AURA ANNOUNCES RICHIE HAWTIN HEADLINE SHOW AT AN 18TH-CENTURY ROYAL PALACE IN PALERMO FOLLOWING SOLD-OUT SEGESTA DEBUT

Following the debut edition, the Director of the Archaeological Park of Segesta said "The time has come to trust young people" as the series moves to a historic Palermo royal residence on 1st June

Aura's debut edition sold out beside the ancient Doric temple at Segesta, and now the series moves to Palermo. On 1st June, Richie Hawtin headlines at Palazzina Cinese, an 18th-century royal residence built as a retreat for King Ferdinand III, as Aura continues its programme of electronic music events at Sicily's most culturally significant locations.

The debut edition of Aura drew a sold-out crowd to the Parco Archeologico di Segesta in western Sicily, one of the island's most significant ancient sites, home to a remarkably preserved Doric temple overlooking the surrounding countryside. The response from both audience and site confirmed what the Aura team had set out to demonstrate; electronic music and heritage locations can coexist in a meaningful way.

Luigi Biondo, Director of the Archaeological Park of Segesta, said: “A connection between nature and architecture - this is exactly the path we shared with Aura, an event that brings the world together through music and beauty. The time has come to place our trust in young people, because they are the ones who will help us find new paths, and care for the extraordinary places that surround us.”

Few artists have shaped contemporary techno as decisively as Richie Hawtin. Founder of the M-nus label and a defining figure of the Windsor-Detroit scene, he reached international recognition through his Plastikman releases and DJ sets that have continually pushed the technical limits of live performance. From early '90s warehouse sets to headline slots at Time Warp, DC10 and his long-running Ibiza residency ENTER., Hawtin has remained one of the genre's most consistent innovators.

Aura works in close partnership with local authorities and site custodians to stage events at heritage locations across Sicily, with each edition contributing to regional tourism and raising the international profile of the sites involved. The Palermo show is the second in a broader 2026 programme, with further events and locations to be announced.

Further information and tickets are available at www.aurafestival.it

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Richie Hawtin
Horacio Cruz

DJ SNAKE ANNOUNCES MASSIVE HEADLINE SHOW IN MONTREAL THIS NOVEMBER

He returns to Canada for a major headline show at Place Bell on November 13, 2026

DJ Snake has officially announced a major headline show in Montreal (Laval), set to take place at Place Bell on November 13, 2026.

Continuing on a nonstop touring run this year, from Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Festival editions across Miami, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa to taking over the Quasar stage at Coachella with his Pardon My French imprint, DJ Snake now brings his high-impact energy to Montreal. The Place Bell show marks his return to Canada with a full-scale headline production, continuing his run across some of the world’s biggest stages.

Montreal has always held a special place for DJ Snake, with some of his most memorable crowd moments happening in the city. For this return, he wanted to make the show feel even bigger and more special for the fans.

Known for bridging electronic music, trap, hip-hop, Latin music, and global sounds, DJ Snake has built one of the most recognizable live shows in modern dance music. From festival main stages to underground intimate settings, his ability to blend electronic music with trap, hip-hop, Latin, and international sounds has positioned him as one of the defining crossover artists in modern dance music.

As his global touring run continues throughout 2026, DJ Snake remains focused on building large-scale live experiences that push beyond traditional DJ performances. Through headline sets, collaborative moments, and his ongoing Pardon My French concept, he continues to shape how contemporary electronic music is experienced on some of the world’s biggest stages.

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AFRICA RISING MUSIC CONFERENCE 2026 UNVEILS FULL DAY-TO-NIGHT PROGRAMME

Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC), now in its sixth edition, has unveiled the full programme for its 22nd - 23rd May 2026 gathering at Constitution Hill - Johannesburg's landmark heritage site and cultural precinct. Bringing together artists, executives, and cultural leaders from across Africa, Australia, Germany, Uganda, and beyond, the two-day event includes the complete ARMC by Night lineup, the daytime conference agenda, and a landmark cultural partnership with Johnnie Walker AfroExchange, with Jaecoo joining as official mobility partner.

ARMC by Night Lineup

ARMC by Night returns with its most globally diverse and genre-spanning programme to date, bringing together African and international talent across live and electronic music.

German producer Henrik Schwarz headlines the international contingent, joined by Uganda's Vini Mercy and Australian artists Milan Ring and Dobby - all representing ARMC's 2026 focus countries. They share the bill with leading South African artists Ney The Bae, Murdah Bongz, Rouge, and Brother Kupa.

ARMC by Night presented by Johnnie Walker AfroExchange

Presented by Johnnie Walker AfroExchange, ARMC by Night transforms the Women's Jail at Constitution Hill - a former apartheid-era detention site, now a heritage venue - into a live music and cultural experience. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to amplifying African creative voices, enabling cross-cultural exchange, and supporting the broader ecosystem of artists and creatives.

ARMC's conference production is delivered in collaboration with Lucid Sets, a creative production company with more than 800 events to its name across festivals, brands, and cultural platforms.

"Real cultural progress happens when purpose meets collaboration, when brands don't just show up, but build with communities in meaningful and enduring ways. That's the philosophy behind our brand-owned culture platform, Johnnie Walker Afro Exchange, and it continues to guide how we embed our portfolio brands in culture across Diageo." - Ifeoma Agu, Group Head of Culture, Influencers and Advocacy, Diageo South, West and Central Africa

Official Mobility Partner
Jaecoo joins ARMC 2026 as the official mobility partner, supporting the transportation of artists, speakers, and international delegates throughout the conference. The partnership reinforces ARMC's commitment to delivering a seamless, premium experience while enabling efficient movement across key programme moments.

ARMC by Day Programme Highlights

The ARMC by Day programme brings together industry leaders, creators, and innovators for a comprehensive conference experience spanning panels, workshops, showcases, and exhibitions.

Key highlights include:

• The introduction of the Sound Bridges Access Fund, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Pretoria

• Industry sessions with TikTok, Meta, the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), and more

• A keynote conversation with South African artist Elaine, in partnership with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO)

• Australian Music Market Spotlight

• The Turnkey Music & Multimedia Demo Lab

• A dedicated AI Think Tank exploring the future of music and technology, alongside an AI-focused panel in collaboration with Berlin-based Paradise Worldwide and Germany's Fraunhofer IDMT

• Curated networking sessions connecting artists, executives, and international delegates

"ARMC exists to create real opportunity - connecting artists, markets and ideas across borders, while building systems that support long-term growth in African music." - SJ Nicholson, Founder of Africa Rising Music Conference

The full conference programme is now live: https://africarisingmusicconference.com/our-program/

Pre-Conference Networking Event

ARMC, in collaboration with the Music Business Network, will host a special pre-conference gathering on 21 May. The event brings artists, delegates, and industry together ahead of ARMC to connect early, build relationships, and set the tone - reinforcing the belief that in culture, collaboration beats competition.

New Ticket Tier Announced

A new ARMC by Night-only ticket tier is now available at R100 (approx. €5 / $5.50) via South African ticketing platform Quicket, offering access to the full evening music programme.

Tickets: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/321748-africa-rising-music-conference-2026/ 

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