LIMBO means our passions, our way of living as much as possible in harmony with nature and the Cosmo. It is also about our passion for music and the unconditional love for Tuscany, our roots and heritage.
Luca Bacchetti
Italian Tuscany, a jewel on the world stage. A natural paradise that spreads magic to all who visit it and home to LIMBO Festival, one of the most eclectic boutique concepts in Italy. From 7 to 9 July at Il Ciocco Estate in Garfagnana, the festival will once again unite a few lucky souls for a superior experience.
Since 2021, LIMBO Festival combines the essence of multiple worlds with journeys full of music, nature, outdoor activities and gastronomy in the mountains of Barga (Lucca). The 2023 edition will take place under the mantra of ‘A Human Future’, with the premise of finding the balance between technology and humanism, the latter being at the core of everything.
The added value of this third anniversary will be something to look forward to as communities such as SACBE CAMP, guide attendees on a transformative trip between yoga and meditation. All of it, culminating in ‘The Cacao Ceremony’, an indigenous ritual from Central America. On the musical side, this year’s LIMBO line-up shines with artists such as Gerd Janson, Crussen and Gold Panda, experts in creating atmospheres and transporting listeners to other places.
All of the above is just a preview of what awaits at LIMBO Festival 2023. Are you ready to delve deeper? Founder Luca Bacchetti tells us the secrets.
What was the defining moment or experience that inspired the creation of LIMBO Festival?
LIMBO Festival started almost as a game in the summer 2021, when the strict rules imposed by the Italian government did not allow us to hold events.
I was forced to cancel some of my gigs abroad, so I proposed to my partner Alessandro Stefani to make something special for us. After 2 years of pandemic mood we all felt the desire to share something beautiful! We planned a dinner cooked by a chef, served on a 1000 mt high parterre, with ambient music as a soundtrack. It was supposed to be a gathering for a bunch of friends. But the magic we felt all around, prompted us to think bigger. So the idea of a festival with a special dinner was born.
Beyond being a music festival, LIMBO offers a 360° experience. What would you say are the three fundamental pillars of your identity and how are they manifested?
LIMBO means our passions, our way of living as much as possible in harmony with nature and the Cosmo. It is a moment of sharing in which come together in a single image, in a sensation. LIMBO has to do with well-being, pleasure, poetry, respect; the opportunity to disconnect and have yourself back. LIMBO is also about our passion for music and the unconditional love for Tuscany, our roots and heritage.
If shared, experiences and beautiful moments are worth more!
As you enter your third edition, you could say that you are already a reference in the area. What have you learned from previous editions and how has it influenced your philosophy?
LIMBO is constantly evolving. Striving for beauty has always been our drive; then you get good rewards from the insights you have had, or you get the chance to learn for your mistakes. We don’t look at this as a competition for the most beautiful festival, or as an inner struggle. We like to think ourselves as part of something bigger, speaking in terms of certain needs of the human being.
LIMBO is local and global at the same time, with a huge diversity of cultures reflected in the festival through different actions. How do you integrate the values of Tuscany into the festival? And on the other hand, how do you connect with the cultural backgrounds from around the globe?
One nation under a groove
As a DJ I’ve been traveling the world for 20 years, wondering about a mine festival in my own beautiful country. When I had the chance to, I started to work on that – the idea to bring to bring people in Tuscany and show all our specialties, from music to food! As Italians, we are aware of what make our country so beautiful and unique. We really want to share these treasures with friends from all over the world. To be curious, welcoming, creative and a little bit crazy is part of our DNA. It’s the Italian way of living.
Maybe this is the reason why LIMBO is very attentive and sensitive to people. The festival promotes inclusion and exchange. ‘One nation under a groove’ is a mantra. We have an international line up of DJs and artists. This year Gold Panda or Gerd Janson will be in charge of activating the dancefloor.
How do you reflect your “A Human Future” concept in the line up?
LIMBO is a moment of sharing in which every element comes together in a single image, in a sensation. It’s like a puzzle, the whole is the meaning.
In LIMBO you integrate original initiatives with partners such as Sacbe Camp. What added value do you think these partnerships can bring? How do you choose the projects that you invite to the festival?
I’ve been knowing Maria Sánchez (Sacbe founder) for a while. Together we joined a lot of beautiful experiences, like some events in the mexican jungle. There I had my very first time with the Cacao Ceremony, it was in Black Rock City in 2018. So I asked her: why don’t you come to LIMBO?!
Technology and AI are spreading rapidly and challenging the notion of “a human future.” What are your thoughts on this evolving field? Will we see these tools implemented in festivals?
Humanism is the cultural basis that every entrepreneur, developer, start-upper should have – especially in a world deeply influenced by technologies, for better or for worse. The need to work out on a new order is emerging but, at the same time and above all, this order has to be both spiritual and cultural.
Both a new humanism and a renewed cultural commitment and planning can come from a new perspective on the society. This is the reason why the main theme of the next edition of LIMBO is A Human Future. A future in which humanity with its primordial algorithms – intuition, desire, courage and love – will be a central place.
LIMBO Festival has probably left lasting memories and transformed the perspectives of many visitors. Share your best memories from the past editions!
That look in the eyes, the atmosphere all around .. I mean, it’s difficult to put down in words but it’s a beautiful sensation.
