Jenny Hval, as always, was a master of presence and vulnerability. There was a brief technical hiccup at the start, but once resolved, her voice soared: crystalline, commanding, and deeply human. She reminded everyone why she remains one of the most singular storytellers in avant-pop.

Titanic’s set was unexpectedly uplifting. Intense without being overwhelming, melodic without losing its edge, it carried a sense of clarity and emotion. Fratti’s vocals guided everything forward with precision, turning what could have been an abstract experiment into something that hit straight in the chest. Talking about dreams and emotions, Annahstasia and Malibu were also both absolutely spellbinding.

Isabella Lovestory, probably the poppiest act of the lineup, brought a burst of neon energy. A glitter-streaked continuation of Brat that mixed rave-pop with Latin flair. It was playful, powerful, and completely irresistible. She turned the room into a dance floor, and when Mechatok followed, he twisted that energy into something hazier and harder, yet still threaded with pop echoes. Beneath the pounding beats, you could catch glimmers of Britney and Daft Punk. It was probably the part where we danced the most.

Later during the festival, ECCO2K appeared like a hologram, a faint outline slowly becoming real. The crowd could barely tell when the show began; it felt as if he had always been there, floating between sound and silence. His music, a blend of vaporous vocals and shimmering electronics, seemed to defy gravity. Every pause was electric, every drop a release.

One of the acts we were most excited to see, Nourished By Time, brought everyone right back to Earth. His mix of R&B, post-punk, and synth-pop pulsed with warmth and honesty. Most of the set came from his new album The Passionate Ones, full of songs about love, class, and survival, all wrapped in groove and melancholy. He also played the excellent “Daddy” and “The Fields” from Erotic Probiotic 2. When a sound issue briefly interrupted his set, he handled it with humor and ease, connecting even more with the crowd. At one point, a fan threw a jacket onstage, he laughed, tried it on, and tossed it back.

Another highlight came from Smerz, who performed Big City Life in full. They transformed its fragile beats and whispered vocals into something grand and cinematic. Onstage, they built their own world: minimal lighting, elegant silhouettes, and rhythms that never lost focus. Their harmonies were cold and soft at once, their confidence absolute. Smerz’s music has always lived somewhere between pop and art, but live, it becomes emotional architecture: every sound and movement deliberate, every glance choreographed. It was the most polished moment of the weekend, and a perfect closer.

C2C Festival’s lineup is always impressive, but this year the bar was higher than ever. Across four nights, it offered a rare balance between experimentation and emotion, noise and nuance. The surprise acts at the end of each night — Kode9, Nicolas Jaar, and others — were just the cherry on top.

Here are our top 10 photos from the festival, in no particular order.

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Une publication partagée par Highclouds (@highcloudsmag)

C2C Festival will be back in Turin in 2026, from Thursday the 5th November to Sunday the 8th November.

This is hands down one of the best music events in Europe. Why? Because for over two decades, C2C has been curating lineups that reads like a map of where music is going next. Before they became household names, artists like James Blake, Arca, and Blood Orange played early sets here. It’s the kind of festival that rewards curiosity and discovery and where the artist you’ve never heard of might end up blowing your mind.

In 2025, C2C Festival is already shaping up to be another unforgettable edition.

This year, as usual, fans of avant-pop, electronic and experimental music will be pleased once again. A. G. Cook returns with his hyper-pop wizardry, while Four Tet and Skee Mask bring their genre-blurring, shape-shifting club genius to the stage. Nicolas Jaar teams up with Ali Sethi for what’s bound to be a haunting, beautiful collision of sound and tradition. And yes, Blood Orange — one of the festival’s breakout alumni — is back, full circle.

The rest of the lineup is no less thrilling: experimental mainstays like John Maus, Jenny Hval, and DJrum; rising voices like Saya Gray, Nourished By Time, and Florence Sinclair; the theatrical intensity of Model/Actriz; and the lush ambient electronics of French producer Malibu.

You’ll also catch Isabella Lovestory’s explosive energy, Daniel Blumberg’s raw songwriting, and the boundary-pushing duo IOSONOUNCANE & Daniela Pes. Finally, don’t miss Ecco2k, the enigmatic YHWH Nailgun, or Titanic — Mabe Fratti and I la Católica’s new collaborative project. And there’s still more to be announced.

I guess that you got it: it’s the kind of lineup that doesn’t spoon-feed you the obvious. It challenges you, surprises you, and leaves you thinking long after the lights come up.

Through hardship to the stars

This year’s edition also carries a deeper emotional weight. C2C has announced its 2025 theme: “Per aspera ad astra” — through hardship to the stars — a tribute to the festival’s late founder and director, Sergio Ricciardone, who passed away in March. Ricciardone’s vision helped shape C2C into the singular event it is today — a space where music, art, and culture are always in motion, always reaching for something greater. Jamie xx was among those who honored his memory recently as he dedicated a touching moment to Sergio during his recent show in Milan.

🎟️ Tickets are already on sale. Hopefully we’ll catch you there.