Award-winning dance music event We Are FSTVL have announced a staggering100 names for their anticipated 2015 event, ahead of returning to the ‘Field of Dreams’ in Upminster, Essex for the third year running on Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st May 2015. Featuring the likes of Carl Cox, Loco Dice, Pleasure State (live), Hannah Wants, Sven Väth, Jamie Jones, Seth Troxler, Adam Beyer, Ten Walls (live), Dennis Ferrer, Hot Since 82, Jackmaster and many more, We Are FSTVL have curated a line-up that firmly positions itself at the very heart of the international festival circuit and paves the way for their biggest year to date.
Having made a spectacular sell-out debut in 2013, We Are FSTVL has seen a rapid rise in the space of just two years. After doubling in size in their second year following unparalleled levels of demand, We Are FSTVL has since broken through in a massive way and now attracts crowds of over 30,000 from right across the UK.
Saturday 30th May The first to grace the festival’s main stage is dance music mainstay Carl Cox. Taking the reins from the likes of Disclosure and Fatboy Slim, Carl’s debut We Are FSTVL performance will be packed full of Ibiza spirit, whilst Seth Troxler is also set to unleash his universally recognised brand of techno on the Upminster crowd.Grammy nominated producer Nic Fanciulli is set to share his driving strain of house and techno, with the larger than life force of Solomun also set to cause a stir. In-demand producers Gorgon City and Hot Since 82 will also feature, joined by Anglo-American Second City and BBC Radio 1 tastemaker Monki.
Heading up Saturday’s techno Warehouse is Loco Dice’s Used + Abused party, whose thundering brand of techno is sure to kick things off in style. Drumcode head Adam Beyer and Berlin-based duo Tale of Us will be on hand to deliver their atmospheric take on deep house and techno, with special guest Recondite providing a melodic live set of his own. Fuse-boss Enzo Siragusa also make his We Are FSTVL debuts, with Yaya set to round off the day’s proceedings.
The ‘What Hannah Wants’ takeover of Saturday’s Big Top Bass stage brings a selection of artists at the heart of the UK’s bustling underground scene. Joining Hannah is iconic DJ and one half of ‘Can U Dance’ Oneman, who’s set to perform alongside PMR signee T Williams and the duo who recently charted at #3 in the UK singles charts with their rework of R Kelly’s ‘Bump & Grind’ – Waze & Odyssey. Black Butter’s My Nu Leng and Kidnap Kid will also be joining ranks, alongside up-and-comers GotSome and the enigmatic Friend Within.
Seminal house music label Defected are also to return to Upminster to showcase the latest and greatest names in electronic music. Danish visionary Noir is set to explore the darker edges of electronic music, whilst Berlin native Oliver Dollar will also feature, having stormed the UK charts with ‘Pushing On’ earlier this year. Label upstarts Sonny Fedora and Christoph will each deliver their distinctive twist of techno, disco and italo dynamics and wrapping up the label’s ‘Very Big Top’ arena are Sam Divine and Simon Dunmore – two producers at the heart of the imprint for over two decades.
Mark Knight’s newest offering of ‘Toolroom Live’ presents the label’s core artist roster in the festival’s luxury VIP village. After his recent remix of London Grammar’s ‘Sights’ became an Ibiza staple, Dennis Ferrer is set to deliver his iconic brand of tech-house, whilst Dirtybird-affiliate Shiba San and Tensnake both make their We Are FSTVL returns. German duo Tube & Berger are next in line, with the deep house sound of Wanklemut’s “My Head is a Jungle” also guaranteed to make an impression on the dance floor. Purple Disco Machine will then add a touch of soul to the line-up, which is rounded off by Toolroom residents Dosem and Weiss.
Sunday 31st May – Main Stage announcement imminent.
Returning to We Are FSTVL for the third year running are crowd favourites Cocoon, whose stage will be spearheaded by the undisputed king of techno Sven Väth.Joining him are Cocoon heroes Ilario Alicante and Ricardo Villalobos, whilst Âmeand Dixon will play an extended back-to-back set – a recent highlight of Fabric’s 15th Birthday weekend. To top this off Ten Walls, credited with producing one of the biggest tracks of the summer in ‘Walking with Elephants’, is also set to perform live.
Drum & Bass stalwarts Hospital Records are next to call the shots of We Are FSTVL’s ‘Big Top Bass’ arena. Boasting one of the largest line-ups at the festival, the label will be out in force to showcase the likes of Camo & Crooked, Logistics b2b Nu:Tone, Lynx, Fred V & Grafix and Etherwood. Special guests will also include garage legends DJ EZ & MJ Cole, as well as the joyful Toyboy & Robin, all supported by three of the leading MCs on the circuit; Lowqui, Wrec & Dynamite MC.
Bringing his acclaimed club night ‘Paradise’ back to Upminster is Hot Creations head Jamie Jones, who will be supported by label mates Richy Ahmed, Russ Yallopand WaFF. Prolific DJ and Viva Warriors frontman Steve Lawler will also be accompanied by Mark Jenkyns and rising star Patrick Topping, who’s recent single ‘Voicemail’ has been dominating the Beatport charts. DC10 residentJackmaster is next in line, whose eclectic music taste stretches from techno and house right the way through to classic disco and grime.
Back by popular demand is one of house music’s most sought after producers MK, whose ‘Area 10’ heads up Sunday’s VIP village. Joining MK are close friends Lee Foss and Anabel Englund, who will collectively perform as Pleasure State, having recently unveiled their debut release ‘Ghost in the System’. Purp&soul boss Ben Pearce will also feature, joined by up and coming producers andhim, Kant andShadow Child. A rare father-and-son performance from Kevin Saunderson andDantiez Saunderson will round off proceedings in fitting style.
Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Diplo, Disclosure, W&W and DJ Snake will headline the first of the two artist groups with: Skrillex, Alesso, Steve Aoki, Showtek, Dash Berlin and special guest Carl Cox leading the charge for the second group of Stereosonic artists. In a year of domination of world festival stages and charts we are very proud of our Australian acts returning from global shows this year to Stereosonic.
Calvin Harris, one of the world’s most biggest artists is thrilled to be returning to the region’s favourite electronic music festival: “I love Stereosonic! I’m looking forward to getting back out and playing in Australia.”
Several much loved and respected music brands will be partnering with Stereosonic this year indicating the level of respect Stereosonic has on the world stage within the industry. LA’s HARD, known for its Holy Ship! and HARD LA parties, will be taking charge of Main Stage 2 on one day. The highly respected Dutch brand ‘Awakenings,’ will be throwing down deep house and techno sounds, whilst Ferry Corsten will return with his iconic ‘FULL ON’ arena. Legendary record labels and electronic brands: Armada, OWSLA and Beatport will all make their arena debuts at an Australian festival, for Stereosonic.
Held over two weekends in five cities, Stereosonic continues to create an incredible experience for patrons, with breathtaking production and immaculate festival grounds, complimenting the world class line-up.
Stereosonic 2014 Artist Line-up:
Calvin Harris, Tiësto Diplo, Disclosure (DJ Set), W&W, DJ Snake Duke Dumont, Will Sparks, RL Grime, Peking Duk NERVO, Cedric Gervais, Cosmic Gate, Andrew Rayel Tale Of Us, Destructo, Ørjan Nilsen, Nina Kraviz Oliver Heldens, Wilkinson, Scuba, Cash Cash, Kölsch, MaRLo, Mano Le Tough, Shogun, Uberjak’d Mark Sixma, Nina Las Vegas, Timmy Trumpet M4SONIC, Tigerlily, Generik and L D R U & Yahtzel
Skrillex, Alesso, Steve Aoki Showtek, Dash Berlin, Carl Cox Porter Robinson (Live) Laidback Luke, New World Punx TJR, Ferry Corsten, Noisia, Deorro, Headhunterz, MK DVBBS, Booka Shade (Live), Markus Schulz, What So Not Joel Fletcher, John O’Callaghan, Foreign Beggars Hot Since 82, Alison Wonderland, Crookers, Jack Beats The Aston Shuffle, Route 94, Simon Patterson, Alex Metric Deetron, Kaz James, Ilan Bluestone, Acid Jacks and Nick Thayer
MCs: MC Stretch and MC Losty
Arenas: HARD, FULL ON, Awakenings, OWSLA, Armada and Beatport
Sydney – Saturday November 29th and Sunday November 30th, Sydney Showgrounds Perth – Saturday November 29th and Sunday November 30th, Claremont Showground * Adelaide – Friday December 5th and Saturday December 6th, Adelaide Showground Melbourne – Saturday December 6th & Sunday December 7th, Melbourne Showgrounds Brisbane – Saturday December 6th & Sunday December 7th, Brisbane Showgrounds
Into its fourth year, High Definition moved to a new venue to deliver its biggest line-up to date. On 5 July 2014 a short bus ride from Tunbridge Wells’ train station lead to the stately Eridge Park which seemed more befitting to a Jane Austen Period drama than an all-out dance fuelled Saturday festival.
