Creators and co-producers of Electric Daisy Carnival UK, Insomniac, are giving EDC headliners a special treat this year. For the first time ever, Insomniac will fly in the the awesome kineticCATHEDRAL Stage, modeled after the incredible stage that premiered during EDC Las Vegas in June 2014 to over 400,000 headliners.
This revamped version stands at 90 feet tall and 240 foot wide, featuring huge 45-foot tall twin owls, with expressive eyes that are illuminated by LED lighting. Twenty multi-coloured lasers on the stage, multiple massive LED screens, and multiple fountains shooting water into the air will wow the crowd, creating the illusion of detailed stained glass windows and displaying the latest in visual design.
Photo by ALive
It is a spectacular sight, not to be missed, a perfect masterpiece within Insomniac’s phenomenal production portfolio. The twin owls will be flying over the kineticCATHEDRAL stage at Electric Daisy Carnival, July 11th at the Milton Keynes Bowl.
Today the world-famous dance music festival Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) announced that, for the third year in a row, it will return to the UK on Saturday 11 July, 2015.
A legendary venue, Milton Keynes Bowl provides the perfect setting for EDC UK, while the brightest stars in dance music will light up four breathtaking stages/arenas, each possessing their own unique vibe. DJs will converge from the four corners of the world to celebrate the enduringly popular genre of techno at neonGARDEN, keeping it deep and dark from dawn to dusk. kineticFIELD presents an exciting mix of big arena electro-house artists, and circuitGROUNDS brings a seminal lineup of drum & bass pioneers who have progressively deconstructed the genre into the cutting-edge sounds and subgenres of today. At cosmicMEADOW, a stellar array of favorites has been assembled to transport Headliners straight to the stratosphere.
LINEUP SO FAR: Critically acclaimed Art Department is deep, dark and minimal. Los Angeles-based Carnage deftly fuses electro, hip-hop, pop and trap into an intoxicating brew that’s dirty, defiant, and diverse. Detroit-born Claude VonStroke, owner of Dirtybird Records and now living the life in Venice Beach, remixes everyone from Kenny Larkin to London Grammar. Cosmic Gate feed off one another’s turntable creativity to whip up a frenzied digital supernova. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike have enjoyed a continuously upward trajectory from celebrated DJs to dominating figures in the electronic music industry. Dutch legend Ferry Corsten coaxes maximum emotional impact from his records, ensuring his place at the top of the electronic music Hall of Fame. Showing his masterful skills behind the decks, BBCRadio 1’s very own Friction will be mesmerizing Headliners on four decks with unreleased cuts. Dutch DJ and producer Hardwell won the DJ Mag Top 100 poll for the last two years. High Contrast will be joined by MC Wrec and Ilan Bluestone.
Jamie Jones, leader of the new sound of house, is renowned for his pioneering music, his cross-genre band Hot Natured, his groundbreaking Hot Creations label, and his world-famous event series, Paradise. In less than a decade, he has catapulted himself to stardom by shattering genres and breaking out of the confines of minimal techno. Jamie’s revolutionary sound is an instrumental part of his success, being both artistically innovative, yet easily accessible. Also appearing will be John O’Callaghan, Jordan Suckley B2B Bryan Kearney, Kove and Linguistics—as well as Marco Carola, widely regarded as one of techno’s true pioneers. From his stellar Ibiza residency each summer to his shows across the world, Carola and his Music On parties and record label have become synonymous with cutting-edge music. Markus Schulz is a regular at EDC events around the world and known affectionately by his fans as “the Unicorn Slayer.”
Matrix & Futurebound have defined a whole new era in drum & bass via their skillful fusion of epic, melodic soundscapes with heavyweight dancefloor production and original vocals. Rising star Miguel Campbell and BBC Radio 1’s Mistajam will be in attendance. The debonair Paul van Dyk—German DJ, musician, producer, Grammy winner and torch-bearer for the scene—had the longest unbroken run at #1 in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll, was the first DJ ever to be voted as #1 in Mixmag, and boasts remix and production credits for the likes of U2, Depeche Mode and New Order.
This festival lineup wouldn’t be complete without drum & bass kingpins Pendulum (DJ set) with Verse. Raw and controversial, with momentous killer beats, they are not to be missed. One of the UK’s hottest new talents, Philip George, had the biggest breakout record of 2014 with “Wish You Were Mine.” PureNRG Live and Richy Ahmed will be performing live. Route 94 has quietly yet forcefully established himself as a distinctive young figure in the house music scene. For his latest album project, Cornerstone,Shy FX revisits old-school studio techniques and collaborates with a mouthwatering lineup of special guests. Drum & bass duo Sigma need little introduction; from early releases on labels such as Hospital and Viper Recordings, they have cemented themselves as an integral part of the scene. Steve Aoki head label Dim Mak, and Simon Patterson is a star of UK electro house.Sub Focus’ single releases span a plethora of electronic genres, from drum & bass and dubstep to house music and beyond. One of Holland’s most prized exports, DJ and producer Tiësto is a Grammy nominee and multiple winner of the celebrated DJ Mag poll. His legendary progressive electro house sound—along with his uncanny ability to read a crowd’s energy—makes him a perfect deck magician. Visionquest, wAFF and Will Aktinson round out the lineup, with more to be announced.
EVENT INFO
Electric Daisy Carnival UK
Date: Saturday 11 July 2015
Venue: The Milton Keynes National Bowl, Watling Street, Milton Keynes, MK5 8AA
Doors: Midday–11pm
Age Restrictions: The event is strictly 18+ (valid Photo ID is required)
Mysteryland, the world’s longest-running dance festival, today presents the first part of the 2015 line-up. On Saturday August 29 and Sunday August 30, festivalgoers will embark on a weekend-long adventure in a world filled with electronic music, art and culture. Just like every other year, the line-up will include a combination of world-famous names and upcoming talent. Crowd-pullers this year include Martin Garrix – whose only festival performance this summer is at Mysteryland – and global stars like Alesso, Apollonia, Art Department, Ben Sims, Chris Liebing, Dave Clarke, Dubfire, Hercules & Love Affair, Jeff Mills, Joris Voorn, Knife Party, Maya Jane Coles, Nicky Romero, Oliver Heldens, Pan-Pot, Porter Robinson, STERAC, Steve Angello, Ten Walls live, The Martinez Brothers, Tiga and Wildstylez. General tickets to Mysteryland, a festival that always sells out, go on sale on Saturday 7 March at 10:00 am CET.
The fans’ wishes ‘We are so happy that we can offer our visitors a two-day program. Not only can they party longer, but most of all, they have more time to explore the wide variety of music, arts and culture on offer. Besides, we are proud that we can give a platform to so many talents, artists and creatives’, according to Duncan Stutterheim, founder of ID&T. The ‘Kunstroute’, an art path in collaboration with the government’s culture program ‘Cultuur & Ondernemen’ and the exposition with the Tropenmuseum are the must-sees of the program, says Stutterheim. Mysteryland’s full program will be announced by the end of March.
Global stars and new talent For two whole days, festivalgoers will dance to performances by both local and international artists. The entire spectrum of electronic music will be on show. In addition to the acts listed above, acts including Frontliner, Noisecontrollers, Ummet Ozcan, Kris Kross, Dillon Francis, Dominik Eulberg & Gabriel Ananda, Firebeatz, Mightyfools, Vinai and ROD will also be taking to the stage. Festival partners such as CLR, Hyte, Beatport and Joris Voorn Presents will be responsible for techno, techhouse and deephouse, while Planet Delsin and Studio 80 will host the Vinyl Only areas, where this vintage music medium will be celebrated with all the honour it deserves. It goes without saying that Q-dance will be present on both days, with highlights including Wildstylez, Frontliner and Psyko Punkz. Kris Kross and Yours Truly will be responsible for the line up at the Heineken Starclub where turntable legend DJ Jazzy Jeff will perform amongst others. Open-minded Amsterdam festival ‘Milkshake’ will be claiming an island of its own with The Mini Madness Milkshake Island, where Hercules & Love Affair will be performing. Other live performances include Netsky, Planetary Assault Systems en Ten Walls.
The legendary Slam Tent is back at T in the Park for 2015 with a huge line-up of the very best in electronic dance music set to raise the roof of the tent at the festival’s beautiful new residence, Strathallan Castle. Festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager have today unveiled a phenomenal international line-up curated by world renowned dance powerhouse Slam including Adam Beyer b2b Joseph Capriati, Alan Fitzpatrick, Âme, Art Department, Ben Klock, Dense & Pika, Dixon, Dubfire, Eats Everything, Gary Beck, Jackmaster b2b Joy Orbison, Lil Louis, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles, Rødhåd, SLAM, Telford and Visionquest.
Organisers are also thrilled to announce a hugely exciting extension of T in the Park’spartnership with BBCRadio 1. For the first time in over a decade, some of the sets from the Slam Tent will be heard exclusively on Radio 1’s Essential Mix.
Techno titans Adam Beyer and Joseph Capriati will play a b2b set that’s not to be missed at this year’s festival, treating fans to pioneering floor fillers. Owner of record labels Drumcode, Truesoul and Madeye, Adam Beyer’s music is synonymous with all that is exciting about techno. Having emerged as the figurehead of the hugely prolific Swedish techno scene, Beyer is a globally recognised DJ with his Drumcode events achieving much praise across the globe. Neapolitan Joseph Capriati is recognised as one of the principal profiles in techno, establishing his reputation as a universally popular and in-demand talent. A naturally charismatic DJ with a back catalogue of standout productions, Capriati is an instinctive performer with a genuine enthusiasm for entertaining and his b2b set with Adam Beyer is sure to be one of the many highlights of this year’s Slam Tent.
Buoyed by the whirlwind success he has enjoyed over the past six years, Drumcode’sAlan Fitzpatrick is a DJ at the top of his game and globally recognised as one of the most influential techno artists of the moment. The in-demand producer and DJ has succeeded in carving out a recognisable musical niche for himself within the ever-expanding genre of techno. A seemingly unstoppable source of hit music, Fitzpatrick’s set is sure to rock the Slam Tent at this year’s festival.
Berlin DJ / production duo Âme (Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann) are well-known for their electric sets and forward-thinking production. Kristian Beyer is ranked top in regular Resident Advisor DJ lists and will appear at Strathallan Castle this July under the Âme guise. Âme have been penning songs with floor-filling credentials since 2003, showcasing a rare ability to fuse together various influences to devastating effect. With regular slots playing in renowned dance scenes around Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Tokyo, Âme are sure to delight the Strathallan Castle crowd with their jaw-dropping beats at this year’s T in the Park.
Art Department are the infamous collective of Jonny White, Son of Ray Rosenberg (former Division Manager of A&M records) and acting head of No.19 Music, alongside Canadian techno legend Kenny Glasgow. The collaborative project has seen almost unparalleled success within the world of dance music in recent years. Art Department’s reputation precedes them as international party animals but is eclipsed only by the accolades awarded to them for their ground-breaking and original style of music and remarkable performances the world wide. Their party ethos sure to be a massive hit with the T in the Park fans this July.
Berlin born DJ, producer and label owner Ben Klock is without a doubt one of the most significant characters in techno’s recent history. Playing techno sets full of hypnotic, deep and heavy grooves, releasing records on Ostgut Ton and last but not least the aesthetics of his own label Klockworks (founded in 2006), have earned him an excellent international reputation over the last few years. Ben Klock’s name is synonymous with the vitalization of an essential definition of techno and is welcomed addition to this year’s Slam Tent line-up.
Dense & Pika are UK house and techno producer Chris Spero and British DJ / producer and Hypecolour co-founder Alex Jones. Their anonymous White Label series surfaced in 2011 and they in-turn receieved critical acclaim. Their club-ready techno sound and soaring beats are perfect for a festival crowd and are sure to really get theT in the Park crowd going in the Slam Tent this summer.
Entering the Berlin club circuit in the early 90s, Dixon’s highly-crafted skills have continued to build a solid following over the last two decades, and nurture an impeccable style of mixing. He’s created a highly influential mix compilation for the Get Physical label’s Body Language series that has inspired people all over the world, among other highlights. His addition to the Slam Tent bill will treat fans to a pioneering talent in the deep house circuit.
Dubfire has always been known as a risk taker, going solo in 2006 and releasing a massive string of tracks including Ribcage, Roadkill, Emissions and I Feel Speed. Encapsulating dark funky rhythms and technological brilliance, Dubfire is the apex of a unique sound. After collaborating with the likes of Underworld, Dubfire recently decamped to Barcelona, creating a studio and international office in the Spanish city as well as a jump-off point for frequent trips to Ibiza where he is a huge fixture at the White Isle’s most exceptional outings including Cocoon, Carl Cox’s Revolution and Richie Hawtin’s ENTER.
