Following its premier showcase at EDC Las Vegas in June 2015, the modified Crystal Village stage will makes its debut at EDC UK on Saturday 9 July, hosting some of the biggest international names in dance music. Fans now have a chance to catch a glimpse of the wonders that await them with the official EDC UK Crystal Village Trailer, here.
Taking centre stage at the kineticFIELD and standing a massive 30 metres tall by 70 metres wide, the fully immersive Crystal Village spectacle will tower over revellers during performances by Avicii, Axwell / Ingrosso, Martin Garrix, Oliver Heldens, Eric Prydz, Robin Schulz and Martin Solveig.
The stage’s unique design encompasses all four elements – earth, fire, water and air in a visual representation displaying EDC’s most prominent pillars; technology, art and nature. The beautiful Crystal Village houses cascading waterfalls, a fog-breathing dragon, two statuesque owls and the central crystal-like owl figurine illuminated by over 1,000 lighting fixtures, more than 400 video tiles, 28 lasers, flames of all colours, 15 co2 cannons, and hundreds of streamer units in a multi-sensory experience where state of the art technical production meets the world’s best DJs and producers.
Check out the roster of mind-blowing talent performing across four incredible stages at EDC UK 2016 below:
Reigning champions of the DJ Mag top 100 DJ’s poll and Best European DJ Award winners at the International Dance Music Awards 2014 and 2015; Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, will be returning to the National Bowl for another spectacular performance. EDC’s favourite Belgian brothers will bring their unique live performance to the Crystal Village Stage for an astounding display of electronic music and technical production.
Making his EDC UK debut on the fully immersive Crystal Village Stage will be 2015’s third highest selling artist on Beatport; Dutch house maestro Don Diablo, whose remix portfolio includes the likes of Madonna and Ed Sheeran. Ground-breaking Australian producer Alison Wonderland also joins the line up with next-level production and intricate sets planned for the National Bowl; a truly unmissable experience.
Now recognised as one of the UK’s most influential drum ‘n’ bass artists and after recent back to back sold out Brixton Academy shows, legend of his genre Andy C will be bringing his distinctive London sound to EDC’s CircuitGROUNDS stage.
Check out the full roster of mind-blowing talent performing across four incredible stages at EDC UK 2016:
The world renowned Electric Daisy Carnival returned to the UK on 11 July for its 3rd edition.
One week before the festival excitement on social media was reaching its peak. Around this time I stumbled across a group on Facebook for people going solo to EDC. By the day of the festival there were over a 100 people in this group from not only all corners of the UK but from further afield too.
A number of us decided to meet up at Lake Furzton, Milton Keynes, close to the festival site, the morning of a festival. The sun was shining and we were all in good spirits. A short while after the gates opened we made the short walk over to the north entrance of the National Bowl where entry was dealt with quickly and efficiently.
I soon hit the KineticFIELD, a lush green and wooded area which is set in a gigantic bowl meaning no matter where you stood in the arena you had a great view of the stunning KineticCATHEDRAL main stage. With a glowing neon pipe organ bookended by gigantic, 45 foot tall twin owls, the stage played host to a full stage show incorporating dozens of performers, and of course DJs including Steve Aoki and Hardwell, that unfolded throughout the day. The 90 feet high and 240 feet wide structure weighs more than 200 tons. It featured 20 multi-coloured lasers and multiple massive LED screens, giving the illusion of detailed stained-glass windows to match the cathedral theme.
I took a break from the KineticFIELD to check out the rest of the site. It was a very hot day but at the chill tent the wellbeing crew were on hand giving out water and sun cream to festivalgoers (or Headliners as EDC prefers to call us). This was a nice touch.
Around the back of the main arena I came across the NeonGARDEN. The stand out set here came from headliner Jamie Jones.
I walked a little further and hit the CircuitGROUNDS, a playground for lovers of bass heavy beats. This large tent was very busy all day and Pendulum and Sub Focus went down a storm.
My favourite of the smaller arenas was the CosmicMEADOW where the sweet sounds of trance and electronic rang out. Cosmic Gate put in an awesome performance in the afternoon. Later in the evening trance legend Ferry Corsten showcased his new track Anahera under his alias Gouryella. Paul Van Dyk headlined this stage to a smaller than usual crowd due to his clash with Tiesto in the KineticFIELD.
At 9.30pm most of the 35,000+ ravers descended on the KineticFIELD to see the aforementioned legend that is Tiesto close the show. He was accompanied by a full on stage show including fireworks, waterfalls and streamers. It was a sight to behold from up on the hill. His set included my personal favourite, his iconic remix of Adagio for Strings.
Photo courtesy of Insomniac
EDC UK is a very well organised festival in a wonderland setting. It has excellent production values not only on the main stage but in all four arenas. EDC UK has established itself as a festival big boy so the others had better watch out!
