- Music
- 28 Apr 25
Ahead of his Longitude and Belsonic sets this summer, Black Traffic shares his festival memories...
Black Traffic
I played my first festivals last year, and was lucky enough to do Electric Picnic. It changed my career, especially in Ireland. I still get chills thinking about it. They put me on the Terminus stage. My close friends and family, especially my Ma, were there supporting me. It was a magical day.
My DJ friends and I like to say, ‘once you get that first mix and transition down, everything else falls into place’. Then you can relax and enjoy the ride.
It makes me really emotional thinking about it, because getting to play EP did so much for my confidence as an artist and performer.

Black Traffic at Electric Picnic 2024. Copyright Maya Solanki.
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I remember the first Longitude I went to so well. It was 2016 and Kendrick Lamar and Nina Kraviz were headliners, with Tyler, The Creator and Action Bronson also playing. Any Irish person, from my generation, will likely have memories of Longitude. It’s a core one for me. So getting to play there this year is a real pinch me moment. Longitude and Belsonic are iconic festivals. I’m really excited to be playing them.
Black Traffic plays Longitude and Belsonic this summer.
Read the full Festival Special in the current issue of Hot Press: