This year's South West Four or SW4 as its more commonly known as celebrated its tenth year anniversary and had a spectacular lineup to match.
Closing out Sunday night on the main stage was headliner Example. His presence on stage with his live band brought a continued wave of euphoric energy over the grounds of Clapham Common as he kicked off his set with 'Kickstarts'. Bouncing around the stage like an energiser bunny and fresh off a main stage performance at Glastonbury, the sold out 30,000 crowd filled the main arena to wave their hands in the air to tracks 'Won't Go Quietly', 'Stay Awake', 'Watch the Sun Come Up', and his new single 'All the Wrong Places'. Complete with a massive laser display and pyrotechnics showering the Clapham Common grounds, Example sent out this years SW4 in style!
The UKF hosted main arena also had massive sets from SW4 favourites Knife Party, Dutch DJ Nicky Romero, Drum and Bass master Andy C, American Trap sensation Baauer and special guest, the one and only Steve Aoki.
Having recently started a trend of spraying champagne and throwing cakes into the crowd, we were waiting in anticipation for Steve Aoki to hit the stage to see what crazy antics he would bring to the London. Kicking off with his new track, it didn't take long for Aoki to balance himself up on the DJ booth to present to the crowd what looked like an M&S chocolate cake. Pointing a finger out across the crowd, he takes aim and tosses the cake high into the sky, as the crowd disperse to avoid being literally cake faced, the cake splats onto the ground spraying up onto those unfortunately enough to "get a piece". Steve Aoki then topped his set off by running out to the barriers with a bottle of champagne to spray those that were front and centre to complete an entertaining performance.
Earlier on in the day in the Together Arena the iconic Soul II Soul drew an packed out crowd to see Jazzy B and the rest of the troupe. Jazzy B got on the mic to say "Its great to be on this side of the river" as the north Londoner's treated the crowd to tracks like 'Keep on Movin', 'Back to Life', 'Get a Life' and more which kept the fans grooving throughout their hour long set.
The Bedrock arena had special guest and legendary German DJ and producer Sven Vath get the mid afternoon crowd bopping their heads with a typical Vath set full of techno house goodies that you can't help but shake your ass to! Vath is still one of few DJ's that performs with Vinyl and its a pleasure to see this against all the digital DJ's these days.
Also up in the Bedrock arena is flight shy Eric Prydz whose also another SW4 fan favourite. Featured regularly over the years, Prydz never disappoints. His electro infused big room house sound has served him well over the years and this years set at SW4 was one of the best ones yet.
Closing out the Bedrock tent and performing in a Skull like custom made DJ booth is Alex Ridha, who is more famously known as Boyz Noise, a german electronic music producer who brings his lively and innovative live show to SW4. His innovative mix of different genres of music with electronic music makes it easy to understand why he is in huge demand and why his live sets are praised around the world! His energy transcends over the packed tent to ensure that everyone is treated to a special show.
With John Digweed, Pete Tong, Erick Morillo, Dillon Francis, RL Grime, Friction, Crazy P, The 2 Bears and more performing on Sunday it was yet another example that its best not to mess with a formula of bringing one of the biggest dance music lineups to London every Bank Holiday weekend. SW4 have stuck to their roots of doing what they know best, throwing a massive weekender party in a park and have had 10 years of success by doing so. If you haven't ever been to SW4, we recommend you prepare for next year as each year just seems to exceed the previous, see you on the Common in 2014!
IT’S OFFICIAL! ALL TICKETS FOR SATURDAY AT SOUTH WEST FOUR 2013 HAVE NOW COMPLETELY SOLD OUT.
South West Four would like to thank everyone who has booked their place for our landmark event and helped make SW4 Saturday sell out for the 10th consecutive year! If you missed out on both Saturday and weekend tickets, don’t panic just yet. There is one last chance for you to experience our 10th Anniversary. SW4 Sunday tickets are still available but selling extremely fast.
Currently priced £52.50 + BF, SW4 Sunday will welcome yet more of the world’s greatest DJs and live electronic acts to Clapham Common. This includes headliners Example and Knife Party, UK festival exclusives from Boys Noize [Live] and Erick Morillo, Eric Prydz makes his only London date of 2013 at SW4, whilst Groove Armada play their first London festival outside of Lovebox in over a decade. These are just a handful of the dozens of outstanding acts performing this year, as they help make SW4’s 10th Anniversary an unforgettable, ground-breaking weekend.
Eddie Halliwell is a DJ with an unprecedented talent; twice named Mixmag’s DJ of the year and nominated in its ‘Greatest DJ of All Time’ poll. His peers acknowledge him as one of the leading innovators when it comes to using technology to push boundaries, manipulating the music with lightning cuts, layers of effects and slick scratches. Playing tracks from across a broad musical spectrum – trance, techno, house and electro – he harnesses the energy of every beat, synth, hi-hat, squelch and squeak, using his technical expertise to generate new sounds. Through his extensive skill set Eddie has managed to unleash no less than a record eight Essential mixes and having hosted his own Radio1 show for five years, now broadcasts via his own ‘Fire It Up’ show, which attracts a hefty thirteen million listeners worldwide. With a huge list of accolades under his belt, this performance is set to raise the roof once again. Watch out Clapham, Eddie’s gonna get you…
VERY SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCED FOR SW4 SUNDAY!
