What do you get after two days of continuous electro-thumping with an unaccountable number of people spread like ants over an estate spanning yet another unaccountable number of hectares?
Wait, add multiple tents sprawled around a massive main stage with star-DJ mini-concerts of their own, and you dashing from one mad party to another wearing “bad-for-festival-shoes.” Answer: You get bleeding toes running wild (and buzzing ears!) But it felt like “Alice in Dance Wonderland!”
Creamfields at best is a wild electro-carnival of sorts best attended with some close friends for company to keep you sane (or not). Hop onto amusement rides, eat candy, wear body art and some “flowers in your hair” (they make synthetic ones these days), boogie the day away while the best DJs in the world throw spectacular parties (take your pick), and then when you think you’ve had enough just camp the night. Total picnic mayhem.
With all manner of visual laser treats, confetti and pyrotechnics, this year Creamfields UK showcased spectacular firework displays above the main stage called the “Hurricane,” successfully closing down the summer season festival at Daresbury estate with fire.
If you thought that was enough heat, there were ice cannons hitting 20 meters of nitrogen, leaving everyone dancing cool and easy. The electronic festival extravaganza had no name in the EDM business unturned, packing a heavy weekend with over a staggering 200 artists playing non-stop at the two-day fiesta.
As always, Above & Beyond with their signature emotion-studded set never disappoints. Mat Zo seemed rather eager to play at a Saudi version of Creamfields. Kareemfields? We look forward to that day.
Other heavyweight DJs like AVICII, David Guetta, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Hardwell continued to keep the party in full gear banging on the harder side of things.
Richie Hawtin’s set retained the grand minimalism for those seeking to ENTER the more underground face of electronic music. Eric Prydz continued his reign as the master of dark and progressive.
Then there was Laidback Luke seen donning his signature superhero outfit in the artist village, looking rather dapper. I wondered if I really got that genuine-looking smile from him. And then I remembered Superman is also a nice guy, even if he deejays for a day-gig. No pretentiousness and feigned importance. Save the DJ world, Luke.
While the festival closed the night for me with a gory scene of innocent punches that left a girl with a bleeding nose, playing doctor from a previous life ended somehow with an invitation to party backstage with Tiësto’s posse while he delivered a stellar closing set of the festival. And that’s where I realized why he has continued to play a neat game at the top. It’s probably because he has mastered the art of time-travel. Past, present and future redefined. And there he threatened, pushed and taunted his audience — Who’s afraid of 150? I’ll tell you next season.
Creamfields 2013: Summer festival showdown!
Creamfields 2013: Summer festival showdown!
