessels, Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

Thursday, January 23 - Monday, January 27, 2025

Groove Cruise 2025 is 96% sold out, limited staterooms still available 

“For over 20 years we’ve prided ourselves on listening to our captains’ feedback. They have continually asked for Eric Prydz and I’m elated to announce him for the 2025 lineup. He will also be joined by first-time headliners Seven Lions, James Hype, Meduza, and Nicole Moudaber. We will also welcome nearly 100 other requested acts that will ignite a frenzy across 12 stages for 96 straight hours of nonstop dance music. Sailing on Royal Caribbean’s enormous Allure of the Seas with 40 restaurants and bars across 20 decks and 7 neighborhoods to explore, this sailing will not only be the largest EDM cruise in history but the largest music cruise of any genre. I’m so grateful for the love and support of our captains believing in this dream for the last 2 decades”  - Jason Beukema, Founder and Chief Excitement Officer of Whet Travel and Groove Cruise 

Whet Travel’s flagship event Groove Cruise has just unveiled its star-studded lineup for its 2025 event, sailing from Miami to the new destination of Falmouth, Jamaica from Thursday, January 23 - Monday, January 27, 2025 on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas.

The festival will feature iconic global dance music stars who will make their Groove Cruise debuts including headliners like audiovisual extraordinaire Eric Prydz, UK partystarter James Hype, Italian powerhouse trio MEDUZA, IN THE MOOD boss and global tastemaker Nicole Moudaber, as well as Ophelia Records founder Seven Lions as a special guest.

Committed to showcasing the ever-changing landscape of the electronic music realm, Groove Cruise will also welcome a bevy of first-time support acts for the monumental 2025 event including iHeartRadio’s 2023 Dance Music Artist of the Year Anabel Englund, German artist BUNT., energetic big room act Cheyenne Giles, English progressive house maestro Cristoph, techno titan Ida Engberg, reality TV star and DJ James Kennedy, Swedish melodic wizard Jeremy Olander, Norwegian duo Kream, contemporary techno selector Layton Giordani, Revealed Recordings favorite Maddix, French tech house producer Matt Sassari, Australian DJ/producer Odd Mob, house music connoisseur Tita Lau, and Finnish melodic king YOTTO.

Additional debut acts taking the Groove Cruise stage for the first time include Los Angeles based producer/DJ AIMMIA, Northern Virginia-based melodic bass act ALLEYCVT, underground queen Annicka, Las Vegas resident DJ Ruckus, Canadian cinematic bass producer Far Out, San Diego act GUDFELLA, Nashville-based artist it’s murph, German progressive house queen Pretty Pink, STEREOHYPE label manager and DJ R3WIRE, American EDM group TELYKAST, Minnesota duo TWINSICK, and New York-based country electronic act Vavo.

Groove Cruise veterans that will be returning to the stage in 2025 include longtime festival favorites Chicago house icon Gene Farris, influential trance act Markus Schulz, GRAMMY-winning artist Roger Sanchez, psytrance boss Blastoyz, multifaceted artist AMIDY, Incorrect Music boss Anthony Attalla, tech house maverick Casmalia, emotive dubstep duo Crystal Skies, energetic act Dada Life, masked duo DEEPFAKE, melodic duo Gem & Tauri, UK tech house ace Joshwa, dubstep artist Luci, house duo Max Low, melodic bass purveyor MitiS, house music act Ranger Trucco, and cinematic bass wizard Trivecta.

Additionally, masters of the trance music genre Ørjan Nilsen and Mark Sixma will bring their brand new collaborative project Nilsix to Groove Cruise for the first time, as well as perform individual sets.

Known for curating a diverse roundup of label takeovers year after year, Groove Cruise will welcome a slew of first-time label takeovers for 2025. Nicole Moudaber will host her iconic IN THE MOOD imprint, James Hype will showcase the sound of his STEREOHYPE label, and Seven Lions will be at the helm of the debut Ophelia Records takeover. Additionally, country-electronic act Vavo will host a genre-crossing takeover with Barnyard. 

Attendees, better known as Captains, will be able to enjoy some of the staples that have become a highlight of the Groove Cruise programming such as takeovers from Gene Farris’ Carnival, Anthony Attalla’s Incorrect, MitiS’ RE:BORN, and Adam Scott’s Trance, Bro!.

In addition to the powerhouse lineup announcement, Groove Cruise has also announced a new location for the 2025 adventure. To maintain the safety of attendees due to current conditions in Haiti, Groove Cruise has elected to sail from Miami, Florida to the picturesque destination of Falmouth, Jamaica aboard the Allure of the Seas. As a member of the world's second-largest cruise ship class, this sailing will mark the world’s biggest music cruise in history with a full capacity of more than 6,780 passengers. 

