The first-ever "Vilnius Nights", held on the night of September 5, attracted huge interest, with all four participating clubs in the Lithuanian capital packed with visitors. Initiated by the Vilnius Night Office as part of the "Vilnius Days" program, the event brought together Anna Mesha. Apartment, Cornercafé, Elastica and Gallery 1986 for one night. A single €10 ticket allowed visitors to move freely between all four clubs.
19 local artists behind the decks
Lithuania's electronic music scene was at the heart of the "Vilnius Nights" program. Over the course of the night, 19 artists performed across the clubs, including Angelou, Valdagger, Y2KATI, Under Black Helmet, Patricia Kokett, Très Sticky and other names from the scene. Each club presented its own distinct musical program, allowing visitors moving between venues to experience different sides of Vilnius' electronic music scene.
The entire program was made up of performances by local artists – from live electronic music sets to DJs and producers representing different communities within the city's club scene. In this way, "Vilnius Nights" offered a glimpse, within a single program, of what is being created in Vilnius clubs throughout the year.
One ticket, different experiences
For the first time in Vilnius' club sector, a shared ticket giving access to several different clubs over the course of one night was put to the test, bringing together thousands of Vilnius residents and visitors to the city. For some, "Vilnius Nights" was an opportunity to visit one or more of the participating clubs for the first time, while for others it was their first-ever clubbing experience.
At the busiest point of the night, the clubs were operating at full capacity, resulting in queues outside some venues during peak hours. The organizers appreciated the patience and sense of community shown by visitors: some were willing to wait longer, while others adjusted their route and headed to clubs that were less crowded at the time. Later in the night, as crowds became more evenly distributed, moving between venues became easier. The high level of interest showed that a shared multi-club event format resonates with Vilnius' nightlife audience, while the collaboration between the clubs highlighted the potential of a vibrant and connected night-time sector.
Moving between different clubs over the course of a single night is also a familiar concept in other European cities. On an even larger scale, events such as Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) connect the electronic music scene with the wider city, with a program spanning clubs, concert venues, cultural institutions and other locations across Amsterdam.
“"Last weekend's 'Vilnius Nights' showed the potential of this new and exciting format. Four nightclubs operated as one large organism, allowing people to freely choose their route based on the artists they wanted to see or the venues they already loved, while also discovering clubs they might not normally visit. The high level of interest and strong attendance confirmed that this kind of format resonates with the city's nightlife audience. Speaking on behalf of all four clubs, I can say that the experience once again highlighted how inclusive Vilnius' nightlife is, confirmed the need for joint initiatives and showed just how much we can achieve together," says Paulius Austrevičius, Program Director at Gallery 1986.
One night, shared safety rules
The same "Vilnius Nights" rules and safety principles applied across all four clubs. People who were heavily intoxicated or behaving aggressively were not admitted, while visitors were reminded to respect other people's boundaries and behave responsibly.
Special safety posters created for the event were displayed throughout the clubs, while earplugs and drink covers designed to help reduce the risk of drink spiking were made available to visitors.
“"Vilnius is an incredibly vibrant city, home to so many talented people – artists, event organizers, producers, club teams and other professionals shaping its night-time culture. We want all of this to be more visible, so that people discover what is happening in their city, appreciate what we have here and feel proud of it. 'Vilnius Nights' was an opportunity to showcase all of this and experience it together," says Gabija Liaugminaitė, Project Manager at the Vilnius Night Office.
Artists who performed at "Vilnius Nights": Angelou LIVE, Bernis, Proflame, Senkala, Snatch, Très Sticky, Y2KATI LIVE, Et Cetera, Symbiotica, Tadan, Under Black Helmet, Bakas, Clicklounge, Patricia Kokett LIVE, Tumosa, V, Valdagger and Youwin Trax.
