Ukraine’s biggest music festival, ATLAS, is back for the first time since Russia’s invasion, renamed as ATLAS UNITED. The festival will return to its Kyiv location this July, featuring an entirely Ukrainian line-up.
Since its inception in 2015, ATLAS has hosted major international acts like The Prodigy, Kasabian, and The Chemical Brothers at its Expocenter of Ukraine location. The last ATLAS Festival, held in 2021, featured a line-up of local acts due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
ATLAS UNITED will take place from July 12-14 at the Blockbuster Mall in Kyiv. The line-up includes headliners BoomBox (Бумбокс), Artem Pyvovarov (Артем Пивоваров), and Bez Obmezhen (Без обмежень). There will also be an underground stand-up program featuring Ukrainian comedians.
Fans with tickets from previous years’ events, which were canceled due to the invasion, can use them for the 2024 edition. The festival has partnered with UNITED24, the government-run fundraising platform for the war effort. Fifteen percent of ticket sales will go towards a fund to provide drones to the armed forces for their defense of the Kharkiv region. The festival aims to raise 100 million hryvnia (€2.3 million).
ATLAS UNITED marks one of the first times major Ukrainian artists have been able to gather and perform since the invasion. Safety remains a concern, and the festival organizers have stated that they will have certified State Emergency Service of Ukraine coverage in case of air alarms.
Just two years after their Eurovision victory, Ukraine’s 2024 Eurovision entry alyona alyona & Jerry Heil finished third in Malmö, Sweden, with their song ‘Teresa & Maria.’ The song focused on unity and the power of symbols. Alyona alyona & Jerry Heil also worked with UNITED24 to create a fundraiser for the reconstruction of the Velykokostromska School in Dnipropetrovsk.
