The 1st edition will feature Nick Warren, Oliver Koletzki, Township Rebellion, Armen Miran, Dastan, Sam Shure and many special guests
Offering a truly authentic Mexican experience, Luna Obscura takes place on the famous working Rancho El Tinieblo. This breathtaking setting is home to the world-renowned mezcal brand and will feature an outstanding lineup across two stages hosted by revered labels in The Soundgarden and Stil Vor Talent including Nick Warren, Oliver Koletzki, Township Rebellion, Armen Miran, Dastan, Sam Shure and many special guests. They all line up from 7-11 October 2021 and tickets start at 750USD and are inclusive of event access, all activities, food, nonalcoholic beverages, accommodations, and transportation to and from Monterrey.
The majestic Luna Obscura will be a place to sink deep into the rich local custom and culture with numerous activities to occupy the body, soul, and mind each day. Health and spa services abound, with yoga, dance therapy, massage, acupuncture to ice plunges and temezcal all on hand to help restore and rejuvenate you each day. Multiple luxury accommodations are available and there are also more economic options.
Of course, one of the stars of the show is the stunning setting, which is just like an atmospheric scene straight out of the movies. Hidden among the Tamaulipecan thorn bush ecosystem on a 9,000 acres estate, this ranch house boasts a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool, as well as a bar. It has wide-open vistas, gigantic agave plants and wide-open grassy areas with gorgeous outbuildings all around the main ranch where the mezcal is made.
At the festival, you will be able to take advantage of the wildlife and landscapes with safari rides, horse tours, Mezcal tastings, and culinary adventures meaning each day will offer something different. Meanwhile, the world-class music will soundtrack daily pool parties and an intergalactic night stage that is sure to keep people dancing well past sundown.
Says the festival director of the event, “Luna Obscura is bringing an authentic Mexican experience, combined with world-class musical talents, and conscious restorative experiences to bring together people under a new moon. Arrive with an open heart and soul, to a landscape that has never been explored in this way. From exotic animals thriving freely around you to pure mezcal production of the highest quality being cultivated in your surroundings, it’s the first experience of its kind, and not to be ignored.”
This is a special opportunity to soak up a classy soundtrack in a truly unique and authentic Mexican setting.
Art With Me Announce First Festival in Miami – Combining Music, Art and Wellness Phase One lineup includes Sublime With Rome, Lee Burridge Presenting All Day I Dream, Cultura Profética, Tycho:ISO50, Behrouz, Rodriguez Jr. (live) and many more
Escape the mundane and immerse yourself in the inspirational universe of Art With Me, an immersive festival that combines art, music, workshops, wellness and cultural experiences into a multi-day journey to inspire change through impactful creative encounters. This year the full festival experience and six associated pillars are coming to Miami for the first time ever this November 26th to 28th, 2021 with cutting edge names from the art world as well as world-class soundtracks from headline musicians, live acts and DJs including Sublime With Rome, Lee Burridge Presenting All Day I Dream, Cultura Profética, Tycho:ISO50, Behrouz, Rodriguez Jr. (live), Birds of Mind, Amémé, Apache, Elephant Heart, SIS & The Solo Ensemble (Live), White Cliffs, YokoO and many more. Tickets are available now from tixr.com/pr/AWMFEST/28599 and entry is subject to a negative Covid test or proof of vaccination.
Art is the central theme at Art With Me and eloquently ties together all the other pillars within the event including Wellness Programs & Workshops, Local and International Gastronomic Gatherings, Visual Art Installations, Large-scale Art Pieces, Renowned Photographers and Interactive Exhibitions, Children’s Programs and Ecological Awareness Practices, Thought-Provoking Panels and Discussions and much more.
Our lives are intrinsically connected to music, dance, and expression so Dance With Me celebrates this fact and brings together artists, attendees, and music professionals for a unique celebration and exploration of music. Multiple genres, sounds, scenes and cultures will be explored by this year’s headliners including Sublime With Rome, Lee Burridge Presenting All Day I Dream, Cultura Profética, Tycho: ISO50, Amémé, Apache, Behrouz, Birds of Mind, Bobi Stevkovski, Delíc, Elephant Heart, Facundo Mohrr, Ghostly Kisses, Isaiah Martin, Kaz James, MAGA, Matt Caines, Oceanvs Orientalis, Ricoloop, Rodriguez Jr (Live), SAVAGE & SHĒ (Live), SIS & The Solo Ensemble (Live), White Cliffs, YokoO, and more exciting acts to be announced…
As well as the music, Eat With Me, Breath With Me and Play With Me all offer things to explore, immerse yourself in and learn about at this unique event. From daily breathwork practices to ice baths, reiki healing sessions and drum circles, to a flavorful and immersive journey of exotic drinks and edible delights via an array of experiences that will allow your whole family to connect to art, music and sustainability, you will never be short of things to do across the weekend. Care With Me is the final important aspect of the event which, through a series of workshops and talks, aims to develop awareness of the issues affecting us today, examining how our actions impact the world around us.
