Croatia Insider's Guide: Gavin Kendrick (SuncéBeat)

Our latest Croatia Insider's Guide comes courtesy of one of the creative minds behind SuncéBeat Festival, Gavin Kendrick. Gavin is event manager of the festival, he assists with line up curation and is also a resident DJ on the team (listen to one of his sets below).

SuncéBeat is one of The Garden site's gems, run by the guys behind the Southport Weekender, which celebrates its final party next month in Minehead. SuncéBeat is considered to be one of the most intimate and friendly festivals on the Adriatic coast, with a core audience of over 1,500 attendees traveling from over 30 countries.

Gavin spends the majority of his summer on the Dalmatian coast, and we asked this festival devotee to give us his unique insight on the Croatian holiday experience, so you guys can get the most out of yours. 

Gavin Kendrick - SuncéBeat 4 Beach Stage - Wed 24th July 2013 by Southport Weekender on Mixcloud

Where do you stay in Croatia when you're there and why?

In the run up to festival season, I love to travel along the Dalmatian coast, wild-camping in a hammock as close to the sea as possible. This is a beautiful way to experience the stretch of coastline that eventually leads to the Garden site in the village of Tisno.

Once there, I always stay in an apartment rather than a hotel. Most are part of a family home, rented out during holiday season. I’ve made some memorable friendships in the village over the last few years in this way, and I’m never reluctant to sample the homemade olive oils and garden-grown tomatoes that I’d say were the best in the world.

What makes Croatia so special?

The first time I went to Croatia was before SuncéBeat had begun. I was watching the sun come up with a group of older Spanish guys on the beach and one told me that this is what Ibiza used to be like before the English people arrived. I’m not quite old enough to verify the accuracy of the claim, but I love to think that it’s true.

Where are your favourite places to eat?

Restaurant Carmen is my favourite haunt, and the place where our artists are fed during their stay. Delicious food from Slaven, an award-winning local chef, and generous hospitality make this gem my top choice and recommendation.

And the best places to drink before hitting the festivals?

During the week of the event, I rarely leave the festival site, so the juice bar is my number one spot. Sheltered from the blazing sun just behind the Beach Stage, a blitzed beetroot and ginger smoothie is a winner at any time of the day.

What do you think will be the musical highlight in Croatia this year?

Well the South Africa Boat Party last year was probably the wildest sailing in the Argonaughty’s history with the captain telling me later that he thought we might capsize! Needless to say, this party will sell out in minutes once tickets go on sale, with Black Coffee returning for his second appearance, DJ Djeff Afrozila making his debut, and resident Jonny Miller hosting once again.

If you're traveling by water taxi or renting a boat to get around, where would you recommend visiting?

Scattered like pebbles to the west of Murter are the islands of the Kornati archipelago. In 1980, this stretch was declared a National Park and there's nothing like nipping off from the site and spending an afternoon on one of the secluded beaches.

What’s the country's greatest hidden secret?

Hvar, the longest of the 1,000 Croatian islands. Unesco recently made the island's Stari Grad Plain a world heritage site, recognising it as the best preserved ancient Greek landscape in the Mediterranean.

Greek settlers started farming here over 2,000 years ago, and little has changed from the quiet routine of cultivating grapes and olives on the same parcels of land marked out by the original Greek surveyors. You can walk or cycle through this timeless horticultural grid, divided by ancient walls and dotted with beehive-shaped stone shelters.

Closer to home, I’d recommend that everybody heads to the top of the hill behind the festival site and watches the sun come down at least once during their stay. If it’s quiet, you can climb the tower that’s used to watch for fires and soak up the most spectacular sunset on the coast.

For someone about to come to Croatia for the first time, what is the one thing they must do before their time is up?

Head to Zadar and experience the Sea Organ - 35 pipes of different lengths, diameters and angles built into the steps over which the Adriatic washes. The tide pushes air down the tubes to produce a haunting and unpredictable symphony. Unexpectedly beautiful. 

On my first visit, during an evening of high jinks and swimming with the festival crew, I pushed main stage manager Moose Benjamin Curtis over the edge, not realising he had his mobile phone - storing all of his industry contents - in his pocket. I tend to keep out of his way these days as he still reminds me of the occasion and promises revenge!

For more on SuncéBeat, including the full line up and tickets head here. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event