The Gather Festival: electronic music among Selinunte’s ruins

A rough sound embrace that is both modern and ancient – daytime masterclasses took place at the Gather Festival while nighttime features included DJs on the international music scene, including the duo Giolì and Assia

In the night between the Temples: Gather Festival and electronic music in Selinunte

A blanket of stars can be seen on the sky of Selinunte, enveloping the ancient ruins of the Archaeological Park – about 20 temples are located on the site, which covers about 270 hectares. The Doric columns of the Temple of Hera, witnesses to an ancient history, stand majestically against the night sky, casting long shadows on the ground below. A light wind drifts between the stones, whispering the memory of distant eras.

On this night, the silence is broken by a vibrant rhythm. The Gather Festival, which for three days transformed Selinunte into a centre of sounds and encounters, is drawing to a close. But the magic of this night seems to want to hold the audience a little longer, as if music had become an integral part of the ruins themselves. The crowd is lulled by the vibrations, which spread through the air like a distant echo. There is a kind of communion between the people present,united not only by their passion for music, but also by the knowledge that they are witnessing something unrepeatable.

Electronic music among the ruins of Selinunte

Electronic music spreads through the air, oscillating and powerful, creating a contrast with the static of the ruins, enveloping the archaeological site in a sound embrace that is both modern and ancient. On stage, the performing artistsare immersed in this setting. Their movements are synchronised with the music, their gestures precise, as if they were orchestrating a contemporary ritual in honour of the ancient gods.

The audience, distributed among the ruins, is illuminated by soft lights, their eyes reflecting the wonder of being in a place where the past seems to speak through the music of the present. Each person is as if suspended in an experience that transcends time, an invisible bridge between antiquity and modernity. The electronic sounds, so distant from the classical world, do not contrast at all; on the contrary, they seem to reinforce the charm of the place, amplifying the feeling of being outside time.

A festival that goes beyond music: the Gather Festival programme

From 19 to 21 July, the Selinunte Archaeological Park hosted the first edition of the Gather Festival. Three days and nights dedicated to the celebration of well-being, community and knowledge in all its forms. The festival offered a cultural experience where participants had the opportunity to network, learn and relax in one of Europe’s most evocative settings.

By day, the Gather Festival offered cultural and sports masterclasses by leading experts in their respective fields, withinternational speakers such as Jorginho, European champion and Gather Investing partner. At night, the sound of some of the best DJs on the international music scene enlivened the evening.

The duo Giolì and Assia – Gather Festival, Selinunte

Among the stars were the duo Giolì and Assia, a musical duo born in 2016 thanks to a meeting that took place on social media. Giolì, a musician since his youth, was looking for a manager and met Assia, who was living in Cambridge at the time. What began as a simple collaboration soon turned into a full-fledged partnership, both artistic and personal, leading them to live together and founded their independent label, Diesis Records. Their first single, ‘Stay Closer’, was released in 2017, followed by their debut album ‘Snapshots’ in 2018.

The duo is distinguished by a style that combines electro with traditional instruments, with Giolì playing piano, guitar and percussion, while Assia takes care of vocals and guitar. In 2019, they launched the #DiesisLive project, streaming performances from evocative locations such as the volcano of the Aeolian Islands and Mount Etna, reaching millions of views. Despite the pandemic temporarily slowing down their activity, Giolì & Assia have resumed performing live, achieving great success with their tours in Europe and the US. Thanks to Assia’s language skills, the duo create songs in different languages, further enriching their sound.

DJ and producer Guy Gerber performed at The Gather festival

Guy Gerber, DJ, producer, and partner of the festival, performed under the Sicilian stars, further cementing his reputation as a key figure in the electronic scene. Born in 1975 in Holon, Israel, Gerber initially pursued a career in sports, playing for Israel’s national U16 football team. However, his passion for music led him to a different path, where he quickly made a name for himself.

His breakthrough came in 2006 when he signed with Cocoon Recordings, a move that propelled him to prominence as a tech house DJ across Europe. Known for tracks like “Sea of Sand” and “This Is Balagan,” Gerber has gained the support of influential DJs, including Sven Väth. His debut album, Late Bloomers (2007), featured a unique blend of world music, R&B, dub alarm, and tech house.

In addition to his own productions, Gerber has created remixes for artists like New Order and Dominik Eulberg. In 2014, he expanded his creative range by collaborating with rapper P. Diddy on the album 11 11, which was released as a free download.

Gerber has also established his own label, Supplement Facts, through which he not only releases music but also organizes global events.

The Gather Festival was not just about music

The organisers’ stated aim was to create an authentic and relevant community that would inspire people from all over the world to improve their physical and mental well-being. The event offered a range of activities from personal wellness to financial education, with a special focus on women’s empowerment. Talks and workshops explored how women can become more confident in managing their money, a topic increasingly central to the global debate.

Another theme was intercultural inclusion, with the participation of Jorginho, who presented new celebrity investors, including Kalidou Koulibaly, African champion and representative of the Islamic community. This approach reflected Gather’s commitment to promoting sustainability, inclusion and creating equal opportunities for all, with an ambitious mission to break down barriers to investment and close the gender gap.

Selinunte: an archaeological treasure of Sicily

Selinunte, located on the south-western coast of Sicily, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological parks in Europe. Founded between 650 and 620 B.C., a colony of colonists from Megara Iblea, it was a crossroads of trade and very wealthy, reaching a population of 100,000 before the Carthaginians invaded and destroyed it in 409 B.C. Today, the remains of Doric temples, dedicated to Greek gods, represent a priceless heritage, a symbol of a bygone era that lives on.

Samuel Hernest