A surprisingly slow queue opened out into a large grassed space circled by various tents and surrounded by some truly impressive views of the countryside. Heading straight to the bar following instructions to purchase drink tokens for all liquid transactions we found the £5 beers quite reasonable. There was also a wide range of beverages available if beer wasn’t your thing.
The festival was well put together with two bars, one at either side of the site, two large tents and a few smaller tents, with some fairground rides you would have found at an old-school rave situated at the center. The main stage was tucked away at the back of the field which worked well in delivering minimal through traffic for the crowd who were there to see Carl Cox, Marco Carola and Jon Rundell.
The sound systems were solid and the DJs looked like they were having a lot of fun across the board. Carl Cox delivered a classic set late in the afternoon in the bright sunshine sun to everyone’s surprise because of the forecast of rain. Oneman, as usual did not disappoint in the evening playing to the packed out Digital Arena before Gorgon City stepped up and played their recent hits, as well as Ten Walls’ Walking with Elephants, a personal favorite of mine and what seemed to be everyone else’s too.
An apparent no-show from Ms Dynamite disappointed a few people but there was plenty to make up for it; Huxley, Midland and Bicep had the crowds firmly in their grasp throughout their sets and delivered beat after beat to warm receptions.
If you wanted to up the tempo with a trip to the Epidemik rave tent it was best to get in there early and experience a stand out display from Eksman and Logan-D taking us through the late and great years of DnB, one rewind at a time.
High Definition provided a great day out with big acts and a vibe I would be happy to return for.
The Summer Festival Guide can reveal the lineup to one of the worlds biggest electronic music festivals Tomorrowland which takes place in the town of Boom in Belgium.
Taking place over two weekends in July, the first phase announcement of artists include the following:
Friday 18 July
Armin van Buuren Benny Benassi Carl Cox Dada Life Dillon Francis Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Diplo Dirty South Eric Prydz Jamie Jones Loco Dice Martin Solveig Netsky Roger Sanchez Yves V Zeds Dead Steve Aoki
Saturday 19 July
Afrojack Alesso DVBBS Ferry Corsten Hardwell Hernan Cattaneo Jeff Mills Kaskade Knife Party Laidback Luke New World Punx Nero Pretty Lights Sander van Doorn Sven Väth Tiësto Tommy Trash Yves V
Sunday 20 July
Dave Clarke Derrick Carter Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Erol Alkan Green Velvet Krewella Markus Schulz Nicky Romero Paul Kalkbrenner Paul van Dyk Steve Angello The Magician Vitalic (Live) Steve Aoki
Friday 25 July
Armin van Buuren Benny Benassi Carl Cox Dillon Francis Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Diplo Eric Prydz Jamie Jones Knife Party Loco Dice Netsky Roger Sanchez Yves V Zeds Dead Steve Aoki Martin Garrix
Saturday 26 July
Above & Beyond Alesso Bassnectar DVBBS Ferry Corsten Hardwell Hernan Cattaneo Jeff Mills Kaskade Laidback Luke Martin Solveig Nero Sander van Doorn Sven Väth Tommy Trash Tiësto Yves V
Sunday 27 July
Dave Clarke Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike Erol Alkan Green Velvet Krewella Markus Schulz Nicky Romero Paul Kalkbrenner Paul van Dyk Steve Angello The Magician Vitalic (Live) Steve Aoki
On Friday, July 11th, the Dance Arena of the EXIT festival will again have the highest class of honour to host the famous 'Carl Cox vs Friends' night. Not only was EXIT one of the first festivals to host this concept in 2005, but since then it has been presented at the biggest world festivals, and it's made up of carefully selected representatives of the new waves of electronic music, as well as the genre's greats that tickle Cox’s fancy!
Carl Cox is coming back to the Petrovaradin Fortress to defend his title as one of the best in class, mind-shattering DJs ever, and to shatter the ground under Dance Arena gladiator’s feet once again. Everyone's memory is entrenched with his legendary b2b gig (VIDEO: http://bit.ly/1iAf7Ig) with Green Velvet in 2009 when he performed wearing a t-shirt that wrote 'Dance Arena Saved My Life.', Cox is excited for this year’s edition and said this about his colossal gig: “Cannot wait to get back and do it all over again. It was truly amazing the last time around. :) x”
There aren't a lot of things this man hasn't done yet – there's the cult residency in Ibiza that’s been going on for 13 years now; two DJ sets at the beginning of the new millennium – in two different time zones; a gig in front of 1 500 000 people at the Love Parade in Berlin… all the while spreading his venerable message of love for music and life. This year he’s bringing his group of music friends to make the loudest, biggest party that’ll last until the soothing light of a summer’s day dawn.
