MUMBAI: DJ Gareth Emery, voted globally as the world's #23 trance DJ in 2008, will headline Sunburn 2008, touted as Asia's biggest music festival to be held in Goa between 27 and 29 December.

Despite government bans on post-10pm beach parties in Goa, Sunburn remains unaffected and legitimate because it takes place from noon -10 pm on private property. Festival organisers Percept D'Mark have taken all necessary permissions and have the full support of local authorities, says Percept.

The artist originally slated to headline the festival, Eddie Halliwell, decided to pull out at the last minute because his management quoted "unavoidable circumstances".

Gareth Emery has just completed a three-city tour in India, most recently at the Sunburn release party at club Manr?© in Delhi. "I've had an incredible response at my gigs in India so far," he says. "Headlining the Sunburn festival in Goa is like the icing on the cake. I'm really looking forward to rocking the crowds along with the other artists in the impressive lineup."

Other Sunburn headline artists include trance gurus GMS (live), death defying John '00' Fleming & Digital Blonde (live), Richard Durand, Pearl, Roger Shah a.k.a. Sunlounger (whose track "Lost" was just voted the #1 trance track of 2008), Midival Punditz, Jalabee Cartel (live), Norman Doray, DJ Ivan, Shiva Sound System and ATFC.

This year, the iconic label Defected brings in their crew and hosts their own stage, featuring artists including Shapeshifters and Copyright.
The impressive lineup continues with Ma Faiza, Swen Weber, Simon Dunmore, Sanjay Dutta, Tatva Kundalini (live), Shovell (live percussion), Order of the Essence (live), Vachan Chinnappa, DJ Ajit, Brute Force, Karan Third Eye, Nawed Khan, Charlee, Maarten Klein, Reji, Kris Correya, Janux, Shy-o, Pereira and DJ Siren, all of whom will be killing it on the beach this year. Complementing the music are visuals by Dan Booth + Martin Robins, VJ Kaycee and Lucid Dreams, while festival hosts Nikhil Chinapa and Rohit Barker keep the crowd's energy pumping.

Gareth Emery comes from a diverse musical background that includes classical piano training, jazz, and even a little punk rock. He has emerged in the last few years as one of the world's major trance DJs and producers. Whether it was his critically acclaimed debut on the BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix, or his rise to number 23 in the definitive DJ Mag Top 100 Poll, there wasn't much that didn't go right for Emery in 2008, a year that saw him become increasingly established as one of the most innovative, unique, and exciting figures in modern dance music. With his numerous world-class productions topping charts everywhere, and his explosive DJ sets continuing to pack out clubs across the globe, one might think he's a long-established dance music old hand. Well he's not: he's 28, and as it happens, he's only just getting started.

Sunburn takes place from 27 to 29 December on private property just off Candolim beach in North Goa. Tickets are priced at Rs. 2500 for the three-day pass, with individual day tickets priced at Rs 1500 (Days 1 and 2) and Rs 2000 (Day 3). A VIP pass (Rs 5000) gets you three-day festival access plus complimentary Sunburn merchandise, free goodies, premium service, access to an exclusive VIP bar with a different menu and complimentary entry to the official post-event party.

There will be four stages at the venue, with music from 12noon – 10pm. The party and music don't stop there – DJs from the Sunburn lineup will be playing at a host of after-parties that will take place from 11pm to 6am. The venue will also have a food court, seven bars and a VIP lounge.