The festival will also feature a huge array of visual artists who will build jaw-dropping installations that seamlessly integrate with the surrounding areas. This year Large-Scale Art Installations come from artists such as Daniel Popper, Kate Raudenbush, Carlito Dalceggio and Laura Kimpton amongst tens more.
Art With Me is a multi-sensory exploration of self, of community, of art. Its wealth of offerings are designed to make an important and lasting impact on all who attend, so get your tickets now to be part of this unique experience.
ORLOVE’s genre bending party is back at 1720 with it’s most diverse and eclectic lineup yet! Czarface, DJ Sneak, Kraak & Smaak, Harry Mack and Surround DJs all to play ORLOVE‘s genre bending Panic in LA party is back with a bang on November 18th. Headlining the diverse and eclectic event at 1720 is hip-hop supergroup Czarface ft. Wu Tang’s Inspectah Deck, 7L & Esoteric, who are joined by an illustrious cast featuring DJ Sneak, Kraak & Smaak, Harry Mack, Surround DJs Heidi Lawden, Jeniluv and Masha and more.
Acclaimed dance music brand ORLOVE knows how to throw a proper party and this one is set to be one of LA’s most brilliantly varied in some time. It plays out at the awe-inspiring 1720, a multi-purpose venue in Downtown Los Angeles’ Warehouse District. It boasts best-in-class production, as well as plenty of craft cocktails and beer and a world class sound system that will be put through its paces by some of the best DJs in the game.
The mouthwatering line up includes hip-hop supergroup Czarface (featuring Wu Tang Clan’s legendary Inspectah Deck), 7L and Esoteric. Also on the bill is the Chicago legend and House Gangster DJ Sneak, who plays no frills, straight up house with real attitude. Meanwhile more cutting-edge house and techno comes from Dutch live electronic trio Kraak & Smaak, and joining them is freestyle superstar Harry Mack, as well as LA based DJ and production crew Surround DJs aka Heidi Lawden, Jeniluv and Masha.
Panic in L.A. is the hip hop arm of the ORLOVE brand and in the past, it has hosted beat-making royalty such as DJ Premier, Raekwon, Sango, Pomo, Mix Master Mike, Craze and Giraffage. In hibernation for a few years, it returned this past August with the epic pairing of Rakim and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who performed on stage together for the first time in history. Each Panic event to date has been a memorable throw down with next-level light and sound and incredible energy from the crowd.
Panic in LA parties always go off — and this one will be no different. Thursday, November 18th, 20211720 E. 16th St, DTLADoors: 8PM // 8PM-2AM Line-up: Czarface DJ SneakKraak & Smaak [Live]Harry MackSurround DJs [Heidi Lawden, Jeniluv, Masha]
Hipworth Launches DJEnerate NFT, a collection of 10,000 unique NFTs from the Electronic Music WorldCarl Cox, Sven Vath, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati and Ricardo Villalobos among over 30 DJs featured Founded by celebrated NFT producer Hipworth and supported by 30 superstar DJs, world renowned brands from the electronic music industry and international television channel Clubbing TV, DJenerates disrupted the NFT collectibles landscape with a successful sold out drop in less than 4 days!
DJENERATES is proud to announce a new era in collectible NFTs with a platform powered by a group of industry experts from the NFT world, together with music industry professionals joining forces to develop a framework that encompasses community and music in a way that has never been explored before. Through the innovation of NFTs, virtual worlds and blockchain comes the opportunity for a paradigm shift that will empower and inspire artists with new tools and resources. It is the DJENERATES vision to foster and drive that opportunity for all artists looking for a new path to successfully follow their passions.
