Author: Malika Tomkiel
Up To Date Festival is an event that has been taking place in Białystok –the heart of north-eastern Poland– for 14 years. The festival has been known for its deep connection to the city, including tremendous support of local culture through numerous actions for the benefit of children, the elderly, and groups at risk of social exclusion. Previous editions of UTDF have taken place in different places in Białystok, each year gathering dozens of artists from the techno, bass, ambient, or experimental music scenes from all over the world. This year, however, the Up To Date Festival team have decided to introduce some significant changes. It started by going back to its origins and organising an outdoor edition, in a location unknown to the audience at the start of the event. We called it the Secret Location for the purpose of the festival. It’s a direct reference to the festival's roots –the rave culture of the 1990s. With the word 'roots' and the good of the environment in mind, it also turned to implementing new solutions in its organisation. All with the aim of minimising its negative impact on the planet and sparking a wider, industry-wide discussion.