If you haven’t checked Morocco off your travel bucket list, now may be a good time to start. Hundreds of thousands of Britons visit Morocco every year and in September you too can be counted among the privileged who get to experience the majesty of Morocco through the country’s premiere festival, Oasis Festival. This year Oasis Festival will be held at The Source Music Resort in Marrakech from September 16th through September 18th. The resort is flanked by the beauty of the Atlas Mountains and is only 15 minutes from the city center. It comes complete with breathtaking views, swimming pools, a spa, and lush gardens.
While in Morocco, you can expect three days of house, disco, techno, and electronica from some of the biggest underground names. Some of those names include but are not limited to Derrick May, Dusky, Maya Jane Coles, Booka Shade, Speaking Minds, Midland, and Steffi. Last year when the festival debuted, the lineup included acts like Cassy and tiNi, Alex Boman, Carl Craig, Gerd Janson, BLOND:ISH, and Derrick Carter.
More than just a music festival, Oasis offers its attendees the opportunity to receive henna (a staple among Moroccan festivals), see artist Yann Chatelin paint live, and participate in daily yoga sessions at the Salon Atlas. These yoga sessions will be led by Aisha Barzaghi and will be from 17:00 to 18:00. If you fancy a dip in the pool, you’re in luck. Oasis Festival will have a pool near the stage at Oasis where you can keep cool and take in all the great music the festival has to offer.
The food vendors for this year’s festival are unique and diverse. Beats Burger will have beef, lamb, and duck meat options in addition to French-style crepes. Corto Juice Bar will offer fruit juices, vegetable juices, and smoothies to give you energy and detoxify. Vegetarians can find solace in Le Jardin who is set to offer organic, plant based options. Café Des Épices will also offer organic choices among their Moroccan-style salads and sandwiches. Monsieur Brochette will bring to the festival Moroccan street food and serve a variety of grilled sandwiches you can take on the go. Finally, Pizza + Panini Source will offer up Italian-style pizzas and paninis.
Not to be outdone, the Champagne Bar will host Oriental Ice, Boju, and Sweet Shop to refresh you and cool you down. Oriental Ice will offer ice cream that is produced with regionally-infused flavors. Boju will bring a healthy alternative through its on-site parfaits, fresh fruit boxes, frozen bananas, and a variety of fruit popsicles. If you have a hankering for something more delectable and sweet, the Sweet Shop will satisfy you with its selection of candies and sfinge, Moroccan style donuts.
If all of this sounds good to you, visit the festival’s web page for essential information on traveling to Morocco. The Oasis Festival website maintains a list of countries from which visitors do not need a visa to stay in Morocco if it will be less than 90 days. You can find that list here. If visitors wish to stay beyond the 90 days, they have to request permission from the nearest Police Precinct. Marrakech Menara Airport and Casablanca Mohammed V Airport are the two airports one can fly into. It is recommended to fly into Marrakech Menara Airport however. Once you arrive you can exchange your currency at the airport, currency-exchange office, hotel, or international bank. Oasis Festival advises its travelers that live outside of Morocco to seek the best exchange rate at an ATM.
Upon entering Morocco, there are different means of transportation to, from, and around the venue. The festival offers a shuttle service between the venue and select hotels offered in its travel packages. More information on the hotels can be found here. Other travel options include going on foot, using a petit taxi, a grand taxi (fancier Mercedes that have no meters and require negotiation, but take up to 6 people out of town), double decker busses that run 24 hours, and calèches. Calèches are located near the main square in Marrakech, Jemaa el Fna, as well as near some major hotels in the Hivernage neighborhood. They will only take you on one way trips however within the medina for roughly 15 dh.
More information on Oasis can be found at the website, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The festival also maintains a Soundcloud to showcase the artists on its lineup. For tickets, go here.
I was listening to electronic dance music without even knowing it when I was listening to Jock Jams in the 90s. Fast forward to my senior year in high school and I had discovered Fatboy Slim. I have been listening to edm ever since and love writing about new sounds, good sounds, and the music that makes us move.
