Playtime Festival

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Playtime Music Festival
Playtime Festival 2024 Full Picture.jpg
Playtime Festival 2024 in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar
Genrerock, pop, indie, hip-hop, metal, electronic music
Location(s)Playtime Field, Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar
Coordinates47°42'14.5"N 107°25'02.5"E
Country Mongolia
Years active2002–present
FounderNatsagdorj "George" Tserendorj
Next eventJuly 3–6, 2025
Attendance71,000
Capacity30,000
Organised by1737 Entertainment
Website https://playtimefestival.com/

Playtime Music Festival (commonly referred to as Playtime Festival) is an annual music festival held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The festival was founded by Natsagdorj "George" Tserendorj in 2002. He continues to serve as the festival's head programmer, playing a crucial role in its development and success. [1] [2] As of 2024, Playtime Festival is the largest and longest-running annual music festival in Mongolia. [3] Playtime Festival 2025 will be held from July 3rd to 6th at Playtime Field in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar.

Contents

Traditionally taking place in early July, the weekend before Naadam, the festival features a diverse lineup of local and international acts, featuring genres such as rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, metal and electronic music. [3] [4] In 2024, the festival was held from July 4th to 7th at the newly established Playtime Field in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar. This venue is approximately 50 kilometers from the city center, accommodates up to 30,000 attendees daily and emphasizes sustainability with eco-friendly initiatives. [5] [6]

The festival has played a crucial role in the growth and development of the Mongolian music scene and the creative cultural industry. It has had a profound impact on Mongolian society, particularly among modern youth, fostering friendships and nurturing curiosity through live music experiences. [3]

History

2002 - 2008: Beginnings

Playtime Festival 2007, UB Palace, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Playtime Festival 2007.jpg
Playtime Festival 2007, UB Palace, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The festival began as a one-day event at UB Palace concert venue in the center of Ulaanbatar. The lineup featured Mongolia's emerging wave of rock, metal, and indie acts from the late 1990s and early 2000s, including notable bands such as Nisvanis, Night Train, The Lemons, A-Sound, Mohanik, and Starfish. [7]

2008 - 2019: Outdoor festival

In 2008, the festival transitioned to an outdoor format for the first time, held in the Zaisan, Khanbogd area, and expanded to a two-day event. This marked the beginning of its camping-style format.

From 2009 onwards, Playtime Festival was hosted at Mongol Shiltgeen in Gachuurt Village, on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. In 2014, the festival introduced a new electronic music stage named "Naaglihats" (derived from the Mongolian word for electricity, "tsahilgaan," spelled backwards), providing a platform for DJs and expanding its musical offerings. [8] By 2016, the festival had grown to three days and included five stages. [4]

Playtime Festival 2023 at Gachuurt Village, Ulaanbaatar Playtime Festival 2023, Gachuurt Village.jpg
Playtime Festival 2023 at Gachuurt Village, Ulaanbaatar

In the subsequent years, Playtime Festival broadened its scope to encompass arts and cultural programs alongside eco-friendly sustainability initiatives. [9] The 2020 and 2021 editions were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were both live broadcast on IPTV in Mongolia with the title "Playtime Virtual 2020" and "Playtime Virtual 2021 2.0" [10]

2022: 20th Anniversary

The 2022 festival marked its 20th anniversary, celebrated with a grand four-day event from July 7 to 10. [6] As highlighted by founder Natsagdorj Tserendorj in the Playtime 20th Anniversary photobook, "Mongolia's first and largest international music festival, Playtime, has reached a significant milestone as it celebrates its 20-year anniversary." The celebration featured over 2,500 individuals working behind the scenes and on stage, with more than 150 bands and singers performing across 15 stages, making it the most widely attended festival to date. Mongolian fashion brand Michel & Amazonka collaborated with Playtime Festival to present their creative fashion collection in celebration of its 20th anniversary. [11]

In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Playtime Festival, a documentary film titled "TIME TO PLAY" was released on July 5, 2022. [12] The documentary looks back on the formulation and history of Playtime Festival, and the lasting impact it has had in the contemporary music, arts and cultural scene of Mongolia. The founder and programmer Natsagdorj "George" Tserendorj, as well as other influential figures who worked behind the scene of the festival share their stories. [9] Mongolian publishing house BROSCODE published the first print media photobook of Playtime Festival in May, 2023. The photo book is a visual collection of the festival's 20-year history. [13]

2024 - Present: New era of the festival

Night view of the festival entrance, Playtime Field, Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar. Playtime Festival 2024 held at Playtime Field.jpg
Night view of the festival entrance, Playtime Field, Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar.