First appearing in the Slam Tent in 2013, Eats Everything is set to return with a generous portion of top anthems this year. His ascendance through the ranks of dance music’s top players has been as deserved as it has been rapid. His tunes have been tried and tested in all four corners of the globe, the Eats juggernaut ploughing through countless parties, clubs and festivals, from Ibiza to the USA, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and back to his home city of Bristol.
Bringing some local talent to the Slam Tent this July is Gary Beck. The Glasgow born producer has been a regular fixture at the world's top clubs and festivals, long established as a primary figure in techno. Known and respected for his unique sound, he has gained support from the best names in the business and released music on some of the genre's leading labels, institutions such as Drumcode, Cocoon and Saved as well as his own BEK Audio imprint. Beck’s unique style and sound were made for a festival crowd.
Organisers are thrilled to announce a special b2b performance from Jackmaster and Joy Orbison. Always a thrill to see, the special b2b set will see local name Jackmaster throw down his world class skills on the decks. Numbers co-founder and Radio 1 resident, Jackmaster has risen to the top of his game with a unique ear for jacking house and techno which has seen him land residencies at XOYO in London and Ibiza's Circoloco at DC10 as well as two American tours in the last year.Joy Orbison is renowned for his forward-thinking style, with his debut single Hyph Mngo a celebrated dub/2-step track of the late noughties. Part of the Hinge Finger label, Joy Orbison is sure to rock the stage at this year’s T in the Park with his electric combination of house, dub and disco.
Pioneer and icon Lil Louis is an international DJ / producer who is widely credited as being the founding father of house music. His pioneering skills and edits planted the seed of house music and made him one of the frontrunners in the scene. Producing and writing tracks for the likes of Jay-Z and Lil Kim throughout his impressive career,Lil Louis is another stellar addition to the Slam Tent bill.
Said to have inspired a collective imagination, Loco Dice merges perspectives in his delicate sense for sounds and reflective atmospheres, underpinned with solid, physical grooves inspired by the hip hop that was his early sonic stomping ground in the mid- to late ‘90s. Sure to bring a set packed full of classics, Loco Dice’s set at Strathallan Castle in July is not to be missed.
British-Japanese, producer and DJ Maya Jane Coles is widely considered an enigma in today’s music world as well as a global star, regularly turning her sets into spectacles and making coveted hit lists including Resident Advisor’s top DJ Chart. Alongside herproduction and remixing credentials, her reputation as a DJ has reached heady proportions following her guest mixes for the likes of Resident Advisor, Louche, Enter, Trace A Line, Defected with a Mixmag cover-mount CD and a huge BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix also under her belt.
Rødhåd has been socialised by Berlin's looptechno nights and always finds the perfect balance of timeless techno to lift the dancefloor higher and higher. His style is always deep, powerful and melancholic – from dubtechno to techno and back to house- something which is sure to go down a treat in this year’s Slam Tent at T in the Park.
With their fifth album Reverse Proceed heralded as one of the best electronic albums for years, SLAM’s two legendary producers continue to demonstrate why they are such an important part of modern day electronic music. SLAM instigated Glasgow's underground house music scene in the late 1980s, going on to be instrumental in the explosion of the UK Techno scene. Their quarter century of exploits have seen them travel far and wide, leaving scorch marks on dance floors everywhere while taking their uncompromising vision of techno around the world. Their firmly established monthly club events in Glasgow – ‘Pressure’ at the Arches and ‘Return To Mono’ at the Sub Club – are ranked amongst the best nights out on the planet. Over the last two years, the pair have also developed Slam Radio, delivering some of the best DJs and music that techno has to offer to a massive and loyal weekly following.
Possessing a premier technical ability and innate musical taste, Telford’s appearance at this year’s T in the Park festival is sure to go down a storm with fans. His original combination of house and techno create sets full of infectious grooves and intense atmosphere. The newest occasional resident at Glasgow’s Sub Club Subculture club night, Telford is sure to bring his classic sounds mixed with forward thinking house and techno to Strathallan Castle this summer.
