The fifth edition of contemporary city festival AUDRA kicked off in Kaunas on Thursday evening. Its first wave rolled into the city with free electronic music in the courtyard of the M. Žilinskas Art Gallery and the opening of an international exhibition at the Pergalė Factory. But this was only the beginning: Kaunas still has three more days packed with parties, concerts, contemporary art and performances ahead, all the way through 6 September.

“The first night showed that Kaunas is ready for AUDRA, but its strongest currents are still to come. Over the next three days, the festival will keep changing shape – from industrial parties and concerts to performances and art routes through a former factory,” say the festival organisers.

On Friday evening, the action will move deep inside the Pergalė Factory. The former metal recycling plant will be filled with powerful sound, light installations and the main party of this year’s festival.

Its line-up will bring together the history of Chicago house, the energy of Berlin’s clubs and Europe’s contemporary electronic music scene. One of the night’s biggest names will be Chez Damier, who has been shaping the history of house music for more than three decades.

He will be joined by Chloé Caillet, DJ JM, Marija x Mirror Slave, Mario Moretti x Valdagger x Mantas T., Marta, MCR-T, Roe Deers x Pakas, SPFDJ, Tarp Dviejų Aušrų, Tumosa x Roads and une x Cport Cistema.

On Saturday, AUDRA will spill out of the factory’s enclosed spaces and into its courtyard and crane track, while some of the action will move to the Upė teka bar. Two free stages will be open throughout the day.

The live music stage in the Pergalė Factory courtyard will welcome ba., Garbanotas, shishi and Egzotikka. At the Disco stage in the Upė teka bar, Hades x Elboe, Imbrasasm x Eketė, Kikelomo and Youwin Trax x Greta Margo will keep the floor moving.

In the evening, the festival will return inside the Pergalė Factory. Two prominent names from Lithuania’s contemporary music scene – Free Finga and kamanių šilelis – will perform in its industrial surroundings.

On Saturday night, the festival’s music programme will conclude with the limited-capacity Dresden Takeover party.

For the first time, French artist Ivan Smagghe and Manfredas, one of the leading figures in Lithuanian electronic music, will perform as a duo on the AUDRA stage. They will be joined by Italian selector Francesco Del Garda, making his Lithuanian debut, Dublin-born Saoirse, and Aistė Regina x Donatas Chipak.

As music floods different parts of Kaunas, the international contemporary art programme at the Pergalė Factory will continue through Sunday. Works by Lithuanian and international artists have already spread throughout the industrial space as part of an exhibition curated by the Berlin-based collective MOLT.

Visitors can also look forward to two immersive performances. On Friday at 8.30 pm, British dance artist Adam Russell-Jones will present Release the Hounds. On Saturday at 8 pm, the programme will continue with Berlin-based artist Deva Schubert, who will perform Glitch Choir together with artist Chihiro Araki.

Sunday will be the final opportunity to lose yourself in the art route winding through the factory and discover works by Lithuanian and international artists. The exhibition at the Pergalė Factory will remain open until 6 September.