Awarded Best Large Cruise Ship by GOLD Travvy Awards, Best For Entertainment by Cruisers’ Choice Awards, and Best Individual Cruise Ship by Readers’ Choice Awards, Allure of the Seas will be the largest and most innovative Groove Cruise ship to date and will be the biggest music cruise in history. Allure of the Seas is part of the Oasis Class of cruise ships, the second largest ship class in the world with a length of over 1,187 ft, and 18 total decks. With an original cost of $1.2 billion, Allure of the Seas boasts a gross tonnage of 225,282 GT.

Settled along the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Falmouth will serve as a captivating destination for Groove Cruise Captains. The coastal town is steeped in rich heritage with historic landmarks and museums and offers an array of thrilling activities and attractions including snorkeling, jet skiing, jungle excursions, zip lining, cultural walking tours, horseback riding, ATV tours, river tubing, and more. Falmouth’s alluring beaches, Doctor’s Cave and Burwood, boast crystal clear waters and vibrant coral reefs for attendees to divulge in. 

Outside of organizing unforgettable parties, Whet Travel also runs its own non-profit 501c3 organization, Whet Foundation. Started by Groove Cruise and Whet Travel's founder Jason Beukema, the non-profit seeks to impact the communities visited by Whet Travel cruises, inviting cruise attendees to donate and volunteer at their events. The foundation gives back to local communities by supplying clothing, musical instruments, food, school donations, beach and community cleanups, painting and art programs, and providing facility repair and improvement costs. 

Although Groove Cruise will not sail to Labadee, Haiti in 2025, Whet Foundation will still continue with a charitable initiative for Second Mile Haiti to provide urgent aid. The organization provides nutritional support to save children’s lives and educate caregivers in order to prevent malnutrition. Due to the current situation in the south of Haiti, supplies have become extremely limited for those in need and Whet Foundation will be collecting donations and monetary aid to support Second Mile to avert life-threatening complications to send to Haiti. Donate to Second Mile Haiti here.

Following the smash success of the 20th anniversary sailing in January 2024, the 37th sailing of Groove Cruise will feature 96 hours of nonstop music, as well as the festival’s signature immersive programming which will include 11 stages with world-class production, globally renowned artists, daily themes with dedicated parties, Whet Oasis wellness experiences, artist-hosted activities, unique destination excursions, Whet Foundation volunteer experience, mental health panels & workshops, and so much more. 

Groove Cruise 2025 is 96% sold out, with very limited staterooms still available via https://www.groovecruise.com/miami2025

MOGA CAPARICA ANNOUNCES SECOND WAVE OF NAMES AND OFF PARTY HEADLINERS

An all new and elevated MOGA Caparica experience awaits on the beautiful coast of Portugal from May 29th to June 2nd, 2024 and now the second wave of names has been revealed as well as headliners for the OFF events. 

Now playing are the likes of Acid Arab (DJ set), Adassiya (live), Agoria, Francis Mercier, Mâhoud (live), Lee Burridge, Romain FX (live), Rui Vargas, To Ricciardi, Zengxrl and many more. These latest names come on top of first wave names such as Acid Pauli, Dekmantel Soundsystem, Dixon, Jan Blomqvist (Live), Luca Saporito (Audiofly), Mr. ID, Pachanga Boys, Satori, Xinobi, Desiree and more and tickets are available now at mogafestival.com.

MOGA Caparica has made a huge impression in a short space of time. This year MOGA transitions from a series of beach parties to a full-fledged beach festival with a single expansive site and three stages but it remains a compact and boutique gathering for real music lovers inspired by Atlantic vibes and aimed at connecting people from all over the world. 

In 2024, it offers another magical mix of artistic discovery, delicious food, local and international music talent, enriching activities for the soul and beach parties, boat parties. The latest names cover house, techno, melodic electronic music, funk, soul and plenty in between with a mix of live acts and DJ sets from legends, pioneers and new school talents.

There is also a superb OFF program across one boat, three beach venues, six parties, and countless hours of non-stop dancing. That OFF program can now be revealed and will take place across Lorosae, Azul Dr Bernard and Buya Beach in Costa da Caparica on the first two days of the festival. 

The stunning beach bar Lorosae will be hosting a party on both Wednesday and Thursday. For this occasion the organisers partner up with Amor Records, a local record store and talent incubators. The event offers attendees an immersive experience in the electronic music Lisbon scene, showcasing local names. Later on the same days (29 and 30), the celebration carries on at Azul Dr. Bernard, just a few minutes away from the afternoon event. The setting will host electronic scene headliners along with their talented DJ friends. On Wednesday, MOGA gladly welcome Polocorp, and on Thursday, DJ Vibe, Portuguese talent known locally and globally, both spinning beats for a party lasting long into the night. MOGA will once again host its traditional boat cruise on the Tejo river, setting sail to the tunes of DJs from the Faina Music Portuguese label.

