In its 20th year, we can start to look back at the stepping stones that have led us to organise one of the most unique and intimate drum and bass festivals, or rather holidays. We make new friends, feel new emotions, and learn new things each year. Yet, we always know that no SUNANDBASS will ever be the same.
2003 – The Beginning
It started with the two of us meeting in Milan, where we studied abroad, before ending up with summer jobs in Sardinia. We loved the place so much that we wanted to stay and combine it with our love for drum and bass. So this is the year the festival began as a small beach party with friends.
2004 – Going Big!
The first complete edition of SUNANDBASS took place in San Teodoro in 2004, and we established ourselves here. With an expanded lineup that included Grooverider, Shy FX, and Pendulum, word-of-mouth spread news of the festival, setting a precedent for attendance for years to come.
2005 – When I say SUN, you say BASS! SUN AND BASS!
The second official edition of SUNANDBASS was so special that we got top DJ and producer John B to perform as an MC! After some chilled pinot grigio, John B grabbed the Mic, laying down a set of calls and responses that would never be forgotten. It’s one of the highlights of the year!
2006 – A Living Legend
On its way to becoming a legendary event, SUNANDBASS returned to beautiful Sardinia in September 2006. For the third time, our budding week-long festival took place in one of Europe’s most exclusive holiday spots while becoming the tip for drum and bass heads.
2007 – SUNANDBASS Four-ever!
SUNANDBASS swings through San Teodoro for a fourth time at full tilt. Our team gets bigger, and the feeling of why our festival is here only grows stronger. Word of mouth couldn’t be more effective.
2008 – Stop The Rumours, It’s Official!
Once again, we hit the island with a mind-blowing lineup, including Makoto from Japan and Paradox (live). The beach parties were equally matched by live sessions at the new, white-hot, poolside club, Bal Harbour.
2009 – The Fever Is Rising
SUNANDBASS enters its sixth year since its 2004 inception, and we can proudly look back at the past five editions with memories of love and overwhelming nostalgia. Skream performs an unforgettable set for Autonomic.
2010 – 156 Days To Go
Dreaming of Sardinia with a great new lineup featuring Goldie himself. Even the artists set their alarm recounting the days!
2011 – Intense But Never Long Enough
The team is at its largest to date, and we become friends with ravers by name, even getting to know their favourite tracks and club cocktails. With the inclusion of DJ Marky for an entire afternoon at Bal Harbour, the club’s setting became something more like Brazil’s Carnival de Bahia than rustic Sardinia (well, almost).
2012 – SUNANDBASS Here We Come
Nearing our decade-long tenure of giving drum and bass a home in the sun, sets from Calibre and Doc Scott to LTJ Bukem and Markus Intalex, to more leftfield sounds from the likes of Loxy and Tokyo Prose brought home our penultimate year to date.
2013 – Ten Years Of SUNANDBASS
As we celebrate 10 years of the SUNANDBASS, the lineup is stronger than ever. Top of the bill were 10 Years of Exit Records and Metalheadz Old School and New School nights. Superflow. What a year!
2014 – SUNANDBASS Curated By
With the introduction of the Curator nights, the artists earned a chance to show the colours that make up their musical backgrounds. How can you go wrong with curation from heads like Storm, Marky, DBridge, Marcus Intalex, Bailey, and S.P.Y ?
2015 – Ripping It Up
Embracing our festival like no other, Jenna G made history on Ambra Day by etching herself into our collective memories with a SUNANDBASS-defining set.
2016 – Wow, That Was Fast!
After selling out tickets to SUNANDBASS in record time we’re still reeling from unforgettable sets from the likes of Dillinja, DJ Lee, and Tony Colman on Ambra Day, to Slum Village live at La Cinta. Old and new musical influences abound! We also introduced panel discussion sessions at Bal Harbour with All Crews and Colin Stevens, just to name two.
2017 – La Cinta, La Cinta, La Cinta
In 2017 we came back to where we belong: La Cinta, with its iconic stage and beautiful beach to dance on every day. The Wednesday will forever be remembered as one of the most emotional days in SUNANDBASS history as we dedicated it to our beloved friend, the late Marcus Intalex. This day showed us again that SUNANDBASS is more than a festival, we are family.
2018 – 15 Years
This was an amazing week, with so many highlights too many to mention. Storms Night contributed to Spirit, the hip-hop pool party with Children of Zeus curated by DRS, the unexpected day event at Ambra Night, and all the superb beach parties at La Cinta. We concluded the week with 32 acts celebrating 15 years of SUNANDBASS at Ambra Night with a 15-hour-long party on the 15th. We can’t wait to see what the next 15 years will have in store for us.
2019 – A Perfect 10
Scenic sound systems in every location, unbelievably great music all day long, Ichnusa, crusty bread, and the most scenic seascapes. Chatting, dancing, and enjoying la dolce vita with our dearest friends—in retrospect, it seems to be a perfect 10. We had it all. Long live our community, our SUNANDBASS crew!
2020 – Beyond Beaches
Little did we know… while dreaming of the next edition, already envisioned to be even purer and more beautiful, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped us in our preparations and put a sudden hold on our sizzling success story.
How precious and fragile is life?
2022 – The Return of the Holidays
In 2022, SUNANDBASS faced several challenges but emerged victorious. Thanks to the patronage of San Teodoro, a new self-built stage was constructed on La Cinta beach. The stage offered a stunning surround sound and view from the mountains to the beach, as well as pristine waters leading towards Tavolara island. It created a breathtaking water dance floor. SUNANDBASS’s dedication to delivering exceptional experiences was evident throughout the event and remains at the heart of San Teodoro.
2023 – Fresh and Flowing
In the year 2023, event tickets for the drum and bass holiday in San Teodoro sold out in record time, including the small loyalty batch, which also frew off the shelves. The organizers were pleased to see that everything was running smoothly and the locals were ready to welcome us. The artists were greeted with the enthusiasm they deserved, and the visuals presented were breathtaking. Every moment felt like an iconic experience, with the obituary of MC Fats being one of the many highlights of SUNANDBASS 2023.