The definition of the word “hospitality” is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” As Americans traveling to Europe for a drum and bass festival, you would think that we might feel like strangers sailing into uncharted waters, but as soon as we arrived at Hospitality on the Beach, they made us feel a lot more like family. From start to finish – the Hospital Records crew went out of their way to accommodate our needs in a way that is almost unheard of in the US event industry. It might have also been the familiar, soul-stirring music that we know and love, or the temperate climate that is so similar to Southern California– either way: dancing on the beach with so many like-minded individuals made us feel right at home.

The 7-day festival kicked off Tuesday, July 2nd, which allowed the crowd to make their way to the small beach town of Tisno, Croatia from all parts of the globe. The So-Cal crew touched down late Tuesday night, so by midday on Wednesday, we were more than ready to start dancing and hit the beach. The festival venue “The Garden,” is nestled in a small cove just South of Tisno and is home to various events throughout the year. The owners acquired the property in 2012, and it’s truly a hidden utopia outside of the charming, yet antiquated neighboring Croatian towns. Both Tisno and Pirovac were quiet, yet pleasant communities on the water, with narrow, winding one-way streets lined by sleepy marinas, and visited mostly by families with young children or older European couples on holiday. Yet just a few minutes outside of town, a week-long festival full of rowdy ravers and up-front electronic music raged every night until the early hours of the morning.

Summer is never-ending here in San Diego and it’s no secret that our recent Daydream events have been heating up our beloved Drum and Bass community this year! That being said – there is nothing like a proper vacation (or “holiday” as they say across the pond)! For the first time ever, the United By Bass squad is excited to be heading to the coast of Croatia this July for Hospitality On The Beach. We are so excited to spend seven days under the sun, soaking up the sounds of some of the world’s top drum and bass producers against the scenic background of the Adriatic coast. European DnB festivals are truly a whole different style, and we are excited to represent stateside and California junglists on this adventure!

Some background for the newer heads: Hospital Records was founded in 1996 in South London by the legendary London Elektricity. You’ll understand if you were lucky enough to witness his amazing performance at SD Union Daydream in March. (Plus, who could forget that epic b2b2b that closed out the night?) London Elektricity has paved the way for the drum and bass genre in many ways, but the foundation of Hospital Records might be one of his most influential moves. The independent label has signed some of the most influential drum and bass acts in the world including Camo & Krooked, Danny Byrd, S.P.Y, High Contrast, and more. Aside from releasing top-tier tracks, Hospital Records has managed to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of electronic music distribution. In 2023 the label announced their partnership with Believe UK to increase digital distribution of its extensive catalog to a global network of DSPs. Hospital Record’s artist roster spans multiple nationalities and supports the very best in a range of sub-genres of Drum and Bass music.