If you’re only currently traveling in your dreams, one wonderful way to indulge your wanderlust for beautiful places is to catch a livestream of a DJ or band performing from an idyllic outdoor location somewhere in the world. This type of event is not brand new, but is more popular and satisfying to watch than ever as most of us stay grounded. DJs and musicians have used the livestream medium to stay connected with their fans and earn new ones along the way. Those who have gotten the opportunity to perform on location over the past year have brought viewers along for the ride, offering vicarious thrills without a passport or the need for shoes (let alone taking them off at the airport), and that’s a huge gift in itself.
Until VR livestreams allow for frolicking to the beat in each given landscape, we have soaring drone cameras and other cinematographic feats to transport and set us aloft. Start your musical journeying with some of our recent favorite live streamed performances that are archived for free on YouTube and you may well end up with some new travel goals for the future.
Giolì & Assia at Punta Bianca in Agrigento, Italy
A wonderfully shot electro-pop treat from an ancient city on the Sicilian coast. Italian duo Giolì & Assia’s performance is an astute blend of singing, piano, percussion and DJing that will have you connecting with the soul of the area immediately.
Disclosure at Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia
As Disclosure, brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence are dance music hitmakers from England with a knack for making memorable tracks, many done in collaboration with singers (standouts include Sam Smith, Mary J. Blige and Kelis). Their infectious melodies and energetic beats pair beautifully with the majesty of the light turquoise waters of the 16 lakes and 90 waterfalls inside Plitvice Lakes National Park, which you get to fly through on the wings of drones.
Kampire and Decay at Nyege Nyege in Kampala, Uganda
The opening set from the most recent installment of the annual Nyege Nyege Festival shines a light on talented women DJs Kampire and Decay from Uganda, who play a blend of African, American and European music as revelers boat in and dance with them in the middle of the water. The video captures the joy of the moment and reminds of a universal groove.
Ben Böhmer live above Cappadocia, Turkey
German techno producer Ben Böhmer enjoyed the performance of a lifetime when he got to play a live set from a hot air balloon while flying over wondrous rock formations in Cappadocia, Turkey, which is one of the world’s prime places to float. You’ll enjoy his buoyant beats once you get over the feeling that he might fall out because his music gear is right on the edge of the balloon’s basket.
ZHU at Hakuba Iwatake in Nagano, Japan
Nagano, Japan’s Hakuba Iwatake mountain resort looks like a great place for a party. This set from California producer ZHU was filmed before gathering in sweaty, moving masses started to be discouraged and then outlawed, but sure captures the feeling of communal fun, which you’ll feel even more if you connect YouTube to a large screen and dance along.
Folamour at Polaris Festival in Verbier, Switzerland
Cozy up with a hot chocolate bomb and your bunny slippers and shimmy your shoulders to French house and disco DJ Folamour (whose given name is Bruno Boumendil), who dons his Run-DMC-tributing Adidas track suit best for a funky après ski set at Polaris Festival in the Swiss alpine village of Verbier.
Nora En Pure Presents Purified 200 in Gstaad, Switzerland
What about when it’s not snowing in Switzerland? To mark the 200th episode of her Purified Radio Show, deep house DJ Nora En Pure shows us what the ski resort mecca of Gstaad looks like in the “off” season—and it looks like a fun place to explore. Her uplifting two and a half hour set starts in daylight and ends up as a beacon in the darkness.
Nicola Cruz at Iguazú Falls in Argentina
Hope you like seeing endless rainbows and waterfalls! The 275 cascades that make up Iguazú Falls in Argentina make Niagara Falls seem quaint. Ecuadorian producer Nicola Cruz’s quirky electronics pair perfectly with the views of subtropical rainforest and crashing splashes. If this wasn’t already on your bucket list before, you may just not have known about it.
RÜFÜS DU SOL Live from Joshua Tree, California
Joshua Tree National Park in the storied Southern California desert, which has been inspiring and captivating musicians for eons, lends a spiritual air to this live performance film from Sydney’s RÜFÜS DU SOL. It’s a small band of just three members, but their sound is big enough to match its grand environs.
Sébastien Léger at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
While not quite as old-school at the Great Pyramids of Giza, French producer Sébastien Léger is using some charming retro modular synthesizer gear for his captivating live performance in Egypt. He’s playing in a setting that is as jaw-droppingly gorgeous as it is intimidating, but Léger rises to the challenge.
