Draft:Sandbox Festival

  • Comment: I added this reference on the talk page which is more in-depth and should be included in place of some of the unreliable sources. I was going to approve based on that and the Egypt Today articles, but I see the references from Egypt Today are not bylined so they are likely churnalism. Can you provide some in-depth coverage for the festival that meets WP:ORGCRIT? It think this is close but would probably wind up in a deletion discussion if approved as-is. CNMall41 (talk) 21:47, 23 August 2024 (UTC)

Sandbox Festival
GenreElectronic music
Location(s)El Gouna
CountryEgypt
Years active2012–present
FounderTito El kachab
Capacity5,000[1]
Websitesandboxfestival.com

Sandbox Festival is an annual electronic music festival held in El Gouna, Egypt. Established in 2012, it features international and local DJs.[2] It has hosted numerous high-profile celebrities and has attracted an annual turnout of around 5,000 people.[3]

Some of the top headliners who performed at Sandbox Festival include Avalon Emerson, Damian Lazarus, HVOB, Sama' Abdulhadi, Moodymann, Stephan Bodzin, David August, Henrik Schwarz, Ben UFO , and others.[4]

History

edit

History

edit

Sandbox Festival was founded in 2013 by Nacelle,[5][6] a Cairo-based entertainment company.[7] The festival was envisioned as a platform to showcase both emerging and established electronic music artists, providing an intimate setting for music lovers to experience live performances away from the usual urban settings.[8] The first edition of Sandbox took place in the summer of 2013 and quickly gained a reputation for its well-curated lineup and vibrant atmosphere.[9][10]

Location

edit
 
View of El Gouna (Egypt) from the Steigenberger Golf Tower

The festival takes place in El Gouna, a resort town on the Red Sea coast of Egypt.[11] Known for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, El Gouna provides a picturesque backdrop for the festival, enhancing the overall experience for attendees.[12][13]

Music and Performances

edit

Sandbox Festival is primarily focused on electronic music, with a lineup that includes a mix of house, techno, and other electronic sub-genres.[14] Over the years, the festival has hosted performances by a variety of international and regional DJs and producers. Some of the notable artists who have performed at Sandbox include Dixon, Âme, Peggy Gou, and more. The festival is also known for giving a platform to local Egyptian talent, providing an opportunity for them to perform alongside international acts.[15][15][16]

Editions

edit

Since its launch, the festival has been held annually, typically in May or June. The festival has grown in size and scope each year, attracting a larger audience and more prominent artists.[17][18]

The 2020 edition of the Sandbox Festival, originally scheduled to take place from May 4 to May 6 in Egypt, was canceled in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the planned 2021 edition was also rescheduled for 2022 due to continuing concerns related to the pandemic.[19][20][21]

edit

Egyptian Member of Parliament Farag Amer, who serves as the head of the parliament's Youth and Sports Committee, publicly criticized the Sandbox Music Festival, labeling it as more dangerous than the controversial internet game "Blue Whale." Amer described the festival as a "party of nudity and pornography" and argued that it should be banned. He alleged that attendees openly used drugs during the event, which is held at one of Egypt's most prominent tourist destinations. According to Amer, such festivals fail to promote tourism and harm it. He urged the government to prohibit these events, claiming that they lead to indecent behavior, drug use, and prostitution.[22]

Festival summary by year

edit
Edition Year Dates Location Headliners Ref.
4th 2016 May El Gouna
[23]
5th 2017 May 4–6 El Gouna, Red Sea coast ,Egypt
[24][25]
6th 2018 May El Gouna, Red Sea coast ,Egypt
[15]
7th 2019 May 14–15 El Gouna, Red Sea coast ,Egypt [26]
8th 2022 May 14–17 El Gouna, Red Sea coast ,Egypt
[27][28]
9th 2023 May11–13 El Gouna, Red Sea coast ,Egypt
[29]