Steve Aoki is one very busy man. 2012 witnessed the Grammy nominee play hundreds of shows and yet he still managed to release an album. ‘Wonderland’ was filled to the brim with all star appearances from the likes of Will.i.am and LMFAO, whilst on a more electronic tangent, collaborations with Afrojack and Laidback Luke. His manic on stage antics have earned him somewhat of a reputation and his high energy sets always go down a storm. Fuelled by cakes, champagne and rubber dinghies, the Dim Mak Records boss will be making his first South West Four appearance in three years. Get ready for the madness that will undoubtedly ensue.
SW4 SUNDAY TICKETS INCREASE IN PRICE THURS 16TH MAY!
With Steve Aoki announced as Sunday main stage special guest we can announce that SW4 Sunday tickets will increase in price on Thursday 16th May at midday. Tickets are selling faster than ever and with early-bird tickets already gone, time is running out to get them at the ‘saver’ price. Head to www.ticketmaster.co.uk/sw4 to get yours!
Paul Van Dyk’s list of accolades reads like a bar bill from a night out with Charlie Sheen. It is without question an endless catalogue, with highlights including being voted #1 in DJ Mag’s ‘Top 100’ poll twice, a feat that only a small handful of acts have achieved, including our Saturday night headliner Armin van Buuren. Growing up in East Berlin, Paul was obsessed with the music coming from the West, which strayed away from the techno that the region is famed for. With no record shops where he grew up and of course no internet, he would get his fix by listening to radio show’s which endorsed the sound he loved. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, an abundance of empty buildings and warehouses kick-started a raucous party scene and gave him the platform to perform to thousands of people every week. PvD is a pioneer not just of trance but of electronic music as a whole and consistently sells out tours across each and every continent. With over four million records sold in his career to date, there is little that he hasn’t accomplished. In 2012 Paul hosted his ‘Evolution Arena’ at SW4 and this year he turns the spotlight to his new project ‘The Politics of Dancing’. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome him back.
With a career spanning three decades and showing no signs of slowing down, Paul Oakenfold is the elite statesman of British electronic music. From residencies in Las Vegas to jaw dropping spectacles on each and every continent, Oakie’s colossal fanbase travel the world to catch one of his sets. Luckily for you, we have him back at South West Four for the first time since his emotional homecoming in 2010. Never afraid of pushing boundaries, Paul has enjoyed countless standout moments during his incredible career including help shape the infamous ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 80s, produce an album for U2 and pioneer the explosion of dance music in America. At one point Paul even lived in Clapham, making his return to South West Fourmore significant than ever.
After bursting onto the scene in 2003 with their dance floor anthem ‘Eye of Horus’, trance obsessed Aly & Fila have become the most successful group to emerge from the mystical land of Egypt. With productions as hot as the Sahara and playing show’s across the globe to crowds as big as the Pyramids, the duo have gained support from the biggest names in the scene. Their own brand ‘The Future Sound of Egypt’ operates on a variety of platforms, including a radio show which has recently reached its 300th episode. In celebration of this landmark broadcast, the duo have embarked on a major world tour. The other platform comes in the shape of a record label which is a sub-division of Armin’s seminal ‘Armada Music’. The pair have achieved a sensational sweep of dance floor domination in recent years, so make sure you catch their uplifting ideals as they once again inspire the crowds on Clapham Common.
Grammy award nominatedDJ and producer Andy Moor certainly has his fingers in a lot of pies. He is one half of melodic house duo Leama & Moor, a third of influential progressive house act Tilt, but it’s his own productions through his birth name that he is most renowned for. His ‘Moor Music’ podcast is extremely popular and is continually downloaded on every continent, loaded with exclusive tracks from his own ‘AVA’ imprint. For our 10th Anniversary, Andy will be performing a special B2B set with Lange, something that was recently showcased to critical acclaim at The Gallery at Ministry of Sound. This tag team will take the crowd to dizzying new heights as they fuse styles,trade dance floor anthems and generally work the audience into a state of chaos. Quite simply this is not to be missed.
For the past 15 years Lange has remained at the very forefront of the trance realm and throughout his career has continued to push the boundaries of the genre. He is the producer behind no less than an astonishing twenty Top 40 hits, including classics such as top 10 triumph ‘Drifting Away’ and SuReal’s ‘You Take My Breath Away’. In 2008 he launched his ‘Intercity’ radio show, with this quickly becoming a staple for trance fans worldwide. A year later it evolved into a podcast and regularly sits in the iTunes top music podcasts, with the 100th episode marked by a 24hr broadcast which trended on Twitter for an incredible thirteen hours. He has carefully honed his style into a cutting edge blend of hard hitting electro, tumbling bass lines and beautifully crafted melodies, resulting in some of the most memorable records of recent years. This year his very special B2B set with Andy Moor certainly looks like it will be one for the history books.
After a chance meeting in 2007, Ward van der Harst and Willem van Hanegem aka W&W could have no idea that six years later they would be one of the leading lights in trance. Famously tipped by Armin van Buuren as “The best up-and-coming production duo out there” W&W were since signed to his label and now even run a sub-division label called ‘Mainstage Music’, whilst their namesake radio show is syndicated to every corner of the globe each week. Since taking the world by storm with their debut offering‘Mustang’, the duo have never looked back. Their latest work is a rousing interpretation of Armin van Buuren’s new single ‘This Is What It Feels Like’. Sharing a stage with Paul Van Dyk, trance fans can rest easy knowing that they are well and truly catered for!