CARL COX vs DANNY TENAGLIA A music ambassador, acid house veteran, techno champion and father of the British rave scene, Carl Cox, together with the best NY DJ who has more than 200 production works, the legendary Danny Tenaglia, will battle out one of the most exclusive electronic music b2b sets at this year’s EXIT! These two giants with careers that lasted longer than tree decades will definitely give the best Dance Arena in the world a new dimension of unforgettable fun.
BEN KLOCK vs MARCEL DETTMANN Two of the hottest guys in techno at the moment, Ben and Marcel, based in Berlin, the indispensable ingredient of the scene this city helped flush out, and two of the most important names in newer history of techno music, are coming for the first time to the Dance Arena to show why their six hour sets, sometimes even twelve hour marathons in the cult club Berghain are one of the most anticipated events in the calendar of every Berlin clubber.
EATS EVERYTHING vs CASSY This dynamic duo are going to set alight the foundations of the fortress. Eats Everything is renowned for his forward thinking underground sets, while also boasting remixes for Jamie Jones, Four Tet, Adam F and having his records played by the likes of Seth Troxler, Skream to Redlight. He was awarded 'Best British DJ in 2011' and stands to true form with this accolade. Catherine Britton aka Cassy the Caribbean-born and British-raised resident of the famous club Panoramabar in Berlin, Cassy has worked so far in her career with huge names such as Luciano, Mathew Jonson, Ricardo Villalobosa and Steve Bug. This is of the most interesting pairings, and will be a sure delight!
PLANETARY ASSAULT SYSTEMS LIVE Planetary Assault Systems is the most influential alias of the famous techno representative, Luke Slater who's been dominating the techno scene for more than twenty years now. Luke is a master of the dynamic futuristic techno, and his last two albums under this alias were published under the important Berlin label Ostgut Ton. He’s coming to EXIT with his exceptional and dynamic live gig and is going to blow minds away both sonically and visually. We can’t wait. This year's Exit Dance Arena is set to be one of the most remembered in dance music history. Stay tuned for the rest of the line up revealed over the next few weeks.
LINE UP SO FAR Damon Albarn, Carl Cox vs Danny Tengalia, Disclosure LIVE, Rudimental LIVE, Skrillex LIVE, Ben Klock vs Marcel Dettmann, Carl Craig vs Green Velvet, Dub FX, Dusky vs Paul Woolford, Eats Everything vs Cassy Jackmaster & Oneman presents ‘Can U Dance’, Koven LIVE, Planetary Assault Systems LIVE,
This years sold out High Definition Festival announces some huge artists to its lineup for the 2014 edition. Headling this years HD Festival is the legendary Carl Cox, and joining him on the bill are some of the biggest players in the electronic music industry.
Consisting of producers James Tadgell and John Clare as well as singer Vanya Taylor, London trio All About She are bringing a whole new dynamic to the music scene. Having already worked with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, Wookie and Wretch 32, All About She are a name to watch out for in 2014.
As one third of Magnetic Man alongside Skream and Benga, Artwork has carved a reputation as a true pioneer of the dubstep sound. His presence at the forefront of the bass heavy genre has seen him collaborate with the likes of Katy B, John Legend and Ms Dynamite.
High Definition Festival 2014 will also see a collaborative performance from Drum & Bass DJ and MC duo, Brockie & MC Det. Brockie’s credentials stem back to the formative years of pirate radio whilst MC Det is a legend in his own right having a career that stems all the way back to the early days of jungle.
Canadian DJ, producer, remixer and radio presenter B. Traits brings her selection of forward thinking, high energy, future music not only to her BBC Radio 1 show, ‘The Late Night Chameleon Club’ but also festival slots encompassing Glastonbury, Love Saves The Day, Hideout, Global Gathering and now thankfully High Definition 2014.
Electro house producer and live DJ Charlie Hedges talents have seen her become the presenter of the 4.4 million weekly listener Kiss FM Breakfast Show as well as presenting the Saturday night House Mix Show. Expect a mix of old and new house cuts and the best in EDM.
One of the co-founders of influential Drum & Bass label Full Cycle Recordings and a member of Roni Size’s Mercury Prize winning group Reprazent, DJ Dieis a true representative of the cultural hotbed and revolutionary dance capitol that Bristol has become over the last 20 years.
Comprising of London based producers, Nick Harriman and Alfie Granger-Howell, Dogmatik signees Dusky have been reigning the techno world in the underground club scene since 2011, and their debut LP ‘Stick by This’ was an instant hit. With the support of techno producers from Jamie Jones to Pete Tong and Joy Orbison and championing by the likes of Annie Mac, Diplo, Skream and Seth Troxler, their track ‘Flo Jam’ gained the unexpected accolade iTunes Dance Single of the Year.
The classically trained piano player-cum-house producer Filsonik creates tunes with feet in both the formal music and streetwise dance camps. Born from the culturally rich and iconic New York house scene, the DJ’s career has seen him work very closely with fellow High Definition performers and house legends The Martinez Brothers. From Ibiza residencies to extensive European tours, he is a performer of a world-class calibre.
Since his break into house music in 2010, George Fitzgerald has released a steady stream of house tracks featuring his notorious garage and r&b infused bass lines. 2012 saw George’s track ‘Child’ become a club hit, and highlighted his sound among other similar producers such as Disclosure and Duke Dumont in a new wave of well-crafted garage hooks and club-ready tracks. He now resides in Berlin when he’s now playing sell out tours or deep house club sets.
Both respected for their individual pursuits, Matt and Kye now make up distinctive North London producers Gorgon City. They face another exciting year as the most hotly-tipped duo in house music after their enormous successes with last year’s collaborations ‘Real’ ft Yasmin, ‘Ready for Your Love’ with MNEK, and ‘Intentions’ with Clean Bandit. Their polished, club-savvy sounds caught the attention of Annie Mac, Eats Everything and Mistajam and Gorgon City quickly became the soundtrack to 2013’s best club nights and festivals.
With her star rapidly on the rise, self-taught Birmingham DJ Hannah Wants(aka Hannah Alicia Smith) mixes the best in house with her own distinctly bass heavy sound. Having appeared alongside the iikes of Annie Mac, Disclosure, SBTRKT and Magnetic Man High Definition welcomes the addition of this upcoming young DJ to this year’s festival.
Born out of Hip Hop and now with both feet firmly in the world of Drum & Bass, the Harry Shotta Show perfectly showcases the skills of who is clearly one of the most gifted and versatile MCs in the UK. His talents have seen him conquer festivals and radio alike and his live show is one that is sure to turn heads at this year’s festival.
Following a chance meeting and hitting it off in a Brighton club Jon Rundellwas signed to headliner Carl Cox’s record label, Intec. Jon’s music and infamous remixes have won him support across the techno world from the likes of Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, and Dubfire and across the years he has performed in huge venues all over the world including a residency at The End and headline shows in Ibiza. His set is sure to be utterly unmissable.
Special guest Joy Orbison, aka London based producer Peter O’Grady’s style is a sublime mixture of house, techno and dubstep. His debut single ‘Hyph Mngo’ made him an underground success, which translated into worldwide airplay and club spins. Peter credits his uncle drum n bass DJ Ray Keith for getting him into DJ’ing at the age of 13 and since then he has played numerous festivals and dance floors all over the world, formed his own label and club and has topped respected DJ magazine lists to the acclaim of his peers.
Dedicated Drum & Bass DJ and producer Logan-D’s career has seen him expand from not only a dance floor filler and razor-sharp selector to a label boss and party promoter. His Low Down Deep raves have continued to grow and placed both him and his parties as the stuff of genuine scene legend.
Mampi Swift is the very definition of a legend. Having begun his career way back in the early 90s he shows no signs of abating and last years self released album ‘History’ saw him gain huge DJ support form the likes of Andy C, Sub Focus, Netsky, Chase N Status, Friction and 1Xtra DJ Bailey.
Multi award winning Drum & Bass hero MC Eksman’s flow rocketed him into the scene with a flow unlike any other and a lyricism of a substance that is so often lacking from modern Drum & Bass. A champion of underground MC talent and an ongoing talent, Eksman is not one to be missed.
A true pioneer of the early British hardcore sound under various monikers, the man now known as MC IC3 comes to High Definition 2014 with an old school attitude and a retained relevance that will surely have younger MCs in awe.
Leeds born and London based DJ and producer Midland’s career has seen him defy categorisation and taken him from remixes for the likes of Caribou, Washed Out and Stateless through to his own garage, house and bass encompassing work. Pulling influence from almost every corner of the musical world, it’s no wonder that his unique sound has garnered him attention and club spins worldwide.
MistaJam should really need no introduction to any discerning hip-hop fan. His BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ slot has made him an authority in the UK underground and his vital, energetic live DJ sets make him a firm crowd favourite.
The recipient of the Mercury Music Prize, two BRIT Awards and three MOBOs, Ms Dynamite is a true legend of UK hip-hop and R&B. The north London native is no stranger to keeping a festival crowd going and with iconic hits the likes of ‘Dy-Na-Mi-Tee’ to bring out with her, expect a very special set indeed.
