Strolling nonchalantly onto the main stage without so much as a howdy-do, eighties synth superstars New Order start off their headline slot with slow 'Elegia' and an extraordinary amount of smoke blasted in front of them.
After more than a few years of their on again off again status, this is a rare treat for Bestivalites, despite the absence of original member Peter Hook, and the arena is full to the seams. As they reel through classics 'Crystal' and 'Age of Consent' the crowd get down to some serious new wave bopping. '5 8 6' is accompanied by geometric swirling visuals and yet another full covering from the smoke machine, whilst 'The Perfect Kiss' gains an appreciative roar from the crowd.
It's hard to be too enthusiastic about a band who are so obviously absorbed in their own music rather than attending to the audience, but a bit of Joy Division's 'Isolation' is the musical equivalent of frosting, it covers up the cracks in the cake, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves as they power through 'Blue Monday' and 'Temptation'.
Closing with more Joy Division, 'Transmission' and 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', New Order leave the stage having satisfied fans and maybe gaining a few more along the way. It's not the full force performance many would have liked from a Bestival headliner, especially after the hyperactivity of some of the previous acts in the day (The Cuban Brothers, De La Soul) but they didn't exactly disappoint either.
JOC: I’m good, it’s a nice sunny day! It’s been raining at home so its nice to see its sunny here and hopefully it stays like that.
SFG: It’s a busy weekend for you, today at SW4, then Creamfields tomorrow?
JOC: Yeah we have Creamfields tomorrow but we are driving up tonight. Going to get there nice and early as its always very enjoyable, and I have been there the last few years. Its my first time at SW4 so it will be interesting to see the difference in style of festivals.
SFG: Talking about the difference in festivals, what can the crowd expect from your sets today?
JOC: I don’t know yet cause I was at the arena and it was quite empty. It depends on how many people are there, that will effect what I play so ill find out 2 minutes before 3.
SFG: You play a number of festivals every year, what’s been your highlight so far?
JOC: The best one so far has been Global Gathering in the UK. It was a great atmosphere, great crowd. I was playing just as the sun was coming down, there was great trance music and a really good vibe.
SFG: What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year, anything special coming up?
JOC: I have a track with Aly & Fila, also with Agnelli and Nelson, a remix for Armin Van Buuren and my own vocal single which should be released around October time. I haven’t given it a name yet, there are still a few tweaks to get it finished.
SFG: Anyone special on the vocals?
JOC: Well it’s all secret for now. It’s cool and fresh.
SFG: What’s next from your Subculture label?
JOC: The current release is by Chris Metcalfe, a UK producer with a melodic trancer the next release. There’s also a release from Full Tilt, a progressive house tune with a Jorn Van Deynhoven remix, a really good uplifting vocal trancer. Armin’s played it on his radio shows, it’s a tune, one of my base tracks, its massive. Then of course we have my new vocal track, got plenty of stuff coming in but we only do one release a month, only 12 songs a year.
SFG: You have been on the Trance scene for a number of years now, how has your sound evolved from the trance of old times?
JOC: I would say BPM and genre wise it’s pretty much kind of the same. I stuck to trance and still enjoy the trance that I was playing years ago. I suppose the music itself has developed, I am just playing what’s out there. There is a lot less tech-trance now. You know years ago there used to be Katana, Pascal, Marco V and others, remember that stuff? It seems to have disappeared. Its either trance or house, no kind of in-between. I kind of miss that you know, people like Mark Norman and stuff like that, there seems to be a gap and only a couple of people filling it so next year I might look at doing something like that myself.
SFG: If you could play back to back with anyone in the music industry, who would it be?
JOC: At the moment to be honest, some of the best back to back sets I am doing are with Aly & Fila. We have done it twice so far. We never discussed it or planned it or talked about it, we just turn up and press play and that seems to work best. We did it at GodsKitchen and the atmosphere was amazing. A lot of people there gave us good feedback. It’s kind of like we are long lost brothers in a way. We both have the same interests but we are from completely different backgrounds and we do really well on the decks.