Visionquest are the most innovative and exciting new breed of DJ/producers to emerge from the city of Detroit in a generation. They are a new generation of young, talented producers from Detroit who draw influence from all who have come before them, following in their footsteps, while defining a unique sound of their own. Having their roots in Motown whilst drawing ambitious spiritual vibes from forerunners like Theo Parrish and Moodyman, this will be a performance that is not to be missed.
The international line-up is fitting to mark the historic first year at the festival’s brand new Perthshire home. Back for its 19th year at T in the Park, the Slam Tent has an atmosphere second to none, with many more artists to be announced.
SLAM TENT 2015 LINE-UP
FRIDAY 10TH JULY: Adam Beyer b2b Joseph Capriati, Âme, Ben Klock, Eats Everything, SLAM, Telford
SATURDAY 11TH JULY: Art Department, Gary Beck, Jackmaster b2b Joy Orbsion, Lil Louis, Rødhåd, Visionquest
SUNDAY 12TH JULY: Alan Fitzpatrick, Dense & Pika, Dixon, Dubfire, Loco Dice, Maya Jane Coles
The unveiling of another top-notch line-up set to rumble the walls and raise the roof of the tent comes just a week after festival organisers announced a top bill of some of the world’s biggest bands, DJs, solo artists and hotly tipped breakthrough talent, including pioneering dance talent Avicii, David Guetta, Above & Beyond and Fatboy Slim.
T IN THE PARK 2015 LINE-UP
FRIDAY 10th JULY: Kasabian, David Guetta, Sam Smith, Rudimental, Fatboy Slim, Hozier, Mark Ronson (DJ set), Annie Mac, Hot Chip, The Wombats, Gorgon City, Duke Dumont, Jessie Ware, Fuse ODG
SATURDAY 11th JULY: Avicii, The Libertines, The Script, Twin Atlantic, alt-J, George Ezra, Jessie J, Courteeners, The Vaccines, Labrinth, The Proclaimers, St. Vincent, Enter Shikari, Seasick Steve, Jungle, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, Idlewild, Jess Glynne, Charli XCX, Jack Savoretti, Rae Morris
SUNDAY 12th JULY: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Prodigy, Stereophonics, Jamie T, Paloma Faith, Above & Beyond, Alabama Shakes, Kodaline, Catfish & the Bottlemen, Clean Bandit, Oliver Heldens, Ella Henderson, Modest Mouse, James Bay, Years & Years, Peace, Everything Everything, Admiral Fallow, Marmozets, Saint Raymond
High Definition festival returns in July for a huge 5th Birthday bash with its biggest line up to date. Encompassing live music and DJ’s and set in the stunning surrounds of EridgePark in Tunbridge Wells, High Definition has gained an enviable reputation as one of the most progressive electronic music festivals on the planet.
As the festival expands to a two day camping event due to ever increasing demand, the first headliner is confirmed as Luciano whose mystical blend of deep techno and house has marked him out as one of the biggest stars of the global electronic music scene. The Cadenza head honcho’s expressive sets have a distinctive South American influence and he will be joined on the main stage by Parisian act Appolonia showcasing their deep tech house, Canada’s dynamic duo Art Department, Miguel Campbell who has galvanised the house music scene and Argy who will play out a fearlessly eclectic set.
On Saturday Drum & Bass legend Goldie will perform in the Digital Arena alongside Kove and Dimension whist Sunday brings Redlight and dexterous party starter Oneman to the fore.
Drum and bass dons Sigma will perform live, whilst Black Butter boys My NuLeng, Hamburg’s finest Tensnake and house supremo’s Prok and Fitch will all be in attendance.
Nick Curly leads the charge in the Audiowhore Arena with Tribal Sessions resident Darius Syrossian and Sidney Charles who was nominated for Best Newcomer at the DJ Magazine Awards also taking to the decks.
Garage and bass music legend DJ EZ is back by popular demand whilst Toolroom label boss Mark Knight will host his own stage with acts such as Amtrac and Doorly performing
High Definition are proud to present House supremo Breach and showcase Will Saul’s driving underground house and in a real festival coup, Internationally celebrated DJ Eddie Halliwell will be playing a rare trance set.
House and techno stalwart Lilleth makes a welcome debut at the festival and Old Skool is represented courtesy of Epidemik.
