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Stage lights and a crowd at a night festival

Photo: Vizi Kata (Pexels License)

5 Senses Festival 2018 (debut)

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A 12-day house and techno festival on Koh Phangan, from 3 to 14 February 2018, with a closing party on 15 February.

About this event

5 Senses was a new festival on Koh Phangan, put together by a collective of promoters from across Europe. Early announcements called it a 5 Senses Eco Festival and described a 10-day boutique event, while later coverage gave 12 days, so the length changed before it opened. The organisers promoted a Funktion-One sound system, fire dancers, pyrotechnics and 3D visuals.

The festival chose to move around the island: parties were set in the jungle, up in the hills, beside waterfalls and on the beach, which is a different idea from the single-beach Full Moon Party. Mixmag Asia, Mixmag, Khaosod and Festival Insights all carried the first announcements. Trade press named Adam Phangan as the festival's chief executive, leading its outreach in Asia, Europe and the United States. The 2018 edition is the debut, and the 2019 page shows what changed in the second year.

The facts

  1. More than 40 local and international DJs played. Acts on the bill included Einmusik, De La Swing, Mat.Joe, Supernova, Tapesh and Luna City Express.
  2. Parties moved between jungle, mountain, waterfall and beach sites, and capacity was about 1,000 people.
  3. DJ Mag later reported a 2019 edition with Francesca Lombardo and Behrouz.

Why it matters

A multi-day boutique festival that brought known European house and techno names to Koh Phangan.

Line-up

Einmusik, De La Swing, Mat.Joe, Supernova, Tapesh, Luna City Express

More nights like this

Festivals and culture on Koh Phangan

Most Phangan residents are Thai and many follow Buddhist traditions, so the festival calendar follows the lunar year. Songkran in mid-April brings water fights and ceremonies, and Loy Krathong on the November full moon is a night of floating lanterns and small baskets. Buddhist holy days also affect the island's nightlife: alcohol sales are restricted, and Full Moon Party dates can shift by a day. Temples worth a visit include Wat Phu Khao Noi, about 2 km from Thong Sala, and Wat Khao Tham in the hills above Ban Tai. Holy days move each year, so check dates close to travel.

From the history of Koh Phangan

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