MOGA Festival unveils first names for its 2023 edition
A Guy Called Gerald, Gene On Earth, Guedra Guedra, Jayda G, Oceanvs Orientalis and many more are heading to Morocco in October
The iconic MOGA Festival is making a grand return to its birthplace, Essaouira, a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast, for its fifth edition, slated to take place from October 4 to 8.
Nestled between the luxurious surroundings of the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf Hotel & Spa, the IN programme venue, and the vibrant urban canvas of Essaouira city, hosting the OFF programme, MOGA is primed to offer an invigorating blend of music, wellness, art and discourse that's become ingrained in its very DNA.
The festival's line-up, set to grace the Sofitel, introduces the first wave of artists, including luminaries such as A Guy Called Gerald, Gene On Earth, Guedra Guedra, Jayda G, Fumiya Tanaka, Malika, Oceanvs Orientalis, Margaret Dygas, Maayan Nidam, Peach, Maurice Fulton, Quest, Portable, Rhadoo and Prins Thomas, among others.
Following the resounding success of its Portuguese edition held from May 31 to June 4, which drew an impressive crowd of nearly 15,000, a significant increase from the 10,000 in 2022, on the picturesque beaches of Costa da Caparica, MOGA Essaouira is gearing up to host an estimated 16,000 festival enthusiasts from all corners of the world, across a span of five exhilarating days.
The vibrant MOGA community, a melting pot of over 30 nationalities, gathers biannually, once in Morocco during early October, and then in Portugal in early-June, driven by a collective zeal for discovery, sharing, and experimentation. The MOGA ethos extends beyond musical discovery, encouraging attendees to immerse themselves in local culture and explore the enchanting city that forms the festival's backdrop.
On October 4 and 5, Essaouira will become a cultural hotspot, hosting a two-day OFF programme spread across various Souiri establishments, featuring engaging workshops, yoga classes, and captivating concerts at La Sqala. Then, from Friday October 6 through Sunday October 8, the lush Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa will play host to the main three-day festival, featuring a staggering five stages scattered throughout the property, and a diverse line-up boasting Moroccan, Portuguese and international artists.
The 2023 edition of MOGA Essaouira stands as a testament to its timeless fusion of tradition and modernity, local and global - from the captivating live performances by Shkoon and Portable, to the minimalist disco resonance of Zurich’s Kalabrese, the refined craftsmanship of Rominimal's Rhadoo, the critically acclaimed melodies of Grammy nominee Jayda G, the underground brilliance of France's Dyed Soundorom from Apollonia, and the masterfully curated sets by Gene On Earth, Malika, Margaret Dygas, among others.
Tickets are available here.