DJENERATES are generative NFT characters with over 400 unique traits designed with love and care by OG crypto artist and Art Director Shelly Soneja, divided into several categories: DJs, Producers, Clubbers, Dancers, Security, bar staff, movers & shakers and an incredible line up of superstar DJs such as: Anfisa Letyago, Bedouin, Benny Bennasi, Blondish, Bushwacka, Carl Cox, Dubfire, Giorgina Anguili, Hernan Cattaneo, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Luciano, Maceo Plex, Mar-T, Marco Faraone, Nick Warren, Paco Osuna, Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk, Ricardo Villalobos, Sven Väth, Tensnake and more.
“We aim to represent all the fabulous characters and identities that have contributed to the electronic music world and helped shape our lives and friendships through the amazing power of music.” said Hipworth, CEO of DJenerates. “Having the opportunity to bring our network and the power of our global TV channel to this disruptive and innovative project is an amazing experience. DJenerates is a unique concept in terms of usage and utility with a long-term vision to establish not only a brand but new ways to develop music careers both in real life and in the metaverse“ said Stéphane Schweitzer, CEO & Founder of Clubbing TV.
Owning a DJENERATES NFT provides you: // VIP access to the most exclusive NFT club, which includes Metaverse events.// Access to exclusive events in real life and online.// Airdropped LAZR token rewards.// Special edition NFTs from leading artists.// Metaverse wearable give-aways, and access to beta versions of APPS and platforms being built on the DJENERATES ecosystem.// Exclusive merchandising packs// Signed collectible items.
Owning a DJENERATES NFT is your pass to an exclusive group that celebrates music, art and life through the synergy of community and life. The best part is that you can choose to sit back and watch the ecosystem blossom or take part in the various channels and initiatives being developed. Projects are launched internally by the DJEN Team and by the community through project grants awarded in the LAZR DAO.
Our vision for the future is to provide artists, as well as music and art lovers with the opportunity to connect and prosper in a highly creative and supportive framework. Our goal is to deliver a decentralised incubator that offers rewards for every participant from artists to collectors and enthusiasts. Next September 30th will be our big airdrop day where 30 superstar DJs will be immortalized on the blockchain in the DJenerates collection to be followed by an exclusive DJenerates party taking place in Decentral Games.
Join the family on www.djenerates.com About DJenerates :DJENERATES is a collection of 10,000 unique NFTs immortalizing the iconic characters from the electronic music world. From clubbers, DJs & bar staff to bouncers and dancers & superstar DJs this is an exclusive pass into a new creative clubbing paradigm, known as the DJENERATES. Generated from 400 different traits of characters with more than 3 billion possible combinations, only 10,000 unique DJENERATES were born/minted and came to life on the Ethereum blockchain. Website: www.djenerates.com
About Hipworth :Hipworth is a digital artist hailing from Melbourne, Australia who has worked with global brands such as Redbull, Carl Cox, Opera Victoria, Pioneer DJ and Bush Records to name a few. He has been active in the NFT and crypto art space since early 2020 and dropped NFTs on SuperRare, Nifty Gateway, MakersPlace, BlockParty and Kollectiv. His style combines collage, illustration, graphic design and 3D animation which he combines into rich textured landscapes that explore surreal and organic themes.https://twitter.com/hipworth_
About Shelly SonejaShelly Soneja is an art Director for mobile and blockchain games with with 10+ years of game art experience. She worked independently as a freelance artist for 5+ years tackling a variety of creative projects such as comics, illustrations, and game art assets. Her experience with leadership and art creation in an art production studio also helps providing animations and storyboards for various international advertising agencies.https://twitter.com/shellysoneja
About Clubbing TV :Clubbing TV is the world’s first Lifestyle TV Channel dedicated to the Dance Music Culture available in HD 24/7, in over 90 countries (Via Cable, Satellite, Fibre, DSL, IPTV, Connected TVs, OTT, Web, Mobile apps) and in the Balearic Islands of Ibiza & Formentera via Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). It offers the best live events, DJ sets, lifestyle programs, music videos, party reports from the hottest dance floors, interviews with the most famous DJ & producers plus exclusive shows, festivals and concerts gravitating all over the international dance music scene.Clubbing TV … Louder than your speakers!Website: www.clubbingtv.com
Travel, music and culture will all collide in a tropical paradise at Cult Excape Maldives from October 29th to November 21st 2021. For a few unforgettable days, this boutique festival invites you to escape from everyday life and sink deep into two luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean. Featuring non-stop entertainment and international DJs, world-class restaurants, bars, cafes, rich marina culture and much more, Cult Excape Maldives will be the holiday of a lifetime. This is the very first festival of its kind in the region and all-inclusive tickets start at just AED 4995 per person. This Halloween, Cult Excape Maldives invites you to build your own virtue and experience a truly dream-like reality in a utopian location. It will be packed with all sorts of grown-up escapades and stunning vistas for an all-in-one price that includes food, drink and local transfers so the only other expense is your flight.