In their own words, Super8 & Tab are leading the charge of the Scandinavian trance revolution. Since their inception in 2005, the Finnish duo have firmly pushed themselves to the very forefront of the pack, with the pinnacle of their career being the 2010 debut album ‘Empire’. An album so good, it led to Mixmag saying: “It’s a rare and wonderful thing to be blown away by an album on first listen. And that’s exactly what Super8 & Tab’s debut artist album does”. Their innovative approach and intricate production values blend deep brooding vocal anthems with futuristic trance and has gained them rave reviews reaching from their native land to the other side of the world. Here at SW4 HQ we are delighted to welcome back Super8 & Tab back to Clapham Common once again, as we look forward to some of their epic Scandinavian stylings.
Orjan Nilsen is a Norwegian DJ and producer who grew up well north of the polar circle, far away from most things. His cultured productions however would suggest he grew up somewhere with a far more accessible music scene. The talented young Scandinavian shot to the worlds attention in 2011 when he stormed into the DJ Mag top 100 chart at #49 and a IDMA nomination for ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ soon followed. Since then has gone on to gain support from SW4 favouritesGareth Emery and Armin van Buuren, with the aptly named ‘Belter’ a collaboration with the latter. Known for his flawless ability to bring life to any dance floor, we welcome him to South West Four for the first time in 2013, as he plays to the biggest dance floor of them all.
Simon Patterson is one of the most in demand DJs and producer’s of the last decade. Famed for his incredible run of a whopping eleven consecutive #1’s on Beatport, his creative offerings have become some of the most sought after productions of recent years. As a DJ he has performed at the biggest festivals on the planet and plays an intelligent blend of deep tech-trance and roof raising electro, drawing from influences far and wide. His weekly radio show ‘Open Up’ allows him to showcase the latest psychedelic, trance and techno records. This year he will be making his South West Four debut. Cue dance floor pandemonium and mass hysteria.
Londoner Lee Osborne has had an astonishing rise to stardom over the past few years. Since bursting onto the scene in 2010 he has released over twenty diverse and innovative productions on every significant label that matters. This includes Armin van Burren’s ‘Armada’, Gareth Emery’s ‘Garuda’ and Lange’s ‘Lange Recordings’. Gaining support from Radio1 and acts like Tiesto and Deadmau5 has helped his cause greatly, resulting in him becoming resident at The Gallery at Ministry of Sound. Here at South West Four we are excited to hand a debut to one the brightest new stars in trance.
For almost two decades Erick Morillo has been one of the most in demand DJs and producers on the planet. The Columbian-come-American’s career began in the early 90’s and since then he has gone on to play every principal city on the map, including major residencies in Ibiza for the past fifteen years. In 1997 he launched his own label ‘Subliminal Records’ and has since been able to propel the imprint to international prominence. In 2012 the status that Morillo holds in his homeland was exemplified further when a street was named after him in Union City. We’ve been lucky for Erick to play SW4 several times, in fact he was our first ever headliner back in 2004. We are delighted to have this living legend back for our 10th Anniversary…It just wouldn’t be the same without him.
"If anyone knows how hard it is to maintain a brand, party and event, it’s me. So congratulations to SW4 on their Tenth Anniversary! I always love coming to London to play SW4 in the summertime. The heavens opened on us last year, but it was still an amazing party and vibe. Let's pray for some summer loving this year!" Erick Morillo
Following in the footsteps of other seminal bands to play South West Four over the years such as Public Enemy and Salt N Pepa, our 10th Anniversary welcomes true London musical royalty. Celebrating their 25th Anniversary in their home city at SW4, we are delighted to showcase Soul II Soul featuring the magnificent Caron Wheeler. Reviewing their list of accolades, it’s easy to see why Jazzie B’s band is such an inspired choice. Having won two Grammy Awards and sold millions of records worldwide, Jazzie also has been given keys to an incredible seven cities in the US, including LA and New York. In America there’s even a Soul II Soul day, whilst back in Blighty Jazzie has been awarded an OBE for his services to music. Having formed in 1988, they burst on to the scene soon after with their massive hit singles ‘Keep on Movin’ and ‘Back to Life’, with the latter being featured in the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. This year we celebrate 25 years of Soul II Soul at our 10th Anniversary, making our already stellar line up even more mouth watering.
“Looking forward to playing south of the river to a quality crowd! A happy face, a thumpin' bass, for a loving race :-)” Jazzie B (Soul II Soul)
Benji B & Deviation Strings is up there amongst the most interesting collaborations of the past decade. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Grant Windsor, the sixteen piece orchestra will take to the South West Four main stage to perform specially arranged scores accompanied by Benji B on the decks. This live performance is taking electronic music to the next level as the orchestra and Benji beautifully blend together tracks, as the instruments add another dramatic dimension to create a sound of epic proportions. The Radio1 DJs’ own Deviation nights have grown to become one of the most important and well-respected brands in British nightlife, with a simple manifesto of “good sound, good music, good people and no compromise”. Quite simply this is an incredible SW4 spectacle not to be missed.
UK disco darlingsCrazy P have been making some of the most important and relevant beats for the best part of fifteen years. With one of the best live shows in dance music, their roots are planted firmly in the late 90’s club scene. Their performance is a blistering exhibition of raw energy, infecting the crowd with their disco stylings. Often imitated but never duplicated, their extensive catalogue harks back memories of a more groovy, funk-laden era and 2013 sees a new album on the horizon. Make sure you catch their full live show at South West Four this year, as we party in true style. Time to get into boogie mode.
