Features
Albania’s Unum Festival ‘100% Guaranteed To Go Ahead’ In June
– Scene from the Unum Festival premiere in 2019.
The capacity of the 2021 edition isn’t yet known.
The promoters of Unum Festival, which is scheduled for June 3-7, 2021, in Shëngjin, Albania, say there’s no scenario that could put a stop to this year’s edition, mainly thanks to plans to utilize a rapid test for anyone aiming to enter the event.
Unum Festival 2021 has the backing of the Albanian ministries responsible for tourism, environment, and health. Festival director Grego O’Halloran told Pollstar, “the Minister of Tourism supports this festival and will be making an announcement soon to give his personal guarantee.”
Albania was one of the few places in Europe that remained open throughout summer 2020, public life was hardly disrupted, O’Halloran recalled.
– Everyone attending Unum Festival 2021 will be tested on site.
The test used by the promoters promises a 15-minute turnaround.
The open-air festival, which specializes on electronic music genres, takes place across the scenic Albanian riviera, offering “five days of non-stop music, dancing, relaxing and (…) a rich array of art, performance and much more,” according to the announcement.
Confirmed artists include Ricardo Villalobos, Seth Troxler, Priku, Praslea, tINI, Sonja Moonear, Shaun Reeves, Raresh, Cesar Merveille, Dyed Soundorom, Leon, Nikola Vemic, And.Re, Cap, Alex Kostic, Rayo, Nikifor, Nemax, Fogg, George Adi, Hajdar Berisha, Hiroko Yamamura, Nikola Vemic, Dona K, Franco Cinelli. More names are to be announced.
To guarantee that no one entering Unum Festival 2021 contracts the virus, promoters are using the rapid testing screening service by U.K. company Swallow Events.
In addition, “we are taking all measures required to ensure safety measures are followed at all times and there will be zero tolerance on this matter,” the festival announcement states.
In case travel restrictions are in place from other countries, Unum Festival will still go ahead for local music fans, “but we really don’t envisage this situation occurring, based on current Albania law, what has happened since March 2020 and plans we have laid out to provide a Covid safe environment for the event,” O’Halloran explained.
– The scenic setting of Unum Festival.
Albania has it all: mountains, forests, beaches.
Unum Festival celebrated its debut edition in 2019. After being forced to cancel in 2020 because of the Covid restrictions in place at the time, the team is motivated to deliver a second edition filled with lots of experiences that go beyond music.
In partnership with the city of Shengjin and the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Unum Festival 2021 will be embedded in a full week of culture, dubbed the Culture Week.
“This is a brand new addition for 2021 that will be a meeting point of the artistic community, amazing names from the world of art, music and traditional Albanian culture that is founded on five pillars.short and long films, silent cinema, panel discussions, installations, street art, graffiti, murals, sculpture work artistic performances and much more from a team of professional artists from all over the world.
“There will also be an alternative stage featuring performances from local and international artists, body painting, yoga, a game zone, tattoo area, chill out zone, ARTizan market with craft products and much more that will allow participants to immerse themselves as deeply as possible in the world of alternative art, meet fellow artists be inspired by the innovations of the Week,” the announcement concludes.