In 2024, Playtime Festival relocated to a new venue named Playtime Field, situated in the Nalaikh area of Ulaanbaatar, approximately 50 kilometers from the city center. [14] [5] The new venue has a daily capacity of 30,000 people and represents a significant step in the festival's commitment to sustainability, featuring a botanical garden, self-sustainable clean energy solutions, and an eco-friendly camping site. This year, 50 international artists from 21 countries were announced to perform at the festival. [15] [16] [17] The new field is circular shaped resembling the traditional Mongolian dwelling "ger" shape.

Stages

Currently, Playtime Festival has 7 stages each representing a unique range of genres.

NoStage NameGenres
1Main StageAll genres,Rock, Indie, Hip-Hop, Reggae, Electronic
2NaaglihatsElectronic, Techno
3BUNKRRock, Post Rock, Punk, Indie
4FireHardcore Electronic
5GroveElectronic, House
6WaldoWorld Music, Acoustic
7La Vie en RoseJazz, Acoustic

Lineup

Playtime Festival began hosting international headliner artist from 2013 onwards. Previous lineup consisted of local famous musical acts of Mongolia.

EditionYearArtist HeadlinersDJ HeadlinersDatesLocation
12th2013 MONO · Nisvanis · The Lemons · A-Sound · Bolor HamtlagJuly 27–28 Hotel Mongolia, Gachuurt
13th2014 Peter Hook & The Light · Мумий Тролль · Khonkh Hamtlag · envy Leather Nation · Big Up! · Discotheque · Metallium · Smooth OperatorJuly 19–20
14th2015 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart · Niciton · Nine TreasuresBodikhuu · eamar · Enkoolion · Tuvshin · BTRJune 27–28
15th2016 The Radio Dept · Roth Bart Baron · Ayasin Salhi · The YouTMK · Mara · Bodikhuu · Baatar · Bud ·June 24–26
16th2017The fin · Haranga · Magnolian · One Sentence Supervisor · Daisy & Gang · The Jazz TrainSinkichi · Bilguudei · TMK · Deez · Demi Moors · Mara · HenzaJuly 7–9
17th2018 Ariel Pink · The Colors · Khuh Tenger · Surug Huch · Lite Albert Van Abbe · Claudio PRS · Leather NationJuly 6–8
18th2019 Yo La Tengo · Sunset Rollercoaster · The Wedding Present · TITEM · Ice Top · Ginjin · LEO37 +SOSS [18] ONRA · Tolouse Low Trax · Blazej Malinowski · Cybersnack · TMKJuly 5–7
-2020Scheduled date: July 3-5, 2020 [19] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [20]
-2021Scheduled date: July 16-18, 2021 [21] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [21]
19th2022 Alcest · MONO · Motorama · Altan Urag · Sarantuya · Soyol Erdene 50 · Vanquish · Bulsara · Hurd I Hate Models · Lokier · Bodikhuu · Giin · Bilguudei · Damie · Anetha · Marcus L · BorisJuly 7–10
20th2023 Cigarettes After Sex · Carsick Cars · Shortparis · Delkhii · Motorama [22] Marcel Dettmann · Rikhter · Ogazón · Gerlee Merlee · MaraJuly 6–8
21st2024 Teenage Fanclub · Deafheaven · OSEES · Elephant Gym · Night Train · IDIOTAPE · Teresa in the Moon · Ineemseglel · toe · mitsume [23] [24] Ben Klock · Aisha Devi · Alex Kassian · Lindstrøm · Spaniol · Lipelis · MCMLXXXV · cem · Dasha Rush · ONRAJuly 4–7Playtime Field, Nalaikh
22nd2025To be announced in Feb, 2025July 3–6

Notes:

See also

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