Bristol based, Black Butter Records duo My Nu Leng’s sound is one that consistently defies categorization. Their bass heavy sounds have seen them provide remixes to the likes of Naughty Boy, Rudimental and fellow Black Butter family members Clean Bandit as well as hugely popular performances at the likes of Fabric, Motion and Snowbombing, the duo are not to be missed at Eridge Park this year.
South London DJ Oneman’s musical career began in the world of underground pirate radio. He now performs weekly shows on Rinse FM and is loved for his blends of dubstep, grime, UK hip-hop and garage. He has released two albums with Fabric Live and Rinse FM, completed a US tour, supported SBTRKT, and played festivals all over Europe.
DJ Lipmaster Mark and MC Evenson Allen make up the two halves of old school Breakbeat, Drum & Bass and House duo Ratpack. Having joined forces way back at the birth of the warehouse and rave scene in 1985, the pair’s sound still holds strong with performances at the likes of Glastonbury, Global Gathering, Gatecrasher and Ministry Of Sound proving to be ever popular.
Roska’s immediately distinctive sound and ear for swung-house percussion and ridiculously heavy sub-bass separate him from his contemporaries in a way that is so often missing in modern dance music. Having founded his own label, Roska Kicks & Snares, you can still find Roska smashing basement venues countrywide as well as catching him at the likes of the prestigious Glastonbury, Bloc, Lowlands and Sonar festivals.
The name Route 94 is shrouded in mystery and surrounded by rumours suggesting that he is actually a successful act under a new alias. All we know is that he exploded onto the scene last year and has produced some of the sickest remixes around such as ‘Forget the Girl’, ‘Freak’, and Storm Queen’s ‘Look Right Through’. 2014 looks to be an exciting year for this mysterious act.
Rinse FM DJ Sam Supplier’s Friday afternoon radio show is the ideal primer for a weekend of raving and High Definition will see him bring his energetic blend of House and Garage to the mass crowds this summer!
Shy FX has, since his debut in 1992, been an authority and a true force in UK D&B and Jungle. Remaining relevant as ever, when not producing or taking his stunning DJ set on the road he can be found releasing notable younger talent the likes of dubstep pioneers Skream, Benga and Caspa as well as fellow Drum and Bass artists Breakage and Calibre via his Digital Soundboy label.
Bronx natives Steve and Chris aka The Martinez Brothers most recently performed for High Definition at the spectacular and sold out London warehouse party last year. Their love of high energy house and techno sets first developed at the world famous Circo Loco in Ibiza’s DC10, they now enjoy a hectic touring schedule across the globe from their native USA to Tokyo, and frequent European trips bringing with them a fusion of Latin jazz, disco and salsa vibes that never fail to keep a crowd on their feet. This year’s High Definition Festival will see them perform an incredible six-hour set!
Veteran Just Jack resident, promoter, label boss and underground house and techno DJ and producer Tom Rio should need no introduction to any discerning dance enthusiast. Born in Brazil but cutting his teeth musically in Holland, Tom’s eventual move to Bristol has seen him become a key part in a scene that few could deny is responsible for a true house revolution.
British DJ and producer Will Saul’s sounds are based in deep house, disco and techno, containing flashes of soul and Motown, which wouldn’t be out of place in the early days of Detroit. Not only gaining a reputation as an esteemed DJ, he has remixed for artists from Little Dragon to Solomun and Scuba to name a few. If his residency at London’s The End was anything to go by, Will knows how to keep the crowd going, and High Definition is excited have him for 2014.
Benjamin Pettit is better known as DJ Zinc, and loved by ravers for his unmistakable drum n bass, ragga, house, and breaks sounds. Zinc is still going strong since the early 90’s, when he became well known for his undisputed classic anthem ‘Super Sharp Shooter’. The track became one of the pivotal sounds of the jungle/ drum and bass movement and Zinc was never afraid to inject some Jamaican dub and ragga sounds into his sets. Zinc went on to do time on London’s pirate radio scene, before hitting the underground rave scenes where he has stayed ever since.
Following a historic, sold out debut edition in 2013, in which over 103,000 sun seekers flocked to Croatia’s idyllic Dalmatian coast from more than 75 countries worldwide, ULTRA EUROPE now gears up for its second annual installment, as it expands to 3 days and releases that all-important Phase One line up!
Now taking place over THREE days in the impressive Poljud Stadium, Split (formerly two days) from July 11–13, 2014, Ultra Europe will be welcoming both familiar faces and new in 2014, as it sets to firmly cement itself amongst the heavyweights, as a ‘must do’ festival in the annual calendar.