Today the world-famous dance music festival Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) announced four more additions to the already incredible lineup. Joining some of themost talented and popular acts in dance music at EDC will be Dirty South, Kill The Buzz, My Nu Leng and Sick Individuals.
Dirty South the Australian based DJ has been nominated for both Arias and Grammys for his work remixing and producing the hottest artists on the planet including Snoop Dogg, The Pussycat Dolls and U2. Alongside his nominations Dirty Southhas won numerous awards and accolades internationally including reaching Number One in the Australian Club Charts and ranking in DJ mag’s Top 100 DJs poll every year since 2007.
The Bristol-based twosome, My Nu Leng, who were nominated for the “Best Newcomer” Award at the DJ Awards back in 2014 are known for their electric and highly rated remixes of summertime favourites such as “Right Here” by Rudimental. One of the most promising young acts to emerge in the electronic dance scene is Dutch duo, Sick Individuals, who started out writing television commercials and have since gone on to produce remixes that have hit the world by storm, including the much loved track, “I Love It,” by Icona Pop.
FURTHER LINEUP ADDITIONS: 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 VeniceBeach, 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 ownFriction 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 amouthwatering 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, andSimon 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.
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)
Originating from the USA, Electric Daisy Carnival, or EDC as it is more widely known, made its second trip across the pond to the UK this weekend, transforming Milton Keynes outdoor National Bowl into an entertainment spectacle.
Riding on the success of last years London based event, EDC 2014 offered a who's who of chart-topping EDM, (electronic dance music) producers, best known for their knob-twiddling skills and dance music know how.
Aside from the music, one of EDC's unique selling points (persistently featured in the promo videos) was the scale of special effects on offer. Promising the UK's largest ever 360 degree LED light display, pyrotechnics and hundreds of weird and wonderful performers, the organisers clearly aimed to make their event just as visually appealing as the music itself.
Musically, this years EDC boasted a diverse line up of British and European producers, with EDM duo Bassjackers opening the main stage at midday before Avicii's headline set in the late evening, with chart hits 'You Make Me' and 'Wake Me Up' lighting up the bowl.
Earlier in the day, Calvin Harris played a mid-afternoon set, including recent number ones 'Summer' and 'Under Control', with the majority of the crowd on each other's shoulders early on. It was a busy day for Harris, who hurried off to play a main stage set at T in the Park where he was joined and introduced by Will Smith! Not a bad day for Calvin, who achieved eight top-ten hits from his 2012 album, '18 Months'.
Meanwhile, over on the Cosmic Meadow stage, house music was the order of the day if EDM drops became too much for some. Route 94, who scored a number one earlier this year with his piano house track 'My Love' featuring vocals from Jess Glynne, opened the stage at 1pm with a well received set. Later on, Leeds success story Hot Since 82, real name Daley Padley, performed an evening set of deep house drawing on tracks from his album 'Little Black Book'.
Back at the Kinetic Field main stage, 19-year-old Dutch producer Martin Garrix, who topped the chart with the inescapably catchy 'Animals', which is given an outing today, as well as follow-up top-ten track 'Wizard and a remix of Empire of the Sun's 'Alive' drew a large crowd. Mixing Naughty Boy and Sam Smith's number one 'La La La' with his own new single 'Tremor', the chorus bass drops team with confetti and smoke machines going off in unison.
Next up was Steve Aoki, who is currently hosting his Aoki Play House residency in Ibiza, here making a rare UK appearance, dropping bass heavy tracks, 'Boneless' and a new collaboration with Afrojack, before scaling the grand DJ podium set up. While stood high, he threw numerous cakes at the crowd, something which has become synonymous with the 'Beat Down' producers energetic sets.
For only it's second visit to the UK, it's safe to say that Electric Daisy Carnival is here to stay, fulfilling a gap in the British festival market and offering a world class line-up! Next year's event can't come quicker!
Electric Daisy Carnival UK is just weeks away and with over 30 new acts just announced there is even more exciting news as the EDC UK production plans are unveiled, which will see Milton Keynes Bowl transformed into a magical world of jaw-dropping production that has never been seen before in the UK. If you’ve never experienced the Las Vegas leg of the iconic Electric Daisy Carnival, which is famed for its out of this world production and 300,000-strong crowd, then marvel as EDC UK will bring the essence of Vegas to you, featuring:
The world's largest digital LED show, creating a unique 360 degree visual experience at Milton Keynes Bowl
3D wall of sound meticulously designed to amplify the EDC experience, a structure never before seen in the UK
Pioneering sound design
Bespoke set and lighting installations
Mesmerising laser shows
Firework displays
Pyrotechnics
Confetti cannons
World class performers, party troupes and dancers throughout the site
Interactive displays
Colossal arts structures
+ much more
Every single special element fuses together to carry the Electric Daisy Carnival UK vibe to every corner of the Milton Keynes Bowl, where dramatic décor and fairground rides will be dotted for revellers to enjoy. Interactive performers, artists, dancers and entertainers from around the globe add to the carnival adventure, with costumed dance troupes, roaming adventurers, face-painters, stilt-walkers, processions, floats and so much more bringing Milton Keynes Bowl to life. YOU are encouraged to get involved with the performers and join in the Electric Daisy Carnival UK fun; dress up, dance all day, and have the time of your life.