This all-new compact and cultured festival takes place in the incredible lifestyle hub that is Crossroads Maldives, which includes two high-class resorts in the Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and Saii Lagoon Maldives. The resort is nestled amongst the exotic Kaafu Atoll and Emboodhoo Lagoon with endless white-sand beaches, towering palms trees and breathtaking ocean views that allow you to gaze at the awe-inspiring sun as it rises and falls each day. A gorgeous marina walk connects both multi-integrated resorts which make the intimate and secluded areas your own adult playgrounds.
The picture-perfect resort offers all sorts of magical experiences and luxury, all-inclusive packages. Picture yourself swimming with whales, partaking in wellness, yoga and stretching classes, saunas, steam room, plunge pool and enjoying a spa garden plus water sports, kayaking, pedal boats and snorkeling trips on the house reef. World-class DJs will soundtrack both day and night, and there will be magical events on beaches and in island pagodas with a special closing ceremony.
This is the third event from CULT EXCAPE following a pre-pandemic, invite-only and sold-out desert event in Dubai which happened at the height of the pandemic when no one in the world was dancing. Then came Cult Excape Maldives Chapter one right after the pandemic lockdown with just 150 lucky guests attending from all over the world in the midst of the restrictions. This new concept aims to bring a level of togetherness to the region and showcase the power of the talent available in the country on a global scale.
Cult Excape Maldives is a once in a lifestyle experience unlike any other. Places are strictly limited so act fast to secure your ticket to paradise.
For Bookings please visit the website or drop us an email or whats app on the links below
After having to be rescheduled because of covid , the sold out Blossoms show at Cambridge Junction finally happened. The band were supported by Fever and The Lathums. Our photographer Kane Howie was there to document the event. You can see his photos below and also see more photography by him at https://www.instagram.com/kanehowiephotography/
Amnesia recently came to Croatia for a huge take over to mark the closing week of the famous Zrce Beach.
It took place across all three open air venues right by the sea – Papaya, Noa and Kalpso and had a world class line up of names including Adam Beyer, Claptone, Marco Faraone, Kölsch, Luca Donzelli, and more.
As well as the non stop music there was plenty more to do such as sunset boat trips, BBQ fiesta, after beach parties, VIP packages and watersports.
The weather was gorgeous, the crowd was very cosmopolitain and the whole takeover played out with plenty of famous hedonistic Ibizan spirit.
We were there and here are some of the best photos from the week.
This September marks the 30 year anniversary of the opening of our London club, back in 1991. Inspired by New York’s cavernous house venues, our home was a derelict bus garage in South London. The first night had no alcohol, three flashing lights, moody security and unless you knew the names of at least half a dozen Chicago house DJs, you were never getting through the menacing, prison-like, gates.
Since then, Ministry of Sound has grown into one of the biggest electronic music brands in the world. Taking in an incredibly successful record label, global touring brand and most of all, cementing our London club as the most famous nightclub in the world.
To celebrate such a momentous occasion, we’re inviting you to a three-part celebration taking in all things Ministry of Sound. We’ve expertly curated three events championing each of the three main genres that have found a home in SE1.
Friday nights at Ministry of Sound are synonymous with Trance, so we’ve assembled the very best names from Trance old and new. The legend, Paul Van Dyk will be doing a special ’30 years of electronic music set’.
PVD will be joined in The Box by trance heavyweights Aly & Fila, Will Atkinson and John Askew. Over in 103 former residents Judge Jules and Tall Paul head up a celebration of that big room sound that has soundtracked so many nights on Gaunt Street.
Lineup: Paul Van Dyk, Aly & Fila, Will Atkinson, John Askew, Judge Jules, Tall Paul, Paul Thomas, Lottie, Alex Anderson, Ryan Spicer & more
Next up in our triple-threat birthday, you can enjoy a full day of back to back old (and not so old) Skool UKG – a genre that grew out of Ministry of Sound afterparties before becoming one of the most loved sounds at the club.
