Polifonic Festival Puglia 2025 through five key performances

Dar Disku, Chloé Caillet and Simo Cell were among the highlights at this year’s edition of the beachside Puglia festival.

The creative minds behind Italy’s Polifonic refer to their annual celebration as a “high vibe music and arts festival” – and for good reason. This sprawling, five-day takeover stretches along Puglia’s sparkling coastlines and mystical countryside, and indeed exists on a singular frequency.

“Masseria Capece is very special,” says Laura Chimetto, logistics manager and head of artist care for Polifonic. “There’s just something about the environment that makes you feel lighter there.” Set within an olive grove and lined by natural stone walls, the rugged destination she describes is where the main event unfolds. 

Bookended by high-energy warm-up events and closing parties at beach clubs overlooking the Adriatic Sea, Polifonic’s landscape and musical aesthetic are equally dynamic. The 2025 edition boasted numerous scenic locations and rich flavors of left-field house, fast-paced techno and other experimental offerings, providing a thorough snapshot of all that’s bubbling in the dance music underground. With sets from scene legends like Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon and Kitten as well as fresh trailblazers like NVST, CCL, Desiree and more, Polifonic reflects the pulse and lives up to its all-encompassing name. Here are five key sets from this year’s affair to prove it. 

Venerus 

When we ask Andrea Venerus what genre he uses to describe his music, he replies matter-of-factly, “I don’t think there is one.” Nevertheless, after watching the Milan-bred singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist perform as part of a three-piece band, we’ve gathered some words to describe the Venerus experience. Funky, visceral, psychedelic and emotional top that list. The eclectic frontman’s raw performance was the palette cleanser every electronic festival needs, yet often lacks. Jumping deftly between guitar and piano, and belting out Italian lyrics with a jazzy baritone swagger, Venerus put his versatility on full display. Imagine our surprise on Sunday night when we stumbled upon his DJ set at Le Palme’s Beach Stage. There he dished out grooves from the other side of the spectrum – crunchy, global hues and immersive drums, plus deeper crowd-pleasing cuts like the James Holden remix of Nathan Fake’s The Sky Was Pink. Some artists thrive by straddling worlds – Venerus is clearly among them. 

Chloé Caillet 

Chloé Caillet is a living, breathing hype machine. From hosting parties in the 2000s with the DFA Records crew in New York City to carving out safe spaces for queer ravers in present-day Ibiza, the breakout star fosters excitement wherever she lands. In the case of Polifonic’s main stage, her hours-long Friday night workout brought enthusiasm levels to fever pitch as she effortlessly ripped through house classics, trancey tunes and euphoric bops with signature panache. Her intoxicating mix featured names like K-Klass and Spektre, enabling Caillet to show her stuff as an expert selector, before igniting a sing-along to a thumping treatment of Princess Superstar’s Perfect (Exceeder). “One, two, three, four/ Watch me work it/ I’m perfect!”, partyers sang in unison, as though reflecting on the masterclass unfolding before their eyes. Yep – the hype is real.

Laurent Garnier 

Earlier this year, Laurent Garnier told listeners of France Inter Radio that he’ll step back from touring “very soon”. During the same interview, he questioned whether an artist in their 60s could still hold relevance in today’s dance music scene. It was Garnier’s Friday night performance that remained on everyone’s lips all weekend, thus putting any debate to rest. After four decades, Garnier’s crate remains remarkably fresh. Disco era nods a la Thelma Houston’s Don’t Leave Me This Way co-existed alongside productions from modern masters such as Avision, Ivan Masa and Capo & Comes, and by blending old and new, the monolithic producer demonstrated a depth that continues to connect with a hearty fan base. If this set turns out to be among his final big festival outings, just know it delivered large on the swansong scale.

Simo Cell 

“I’m shapeshifting from place to place. Bending time, curving space.” These words grace the social profiles of Nantes-bred producer, Simo Cell, whose productions transcend all earthly realms. Yet during his Saturday night performance on Polifonic’s Stone Stage, the otherworldly beats felt right at home amongst the post-apocalyptic backdrop. Surrounded by a reverberating barrier of glowing red rocks, the French producer offered up a devilish mix of blistering BPMs and bouncier textures, too – a testament to his adaptability on the decks, where his dizzying transitions always prove intoxicating and (perhaps not so surprisingly) un-Shazammable. Let’s just say you had to be there.

Dar Disku

Vish and Maz of Dar Disku have set the tone for dance music’s next big sound by melding the gritty textures of the UK underground with rhythms from the SWANA region and beyond. Theirs is a brand of sonic intelligence that stems from the soul, though years of friendship and sharing musical influences surely left their mark. The duo’s Saturday evening showcase on the Sunrise Stage offered an intimate look at their flexibility, connection and vulnerability, and trust us when we say we’ve never heard Felly and Technotronic’s Pump Up the Jam hit quite like this before. If sets are a journey, these guys have the new map on lock – don’t miss this ride.