Many more acts, Sunday headliners included, are set to be revealed very soon.
In addition to world-class musical programming, High Definition also looks to complement the performers and DJs appearing across the weekend with top-spec production. Mind-bending visuals and immersive environments have been a central feature of High Definition since its inception, and this year will be the team’s most ambitious undertaking to date.
Stage partners include Digital, Aus Music, Audiowhore, Toolroom Live, GoodGreef, Agenda, Gurilla Concept, Epidemik and All Funked Up. The VIP Arena will be hosted by Viva Warriors on Saturday and Weird and Wonderful on Sunday.
Last year High Definition sold out all 15,000 tickets well in advance of the festival so early booking is advised as the globes very best electronic artists descend on Tunbridge Wells for two days of the very best electronic sounds.
It was certainly an intriguing decision when cutting-edge electronics festival Eastern Electrics announced a one day event at ‘Hatfield House’. Now in its third year as a festival, it began in 2012 as an unassuming one day affair, which expanded greatly to the behemoth of a three day event in 2013 with an unforgettable line-up boasting a plethora of world class DJs. You’d only assume it would do the same again, considering its vast popularity as one of the most spoken of electronic festival in the UK. But it returned with fewer large names in a quaint yet stunning backdrop of a mansion, reverting to just one day again. But did this take away from the experience? Absolutely not.
Considering a last minute rampage to get cagoules galore in preparation for the rain, it was scorching as we entered the festival and headed straight to the Art of Dark tent for Dyed Soundorom. After taking over Ibiza with DJ outfit Apollonia alongside Shonky and Dan Ghenacia, the Parisian DJ returned alone playing a to crowd that were lapping up the set, putting on an impressive display that most certainly testified the idea that you can’t get people dance at such an early time. The atmosphere within the tent however was an unbearable sweaty pit of sighing bodies that had to relinquish to the outdoors to be able to breathe, which somewhat ruined what could have been an incredible set.
Over in the Rinse FM tent were duo Dense and Pika. After favouring their remix of Paul Woolford’s Erotic Discourse, I was excited to see the gritty and glorious sounds of the techno pair as they played to a somewhat empty tent. But empty or not, they certainly received an energetic reception from those who attended, with songs such as Alden Tyrell ‘Wurk it’ and Josh Winks ‘Are you there’ solidifying their stance as DJs that certainly the ones to watch at this event. The same tent played host to London DJ Route 94; admittedly, we were only passing through the tent as his set played, but we halted to a stop as the commercially well-known hit ‘My Love’ began to play, and the echoes of a singing crowd erupted into a guilty pleasure performance that we couldn’t seem to stay away from.
It was tINI who was inevitably the highlight of the festival. The characteristic deep blow of her selections were both intense and electric, igniting the crowd to full attention as she commenced tracks such as Cid Inc & Victor Hugo’s ‘Made in Brazil’ and transforming the outdoor Switchyard venue into a sea of adrenaline fuelled fist-pumping. As she unleashed Floorplan’s Never grow old, goosebumps appeared as the crowd were divulged in a euphoric state that only the Desolat master was responsible for. It only took a few years for tINI to make a name for herself, and it only took a few moments for her to create an incredible and unparalleled atmosphere at Eastern Electrics. At a climactic moment in the set, a torrential pouring of rain began, and a huge rampage of waterproof handing out activated; no one left their post, however, and a sea of umbrellas and awkward plastic cagoules continued to dance regardless of the showers falling over us.
What was frustrating about the festival was the queue for drinks tokens; having to wait to purchase non-refundable pieces of card to use as currency, to then wait again for a drink seemed somewhat pointless, and many I spoke to were agitated that they had to waste time doing this instead of seeing the acts they wanted. After a swift wait however, we were back and ready for the exciting duo Serge Santiago and Firas Waez, also known as Waze and Odyssey. They were playing at the Red Bull tent – a gloriously compact outdoor venue that played host to an array of exciting acts that day, including Catching Flies and Ali Love.Waze and Odyssey’s set made for a refreshing change from the deep and bellowing techno that seemed to be echoing throughout the rest of the festival, incorporating faster-paced beats, plenty of energy and a steady fuel of bass incorporated into their distinctive house/garage sound. The atmosphere was further lifted as the smooth elements of jazz began to play as Lil Louis ‘Why’d u fall’ was blasting through the tent, much to the delight of the revelling crowd who seemed truly captivated by the duo.