SW4 favourite Friction is a DJ and producer that holds extremely high esteem in the drum & bass world. Described by Pete Tong as “one of the big dogs”, he holds court in the D&B Hall of Fame thanks to his inauguration at the 2011 Drum & Bass Arena Awards. He has released music on the genre’s most respected labels including Hospital and Metalheadz and in 2004 founded Shogun Audio which pushed his name into the limelight. Since then he has gone on to become the new face of Radio 1’s flagship drum & bass show, a slot that was previously occupied by none other than Fabio & Grooverider. Having destroyed the RAM Records Arena at SW4 2012, Friction takes to the main stage this year alongside three very special guests; P Money, Scrufizzer and Linguistics.
Russell Whyte’s jittery, caffeine injected, upbeat style of music is without doubt the sound of the underground right now. Rustie’s in your face, anything goes, yet sometimes brash approach of mixing hip-hop and pop, with dubstep and trap is what’s making Rustie so in demand. In 2010 he signed to Warp Records, who released his now classic debut album ‘Glass Swords’ in 2011. In 2013 his thunderous new offering ‘Slasherr’ is causing a storm worldwide through Glasgow based label Numbers. Take note SW4, because this young Scot has only just got started.
Lancaster’s finest Bondax descend onto the Clapham Common threshold this year for their first ever South West Four appearance. Expect soulful, smooth bass and glorious sounding synths combined with R&B flavours, to make an irresistible cocktail that melts in your ears. Each listen to one of their tracks reveals a new aura of sophistication, whilst their latest offering ‘Gold’ puts Bondax on the very top of the new British talent coming through the ranks in 2013.
Los Angeles born RL Grime is in his own words “reshaping electronic production”. His melodically influenced flavour is connecting the roots of southern hip hop with the new age of electronic dance music. His alter-ego Clockwork has gained him the respect of several big name DJs, whilst his RL Grime project is shaping up to be no different. His track ‘Trap On Acid’ gained support from Diplo and A-Trak, as well as Flosstradamus and Baauer, who will both join him at South West Four this year. RL Grime’strap ideals are dictating our understanding of what its means to be a 21st century producer, as he holds status as one of the hottest properties on the planet.
Sussex born Kove has been causing a stir in the bass world over the past twelve months. Ram Records head honcho and SW4 resident Andy C picked up his track ‘Iodine’ in 2012 which quickly became a staple in the sets of many of the scene’s biggest names. Since then, Kove has recently signed exclusively with Chase & Status’ MTA Records and is increasingly in demand as a DJ throughout Europe. Making his debut appearance at SW4, this hotly tipped youngster will go on great things, we are certain of that.
ALSO ADDED TO SW4 SATURDAY!
GORGON CITY
The stage is set for Gorgon City to take over the world. Off the back of their first EP ‘Real’ they have already gained the support of Diplo, Annie Mac and Rinse FM. The title track featuring the soulful Yasmin has even been getting daytime play on Radio1, whilst ‘Thor’ is an equally devastating affair. Individually, Foamo and RackNRuin who make up Gorgon City are both well respected producers and DJs in their own right and their distinct stylings can be heard throughout their own studio efforts. Inspired by a vast selection of music genres, growing up in north London has clearly influenced the pair with their sound an amalgamation of house, garage and deep bass. Their first EP was released by the irrepressible Black Butter Records, home of the chart topping Rudimental and with new music in the pipeline, the future is certainly bright for Gorgon City.
The rate of Knife Party’s ascension to the forefront of a burgeoning electronic music movement is unparalleled and the pair have quickly risen to become one of the most exciting DJ and production duos on the planet today. Their music is a heady cocktail of sounds, combining electro, house, dubstep, moombahton and a plethora of other influences from trance synths to old horror movie samples, a style which they have simply coined as ‘seizure music’.
Knife Party made their debut in Ibiza in 2011 following the buzz created by monster track ‘Antidote’, in collaboration with Swedish House Mafia. This year they return to the White Isle with their second residency at Together at Amnesia as the bass heads return to San Rafael once again. Their debut EP ‘100% No Modern Talking’, charted at number 1 on the Beatport sales chart, despite first being given away for free and racking up over 500,000 downloads. The EP included the track ‘Internet Friends’ which consequently sent social networks into a feeding frenzy, ‘Internet Friends’ has since gone onto receive in excess of 15 million views on YouTube. Remixes for Nero and Labrinth soon followed, and in 2012 the EP ‘Rage Valley’ was released and as well as collaborations with Skrillex and Steve Aoki. With the focus now on their greatly anticipated return to SW4, following their storming debut last summer, plus the upcoming release of their ‘Haunted House’ EP, 2013 will see Knife Party raise the game to a whole new level.
AFROJACK PAUL OAKENFOLD · MARK KNIGHT ORJAN NILSEN · TOCADISCO
He is a double Grammy Award winning, platinum selling producer. A chart topping, crowd slaying icon. And he is unquestionably one of the most in demand DJs on the planet. South West Four is delighted to confirm the addition of Afrojack to our 10th Anniversary lineup. Debuting on Clapham Common on Saturday 24th August, the Dutch phenomenon’s skills are some of the most sought after in the world. He has worked alongside Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga and David Guetta, whilst his own tracks each amass millions of views on YouTube. With all this success it has allowed him to form his own imprint ‘Wall Recordings’ giving him a platform to release his own material and provide a stepping stone to upcoming artists. Our advice to you? Take this rare chance to catch Afrojack perform in the capital, his first since last summer and his only London festival performance of 2013.