Headlining Ultra Europe 2014 (listed in alphabetical order) will be global megastars Afrojack, Armin van Buuren,Carl Cox, David Guetta, Hardwell and Tiësto – all of whom will look to set the majestic arenas ablaze with their unique brands of high-octane electronic soundscapes. In addition to this clutch of greats, even more quality of the highest order has been added to the line up for 2014, in the form of Blasterjaxx, Fedde Le Grand, Laidback Luke, Martin Garrix, Nicky Romero and W&W (also in alphabetical order).
Although Early Bird and Advance General Admission tickets for the second ever Ultra Europe both sold out in a matter of hours after going on sale at the end of last year, the final release of GA tickets are now available at the price of €129 for ALL three days of the festival.
With more than 150,000 fans expected to travel from over 100 countries worldwide, be sure to head over to theOfficial Ultra Europe Website to pick up your tickets soon to avoid disappointment.
As if this wasn’t quite enough for Ultra Europe fans to sink their teeth into, event organizers can reveal that a separate ULTRA BEACH event will be taking place on Tuesday 15th July. Details on location, ticket and all other information will be announced soon so watch this space!
ANJA SCHNEIDER / ANTONY NAPLES / B-TRAITS / BEN PEARCE / BICEP / BREAKAGE / CARL COX B2B NIC FANCIULLI / DAVID RODIGAN MBE / DISMANTLE / DJ EZ / DUSKY / GORGON CITY / GEORGE FITZGERALD / HORSE MEAT DISCO / J.G. WILKES (OPTIMO) / JAMES ZABIELA / KIDNAP KID / MIDLAND / MISTAJAM / PAUL WOOLFORD / PBR STREETGANG / PSYCHEMAGIC / RODRIGUEZ JNR (LIVE) / ROMAN FLUGEL / SCUBA / SHY FX / SPECIAL REQUEST / WILL SAUL / YOUSEF
As a special ADE treat, Snowbombing has released a small snippet of what to expect at next year’s festival, to whet your whistle. With more announcements to follow, including one of the most exciting headline acts to date, the initial DJ line-up already reads like a ‘Who’s Who?’ of the crème of global turntable talent.
After rating Snowbombing as one of his “2013 highlights”, Carl Cox is returning, with a brand new twist up his sleeve. For 2014 Carl will play back to back with Saved Records boss and Grammy nominated, Nic Fanciulli. The double act will battle it out in a three dimensional boxing ring placed slap bang in the middle of the Racket Club.
Carl Cox said “I can’t wait to play one of the most important festivals of the year again, I was waiting to play Snowbombing for so long, as so many amazing Dj's and live acts have played there and had an amazing time with the party people. If you love the snow and enjoy all kinds of fantastic music, this is the only one. I loved it in 2013, and I cannot wait to go back”
Reggae royalty David Rodigan MBE and his soundsystem will also make a welcome return for Snowbombing 2014. After hosting last year’s Street Party, Rodigan is no stranger to the alpine air and we can’t wait to have him back.
Having been in the industry for over 10 years, the four man DJ collective Horse Meat Disco, are making their long awaited snowy disco return for 2014. Jim Stanton said:
“We’re super excited to be throwing a party at Snowbombing with some of our favourite DJs.
“It’s one of the most unique events I can think of, blending the best in skiing and snowboarding with the best electronic music in the world”.
Also confirmed and bringing back the old school, is the legendary DJ EZ. He will be joined by one of the biggest names on the German electronic music scene, Roman Flugel who will make his first Snowbombing appearance. Redlight is also returning andwill be joined by turntable technician James Zabiela, “perpetual motion machine”, Anja Schneider and BBC Radio 1xtra and Snowbombing’s loving uncle MistaJam.
Hot Flush head honcho Scuba along with Purp & Soul’s main man Ben Pearce, Digital Soundboy Shy FX, New Yorker Antony Naples and Bonar Bradberry and Tom Thorpe AKA PBR Streetrgang will also be on hand to shake the snow from the trees.
Other outstanding artists joining the blizzard of bookings are B-Traits, Bicep, Breakage, Dismantle, Dusky, GorGon City, George Fitzgerald, J.G Wilkes (Optimo), Kidnap Kid, Midland, Paul Woolford, Psychemagic, Rodriguez JNR (Live), Special Request, Will Saul and Yousef.
With an avalanche of exciting live acts and more DJs soon to be announced, watch this space as Snowbombing 2014 looks set to be biggest show on snow to date!
Snowbombing is also delighted to welcome back both Resident Advisor and Mixmag as media partners for 2014. Let the good times roll!
