The Romanian capital has been transformed into the summer’s “Capital of Music” as Neversea Kapital kicked off its inaugural edition an urban reimagining of the beloved seaside festival by the creators of legendary Untold Festival.
Friday’s musical marathon began with deep and hypnotic grooves on the Temple stage, with Poltom, Sublee, and Marwan Dua warming up the crowd before Priku b2b Arapu took over with an intense back‑to‑back techno session. Rising techno star Mau P kept the momentum alive ahead of the monumental closing set by Charlotte de Witte, delivering dark, high‑energy techno to thrill the night to morning crowd.
Meanwhile on the Mainstage, electronic icons lit up the Arena with a set of peak‑time house and melodic techno. Claptone cast his signature masked mystique, followed by the prolific producer Paul Kalkbrenner, who delivered his live hardware‑driven sound—our highlight of the night. But the moment that truly stole the show was KSHMR, whose set included a vibrant rendition of “Made in Romania” and an electrifying visual mash‑up featuring the viral Squid Game theme playing across the main screens—an unexpected, euphoric twist that had the entire venue dancing in unison.
As the night deepened, the energy soared with Axwell bringing his Swedish House Mafia anthems, followed by Tujamo delivering a relentless peak‑time debut. The after‑hours got a turbo‑boost from Kaaze, whose uplifting progressive house reframed the closing moments of the night into a euphoric odyssey.
This first edition has realized its vision: a summer‑capital takeover of Bucharest, bringing the signature Neversea beach energy into the concrete coliseum of Arena Națională, layered with art, fashion, street culture and top‑tier production. Audiences were treated to panoramic visuals, impressive stage design, and an urban festival playground unlike anything seen in the city before.
The festival has clearly impressed on Day 1—techno, house, progressive and melodic beats combined to create a sonic and visual feast.
KSHMR’s cliff‑hanger set with Squid Game visuals has already gone viral and may well define the festival.
With Charlotte de Witte’s dark intensity, that lasted until after the sunrise and Paul Kalkbrenner’s live performance, Friday captured the full range of electronic music excellence.
Stay tuned for Saturday’s highlights—anticipation is building for Alok, Don Diablo, Nervo and more. But the capital has already found its rhythm: the summer has begun, and Neversea Kapital has made its mark.
Share This