SFG: London was home of the Olympics this year, did you manage to catch any of it?
JOC: No didn’t see one thing, only what I have seen in the news or the papers. I’m busy at home with work and have a little baby so TV comes like 4 down the line.
SFG: We have a SW4 Olympics event we are playing with the artists this year, Rock Paper
Scissors, it’s the best of 3, let’s go!
RESULT: SFG takes the gold winning by 2 – 0.
JOC: No medal for Ireland *laughs all around*
SFG: It’s been a pleasure John, thanks for your time and we look forward to your set at SW4.
The night is pitch black and clear, stars speckle the darkness and fringed silk flags ripple in the breeze as the main stage area fills with expectant faces.
Florence Welch strides gracefully on stage to a deafening scream from the thousands strong crowd, wearing a Poison Ivy-esque getup – a floaty green dress contrasting violently with her bright red hair which is bedecked with trailing ivy. 'Only If For A Night' warms up the crowd, whilst fan favourite 'The Drumming Song' does indeed get "louder and louder" as Florence belts it out in her distinctive vocal style.
New track 'What The Water Gave Me' is almost at anthem status as a chorus of terribly off key ladies and gentlemen around attempt to sing back up for lady Flo'. After encouraging the crowd to hop up onto each others shoulders, Florence gives a little parenting advice along the lines of "Raise Them Up" as 'Rabbit Heart' invites a lot of eyes-closed swaying from flower-garlanded girls. Candi Station cover 'You've Got The Love' sparks a swathe of fancy dress animals cuddling up to each other and 'Shake It Out' sees some fairly impressive ass wiggling (mostly of the male persuasion).
The last time Florence and co graced the Bestival main stage back in 2008 unfortunate sound problems plagued the whole set and it was a bit of a wash out, but this year sees the redhead's powerful voice triumphantly resonate across the site, mingling with the screams and cheers of a well and truly enthralled crowd. Closing with an epic, pogo-ing 'Dog Days' Florance flounces out with style.
As hot day turns into teeth-chatteringly cold night, Forty thousand thursday Bestivalites attempt to squish themselves sardine-like into the Big Top for Besti favourites Hot Chip, at midnight.
Opening with 'Shake a Fist', Hot Chip begin a musical journey through some of their lesser known tracks before giving the anthem craving crowd a taste of 'Over and Over' with an extended intro just to whet the whistle. Oldie 'The Warning' and 'One Life Stand' also see raucous applause, whilst new single 'How Do You Do' has the karaoke effect amongst the fans. For those that haven't seen the band before, the fact that pretty much all of them can play any instrument on any of their songs is rather amazing, and watching as they glide seamlessly between guitars, keyboards and drums can be quite confusing.
As a Tiger sails overhead towards the front barriers the heat and lack of breathing room becomes stifling, so we venture outside for a burrito only to be disappointed by the lack of decent sound past the pillars. 'On The Floor' seems to go down well with the sardine-can-clan but for those out of the fold it just isn't the same. A closing cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Everywhere' is pretty special, but for all those who didn't make it into the tent, the magic is well and truly gone.
Our ethos is simple: Try to provide the best line-up, the best venues, the best experience, whilst improving each year at the best possible price. Stereosonic is Australia's largest electronic music festival, now let's get to it…
In an interesting year for Dance Music, the final frontier has been reached with global domination, Our artists and particularly headliners lead this assault! With chart topping hits, to industry & public voted awards, to sold out stadiums / clubs and the World’s biggest Festivals, we’re very fortunate to have THE cream of the crop in electronic/dance music right now, all included in the one line-up. Australia get ready for your biggest festival to explode in 2012!
What a year for our Artists!