Onto the main stage, and Canadian techno heroes and headliners Art Department began their extraordinary set to a field of fans ready to be driven into a whirlpool of synth-driven house and techno. Comprising of Johnny White and Kenny Glasgow, the duo’s alias ‘Art Department’ have long established a distinctive and pioneering sound, consistently pushing the boundaries when it comes to their music. It was certainly an incredible experience to finally be able to see the pair in action, as their unique elements seem to captivate the crowd and infuse a sense of energy with the bridging together of each track, which was done so in an artistic way. The final act of the night to close the festival was the soulful house pioneer himself, Kerri Chandler. With an abundant body of work behind him, his renown bass-lines create instant excitement, intrinsically hooking between catchy choruses and impressive kick drums, marking him a true legend and ‘King Kerri’ to some. However, tonight’s set was much mellower from the usually up-beat soul DJ, and although the crowd were content, it failed to consume and amaze like his predecessors had done this day.
Eastern Electrics, although downgrading in size, has still managed to pull of an incredible, memorable and equally exciting display of DJs. I’ve attended all three years of the festival; although it doesn’t compare to last years, the atmosphere, acts and overall experience certainly didn’t fail to impress, and thousands of revellers would absolutely agree with me.
Proponents of a low-slung bass-infused house sound, Art Department join the party, alongside BPitch Control head and creative geniusEllen Allien, and deep house luminary and champion of all things soul Kerri Chandler. Chart-topping house upstart Route 94 is on the bill, as is Tania Vulcano, an underground force to be reckoned with, and acclaimed house and techno selector tINI rounds up The Six – but this is only the beginning; Eastern Electrics Festival is curating a lineup of more than 30 acts, soon to be announced.
And now Eastern Electrics Festival can also reveal the location of its new home, Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Coming to a stately home only 20 minutes outside of London, and only a minute’s walk from Hatfield train station, Eastern Electrics Festival celebrates the very best sounds coming from an electronic music scene that has never been so diverse, exciting or innovative. Providing a majestic setting for an inspirational lineup and rousing party atmosphere, Hatfield House is an impressive backdrop – and a solid home for one of the UK’s most revered electronic music events.
Promoter Rob Star presents the third annual edition of Eastern Electrics Festival this year: “The feedback from the event last year was so good that it made sense to stay in the Hertfordshire countryside, so we decided to relocate to the beautiful Hatfield House. It’s such a great move for us, and comes with the advantage of being right across the road from the train station, so you walk off the train and straight into the festival grounds.
“The new venue also means that we can retain all of the attractions that made last year’s event at Knebworth so special, including the Electric City, the fairground rides, the bespoke stages and our favourite pub the Star of EE. Hatfield House ticks all the boxes for us and we're certain that this will be the first of many Eastern Electrics Festival events here. Welcome to your new EE home!”
Worldwide known Californian rebels, a band famous for living the “sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll“ lifestyle, and the castout heroes of many generations, Guns ‘N’ Roses will perform on the Main Stage at this years Exit Festival. Led by the famous enfant terrible and the icon of rock ’n’ roll culture Axl Rose, “G n’ R“ have been missionaries of the rockers’ freedom, accumulating sales of more than 100 million albums worldwide. Guns N’ Roses earned their recognition and popularity in the 80s and the 90s with its music, which is a blend of hard rock, blues rock, heavy and glam metal, but also with their spectacular concerts, scandals and fights. Since their 1987 debut album Appetite For Destruction, Guns N’ Roses have produced some timeless rock anthems including; Sweet Child of Mine, November Rain, Paradise City, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Don’t Cry, or Welcome to the Jungle. Love em or hate them, you’ll be singing along to them. This will definitely be a show to watch!
The EXIT Dance Arena is world renowned for its incredible energy and setting – set within the moat of the fortress walls, it’s the no 1 party destination for dance music fans from around the world. 2012 will be another year of unadulterated electronic music of the highest calibre with Laurent Garnier LBS, Azari & III live and Brodinski being the newest artists to be announced. From techno to electro to dirty house to house with a disco twist, the Dance Arena covers all tastes and will keep you dancing all night long. Pushing cutting edge new talent and tipping its hat to the old school, the music in the arena never disappoints and the experience of dancing with 20,000 people as the sun rises over the fortress walls is truly mind blowing!