With a career spanning three decades and showing no signs of slowing down, Paul Oakenfold is the elite statesman of British electronic music. From residencies in Las Vegas to jaw dropping spectacles on each and every continent, Oakie’s colossal fanbase travel the world to catch one of his sets. Luckily for you, we have him back at South West Four for the first time since his emotional homecoming back in 2010. Never afraid of pushing boundaries, Paul has enjoyed countless standout moments during his incredible career including help shape the infamous ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 80s, produce an album for U2 and pioneer the explosion of dance music in America. At one point Paul even lived in Clapham, making his return to South West Four for our 10th Anniversary more significant than ever.
Mark Knight makes a welcome return to South West Four in 2013. This will be his fourth performance at SW4 in the past five years in fact, with the Toolroom Records governor and Grammy nominated producer one of the first names on our 10th Anniversary hit list. In 2010 Mark hosted a Toolroom Knights stage at SW4, whilst in 2009 and 2012 he drew massive crowds to the main stage. In 2013 Mark returns to one of our indoor arenas to present some of the finest names in house music. As a DJ Mark constantly sets the pace and is recognised worldwide for his long standing residencies at cherished haunts such as Space Ibiza and Ministry of Sound. A key fixture at the festival in recent years we are delighted to welcome Mark back to South West Four.
Orjan Nilsen is a Norwegian DJ and producer who grew up well north of the polar circle, far away from most things. His cultured productions however would suggest he grew up somewhere with a far more accessible music scene. The talented young Scandinavian shot to the worlds attention in 2011 when he stormed into the DJ Mag top 100 chart at #49 and a IDMA nomination for ‘Best Breakthrough DJ’ soon followed. Since then has gone on to gain support from SW4 favouritesGareth Emery and Armin van Buuren, with the aptly named ‘Belter’ a collaboration with the latter. Known for his flawless ability to bring life to any dance floor, we welcome him to South West Four for the first time in 2013 as he plays to the biggest dance floor of them all.
Hailing from deepest, darkest Cologne, Roman Boer has been making deep and tech house for the best part of fifteen years. Better known by his stage name Tocadisco, the German maestro has remixed over one hundred artists including Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, Moby and Tiga to name a few. You would have unquestionably heard Tocadisco’s music featured on TV ads, whilst his radio show is broadcasted to over fifty countries. His own imprint TOCA45, showcases the freshest sounding club tracks available today and with this appearance being his only London festival show this year, make sure you get to his tent with plenty of time to spare.
ANNOUNCED FOR SW4 SUNDAY
GROOVE ARMADA TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS PETE TONG THE 2 BEARS · DUSKY
Here at SW4 HQ we have had our feathers ruffled by the fact that Groove Armada are at long last making their South West Four debut. Marking this as their first London festival performance outside of Lovebox in over a decade, Andy Cato and Tom Findlay are the Cambridge-come-London brigade who have certainly seen it and done it all over the last eighteen years. In that time they have managed to run club nights, conceptualise festivals and not to mention release eight studio albums. Those LPs have been jam-packed full of bonafide hits, like the Grammy nominated ‘Superstylin’, which was shortlisted on Mixmag’s ‘Greatest Dance Track of All Time’ poll, to the harmoniously utopian ‘At the River’ which comprehensively appears on every chill out compilation known to man. File this appearance under ‘for the history books’…
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (or TEED if you feel the need to abbreviate) is one of the most fascinating, over-the-top British talents to emerge in recent years. Having released an EP through Greco-Roman (partially run by Joe Goddard of Hot Chip / The 2 Bears), TEED subsequently got picked up by label giant Polydor to release his first full length album ‘Trouble’ last summer. Orlando Higginbottom, as he is known to his nearest and dearest, is an artist who’s always on point in the studio, with productions that fluctuate between jungle rhythms and dance floor anthems with pop sensibilities. His unique style has perked up the ears of club goers and producing peers alike, so join us at South West Four for his spectacular live show. Expect glitter, dancers, extravagant head-wear and of course, dinosaurs.
Pete Tong: the world’s undisputed ambassador for electronic music. It’s quite a title, but one that is whole heartily deserved. Having been broadcasting on BBC Radio 1 since 1991, he has become widely acclaimed across the world as the tastemaker for dance music. Pete fell in love with a fresh new sound coming out of USA in the late 80’s and blazed a trail championing the sound. Fast-forward 20 plus years and things have come full circle, with nothing more relevant right now than electronic music – and Pete's position as anchor for brand new USA radio station Evolution, with a show that's broadcast daily across the country is testament to that. Pete has an astounding flair to break new talent; he’s helped kick start the careers of hundreds of artists, giving them the infamous ‘Pete Tong Push’. Now in 2013, with a brand new high profile Ibizan residency soon to be announced, regular trips to the states for high profile gigs, and a global touring schedule to make your eyes water, not to mention single, remix and compilation releases abound, Pete has never been more important. A real favourite at the festival, we welcome him back to South West Four for another essential performance!
The 2 Bears comprises of Joe Goddard, one fifth of the inimitable Hot Chip and Raf Rundell, a man who has played an integral role in running London’s clubbing scene for many years. Formed in 2009, the pair shared a musical vision and decided the next logical step was to start producing tracks together. Their debut album ‘Be Strong’ came out last year on Southern Fried Records, a hugely enjoyable homage to UK garage and Detroit flavours and filled to the brim with playful melodies and love-able lyrics. With Joe back on Hot Chip duties last summer, this year marks the bears coming out of hibernation, with Clapham Common the only woods you’ll find them in London this August.