Quite simply one of the biggest names in Dance music, Tiësto has had some huge tracks out, headlined countless festivals and has a huge new compilation out ‘Club Life – Vol. Two Miami’ (see below for our special Ticketmaster offer). Avicii simply had the biggest track in 2011/2012 and headlined countless festivals and worked on new collaborations with artists such as Lenny Kravitz and is producing anthems such as ‘Silhouettes.’ He simply doesn’t stop!Calvin Harris synonymous with electro pop music is set to release another killer collab, this time with fellow Stereosonic artist, Example. Both have had huge years in touring and production. Celebrating ten years of residency on the White Isle last year, the prolific Carl Cox continues to impress. His legendary sets in Ibiza are still drawing thousands weekly. Major Lazer are back and ready to expose fans to their eclectic dance hall vibes with a new show. Dutch turbine Laidback Luke combines to make a power trio of Stereosonic artists with one of Australia’s favourite acts and tennis star Martin Solveig and Dirty Dutch superstar Chuckie delivering ‘1234,’ a mad crowd track that will surely be dropped during the tour. Dash Berlin has started 2012 with a bang, his latest album ‘#musicislife’ is already delivering chart success. Dash’s trance comrades: Infected Mushroom, Markus Schulz, Sander van Doorn, Aly & Fila, Simon Patterson & MaRLo continue to experience huge love from the trance family. Infected Mushroom are back with their awesome live show (and table tennis skills). The techno fraternity asked and we listened with a huge Techno offering featuring: ‘Carl Cox Revolution’ (brand new room) with Carl Cox, Loco Dice, Adam Beyer, Joris Voornand more. Rising stars Porter Robinson is one of the most in demand acts at the moment with Bassnectar both having a huge year in 2012. Aussie Tommy Trash has risen to become a huge global producer and DJ this year and is coming back to Australia for Stereosonic. ‘Holy Ship!’ and ‘Hard Fest’ owner Destructo is back after a huge Stereosonic 2011. There will be plenty of Bromance this tour with Brodinski and Gesaffelstein who will be partying with Zedd, Dillon Francis and Foreign Beggars. Bart B More has quickly become one of the brightest stars in the international electronic music scene. He has consistently been crafting dancefloor destroyers that have received massive support from prominent DJ’s around the world. Diplo’s latest record ‘Express Yourself’ has in typical Diplo fashion exploded across the world with its eclectic high-spirited feel. The rise and rise of bass continues, with Flux Pavilion, Caspa and Datsik all riding the wave of bass adoration in the last year. Australian indie kids, Van She, are finally back with a killer new album ‘Idea of Happiness’ which has already spawned two songs: ‘Idea of Happiness’ and ‘Jamaica,’ perfect for Summer. Kaz James is back, one of the artists who appeared at our first ever Stereosonic, withFeenixpawl after huge Beatport success and one of the anthems of the European summer.
Don’t miss out! 2011 saw our biggest crowds to date with Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide selling out up to eight weeks before the festival. With the vibe already huge for Stereosonic 2012, it is predicted that we’ll witness big shows again this year thanks to our stellar line-up. We want to party with you, so make sure you purchase your ticket(s) early to avoid disappointment.
New Stages This year we welcome: Main Stage 2, plus a new techno stage with ‘Carl Cox Revolution,’ ‘Paris Social Club’ (first time in Australia) and the ‘Hard Stage’ (also a first time in Australia – Purveyors of ‘Hard Festival’ and ‘Holy Ship!’)
New Ticketing We are pleased to announce that all ticketing is now through our ticketing agency: Ticketmaster. Patrons can buy tickets online via Ticketmaster.com.au, Ticketmaster Outlets Nationally and by Phone 136-100
Back to Skoda Stadium, Sydney After extensive renovation, Stereosonic Sydney will be moving back to Skoda Stadium, Homebush and surrounds to ensure our patrons experience Stereosonic in the best possible environment. This is a state of the art venue with huge seating, main stage and as side stages have reduced capacity numbers, we are advising patrons to buy tickets to the Sydney show at their earliest convenience to avoid regret. We partied at this venue and surrounds 2 years ago and it was epic!
