ASTRAL PLANE: TOTAL ECLIPSE FESTIVAL LA PINILLA MOUNTAIN RESORTS, SEGOVIA, SPAIN

Astral Plane: Total Eclipse Festival is a brand-new festival taking place this summer in the mountains of Segovia, Spain with a program aligned with Spain's 2026 total solar eclipse. The festival’s inaugural edition will take place one hour from Madrid at La Pinilla Mountain Resorts in the Sierra Ayllón Mountain Range – strategically chosen for the best views of the astronomical event.

The Eclipse Set

The festival will be anchored by a centrepiece eclipse set aligned with the moment of totality. Keen to transform the celestial phenomenon into a transcendent cultural experience, who better to take charge than Detroit techno founding father Kevin Saunderson. Kevin will play a 4-hour set, crafted specifically for this unique moment with the eclipse framed behind him – a truly once in a lifetime moment.

But before then there’s a whole host of talent to get the party started with some of electronic music’s finest taking to the stages. One of the scene’s most enduring and important figures Berlin icon Ellen Allien brings her electrifying performance to the festival, plus; Detroit electro pioneer DJ Stingray 313, British techno legend Luke Slater, the fierce and uncompromising Ben Sims, German techno powerhouse Lilly Palmer, Berlin’s Gerd Janson – one of the world’s most respected selectors, Irish house favourite Mano Le Tough, techno powerhouse Nicole Moudaber, and Dutch house maestro Ferreck Dawn. Or:la, Dense & Pika, Eli Escobar, Jen Cardini, Eris Drew and Marie Madeleine round out a bill that spans the full breadth of house and techno.

Spanish representatives include homegrown hero Coyu, while the international underground is further represented by Georgian selector Salome, Japanese DJ Riria, Italian house craftsman Black Loops, Munich collective Toy Tonics, and rising names Ammara, Urumi, DJ Fuckoff, Anso, Deceit, Dr Dak, Hermetica, Jose Pushmann, Riviani and Santi complete the lineup.

The music will be spread across three stages:

The Eclipse Stage: the main stage, for the festival’s biggest acts.

The Mountaintop Stage: on a plateau overlooking Sierra Ayllón, accessible by ski lift or hiking.

The Starship Stage: for the festival’s up-and-coming acts.

During the day there will also be talks and workshops on the eclipse’s scientific and societal significance held prior to the musical programming – details tbc.

More on Astral Plane, the Total Solar Eclipse, and La Pinilla:

The August 12th 2026 total solar eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse to cross Europe this century. For those standing in the path of totality, day will become night, stars will appear in the sky, and the sun's corona will emerge as a white halo around the black disk of the moon. Astral Plane searched for a location in the path of totality with a high chance of clear skies on the day of totality, the capacity to welcome 10,000 attendees across three days of programming, and a main stage positioned to frame the Wednesday performances in a picturesque moment during the eclipse. La Pinilla Mountain Resort meets all of these criteria, with an 80% chance of clear skies, a 12,000-capacity main stage with the sun as a backdrop, and a history of hosting multi-day music festivals on the mountain (Zamna Festival) and in town (Huercasa Country Festival).

Camping and glamping options will be available onsite. The towns of Riaza and surrounding areas offer various accommodation options, from camping to hotels and B&Bs. La Pinilla and Riaza are only an hour’s drive from Madrid, so attendees will also have the option to stay in Madrid, take a bus from Madrid to Riaza, and take a shuttle from Riaza to the festival grounds.

Astral Plane is conceived as a roaming festival, built to follow the shadow of the moon wherever it falls. Beyond this summer, the next editions plan to follow the 2027 eclipse crossing Southern Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and then 2028’s eclipse over Australia.

One ticket, one tree

For every ticket sold, we’ll plant a tree in La Pinilla or its surrounding nature reserves. The festival exists because of this landscape, the mountains that frame the eclipse, the clear skies, and the natural amphitheatre of the Sierra de Ayllón. This commitment ensures the festival gives back to the environment that makes it possible.

Tickets from €165 on sale now at https://spaineclipsefestival.com/tickets

LOUD AND UNFILTERED CELEBRATES 1 YEAR AND LANDMARK 50TH EPISODE WITH SPECIAL LIVE RECORDING AT MINISTRY OF SOUND’S NEWLY REFURBISHED “THE BOX”

INSTAGRAM / YOUTUBE / LINK TREE

The acclaimed podcast series Loud & Unfiltered proudly marks a major milestone with the release of its 50th episode, recorded live from the newly refurbished “The Box” at the iconic Ministry of Sound in London. The special episode features exclusive insights from Matt Long (Club Director) and Joe Robinson (Head of Marketing), offering listeners a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most influential club brands.