London based producers Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman are the eclectic pairing known as Dusky. The duo already have a long list of accolades to their name including their 2011 LP ‘Stick By This’ being named Pete Tongs album of the year and ‘Flo Jam’ being given the crown of iTunes Dance Single of the Year. Last year they remixed Justin Martin’s seemingly untouchable ‘Don’t Go’ and put out a buffed out version that sent blogs and forums into chaos. Needless to say it was hands down the soundtrack of the winter. With their latest offering ‘Nobody Else’ out now on Will Saul’s AUS imprint shaping up to be just as much of a hit, the future sound of London seems safe in Dusky’s more than capable hands.
CARL COX & FRIENDS ARENA FEATURING: CARL COX & LOCO DICE B2B [FIRST TIME EVER IN THE UK] MARCO CAROLA · ADAM BEYER GUTI [LIVE] · HECTOR & VERY SPECIAL GUEST CARL CRAIG
Having previously announced that one of our most loved DJs will return to South West Four this summer, we can now confirm that Carl Cox will host his own arena on Saturday 24th August. Carl will showcase only the biggest names in techno, as well as take to the decks with one of dance music’s most esteemed artists for the first time ever in the UK.
Carl Cox and Loco Dice back-to-back. A meeting of minds. A meeting of masters. Last summer these two virtuosos went head-to-head at the closing party of Carl’s world renowned residency at Space Ibiza. In 2013 South West Four is delighted to present the return bout, as these two techno titans lock horns for the first time ever in the UK. This is one for the history books.
The past few years has seen Loco Dice’s stature rise immeasurably to become one of the most devastating and respected DJs on the planet. His Desolat imprint is home to some of the world’s most prolific electronic talent, whilst his sense for sounds and innate understanding of dancefloors is what distinguishes him from other DJs. Heavily influenced by his legendary performances on the Amnesia Ibiza terrace for Cocoon, Loco Dice remains a hugely popular figure, as evident again at his sold out residency at Electric Brixton across the recent Easter weekend. The next opportunity to catch this tremendously sought after DJ in London is at SW4, a chance that should not be spurned.
As figurehead of the Swedish techno scene and Drumcode Records label boss, Adam Beyer has turned heads worldwide with his sensational performances for many years. Since establishing Drumcode in 1996, the labels forward thinking, passionate and uncompromising laurels have stayed true. Undeterred by the demise of many other labels which started around the same time, Drumcode has always been one to push the envelope and is part of the reason why the label is still flourishing today. Adam’s Drumcode podcast attracts a healthy seven million listeners every week, whilst his last appearance at South West Four, where he headlined his own Drumcode arena in 2011, proved one of the highlights of the weekend. In 2013 the message is clear; Beyer is at his best, do not miss out.
Carl Craig; A visionary, an innovator and an ambassador for the Detroit techno scene. Since releasing his first track back in 1989, The Grammy nominated artist has chalked up a phenomenal career and continues to motivate music lovers of all ages with as much power and intensity. Since his early days he has gone on to release a plethora of his own material and remix well over one hundred tracks. Always forward thinking, the Planet E head honcho has managed to reinvent himself time and again and prove an inspiration to everyone along the way. Making his South West Four debut this year, we are delighted to welcome one of the greats, as Carl Craig joins us on Clapham Common this August Bank Holiday weekend.
Having being brought up in an exceptionally musical family, Guti was first a classically trained jazz musician, before playing to packed stadiums across South America in a rock band. It wasn’t until 2006 that he started to create techno, but of course with his jazz, rock and latin influences all playing an important part in the process. Since then he has gone on to release music on labels such as Wolf & Lamb, Saved, Carl Cox’s Intec and Loco Dice’s Desolat. This summer you can catch his outstanding talent at South West Four, where he will showcase his highly impressive live show.
Hector is one of the most exciting young DJs on the planet, effortlessly experimenting with the founding spirit of house. With a string of high profile releases to his name on labels such as Desolat, Tsuba and Saved, Hector has come a long distance since he started DJing in his native Mexico at the tender age of 16. A move to England soon beckoned, where he fell in love with London’s music scene and where he has remained ever since. The Mexican’s passion for music knows no boundaries. His DJ sets are full of energy, precision and soul, whilst his own productions are always on point; sophisticated and cultured. The future of house music is about to take flight at SW4, make sure you’re on board.
ANNOUNCED FOR SW4 SUNDAY
BEDROCK ARENA FEATURING: ERIC PRYDZ · BOYS NOIZE [LIVE] LAURENT GARNIER · JOHN DIGWEED TIM GREEN [DEBUT LIVE SHOW]
There are not many other DJs as synonymous with South West Four as John Digweed. 2013 represents his ninth consecutive performance at the festival, more than any other artist. With one eye firmly on the future, John’s philosophy embodies South West Four, whilst his ingenuity, dedication and all round ability to destroy dancefloors is why we always welcome him back to Clapham Common with open arms. John’s performances at Bedrock have helped build the label’s reputation as one of the most acclaimed club nights in underground dance music, welcoming international talent of the highest calibre at each event. Having hosted Bedrock arenas at SW4 in 2007, 2010 and 2012, it makes perfect sense for John to bring Bedrock back for our 10th Anniversary as his thrilling legacy at SW4 continues with his label’s greatest artist showcase to date.
Frenchman Laurent Garnier is a name that goes hand in hand with dance music. One of Europe’s most celebrated electronic artists, Laurent has been making the planet dance for the last 25 years. Having gained a reputation as one of the finest DJs in the world and produced a wealth of techno classics in the studio, Laurent has won the hearts of millions of artists and music lovers via his own hypnotic and alluring beat. His quest to find only the very best music remains relentless, as Laurent’s radio shows and DJ sets continue to illustrate his insatiable appetite for what’s new. Having delivered arguably the finest performance on Clapham Common in 2011, Laurent remains a huge favourite with everyone at South West FourHQ and we are honoured to welcome him back for the 10th Anniversary.
