Gallery: Sublimation Fest 2024

We had a fantastic time hosting the Refuge Worldwide stage at Sublimation Fest 2024 back in September.

The first festival of its kind to take place in Uzbekistan, Sublimation went down with three days of performances, talks and workshops in the capital city of Tashkent. Revitalising the abandoned Culture Palace of Aircraft Builders as a venue, the 5,000-capacity festival featured performances from The National Orchestra of Uzbekistan, Nazira and Samantha Togni.

You can now listen back to sets from the Refuge Worldwide takeover with Milktea, No Plastic, Arnav and local selector Densk, and check out some photos from our trip below. Words come from festival co-founders Madina Ishmuradova and Sabina Inoyatova.

Have you received a lot of feedback from the festival's audience? How do you think the event was received?

Yes, we received a great deal of feedback, and we’ve been really touched by how positive it was. Many attendees expressed their excitement not just about the music but about the workshops and the overall inclusive atmosphere of the festival. The audience seemed to appreciate the opportunity to engage with both local and international talent, and the event was well received in terms of both its organization and its cultural impact. The energy was electric, and the enthusiasm people showed confirmed for us that Sublimation Fest made a lasting impression.

What are your plans for future editions of Sublimation in Tashkent?

Looking ahead, we plan to grow Sublimation Fest, both in terms of scale and impact. We want to offer more workshops and opportunities for young artists, with a broader range of creative and cultural exchanges. Expanding the festival to include even more diverse talents from across the region and beyond is also a priority. We hope to secure a larger venue and extend the festival’s duration, giving more people the chance to experience it. Most importantly, we remain committed to promoting inclusivity and empowering emerging artists, ensuring that the festival continues to serve as a vital platform for creativity and expression in Uzbekistan.

With hindsight, which aspects of the festival are you most proud of?

We are incredibly proud of how Sublimation Fest became a genuine platform for both local and international artists to connect and grow. The masterclasses and workshops, particularly those led by Samantha Togni and other key figures, were invaluable in nurturing young talent. It was also heartening to see how well the message of inclusivity resonated with everyone involved, especially through initiatives like our collaboration with Qizlar, which challenged stereotypes around female DJs. Beyond that, we are proud of the sense of community and collaboration that the festival fostered, creating a space for artistic exchange that hadn’t existed before in Uzbekistan at this level.

Photo credits: Amir Melikov and Feruz Rustamov.