References

edit
  1. ^ Ross, Gemma (21 June 2024). "Sandbox is leading the charge for Egypt's newly burgeoning dance music era". www.mixmag.com. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  2. ^ "The Ties That Bind: Saudi DJs debuted at Sandbox". listmag. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  3. ^ Mohamed, Rawan (2024-05-01). "From Sand to Soundwaves: Celebrating a Decade of Sandbox Festival in Gouna". Scoop Empire. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  4. ^ "Moodymann, Sama' Abdulhadi and Jayda G to headline Sandbox Festival". Crack Magazine. 2023-02-24. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  5. ^ Gogovski, Metodi (2024-03-28). "Nacelle Reveals Spectacular Lineup for 10th Anniversary Edition of Egypt's Sandbox Festival". Rave Jungle. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  6. ^ Egyptian Streets (2019-06-18). "A Selection of Egypt's Most Popular Summer Music Festivals Worth Attending | Egyptian Streets". Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  7. ^ "SANDBOX music festival opens Thursday at idyllic Gouna". EgyptToday. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  8. ^ Ross, Gemma. "Sandbox is leading the charge for Egypt's newly burgeoning dance music era". Mixmag. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  9. ^ Awad, Haisam (May 24, 2022). "The Story Behind Sandbox, Egypt's Biggest Electronic Music Festival". scenenoise.
  10. ^ India, Lawrence (August 23, 2024). "Missing out on Burning Man? This alternative desert festival should be at the top of your list". timeout.com.
  11. ^ "Head to the coastal town of El Gouna, Egypt for Sandbox Festival. An Arabian oasis of sandy beaches, world-class DJs and adrenaline pumping activities". Escapism. 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  12. ^ Wagner, Amuna. "Five North African Music Festivals You Don't Want to Miss This Summer - Okayplayer". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  13. ^ "Sandbox Festival - Festival Lineup, Dates and Location | Viberate.com". www.viberate.com. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  14. ^ Narikonyc (2017-02-18). "The Game Changing Sandbox Festival in Egypt Unleashes Lineup". We Own The Nite NYC. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  15. ^ a b c Bhanawat, Akshay (2018-02-23). "Sandbox Festival returns for its sixth edition to the magical El Gouna resort in Egypt". T.H.E - Music Essentials. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  16. ^ Rashed, Mohamed (2018-03-26). "7 Reasons Why Sandbox Solidified Itself on the International Music Festivals' Map". Scoop Empire. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  17. ^ "SANDBOX music festival opens Thursday at idyllic Gouna". EgyptToday. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  18. ^ Jukes, Alex (2022-05-11). "Sandbox Festival announces full lineup for 8th edition". Summer Festival Guide. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  19. ^ Naha, Soham. "College bands jam at The Sandbox Music Festival by NSHM Knowledge Campus". The Telegraph (India).
  20. ^ "Egypt's Sandbox Festival Has Been Cancelled for 2020". scenenoise. May 7, 2020.
  21. ^ "Best Fakeout - Lil Nas X at Sandbox Music Festival". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  22. ^ "Sandbox Music Festival is 'nude and pornographic' and should be banned: Egyptian MP". ahram.org. May 7, 2018.
  23. ^ "Sandbox Festival 2016 · Event Review ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  24. ^ Groove, Aria (2017-05-19). "Sandbox Festival 2017". Electronic Groove. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  25. ^ Bhanawat, Akshay (2017-02-15). "Sandbox Festival in Egypt unleashes its line-up for 2017". T.H.E - Music Essentials. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  26. ^ flowmusic; chaypiccone (2019-04-02). "Sandbox Festival Egypt Announce Full Lineup". Flow Music. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  27. ^ Gaboury-Potvin, Thomas (2022-05-16). "When We Dip: Sandbox Festival announces full lineup for 8th edition". When We Dip. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  28. ^ Erikas (2022-05-14). "Sandbox Festival announces full lineup for 8th edition". House Nest. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
  29. ^ "Sandbox Festival announces full line-up for 2023 edition". Mixmag MENA. Retrieved 2024-08-22.