Sunny Hill Festival
2018 Sunny Hill Festival
GenrePerforming arts festival
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s) Pristina and Tirana
Years active5 years
Inaugurated10 August 2018 (2018-08-10)
FounderDukagjin and Dua Lipa
Most recent 4 August – 7 August 2022
26 August – 28 August 2022
Next event 25 – 28 July 2024
August 2024
Organised bySunny Hill Foundation[citation needed]
Websitesunnyhillfestival.com

The Sunny Hill Festival is an annual international music festival in Pristina, Kosovo, organised by Dua Lipa and her father Dukagjin Lipa. Though intended to take place annually since 2018, the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Editions

2018

The first edition of the festival took place on 10 to 12 August 2018 at the Germia Park, near Pristina in Kosovo. According to the organizers, more than 18,000 people attended the festival. However, the New York Times reported that the venue's capacity of 15,000 seats had not been filled. The cost of the tickets was $55, which was criticized by many due to the high unemployment rate, especially among young people.[1] The festival was organized by the singer Dua Lipa together with her father to raise money for the Sunny Hill Foundation.[2]

Dua Lipa was the headliner and her father also performed with his band, ODA and belonged to another line-up alongside many artists from Kosovo and Albania, among other Action Bronson and Martin Garrix.[3] Bronson, who is a supporter of the legalization of cannabis, was arrested by the Kosovar police after his performance at the festival for smoking a joint on stage and sharing it with the audience.[4]

2019

The second edition of the Sunny Hill Festival took place on 2, 3 and 4 August 2019 at the Gërmia Park in Pristina.[5] The festival featured performances by international acts, including Calvin Harris, Gashi, Klangkarussell and Miley Cyrus as well as Dua Lipa,[6] in addition to several musicians of Albanian origin, namely Buta, Elvana Gjata, Ilira, Kejsi Tola, Kida, Ledri Vula, Lyrical Son, MC Kresha, Njomza and Yll Limani who performed as well.[7]

2020-2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival did not take place in 2020 and 2021.

2022

In July 2021, Dua Lipa announced that a third edition of the Sunny Hill Festival has been scheduled to take place in 2022 in Pristina on 4–7 August.[8][9] On 14 June 2022, Sunny Hill Festival through a post on the official Twitter account confirmed that the festival has moved from Pristina to Tirana due to delays from authorities in providing the needed licenses for the location.[10] Six days later, Sunny Hill Festival again through a post on the official Twitter account confirmed that the festival returns to Pristina and will be held from 4 to 7 August, while the edition in Tirana will be held from 26 to 28 August.[11]

References

  1. ^ Marshall, Alex (2018-08-17). "Can a Music Festival Make Kosovo Cool?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  2. ^ "How Dua Lipa went from aspiring singer to one of today's top global female pop stars". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2018-10-11. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  3. ^ "Dua Lipa's father stages music festival for 'peace-loving' Kosovo". the Guardian. 2018-08-05. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  4. ^ "Action Bronson Arrested For Smoking Weed Onstage in Kosovo". hightimes.com. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  5. ^ "'Sunny Hill Festival 2019' mbahet më 2, 3 dhe 4 gusht 2019". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Dua Lipa announces Sunnyhill headliners". Prishtina Insight. 1 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Line – Up 2019". Sunny Hill Festival. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. ^ "'Sunny Hill Festival' për 2022-n në Prishtinë, paralajmëron befasi". Koha (in Albanian). 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Sunny Hill, pushimet dhe klipi i mundshëm në Shqipëri – komenti i Dua Lipës". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  10. ^ Sunny Hill Festival [@sunnyhill2022] (June 14, 2022). "Same dates, same beautiful experience, different location! This August (due to delays from authorities in providing the needed licenses for the location), we are obliged to move to Tirana. (1/3)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Sunny Hill Festival [@sunnyhill2022] (June 20, 2022). "WE ARE BACK ❤️ | For more information please check the link below: bit.ly/3tNnDAt" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

Dua Lipa
Albanian music
Categories