Thank you We would like to thank all those who attended Stereosonic in 2011 and to all who voted for Stereosonic at theinthemix.com.au Awards in 2011. Your valued support motivates us to bring you the most popular acts with a mix of new and diverse artists, to satisfy and educate whilst treading that fine line in between. This is Stereosonic.
Stereosonic 2012 boasts its biggest line-up ever featuring: Tiësto Avicii Calvin Harris Example Carl Cox Major Lazer Laidback Luke Martin Solveig Dash Berlin Markus Schulz Diplo* Sander van Doorn Infected Mushroom* Chuckie Flux Pavilion Mr Oizo Porter Robinson Loco Dice Bassnectar JFK MSTRKRFT Excision Adam Beyer* Aly & Fila Caspa Datsik Joris Voorn* Bingo Players Tommy Trash* Simon Patterson Gesaffelstein* Ørjan Nilsen Dillon Francis Foreign Beggars Bart B More Zedd Brodinski* Krewella* Nina Kraviz* Van She (not playing Adelaide & Perth) Alvin Risk* Destructo* MaRLo* Club Cheval^ Treasure Fingers* French Fries^ Beni# Duke Dumont^ Mickey# Kaz James* Feenixpawl* Acid Jacks* MC Stretch (will be hosting and MC’ing the Mainstage)* MC Gunner (will be hosting and MC’ing the Carl Cox Revolution Stage)
* = not playing Adelaide # = playing Melbourne & Sydney only ^ = playing Melbourne, Sydney & Adelaide only
Ticket prices in comparison to other festivals In staying true to our core ethos, Stereosonic continues to deliver the best line-up possible, at the best possible ticket price. We have raised the prices slightly this year to help improve our services to you on the day and to enable us to deliver the biggest acts in electronic music!
Ticketing (For all cities): Ticketmaster.com.au First Release tix are sold out Second Release tix are sold out Third Release tix $154.95* (includes booking fee), plus a $3.95 transaction fee per purchase (limit 8 tickets) *Perth patrons pay an additional $2.00 PTA (Public Transport Authority) fee (this includes free public transport with a valid Stereosonic ticket)
Exclusive Tiësto DJ Mix album ‘Club Life – Vol. Two Miami’ – offer for all Ticketmaster buyers Purchase a ticket to Stereosonic and you can also buy a download of the Tiësto DJ mix album ‘Club Life – Vol. Two Miami’ for just $11.00. Featuring: Ivan Gough, Gotye, Coldplay, Tiësto and Wolfgang Gartner, Afrojack and more.
On Sale Now!! – only from Ticketmaster: http://Ticketmaster.com.au/stereosonic or 136 100
Line-up is subject to change without notice. All events are over 18s, photo ID is required. Line-up varies slightly in each state. View state information at the stereosonic.com.au website for more details.
iPhone Application and mobile site We will be launching an iPhone and Android application. For other mobile users we will be launching a mobile friendly site very soon! www.stereosonic.com.au/iphone
Creamfields 2013 will take place on Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August Bank Holiday weekend 2013.
Creamfields regrettably had to cancel the final day of this year’s festival due to adverse weather and flooding on site and are currently assessing how the festival can be improved upon for 2013.
Festibelly. Sounds good, right? I fantasize about a mile long banquet out in the fields, the kind for medieval kings and queens, with all the mod cons and a soundtrack to boot. It’s day one, though, and I’m out of my depth – nobody mentioned a tightrope.
At a safe distance I watch as adults and kids queue, eager to play out their circus dreams. There’s hula too, and each attract a strong grownup contingent, age one of many barriers beautifully blurred over the weekend’s New Forest gathering.
Invention abounds. One young woman steps hurriedly on stilts as friends pass a hula-hoop around her hips, mimicking the feat. Even in this small field, I fancy I could make the weekend without seeing a single band. It’s part of Festibelly’s charm.
