Recommendations of the Editorial team
The European festival wave rolls. All sorts of size formats are played every weekend to the end of August. From “Mega” such as Glastonbury, Sziget or Tomorrowland to “Grassroots” in manageable dimensions without superstars. After there have been various departures of well-known events in the past two years, such as the Melt Festival, the international scene seems to have been overwhelming despite the enormous cost increases.
If you want to try out new goals in this mixture and even connect them with a vacation towards Adria, you will receive a recommendation for spontaneous spirits:
In the middle of a forested landscape zone on the banks of the Mrežnica river, the Bear Stone Festival 2025 will increase near the Croatian small town of Slunj. In contrast to the usual techno and rave events, which are celebrated with Ballermann character in the country’s coastal towns, the Bear Stone not only offers an alternative musically.
An undogmatic mix of psychedelic, desert and stoner rock
Festival founder Milan Lalic curates an undogmatic mix of psychedelic, desert and stoner rock. All of this in an imposing nature environment.
“We rely on various subgenres and the beauty of our location. Although it would be difficult to manage this concept only with a Croatian audience. We have managed to position ourselves as an international festival since the start. Last year, around 50 percent of visitors from abroad and this year there are already 70, including 35 countries, including Australia, South Africa, the USA and Brazil,” says Lalic in Interview. Relax, bathing and listen to music without mass alarm. Eco-management is very important.
The first edition 2022 was still running as a “free concert” with regional orientation. After that, the Bear Stone quickly became an insider tip. International bands such as High on Fire, Monster Magnet, Orange Goblin, Color Haze, including Kadavar from Berlin, met her colleagues from Southeast Europe.
“Get experience of a festival without a cell phone signal”
Lalic and his team deliberately do without quick growth, the current capacity is 2,500 fans. “Our visitors can wake up in one of our camps on the river bank, swim in the emerald green river, experience over 40 bands on three stages without overlap. Thanks to our location in a gorge, you can have the experience of a festival without a cell phone signal,” he reports.
The area can be reached in 15 minutes from the cities of Slunj and Ogulin, 45 minutes from the famous Plitvice Lakes, one hour from the capital Zagreb and an hour and a half from the Adriatic coast.
The third official Bear Stone edition announces 40 bands on three stages. Including the Swedish psych-rockers from Graveyard, a Place to Bury Strangers from New York, the Doom Stoner Monolord, the US trio King Buffalo, the Norwegian legend Motor Psycho and the desert experts from the Brant Bjork Trio. “We are very proud that we are the only festival site in the region to successfully offer events with high environmental awareness. We plan to put this yardstick even higher in the future.
All information at: Bearstonefestival.com