Prices start at £219 for accommodation and all the entertainment. So don’t be shy, secure your place at the World’s greatest and wackiest show on snow. And, hold tight deposits are only £125 – what at steal!
HMS Bestival is finally steaming back into home waters. Our trusty and now slightly rusty ship and crew have just spent the last decade cruising the high seas, dodging pirates in tropical climes and partying with natives on moonlit beaches. Now it’s time to come home to celebrate 10 years of Bestival on the Isle of Wight. All aboard for the journey home to The Port!
Bestival HQ have been busy working on how to mark a decade of Bestival’s passing and have come up with our most ambitious and largest project onsite since we began. The Port is a landlocked harbour with HMS Bestival as its centrepiece surrounded by a pier, nautical sideshows and all the action of a bustling port…in a festival!
The Port will boast state of the art sound provided by Funktion One, hi-tech lasers and LED screens and a boatload of pyro exploding from HMS Bestival’s funnels. DJs will man the bridge, steering the good ship through day and night of techno and house with many of the world’s leading DJs playing on this hyppereal ship.
Taking a little time out from reaching for the lasers Rob da Bank says: I'm probably more excited about this new stage for Bestival than anything else in the last decade of creating fun and mental spaces for people to party on. We've got a tree you can rave inside, a forest with films and a giant metal spider that breathes fire but we've never had a life sized ship transmitting the best techno and house DJs across the waves while lasers strafe the crowd and a lighthouse booms its foghorn!
“This whole new field is going to be an all night maritime adventure with dirty little rum bars, enticing brothels and sea shanties ringing out from random sailor folk in every corner. It'll have crazy aerial displays and a bucket load of pyro that will blow your mind, it's the dance arena to end all dance arenas and it’s gonna go off. If you want to know where the party’s at, it's at The Port."
Manning the bridge of our incredible 24m long ocean going liner will be a cavalcade of the finest names to grace club culture, a veritable who’s who of Bestival Classics. Friday night headlining action will come courtesy of the Plastikman himself Richie Hawtin. Saturday will see a triumphant Annie Mac Presents selection and Sunday will be brought to a cataclysmically joyous end by the one and only Carl Cox. We will also have the cream of the dance music scene to smash up The Port’s dancefloor, including the newly announced Knife Party’s explosive fusions of bass and beats, Kiss FM’s DJ EZ who will be dropping majestic garage goodness, the mighty Toddla T Sound who will be ripping up the fiery techno-dub, hirsute duo The 2 Bears who will administer some euphoric hands-in-the-air action, turntable ninja Jaguar Skills who will be serving up his genre swerving cut & paste bedlam, and back to back mayhem from Bestival favourites Phat Phil Cooper And Russ Cuban.
Commenting on his Friday night headline slot, Richie Hawtin said: "I'm excited to return to Bestival this year for the 10th anniversary. I'm not sure what I'm more excited for – headlining The Port, or having the chance to hear my brother Matthew play again inside Bestival's incredible Wishing Tree."
Commenting on his Sunday night headline slot Carl Cox said: "Bestival's always an amazing festival with great people, and hopefully good weather! Cannot wait to return and check out their brand new arena – The Port".
And remarking on Saturday’s AMP line-up Annie Mac added: “We're so happy to be back at Bestival for 2013 and bringing AMP to the all new Bestival Port stage! We've got such an exciting mix of DJs from the UK garage legend that is DJ EZ, to the Bristol house dons Julio Bashmore and Eats Everything. We'll be bringing proper party carnival vibes through Toddla T Sound, as well as showcasing brand new talent from the likes of Cyril Hahn. AMP at Bestival 2013 is looking forward to offering up one of the most skilled and fun line up of DJs we've ever had, DJs who will no doubt provide you with many a special Bestival moment. Cannot wait to see you there!”
With a lighthouse come helter skelter a Dockers Bar, amazing aerial performances from a huge crane, delicious dancing girls and camp sailor boys on stage, plus dance podiums throughout the arena for the crowd, a coruscating brilliance of unbelievable pyrotechnics, sparkle, flame and fire effects, confetti, and smoking funnels, The Port is where you’re going to want to be. There will be a mega DJ line-up all weekend long that will include the previously announced Seth Troxler, Julio Bashmore, Maya Jane Coles, Erol Alkan, Duke Dumont, Eats Everything, Cyril Hahn, Hospitality Bestival Take Over Featuring High Contrast, Danny Byrd, Nu:Logic, Fred V & Grafix Hosted By Wrec & Dynamite, Marcel Dettmann, Heidi, Ed Rush and Jesse Rose.