In addition to the live electronic music and parties, the festival also aims to pay homage to the land that welcomes us. The programme will be announced in the coming weeks but in previous editions, MOGA invited a local batucada, offered free yoga and surfing lessons, hosted discussions on music and technology, and organized exhibitions, all against the scenic backdrop of Caparica. 

For more information and ticket sales, visit www.mogafestival.com 

OFF Details 

✷ WEDNESDAY 29th May ✷ 

1PM - 9PM : Thiago Guiselini (Amor Records) takeover

@Lorosaesolnascente
FREE with RSVP

LINEUP : DIOGO BOTELHO, THIAGO GUISELINI, SOFIA KUSTER

6PM - 2AM : Opening night Polocorp, Daniel Weil & Friends

@Azul.drbernard 

Free with RSVP 

LINEUP : ARTEMISTIQUE - DANIEL WEIL - MIRO - POLOCORP

✷ THURSDAY 30th May ✷

11AM - 9PM : DJ sets at Buya 

@Buyabeach
Free with RSVP 

LINEUP: ADAM CHARAF - BERBERAN - EMANUEL SATIE - PENELOPE

1PM - 9PM : Funkamente all afternoon Vinyl Set

@Lorosaesolnascente

Free with RSVP 

LINEUP: FUNKAMENTE

4PM - 9PM : Moga Cruise by Faina Music

Docas Lisboa 

  Tickets Entrance + Open bar

LINEUP: ANDY BOOK - KLIN KLOP - WHITENOISE

6PM - 2AM : DJ Vibe & Friends at Azul 

@Azul.drbernard 

FREE with RSVP

LINEUP :  ANYA - DJ VIBE - DOLCE VITO - TIAGO

LOOP.FANS READIES LAUNCH OF WEB3 MUSIC AWARDS - HELPING EMERGING ARTISTS GROW THROUGH AI AND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

Loop.Fans is here to empower both Artists and SuperFans by leveraging the power of the latest Web3, AI and blockchain technology. The platform enables emerging talent in the electronic music industry to gain new followers, engage with and understand their existing fans, create content, increase revenue streams, and strengthen and reward loyalty, all with the unique power of blockchain, AI, and Digital Collectibles (NFTs). 

Loop.Fans is built by a highly experienced team with prior experience in building and scaling multiple Web3 projects. This new platform is here to ensure that artists can earn what they deserve from their music while also building, nurturing and rewarding their fan base. 

Loop built the world's first multi-utility NFT technology in 2022, meaning each token can offer a range of benefits that can be viewed, redeemed, and unlocked including exclusive content, event ticketing, private memberships, merch giveaways, metaverse experiences, and more.

The platform has also built AI technology which allows artists to easily create cover art, music videos, and social media posts - areas which artists are traditionally not great at but which are essential in today’s social media driven landscape.

As part of its launch, Loop will inaugurate the Web3 Music Awards in May for both emerging and established artists to leverage the power of their fan base and climb to the top of the leaderboard. Entrants simply set up a profile on Loop.fans, join the relevant genre and invite fans to vote by minting free digital collectibles (NFTs). There are three divisions based on the number of social followers with one winner per division. 

For artists, Loop allows direct engagement with and monetisation of their audience. True fans are proven to be willing to pay more for exclusive content and experiences which means more income for artists while digital collectibles broaden out the type of content and benefits that can be offered. 

The better and more exclusive the benefits the more engaged a community becomes and the more an artist can earn. What's more, Web3 technology offers global, borderless reach so hype can be created across multiple markets and lead to exciting new collaboration opportunities and sponsorship partnerships.

Apart from digital benefits, Loop also offers benefits in the real world such as at concerts and festivals where meet and greets can be offered through the release of exclusive digital VIP passes. 

Loop.Fans is built on the Loop Protocol, which is built on the Cosmos SDK. Having raised over US$7M in 2021,  Loop Protocol is playing a key role in building the decentralised economy and providing practical, real-world applications for blockchain technology. Loop is powered by its own cutting-edge technology, all under the guidance of CEO Thomas Norwood who has a long history in building innovative technology solutions for the real world. 

Thomas's vision is to help artists of all sizes realise their dreams of success. He explains, "Blockchain technology is not just revolutionising the financial industry, but democratising the music industry as well, allowing artists to have direct connections with their fans and generate more revenue than through existing platforms.” 

From a fan's point of view, Loop allows membership of a fan club where they can have a closer relationship with their favourite artists, even going so far as collaborating in their work or having artists collaborate on their work (in cases where fans are also artists themselves). Fans can also become co-investors in artists, earning royalty shares as they grow, meaning, there is no longer a reliance solely on labels for funding.

Loop.Fans is an essential new platform that offers artists vital new ways of making meaningful and monetised connections with their fans.