Boasting the brightest of star-studded line-ups in the electronic dance music calendar, EDC UK welcomes Hardwell, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Steve Angello,Pendulum, Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, Martin Garrix, Marco Carola, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Laidback Luke,Sander van Doorn, NERVO, Dillon Francis, Paul Oakenfold, Firebeatz, Deorro, Nick Curly, Bassjackers, Sigma, Route 94, Kerri Chandler, Tidy Boys, BK featuring Cortina, Technoboy, Kutski plus many more at this dance music utopia. Buy your tickets now to avoid disappointment
The world famous Electric Daisy Carnival returns to the UK for its second year and the Summer Festival Guide has the details for what ECD have in store for 2014.
Firstly, EDC will now run over 2 days from the 12th – 13 July and will move from last years London location to the iconic Milton Keynes Bowl. The bowl will be transformed into a brand new world. It provides the perfect setting for Electric Daisy Carnival UK and everything that comes along with it, including a line-up that boasts the brightest dance music stars, with stages including Kinetic Field, Circuit Grounds and Cosmic Meadow.
This years artists are some of the biggest EDM artists in the world and the lineup includes the likes of Avicii, Steve Angello, Steve Aoki, Nicky Romero, Calvin Harris, Fatboy Slim, Nervo and many more!
The festival will feature its signature creative elements including state-of-the-art production and specialeffects, roaming costumed performers and interactive art installations. EDCUK will be a vibrant hub of creative energy and activity, taking fans from day into night. Expect an unrivalled visual experience, as Electric Daisy Carnival UK presents the biggest LED show, never seen before in the UK for one weekend only, and takes pyrotechnics to a whole new level.
The line-up is as impressive as ever, reading like a who’s who of electronic music. On Saturday July 12, arguably the biggest and most successful global star of 2013, Avicii, will take over the decks of the KineticField, while house music hero and one of the most prominent acts in the history of electronic music, SteveAngello, will also play, as well as US electro house star SteveAoki, plus NickyRomero, chart-storming MartinGarrix and bombastic brothers Showtek.
CircuitGrounds presents a list of heavyweights on July 12 who epitomise the trance genre. Undisputed trance master Paul van Dyk travels to Milton Keynes Bowl, alongside the unique FerryCorsten, progressive head ØrjanNilsen, captivating Brit SimonPatterson, the multi-talented BenGold, and a very special guest appearance from the daddy himself PaulOakenfold.
On July 12 CosmicMeadow represents techno’s leading artists. Italian techno ambassador and Music On man MarcoCarola heads a line-up that includes electronic pioneer Dubfire, house hot property Hot Since 82, figurehead and innovator Davide Squillace and the always-electric Timo Maas.
The UK’s very own CalvinHarris takes to the KineticField stage on July 13, along with legend FatboySlim, the unstoppable Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, dancefloor-destroying duo NERVO, Dutch DJ of the moment R3hab and Carnage. The focal point of the festival, the KineticField stage will be bigger than ever, with all the out-of-this-world production that can be expected from an EDC event.
The Circuit Grounds stage will be transformed on July 13, hosting some of the leaders and up-and-comers in dance music. Electro hotheads Blasterjaxx join new-gen DJ Dannic, and chart topper DVBBS. Dyro brings his breakthrough sounds, wunderkind DJ and producer JulianJordan appears, LaidbackLuke provides unparalleled mayhem, Rebecca & Fiona supply high energy revelry, and Sander van Doorn raises hands.
And on July 13 the Cosmic Meadow stage takes things harder and heavier, with genre-bending turntablist A Trak, BBC Radio 1 bass connoisseur B.Traits with MCJuma, HARD Events head honcho Destructo, moombahton pioneer DillonFrancis, bassbin-shaking GorgonCity, dynamic electronic mixing duo Jack Beats, moody house outfit My Nu Leng and Shift K3Y drops garage-infused beats.
Expect fireworks, foods from around the world, dancers, performance artists, costumes, sound, light and creative energy. There will be carnival rides and dramatic décor and fans are encouraged to dress up and make this their most special day.
An experience to remember forever, Electric Daisy Carnival UK is the very best of days.
Tickets are on sale now. Early bird tickets are priced at £55 (+ booking fee) for the day, and £100 (+ booking fee) for the whole weekend, and are available for a limited time.