From bedroom producer to acclaimed electronic artist, Tim Green’s rise to stardom over the past few years has been nothing short of relentless. The capability of his craft seems endless, securing releases on labels like Dirtybird, Get Physical and Saved and outstanding remixes of Cassius, Booka Shade and Claude Von Stroke. Having taken his DJ sets to every corner of the globe, the spotlight now turns to his highly anticipated live show, which he debuts at South West Four on Sunday 25th August. Special doesn’t even come close.
SATURDAY & WEEKEND TICKETS INCREASE IN PRICE THURSDAY 4TH APRIL AT MIDDAY
As we move ever closer to South West Four’s 10th Anniversary, interest in tickets rises yet further. With five months still to go we can confirm that 50% OF ALL SATURDAY TICKETS HAVE ALREADY SOLD and that ‘saver’ tickets are rapidly running out. With this new batch of DJs and live acts set to raise demand even greater, we are giving you until this Thursday at midday at which point both Saturday and weekend tickets will increase in price. You have been warned!
A total of twenty acts have been announced for SW4 2013 so far, ranging from UK festival exclusives in the form of Armin van Buuren and Boys Noize [Live], to rare UK performances from Marco Carola, Solomun and Nicky Romero, to never before seen back-to-backs like that between 2 step legends Todd Edwards and EZ. With a further 50 acts still to come, including the majority of our headline DJs, South West Four’s 10th Anniversary is all set to be the biggest celebration of dance music London has ever witnessed. The first of these headline DJs playing the Sunday can now be announced. A man who has enjoyed an intricate love affair with SW4 and a firm favourite of all in attendance. That man is Eric Prydz.
Eric Prydz and South West Four have an immense history together. Prydz used to live in Clapham and his huge productions have been the soundtrack to the festival for many years. This was highlighted more than ever last year with the release of ‘SW4’, another dancefloor destroying studio effort which has since gone down as one of the finest tracks Eric has ever released.
As one of the most in demand DJs of the last decade, Eric’s own brand of uplifting piano based house registers him as one of the most popular and accomplished acts to ever grace our sacred stages. This will be the fourth time Eric has played SW4 in the past five years. In fact one of our posters would look peculiar without his name brazen across it.
Last year the Grammy nominated producer showed yet again why his polished performances remain one of clubland’s great wonders. Thousands squeezed into the Together arena to witness one of the finest and most infectious sets of SW4 2012. Since then the South West Four favourite has relocated to the States to commence a critically acclaimed ‘Black Dice’ residency in Las Vegas, whilst his monthly EPIC podcast has been essential listening. He returns to South West Four for his only London show of 2013, making this his most important and significant Clapham Common performance to date.
“Having played football on Clapham Common as a kid, I couldn’t be more proud to close South West Four’s 10thAnniversary. SW4 is now one of the most important festivals on the circuit and I've enjoyed watching it grow over recent years – it's been almost 6 years since I last played Clapham Common just before my first album was released! You can't beat a weekend of raving on the Common so I expect to see you all down there! This is going to be a very special show!” Example
Festival goers: Prepare yourselves. On Sunday 25th August one of the most exciting live acts on Earth will be homeward bound and heading to South West Four for the biggest headline show of his career. That act is Example. His string of top 10 hits includes #1’s ‘Changed the Way You Kiss Me’ and ‘Stay Awake’, whilst albums ‘Won't Go Quietly’, ‘Playing in the Shadows’ and ‘The Evolution of Man’ have helped elevate him to become the jewel in the crown of contemporary British music. His hugely successful collaborations with Calvin Harris, Laidback Luke, Nero and SW4 2012 headliners Chase & Status, have also resulted in chart success and provided the foundations for sell out arena tours of the UK and Europe. His return to London for a full live show will witness a performance packed to the rafters with hit after hit, as Example illustrates why he is truly one of the hottest properties in music right now. In what will be his final London showcase of 2013, Example will be at the top of his game to ensure he brings down the curtain on our 10th Anniversary in thrilling fashion.
Joining Example on SW4 Sunday is RAM records head honcho Andy C, who returns to play the main stage for the very first time. Last year Andy’s epic RAM Records 20th Anniversary arena was widely regarded as one of the highlights of the festival, with a stellar ‘Alive’ set taking the roof off the stage. Since then Andy has cemented his position as the most influential artist in drum and bass by winning the ‘Best DJ’ title at the 2012 Drum and Bass Arena Awards, whilst RAM picked up ‘Best label.’The Executioner’s return to South West Four for a very special open air performance will allow him to illustrate his technical genius infront of more people than ever. Andy really is a man that has done it all and we are thrilled to lock him in for what promises to be a spectacular set.
Dillon Francis is the self-proclaimed king of Moombahton. The LA born and bred producer has made some colossal waves across the scene since his SW4 debut last summer. Dillon has recently collaborated with Calvin Harris, Jack Beats, A-Trak and our Sunday headliner Example, as well as remix the likes of Zedd, Digitalism and Madeon. Consistently tipped for the top, Dillon is widely recognised as protégé to Dilpo, having released music on the Mad Decent imprint and Skrillex’s label OWSLA.
