AVA Festival returns this weekend May 30th to 31st at Belfast’s iconic Titanic Slipways. Featuring a bustling lineup of local and international stars , and silhouetted by the famous City, the rolling canvas of Cave Hill and the stark yellow cranes of Harland and Wolff, all being a fitting backdrop, it’s an event that showcases Belfast at its best!
Here at ratemrave, we’ve picked a list of five acts to see at AVA 2025.
Overmono
The Welsh electronic duo of brothers Tom and Ed Russel, have gone on to become innovators in the UK dance scene. In 2024 and 2025, the pair have released several notable tracks, including “Gem Lingo (ovr now)” featuring Ruthven and a collaborative single with The Streets titled “Turn The Page,” both under XL Recordings. The remix “stayinit”, which was been a mammoth collaboration with the producer powerhouse that is Fred again… alongside global superstar Lil Yachty was released via Atlantic Records. These releases showcase their ability to blend genres, incorporating elements of UK garage, techno, and ambient soundscapes.
They have a huge tracklist, and their DJ sets usually match. With their dynamic energy, and genre-blending prowess really on show, it’s going to be a set crafted with diversity, so expect build-and-release tension, classic rave influence that is merged with contemporary electronic sounds.
DJ Fuckoff
Berlin-based, New Zealand-born DJ and producer DJ Fuckoff has fast become one of the most distinctive voices in the scene. In 2024, she dropped the *Want Me* EP and followed it up with the self-released project *\</3*, a raw and genre-bending release that also raised funds for humanitarian relief. Now in 2025, she’s gearing up to release her debut album *my pu\$\$y* on Method 808 – due February 14 – a record that’s already generating buzz for its no-filter style and full-throttle attitude. Her releases, out via Method 808 and Juicy Gang Records, blend ghetto-tech, electro, breakbeat and bass-heavy sounds with pure DIY flair.
She’s known for chaotic, high-energy sets that go from juke to gabber to trance in a heartbeat – and somehow it all just works. With huge tracklists, quick transitions and a completely unapologetic approach, her DJ sets are crafted with diversity and intensity. Expect big drops, rave nostalgia, and modern club chaos all rolled into one. She doesn’t just blur genre lines – she charges through them.
Crilli DnB
Belfast-based DJ and promoter Crilli DnB has been a driving force in Northern Ireland’s drum & bass scene since 2005. In 2024 and 2025, Crilli continued to shape the local DnB landscape by hosting events featuring artists like Kublai, Total Science, and DJ Storm. Notably, Crilli celebrated its 18th anniversary in February 2024 with a special event at the Ulster Sports Club, featuring Sully and Total Science, highlighting the collective’s commitment to showcasing both established and emerging talent.
Crilli’s DJ sets are renowned for their high energy and vigor. With a focus on 160bpm+ tempos, their performances often feature a mix of jungle, footwork, and breakbeat, reflecting the evolving tastes of the scene. This dynamic approach has solidified Crilli’s reputation, making each set a unique experience that merges tracks from the past and present.
Underworld
The legendary British electronic duo of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, have been shaping the sound of dance music since the early ’90s. Emerging from their earlier synth-pop project Freur, they reinvented themselves with the 1994 release of “Dubnobasswithmyheadman”, a record that fused techno, house, and ambient elements, marking a pivotal moment in electronic music. Their track “Born Slippy” became a cultural touchstone after featuring in Danny Boyle’s film Trainspotting, propelling them into the mainstream and solidifying their place in the annals of dance music history. In 2024, they returned with their 11th studio album, “Strawberry Hotel”, released on October 25 through Virgin Music and their own Smith Hyde Productions. The album oscillates between euphoric floor-fillers and introspective ambience, showcasing their continued evolution while nodding to their roots.
Their relationship with Belfast is long-standing, having performed an iconic set at the Titanic Slipways during the BBC’s Biggest Weekend in 2018, and they’re set to return to the same stage for AVA Festival 2025. Underworld live is a different kind of dancefloor experience; less about drops, more about deep immersion. Their sets unfold like long-form narratives, layering live vocals, hardware improvisation, and sweeping visuals into something that feels more like a ritual than a gig. Expect to be taken on a journey that spans decades of club culture, from early rave nostalgia to the cinematic textures of their newer work.
Kessler
Belfast-born, Rotterdam-based DJ and producer Kessler has been making significant strides in the electronic music scene. In 2024, he released the “Lunar” EP, a project that delves into intricate drum & bass, futuristic IDM, and synth-laden post-dubstep, showcasing his signature blend of anthemic melodies and meticulous breakbeat programming. This release, distributed by Clone Distribution, marks his first solo project in over a year and reflects his continued evolution in high-tempo, emotionally driven music. Additionally, Kessler co-founded Elicit Records in October 2023, further cementing his role in shaping the contemporary electronic landscape.
Kessler’s DJ sets are renowned for their frenzy, alongside bass heavy genre switching. Drawing from a diverse palette that includes breakbeat, techno, jungle, and bass, he crafts performances that are both unpredictable and exhilarating. His sets often feature rapid transitions and a fearless approach to mixing, reflecting his eclectic taste and deep understanding of the dancefloor. Notably, his Boiler Room debut at AVA Festival in Belfast was a homecoming that encapsulated his multifaceted style, weaving through breaks, acid, dubstep, and drum & bass, and earning acclaim for its genre-defying nature.
AVA is jam packed with talent, and exploratory sounds. It’s a jewel in Belfast’s crown, and is the festival not to miss on the Island in 2025. With other huge acts such as 999999999, Ewan McVicar, VTSS and X Club, and other emerging and local talent, 2025 is set to be a success and a weekend to remember.
For more info and final tickets click here.
Words: Neil Ritchie
ratemyrave 