Everybody tries to do something special for August Bank Holiday weekend, it's a British institution. No matter who you are, the choices seem endless.
I chose to go to Creamfields. Just like I did last year. And once again it was incredible, thoroughly deserving of it's moniker of 'best dance festival in the world'. The above photo sums it up really - you just want to be there.
As you would expect, lots of alcohol was involved - particularly my favourite drink of the moment; Sailor Jerrys and coke, which was mainly the reason why I don't remember the first half of the Saturday in the arena. Apparently I saw all the acts I wanted to see, I just can't remember it for the life of me! So who rocked Saturday you asked? Well let me tell you...
SATURDAY:
Spent most of it in the Ape tent and saw;
Skream & BengaBeardymanAndy C...
(...then nipped out the tent with the intention of coming back for
High Contrast - but it seems like EVERYONE had the same idea, so I couldn't get back in - Gutted. I hope you enjoyed a full tent Lincoln - I was about 15 deep and that was just at the bloody entrance!
I have been the biggest High Contrast fan for a very, very long time now - ever since True Colours bust onto the scene. I've seen him all over the country and he never fails to absolutely smash it. I buy practically everything he produces including his
Two Fisted Tales stuff, and I'm chuffed he now writes his own blog
'Highly Contrasting' too. He is one of my hero's and he demonstrates to me that you can be intelligent, well read and sensible yet still make slammin' electronic music that destroys any rave.
People often assume that to make 'dance' music that's dirty/uplifting/off the beaten track, you must be off your face on something - Mr. Barrett shows this isn't the case. I remember bumping into him at Hospitality @ Plug way back in like Feb or something - and being so star struck that all I could muster was "Fuckin' amazing mate". What an idiot. Anyway - I love The Contrast, I think you get the picture.
By this point on Sat I was at the height of my Sailor Jerrys dreamboat to drunkeness so I think I also saw...
Crookersa bit of
Tiesto - not as good as last year.
All in all - a good day.
SUNDAY: (much more successful as far as the temporary amnesia goes)
Jack Beats - unreal squelch.
Toddla T - awesome.
Diplo - highlight of the weekend, chuffed to see so many people digging the Diplo - when he dropped "Pon De Floor" things just went mad. Serious.
Annie Mac - pleasantly surprised, knows her shit and totally killed it...
FAAAAKE BLOOOOOD - Highlight along with Diplo. His ability to edit on the fly using CDJ's and for it to never sound shit was out of this world - and with a healthy dose of some serious scratching he stole the show. His set just bubbled along seemlessly and always erupted just at the right time.
Deadmau5 - seemed all good, missed the unveiling of his new head as I was at Fake Blood, but I was too far away to tell what Deadmau5 was doing - bit gutted...so I headed to...
Basement Jaxx - The Jaxx demonstrated why they are one of the biggest names in dance. I'm hesitant at seeing acts on the big stage because sometimes it's just so huge it's hard to get down with crowd and not seem distant up there and out of the way. But Basement Jaxx have obviously been doing this for such a long time they knew what they were doing. Their own material was brilliant with some excellent live skits added and extra BIGNESS for the live show. They also droppped/covered some recent big tunes including a few Dubstep tunes, which was right up my alley - definitely better than I ever expected.
Creamfields review over. Excellent weekend, best value for money (only £100 a ticket!), Diplo and Fake Blood won it for me. See you next year.
RD.
