The first edition of the international music and arts festival at the breathtaking Marbela Beach Resort in Morjim saw lots of guests turn up over the weekend to catch sets by Gilles Peterson, James Priestley, Kiasmos, The Turbans, BLOT and more
The stunning sands and lush lawns of Marbela Beach Resort on Morjim hosted the first ever edition of GOAT Festival, which lived up to its promise of an intimate, exciting festival with some stellar performances and a general bonhomie that made everyone feel special and involved.
Marbela Beach stepped in after impending election rules led to a change in venue and opened up its spectacular property to all the guests who walked in for the three-day festival.
The decision proved a resounding success as the popular resort transformed itself into a floral jungle where the sounds of disco and house music accompanied the crash of the waves. 
Highlights
The three-day GOAT Festival held at Marbela Beach Resort from January 27-29 offered the discerning music fan the best experience. It introduced new sounds – the Afrobeat stylings of Afroquoi and Eastern European, Middle Eastern melodies of The Turbans – and gave the audience an opportunity to hear celebrated DJs like Gilles Peterson, secretsundaze co-founder James Priestley, Kiasmos as well as some of the most exciting acts from India like BLOT!, Sandunes, Aqua Dominatrix and Kumail among others.
Gilles Peterson, who is a celebrated broadcast host, DJ and label owner played the set of the festival mixing in Latin American tunes to disco, house and techno to ending the set with a Bollywood flourish, with the popular track ‘Choli ke peeche’ from the movie Khalnayak.
Apart from the music that started at 2pm and ran till 10pm, there were activities like yoga, sound bathing, sunset jams, body art, dance workshops and stalls full of vintage finds and clothes to peruse. 
GOAT Festival is the first-ever festival put together by London-based agency GOAT that was formed in 2015 – together with Lyndon Alves from Sunset Getaways collectively they pulled off this hugely successful event which has found its base here in Goa.
Photo Credits – Carys Lavin
Sinéad McManus 