Since its launch in 2025, Loud & Unfiltered has rapidly established itself as a leading voice in electronic music culture, amassing over 10 million views across all platforms. Known for its candid conversations and global perspective, the podcast has hosted an impressive roster of industry talent including Alan Fitzpatrick, Doc Martin, Sam Divine, Johnno Burgess, Rob Star, Quentin Chambers, Jenni Cochrane, Joe Gordon, Danny Whittle and many more.

The series has taken listeners on a journey across the global dance music scene, recording episodes in major cultural hubs such as London, Miami, Amsterdam, St Maarten, and a standout series in Ibiza. Each location has brought a unique energy and perspective, reinforcing the show’s commitment to capturing authentic stories from the heart of the industry.

Episode 50 represents not only a celebration of past achievements but also a bold step forward. The live recording at Ministry of Sound’s newly reimagined “The Box” underscores the podcast’s continued growth and its deepening connection with key figures and venues shaping the future of nightlife.

“We wanted to do something truly special for our 50th episode,” said Alex Jukes. “Recording live at Ministry of Sound, in such an iconic space, with Matt and Joe, was the perfect way to celebrate how far we’ve come; and where we’re headed next.”

With more high-profile guests and international locations already in the pipeline, Loud & Unfiltered shows no signs of slowing down as it continues to push boundaries and amplify voices across the global electronic music community.

The 50th episode is available now on all major platforms:
https://linktr.ee/loudandunfilteredpod 

BRIDGE CONFERENCE PARTNERS WITH JUKEBOX VENTURES ON £1M STARTUP ACCELERATOR

Jukebox Ventures will host an accelerator programme worth up to £1m for music and tech startups and offering investment in the most exciting new projects via funding, marketing and launch strategy.

The international B2B gathering connecting leaders across music, entertainment and technology returns to the Adriatic coast in Croatia on 27th-29th May for its highly anticipated second edition.

Building on the resounding success of its debut in Croatia, this year’s edition will see Jukebox Ventures curate the music tech strand of the programme and host an accelerator session offering the chance to secure funding up to £1m for exciting new projects. Successful applications for the programme will get 50% discounted tickets for attending the conference.

Hosted at the exclusive Petram Resort and Residences, the conference provides a distinctive and intimate setting where executives, entrepreneurs, artists and investors can explore the evolving relationship between music, technology and culture. With 80% of last year’s attendees holding executive-level roles, including CEOs, directors and senior decision makers from leading European agencies, promoters and festivals, Bridge has already established itself as a unique addition to the global music industry calendar, combining high-level conversations, curated networking and world-class Istrian hospitality.

World-Class speakers across music, technology & entertainment

Bridge 2026 will once again bring together an exceptional lineup of speakers, executives and innovators from across the global music, entertainment and technology landscape, with a carefully curated programme exploring the future of music through the intersection of technology, AI, investment, artist development and the rapidly evolving relationship between culture and digital innovation.

Confirmed speakers include industry leaders such as Maria May (Head of Electronic, Creative Artists Agency), Steve Hogan (Agent & Partner, WME), Greg Parmley (Managing Director, International Live Music Conference), Holger Jan Schmidt (General Secretary, YOUROPE), Fruzsina Szép (Festival Director, SUPERBLOOM and Lollapalooza Berlin), Sara Bazian (Strategic Partnerships Manager, YouTube Music), Ivan Milivojev (Co-Founder, EXIT Festival) and others, with many more speakers set to be announced soon.

Dušan Kovačević, co-founder of EXIT Festival, whose long-standing work at the intersection of music, culture and social impact helped inspire the creation of Bridge as a platform for forward-thinking industry dialogue, says, “Bridge was born from the idea that the future of music will be built at the intersection of creativity, technology and human connection. With Jukebox Ventures joining us this year, we are creating a space where bold ideas, industry leadership and real investment can come together to help shape what comes next. Because for real business success, even the best ideas need direct access to the right people, and that is exactly what Bridge is designed to provide.”  

Jukebox Ventures to host accelerator programme for emerging tech startups

Bridge 2026 will also host a startup accelerator programme in partnership with Jukebox Ventures, an investment platform that is all about face-to-face meetings and making real connections. As part of the initiative, selected early-stage startups working across music, technology and entertainment will have the opportunity to present their ideas directly to investors and industry leaders attending the conference. Successful participants will receive investment support alongside mentorship from members of the Jukebox Ventures network and other industry figures present at the event.

Alex Jukes, founder of Jukebox Ventures says, “At Jukebox Ventures, we believe the next wave of innovation in music and entertainment will come from founders who have traditionally been shut out of the room. Bridge is exactly the kind of platform that changes that, and we believe the best way to achieve it is through close contact, in-person meetings and building real world relationships. By bringing together the brightest minds in the industry with a genuine commitment to backing overlooked talent, we are not just investing in startups, we are investing in the future of the entire sector. We couldn’t be more excited to be part of this.”

Further speakers and programme details will be announced in the coming weeks. A full schedule, including panel discussions, keynote sessions, and the Jukebox Ventures pitch competition, will be published at bridgeconference.net.