Line-up: Saturday July 12 Kinetic Field Avicii Steve Angello Steve Aoki Nicky Romero Martin Garrix Showtek
Cosmic Meadow Marco Carola Dubfire Joris Voorn Hot Since 82 Davide Squillace Timo Maas
Circuit Grounds Paul van Dyk Ferry Corsten Ørjan Nilsen Simon Patterson Ben Gold Special Guest Paul Oakenfold
Sunday July 13 Kinetic Field Calvin Harris Fatboy Slim Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike NERVO R3hab Carnage
Circuit Grounds (alphabetical order) Blasterjaxx Dannic DVBBS Dyro Julian Jordan Laidback Luke Rebecca & Fiona Sander van Doorn
Cosmic Meadow hosted by HARD (alphabetical order) A Trak B.Traits feat. MC Juma Destructo Dillon Francis Gorgon City Jack Beats My Nu Leng Shift K3Y
It was EDC’s (Electric Daisy Carnival) first appearance in the UK and there was a lot that was expected of the organisers and they didn’t disappoint. From hearing and reading about EDC events from across the globe, the organisers know how to put on a show of epic proportions. The anticipation was already evident on the train journey up from Essex. People dressed in ravey colours and drinking cider at 11 in the morning summed up the excitement. I was to found later that many people from the north of England has travelled down for this event, and even met some people from Brazil who had travelled over just for this event!
A flood of people walking from Stratford train station through the Olympic park was a sight. As you got closer and closer to the main arena, you could start to feel that rumble in your heart when the huge beat kicks in. Straight away you could see there was many ways to enjoy yourself away from the music with a various amount of fairground rides available for those that like an adrenaline rush. The location was ideal; however I found the onsite stages to be a fair bit of a walk away. There was the Kinetic stage located in the main arena area where the likes of Steve Angello, Avicii and Tiesto were playing. Other tent stages across from the Kinectic stage were the Cosmic Meadow, Bass Pod and Neon Garden. Acts such as Chuckie, Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike and Sub Focus played across all 3 stages.
With the UK seeing the best heat wave it has had since 2006, the overcast weather was something of a surprise. When the sun did appear every so often, it was greeted with a roar of applause from the thousands in attendance. As 2pm came up, and I had stopped being angry at paying £5 a pint, Nervo were second up on the Kinetic Stage, and received a brilliant reception. The Australian pair have lived in London for the last 10 years. This was greatly shown and appreciated when they played ‘Like Home’ in which they got everyone doing all the moves associated with the song. Even though there was some feedback issues towards the end of the set that also affected the start of Hardwells set, it was resolved quickly.
The Kinectic Stage was a very Swedish affair, with the first swede DJ of the day being Alesso. He got the crowd jumping around and clapping when he dropped in the song ‘Years’. By this time, the crowd were many drinks down and this only added to the already dreamy, joyous and the ‘I don’t care about anything, I’m just going to dance’ attitude. Something of which we have in all of us! Up next was 1/3 of Swedish House Mafia Steve Angello. Regretting never seeing the Swedish House Mafia, it was amazing to see Steve Angello. To mine and the crowds enjoyment, he dropped in a few SHM hits, most notably ‘Greyhound’ and ‘Don’t you worry child’. The crowd kicked off when these songs came on.
Next up was Avicii, who is currently sitting firmly in the No1 single spot around the world with ‘Wake me up’. The country/dance track that features Aloe Blacc is the perfect combination of beautiful lyrics, a country vibe and then a jumpy dance vibe. These shouldn’t really combine so well but Avicii somehow manages to make this work, and the EDC London crowd was the perfect example of this. Friends arm in arm, singing word for word at the top of their lungs was brilliant, and this was at the end of his set! Avicii really looked like he was enjoying himself to, waving on the crowd more and more with his different looking DJ fist pump. Other hits in the set included ‘Levels’ and ‘Silhouettes. ‘Levels’ is what introduced Avicii to the world, and is a song that will remain amazing forever.
Last but not least was Tiësto who closed the Kinetic Stage in dramatic fashion. The muliple winner of the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ played hit after hit. ‘Adagio for Strings’ was simply amazing, as well as ‘Maximal Crazy’ which added a hard jumping element. The lighting and visuals were incredible too and added even more to the experience of a Tiësto show. He also dropped in many crowd pleasers such as ‘Pursuit of happiness’ which was mixed in well with last year’s song of the summer ‘Rattle’. Crowd pleasing tracks 'Lethal Industry', 'Love Comes Again' & 'Suburban Train' where just some of the highlights of the Dutch DJ's set. The song ‘Mystery Land’ was also played which created a euphoric feeling across the whole of the EDC main stage area as the darkness crawled in at night time.
I definitely recommend EDC if it was to return to London again. For the cost of a £72 ticket to a one day festival that provides the quality of names available to see and the amazing production, it is well worth spending that money for a really good day of dance music!