On Sunday 15th July French electronic music pioneer Laurent Garnier joins EXIT for an unforgettable finale with his new tour entitled ‘L.B.S’. Only three letters but several different meanings: "Laurent + Ben + Scan X", "Live Booth Sessions", "Loud Bass & Samples", LBS is a new, very club orientated project that will bring together Laurent Garnier (DJ & machines), Benjamin Rippert (keyboards) and Stephane "Scan X" Dri (machines). Straight out of the DJ booths of some of the best clubs on the planet, L.B.S offers the best of both worlds by combining the versatility and flexibility of the DJ set with the ability to experiment tracks live. Two decks, a Rhodes, several keyboards and machines will be used to create organic improvised four-hour sets guaranteed to work the dance floor and keep those feet moving. Laurent Garnier explains a little about his project "I especially want to carry on creating and exploring whether through Dj-ing or playing live. But also, get even closer to the public than we can in a festival. During the live sections of L.B.S I will be developing and fine-tuning new tracks in front of (and with) the crowd to create the live of the future, but also to test out new tracks. We’ll be taking our time, something that isn’t really the done thing nowadays!!” Laurent has always pushed the boundaries of electronic music and we can’t wait to see what this new project has in store for the 20,000 strong Dance Arena crowd. Watch L.B.S at Nuits Sonores here for a taste of what is to come
Saturday 14th July will see the enigmatic Canadian Azari & III take to the stage for a live performance. Having received many rave reviews in 2011 and produced highly regarded tracks such as ‘Hungry for the Power’ and ‘Reckless (With Your Love)’, this mysterious act have been active under various pseudonyms since the mid-90s, and have experimented with every genre, from garage rock to house and disco. Numerous original tracks and remixes vary from melancholic numbers with a slice of ambient, all the way to dancefloor anthems knit together with techno. Controversies associated with the first video for ‘Hungry for the Power’ which was deleted from Youtube for explicit content only fuelled the hype around them, with the debut album named after the band itself, which was released in August 2011 on Tiga’s Turbo Recordings, earning exquisite scores from critics and fans alike.
On Thursday 12th July Brodinski will take to the decks, closing the first night of the festival. Brodinski is one of the most exciting young producers to have emerged on the scene in the past few years. His sets contain everything from hard techno, pumped up house to old school and the freshest hip hop. The Brodinski stir-up started in October of 2007, when his first single Bad Runner saw the light of day. Brodinski surfed on the waves of glory in the best possible manner – the second EP, Oblivion soon followed, for the label Turbo Recordings, which was later followed by a compilation named The Best of Everything. The next logical step for the 24-year old was the formation of his very own label, named Bromance, in November of 2011. Brodinski started this year with another boom, a remix of a track named ‘On'n'On’, by the French duo Justice.
First of the acts for the elclectic Elektrana Stage are Danish electro pop band When Saints Go Machine. The four-piece band was formed in 2007, and their debut album named 'Ten Makes a Face’ was released two years later. This all-boy electro pop band, often compared to the likes of Bloc Party and Empire Of The Sun, replaced the electro pop melancholy of the first album on their new release named 'Konkylie', with a more mature sound and energetic tones, leaning towards dance electro as opposed to the previous Scandinavian pop effect. Combining vocoder and a colorful downbreaking electro effect, though associated more with indie rock than electro, WSGM are tieing together a unique frame, creating a new echo in the history of electro pop.
LINE UP SO FAR: Guns’n’Roses, New Order, Richie Hawtin, Gossip, Wolfmother, Luciano, Laurent Garnier LBS, Miss Kittin, Azari & III, Buraka Som Sistema, Art Department, Maceo Plex, Reboot live, Brodinksi, Kenny Larkin, Robert Dietz, Maayan Nidam… with much much more to be announced!
TICKETS: Early Bird Tickets: £85 plus booking fee SOLD OUT Loyalty Club Tickets: £89 plus booking fee Standard Tickets: £95 plus booking fee Camping Tickets: £25 plus booking fee VIP Tickets: £220 plus booking fee
