To address growing concerns of locals, the Goa Tourism Department has decided not to allow permission for the ‘Sunburn Music Festival’ to be held on December 31. However, provisional approval has been granted for a truncated three-day event, beginning December 28 to 30. The Tourism Department’s Empower Committee, led by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, has further imposed restrictions on music to be played only until 10 pm on all three days.

The festival will be held from 4 pm until 10 pm December 28, 29 and 30. The decision was taken after the Empower Committee held discussions with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who asserted that if the locals are opposing late night hours for the festival on December 31, then it will not proceed. BJP MLA Delilah Lobo from Siolim constituency conveyed the message of locals to CM Sawant, highlighting potential disruptions to local businesses and traffic jams during midnight mass.

“We have given provisional approval to organise Sunburn from December 28 to 30. They should stop taking us for granted. They should not expect that we will dance to their tunes,” Khaunte was quoted as saying by IANS.

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Despite the organisers’ initial request for permission to host the festival from 4 pm until midnight, the Empower Committee granted approval for the event to conclude at 10 p.m. The tourism minister highlighted that the committee will not tolerate assumptions that the festival organisers can dictate terms and said that Sunburn will only be held for three days.

The Sunburn Music Festival in Goa is one of Asia’s biggest electronic dance music festival, and organisers Percept Limited revealed the complete line-up for the 17th edition scheduled, which will be held at Vagator in North Goa.

Legendary Dutch future techno artist Hardwell, veteran Swedish progressive house DJ Alesso, superstar Australian house DJ Timmy Trumpet and DJ Mag voted world’s #1 Belgian techno artist Charlotte De Witte are the four mainstage headliners confirmed to play at this year’s festival.

Spanning across a multitude of dance music genres such as Drum n Bass, Trap, House, Electronic, Trance, Hardstyle and Techno, the 2023 billing also includes names such as Bassjackers, Korolova, Indo Warehouse, John Newman, Sander van Doorn, Vonai, Glowal and Kas:st.

Homegrown artists on the line-up include Teri Miko, Siana Catherine, Sartek, Pro Bros, Candice Redding, Ravetek, Bashunk, amongst others.