I follow a familiar tune to the Terrapin Station, where an impromptu singalong has broken out to Bohemian Rhapsody. A sudden downpour makes an excellent excuse to lie back in our tent and soak up the bourgeoning camp (oh, how we soak!). There are some brilliant exchanges. “Is cider a depressant?” starts one passerby, and I fight the urge to interject and give the game away.
As the carpark starts to fill, we skip out in wellies to explore Lymington town. The high street is lined with market stalls, and ambling vaguely toward the sea we’re among a handful of people not eating ice cream. Or walking our dogs. Or both. For me, though, it’s a decidedly Bakewell occasion, so we beeline to a nearby café.
Back at base the tunes have begun. Folky Rob Cowen & The Dissidents “love the neon” in City Lights, and a slow, stripped cover of 1970s hit Hotel California is fitting fodder on a bright afternoon. There’s welcome irreverence from The Operators, the lead singer shouting in mock admonishment by way of encouraging the crowd. Tongue firmly in cheek, he says Careless is “about going mental and being stupid, hence Careless.” We hear By My Side and Meet Me In The Morning, and there’s a slick nod to Rihanna (or is that Michael Jackson?) somewhere amid clapping and cowbells.
Parisian trio We Were Evergreen have as much fun as their fans, and why not? They sound like summer – in clubs, parks, beaches, and bars – and just when you think you’ve got a handle on their sound, the lead singer swaps ukulele for trumpet and the tent gets rightly jazzy. At one point there is a request for silence; “Let’s all go ‘shhhh!’” they smile, as if sharing a secret. If you’ve never had the pleasure, YouTube any version of Baby Blue (my favourite was filmed at St. Pancras International).
An aptly named Massive in China stage goes bananas for Crowns. The boys ask in earnest if their instruments are loud enough, and I suspect they want someone to up the volume. The Cornish group play some serious folk – there’ll be bruised knees around Festibelly tomorrow. Frontman Bill Jefferson breaks mid-set to sip a revellers drink, cunningly disguised as a protein shake. “I don’t want to tell you what to do,” he shouts, launching into the raucous Little Eyes, “but I think you’ll have more fun if you can-can!”
I cheer with the heaving tent when our MC mocks the masses waiting in line for silent disco, but as the next act starts up (an Indian marching band, of course) I steal away to join the spectacle. Headphones have sold out but we’re free to roam as the tent erupts in chorus to Eye Of The Tiger. The disco keeps on to the small hours, and we fall asleep to sounds of ‘silent’ fun.
It's high summer when I wake. Couples, families, and indeterminable larger groups sprawl sitting or lying, relishing the day. At the main stage people come and go, music secondary to conversation. The bank holiday makes Sunday the perfect time to party, and all-singing, all-dancing Man Like Me do just that. At the height of random are playful tracks Peculiar and Squeeze. London Town feels comparatively tame, but that's not a criticism. Frontman Johnny Langer isn't shy either; early in the piece he loses his shirt, and later hops off-stage to take a walk through the crowd.
Clock Opera aim to please with plenty of grandiose tracks like Once And For All. There's something unnerving about lead singer Guy Connelly's beard, so I focus instead on the Chris Martin lookalike manning keyboard and synth. Soon, they start to sound like Coldplay, but again that’s no critique.
I’m not fussed on Icarus, but when Bastille hit Overjoyed, Flaws, and fresh track Bad Blood, it’s bliss. Dan Smith and company sound even better live, and they use the stage well, switching places and instruments with ease. Popular cover What Would You Do has the whole site singing, their playful percussion impossible to ignore.
I’m sure I love Gold Panda's heavy bass, but it’s ambient noise this hour of night, and I’m fast distracted by talk of burgers. Punters gather by the roaring fire, a ceremonious end to our official Festibelly experience. Would I go back? Without a doubt, and next time I might even brave the hula.
