Filter27's Summer 2007 festival picks (Part 1)

It is summer in Western hemisphere. While in Berlin, Rome and Paris temperatures are already behind the scope, production teams around the globe are already working on line-ups and stages for this year's summer festival madness.

Filter27 has put together a list of festivals and outdoor events that are sure to rock your summer. It the first part we will give you our top picks for Germany, The Netherlands and Ukraine. Stay tuned for Part 2 when we will take you to Spain, Belgium, Russia, Hungary, Finland and Czech Republic.

Germany

In the middle of nowhere. That's where you can find SonneMondSterne. Within a short time this open air event became an institution; also due to its extraordinary location close to nature and lake Bleilochtalsperre. As always the SMS weekender takes place in August. This time from 10th-12th.

Confirmed acts so far are The Chemical Brothers (live), Laurent Garnier (live), Paul van Dyk, Sven Väth, Ricardo Villalobos, Ellen Allien, James Holden, Ame, Tiefschwarz, Wighnomy Brothers, Der Dritte Raum and many more.

The venue is an old coal pit and the stages are framed by iron monsters - that is Ferropolis - the home of the Melt! open air. This annual cross-over festival takes place about an hour drive south of Berlin and this year's installment will bring both electronic music and indie rock/pop together on July 13th-15th.

Confirmed acts so far are Minu's very own Richie Hawtin, Get Physical Music duo Booka Shade, Kelis, UNKLE, Tiefschwarz, Tiga, Polarkreis 18, Kompakt's Michael Mayer, DJ Hell and many more.

First there was the chicken. Or the egg? Or Voov Experience? Well... this goa trance festival in northern Germany has ever been a magner for party-goers. The secret incredient: underground acts and DJs from all over the world who perform their magic while being framed by fire-breathers, spaced-out visuals and psychedelic welfare.

While changing its name, from Voov to Vuuv, 2007 sees another installment of this 3 day and 3 night marathon (taking place on August 3rd-5th) of trance music.

Who hasn't ever dreamed of dancing between Soviet military relics? Honestly, not that many people. Long ago the old venue of Fusion used to be a Soviet military airport. The rocket will be launching again daily from June 28th to July 1st south of lake Müritz.

So far the following acts have been confirmed: Alec Empire, Masala Soundsystem, Urlaub in Polen, Zucker & Zimt, Dirt Crew, Extrawelt, Jackmate, Mark Houle, Ost + Kjex, Vibrasphere, Krause Duo + Tiny, Magda, the minimal techno duo Pan-Pot and many more.

Also South Germany has a remarkable festival to offer: Shining. Taking place next to lake Chiemsee on June 22nd & 23rd, Shining festival will feature lots of techno as well as house acts.

Confirmed DJs and performers so far are Groove Armada, Anthony Rother, Wighnomy Brothers, Troy Pierce, Digitalism, George Morel, Jeff Mills, Karotte, Monika Kruse, Onur Özer, Richard Bartz, Âme, Richard Dorfmeister, Tiefschwarz and Zombie Nation.

Nature One is definitely one of the biggest festivals in the entire Europe. The old American missile base Pydna was once a place of war and now, years after, it is a place of multi-national peace.

From August 3rd-5th you can expect to see live appearances of Gus Gus, Guy Gerber, T.Raumschmiere, Pascal FEOS and many many others. As far as DJs, Carl Cox, Paul van Dyk, Chris Liebing, Miss Djax, Boris Dlugosch and many more are on the bill for this year's event.

Not really a festival in the meaning of open air, but more a festival in the meaning of urban clubbing, that is Popkomm. Always happening in September, this year from 19th-21st, Popkomm is Germany's number one music trade show framed by multiple club events and parties.

Further information such as the official line-up, dates and set times will be announced in the next coming months.

The Netherlands

The Enormous line-up of the Dutch heavy weight Dance Valley will rock crowds yet another time. Despite its past years 2007 will see a one-day festival "only". On July 14th not less than 14 stages and large areas will be offering quality music.

Confirmed performers and DJs so far are Carl Cox, Marco V, Ferry Corsten, DJ Rush, H-Man, Dominik Eulberg, Agoria (live), Gabriel Ananda (live) and many more.

Just a week after Dance Valley on July 21st Extrema Outdoor, one of the biggest and most popular summer festivals for many years, will be the biggest bash around.

This year's installment will feature artists such as Jeff Mills, John Digweed, Danny Howells, James Holden, Thomas Schumacher, Elektrochemie LK (live), Junkie XL (live), Booka Shade (live), Adam Beyer and countless others.

Ukraine

Usually it's about the Western hemisphere advancing its influence to the East. KaZantip is the other way around, it's the Eastern hemisphere taking influence on the West, as legions of festival lovers will make their way to Ukraine.

KaZantip is an fictive country and only its Foregin Secretary may give information about plans, schedule and line-up. The festival takes place in Popovka, which is 80 km to the west from Simferopol in the Crimea at the black sea. Having sex is an obligation and sleeping in a tent under star-spangled sky is a must from July 28th to August 26th.

Related: Filter27's Summer 2007 festival picks (Part 2)