Dropzone Festival successfully celebrated its second edition with several events in some of the most recognized nightclubs in Zrce Beach.
Drop Zone Festival returned to Zrce Beach after being one of the first events to be held in 2021. Held in one of the most paradisiacal places in Croatia, it's a totally different experience for hardstyle lovers. Successor to the now defunct Hard Island, Dropzone combines all kinds of activities within a festival: pool, boat and night parties.
We enjoyed 'The Opening' at Kalypso Zrce, the first of the clubs we visited this week. A club completely set in nature and quite thematic. D-Block & S-te-Fan were the protagonists of this day, presenting some of his next tracks, along with several edits both their own and those of Ghost Stories. Aftershock brought the hardest beats to Kalypso Zrce and Doctor Zot took us to the more 'oldschool' side. sickmode, who is possibly in the best moment of his musical career, closed the day with tracks like 'Club Banger', 'Go Stupid' and his new collab with Mish.
We woke up the next day to enjoy Dropzone twice. Musical Madness Pool Party at Papaya Club and 15 Years of Dirty Workz at Noa Beach Club. We repeated with D-Block & S-te-Fan at the Pool Party with a set quite similar to the previous day. About Adaro, we were finally listening to one of his biggest works today. That 'The Air I Breathe' remix that own Richard Durand attended live on Defqon.1 and agreed to release it officially.
We took a little break for dinner and attend the 15 years of Dirty Workz. Like stars, Sub Zero Project. After releasing their album 'Renaissance of Rave' this same month, they played much of the album followed by the collab that we look forward to with Hardwell. Hard Driver got us excited about that 'Rise Again', a day before officially releasing it. Quite possibly, will finish in the highest positions of the Q-dance Hardstyle Top 100. Da Tweekaz encouraged and entertained all attendees, in addition to playing that new collab with Villain and Le Prince. Finally, Rebelion took us to ecstasy with the hardest set of the day and starting with the track that all artists currently play: their remix to 'Titanium'.
We were looking forward to Wednesday for the Gearbox Pool Party. Seeing the line up, we knew that it was going to be one of the best moments of the festival. So it was. Avi8 started the party. Little to say about the Scottish. For those who don't know, he's one of the most melodic artists of the hardstyle scene. Listen 'You're Shining' live again was amazing. Anderex was next, one of the artists with the most projection today. He has collaborated with Rebelion and is currently working on a track with Audiofreq. Still surprised to hear his remix to 'One More Day' by Jason Ross, Blanke and Chandler Leighton. Outstanding set.
Deezl presented his new collab with Anderex and kept the energy going at the Noa Beach Club, this time structured for a pool party. More forceful rhythms than the previous ones, and that would continue to increase with the passing of Mish and Mutilator. Special mention to Mish. Place where she goes, place that is packed for her set. Since the pandemic she has grown a lot and is establishing herself in many events. Same as Mutilator, who already broke it with Fraw at Defqon.1.
Ran-D presented his show at night 'We Rule The Night' with a sick line up. Galactixx continues to climb slowly under the watchful eye of Roughstate members, Devin Wild made the whole room shake (literally) with his tracks and Dj isaac showed us what a Scantraxx legend is like. Ran-D himself completely packed the Aquarius Club with a rather special set. In addition to his most recent tracks, he played several IDs that we don't know so far if his or other Roughstate artists.
Vertile landed as the artist of the moment. He has a characteristic sound which is supporting the whole scene. To such an extent that he has collaborated with Headhunterz. Gunz For Hire brought their show Death or Glory, which we have already seen both here, as at Rebirth, as at Defqon.1. After months of waiting, 'Hard Knock Life', one of the tracks they played to close their set will finally see the light of day this week. There could be no better ending than Act of Rage to close this 'We Rule The Night'.
To end the festival, we returned again to Kalypso Zrce. All the posters in the area advertised his set. It was time to Headhunterz and still surpassed his set at Defqon.1. He started the set by wiping out quite a few IDs. 'Flame Inside', 'Time to Dance Again', his next collab with D-Block & S-te-Fan and an ID that played at the beginning that we still don't know who it belongs to. The room really exploded with his arrival. Previously, Sound Rush did the same. Like 'Rise Again' of Hard Driver, we were looking forward to their 'Transform'. Obviously I loved it. Killshot repeated after starting at the BBQ party and D-Sturb and Deadly Guns closed what has been a wonderful edition.
Tickets for the next edition will be available at its website next week, so if after reading this chronicle you want to attend, it's the best time to buy it. The dates have already been announced and Dropzone 2023 will be held on July 3, 4, 5 and 6. Soon we'll publish the chronicle on how to attend from Spain, so stay tuned for future updates. See you next year!