Alongside Baauer, Flosstradamus are at the forefront of the Trap movement, which blends southern style hip-hop with electronic elements. Flosstradamus gained fame with their remixes of Sub Focus, Usher and most emphatically their bone breaking remix of the Major Lazer anthem ‘Original Don’. The Chicago duo’s high energy sets make for a fun yet raucous and often riot inducing experience. Mad Decent and Fools Gold are amongst the imprints that have released their productions and with further releases in the pipeline 2013 is going to be an important year. SW4 – you have been warned.
Todd Edwards and EZ; Two founding fathers and legends of UK Garage, from different sides of The Pond. As vital and influential now as they have ever been, Todd and EZ have never performed together. That is until now. This is one of a series of world exclusive back-to-back sets due to be showcased at SW4’s 10th Anniversary that bring together the planet’s greatest artists for a unique performance. From his humble beginnings as a DJ on London pirate radio stations, through to tying down a prime time Kiss FM show and achieving platinum album sales for his mixes on the Pure Garage series, this will be EZ’s long-awaited maiden voyage aboard the good ship SW4. He will be joined by New Jersey’s Todd Edwards, a founding member of the 2-step movement. His innovative way of blending cut up, vocal samples with chirpy bass lines and sharp percussion has gained him a huge fanbase since his arrival on the scene back in ‘92. Over the years he has remixed Justice, St. Germain and more recently UK stalwarts Katy B and Jessie Ware. The American born veteran, who co-produced and sang on the Daft Punk song ‘Face to Face’, continues to influence countless producers and is welcomed to SW4 with open arms.
Another exclusive and hugely exciting back-to-back set at SW4 2013 comes in the form of Dimsantle and Roska. Brighton’s Dismantle is a DJ and Producer who blurs the lines between dubstep and house to create something of a carnival induced frenzy. As one of the most hotly tipped new producers to hail from the UK, Dismantle has gained major support from Annie Mac, Zane Lowe, Skream and Diplo, whilst last year he signed to Shy FX’s Digital Soundboy label. With a new album due out later this year, we are genuinely thrilled to welcome to SW4 the heir to the throne of UK bass.
As an integral part of the Rinse family since 2009, Roska is a man whose roots stem deep into the UK bass scene. His weekly show on Rinse FM has proved the catalyst from which he can broadcast not only his own work but also the music he loves. His deep affection of numerous genres can be heard not just on his radio show but also his own productions; a fiery cocktail of grime, dubstep and garage mixed with house flavours. His own imprintsRoska Kicks and Snares have given him a format to release his own work and that of likeminded artists, much of which will no doubt be heard during his Clapham Common performance.
PLUS NEW ACTS ADDED TO SW4 SATURDAY
LAIDBACK LUKE · GARETH EMERY
TENSNAKE [LIVE] · SUNNERY JAMES & RYAN MARCIANO
Laidback Luke has been a huge player at South West Four in recent years. However, contrary to his name, Lucas van Scheppingen is anything but laid back. The energy the Dutch powerhouse puts into his live performances is unrivalled, whilst the man’s talent is unfathomable. With so many credentials to his name, whether it’s a huge string of releases of his own material or remixes of artists across the spectrum, the Filipino born house DJ is living and breathing proof that there’s way more to Holland than Windmills and Clogs. And that’s before we get to his own club brand ‘Super You&Me’,conceptual superhero themed events which have been selling out shows worldwide including a special weekender at Electric Brixton earlier this year. Luke is one of house music’s most thrilling figureheads and we are cannot wait for his intense basslines and party fuelling sounds to rock our 10th Anniversary to the core.
The mother fuc*ing saga continues! That now infamous line can only mean one thing; that Mr Emery is back at South West Four, bringing his forward thinking trance and uplifting sounds with him. The rise and rise of Gareth Emery represents somewhat of a fairytale. For the past decade he has had involvement with dozens of tracks, whether, it's producing, remixing or collaborating. In the last twelve months alone Gareth has cemented his legacy with a sell out tour Stateside, capped by a groundbreaking YouTube broadcast of his Govenor's Island gig, which captivated millions online. Last October witnessed the 200th episode of his award winning ‘The Gareth Emery Podcast’, whilst his prominent Garuda label goes from strength to strength. See you at the front.
Hailing from Hamburg and raised on a diet of 80‘s boogie and disco, Marco Niemerski, widely celebrated as Tensnake, is a name that has been permanently etched on our minds after the gargantuan success of ‘Coma Cat’. The infectious melody and honey-like loveliness of this joyful single helped shape our summer of 2010. Never one to bask in the glory of a single triumph, Tensnake went on to release the equally catchy ‘Something About You’ and more recently ‘Mainline’, which managed to bring light to the darkest of dance floors. With an album finished and scheduled for release later this year, we welcome Tensnake’s special live show to the terrain of Clapham Common for the first time, as he brings the sunshine to South West Four.
Lauded as the Dutch version of Swedish House Mafia, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano have an insatiable appetite for success. They join an already prolific clique of DJs and producers to come through the ranks of their homeland and their blend of house always cuts the mustard. Their remake of Tiesto’s ‘Lethal Industry’ has been played endlessly played by Armin van Buuren, Sander van Doorn and David Guetta alike, whilst Pete Tong made it his ‘Essential Selection’… twice. The balanced chemistry between the two is positively obvious and the way that they embrace the crowd, lifting them up and crashing them down like an orchestral conductor, is contagious. Their performance in the Subliminal arena at SW4 2012 proved one of the highlights of the weekend, with an equally lethal set expected at our 10th Anniversary.