We’ve got very special live guests Heartless Crew, joining an all-star team of UKG DJs including DJ Zinc, Todd Edwards B2B Majestic, Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont, Zed Bias, Sunship, SHOSH, Martin ‘Liberty’ Larner and Perception.
Lineup: DJ Zinc, Todd Edwardsb2b Majestic, Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont, Zed Bias, Sunship, Heartless Crew & more
Finally, Saturday night will take us back to the earliest days of Ministry and the genre most intertwined with our thirty-year history. House music has been our first and most enduring love, so it’s only right that Saturday night sees us welcome back some of the best house selectors of the past three decades.
Few artists have made a bigger impact on house music over the last 30 years than Armand Van Helden, a bonafide legendary producer with a jaw-dropping back catalogue. Joining Armand are one of the biggest UK acts of the past three decades, Groove Armada, with fast-rising star Bellaire and the man who started it all, Ministry of Sound founder, Justin Berkmann. The rest of Saturday night will see our full team of residents bring 30 years of bangers to SE1.
Lineup: Armand van Helden, Groove Armada, Bellaire, The Menendez Brothers, Justin Berkmann, Fat Tony, Arielle Free, Jimmy Switch b2b Griff, Brian Summers, Matt Francey & more
Over 150 international and local artists to perform at the four-day music festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 16-19
Tickets now available through mdlbeast.com and in-store at Virgin Megastores in Saudi Arabia.
Music entertainment company, MDLBEAST, has confirmed the biggest acts in dance music will once again take to the stage at its flagship event SOUNDSTORM, the region’s biggest and loudest music festival, with the first official line-up being revealed for the 2021 edition.
Hosted in Riyadh between December 16-19, SOUNDSTORM will feature a world-leading international music line-up with more than 150 global superstar headliners and international dance acts performing alongside local and regional talent.
Electrifying revellers at what is one of the region’s most unique entertainment experiences will be international artists Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Deadmau5, DJ Snake, Eric Prydz, Martin Garrix, Paul Kalkbrenner, Tiësto, and Steve Aoki, in addition to Adam Beyer, Amelie Lens, Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, Sven Väth as well as homegrown regional artists including Anmarz, Cosmicat, Spaceboi, and Zone+ with many more announced in the countdown to the festival.
Talal Albahiti, COO and Head of Talent Booking, said: “We’re happy with the first announcement of the SOUNDSTORM ‘21 line up. We will soon announce a second phase which includes a wide variety of musical genres that will take attendees on a journey they won’t forget. We are ready to welcome all music enthusiasts to become part of this immersive 4-day experience.”
Tickets are now available to purchase online through mdlbeast.com and in-store at Virgin Megastores in Saudi Arabia with Second Release tickets exceeding all expectations.
SOUNDSTORM offers its attendees day passes as well as 4-day passes with four tiers to choose from: Storm Chaser; Storm Blazer; VIB and VIB-BOX. Each tier offers something different. The most basic festival access with a shuttle service from select locations in Riyadh is at SAR 135 per day, while exclusive VIP experience (VIB – our very important beasts), day tickets are available for SAR 2,999. First Release tickets have now sold out. From today, however, Second Release tickets are 15% off full price for 4-day passes.
Ramadan Alharatani, CEO, highlighted the company’s efforts to ensure the health and safety of the attendees and delivering a festival like no other, “Our vision is to deliver a unique and positive experience for hundreds of thousands of people as they enjoy some of the world’s biggest stars performing in front of a passionate Saudi audience. We are undertaking comprehensive measures around COVID to ensure our guests have the best and safest possible experience, all in partnership with local entertainment and health regulators. Furthermore, we have developed and released a code of conduct which ticket-buyers sign and are expected to abide by in order to ensure a safe space for everyone. Further details will be announced in due course”
International talent:
Adam Beyer
Adriatique
Afrojack
Alesso
Amelie Lens
Armin van Buuren
Benny Benassi
Bob Moses (club set)
Butch
Camelphat
Carl Cox
The Chainsmokers
Charlotte de Witte
Chemical Surf
Cirez-D
David Guetta
Deadmau5
DJ Snake
Dubfire
Eagles & Butterflies
EDX
Eli & Fur
Eric Prydz
Hot Since 82
Jamie Jones
Jeff Mills
Jungle
La Fleur
Lee Burridge
Loco Dice
Lost Frequencies
Maceo Plex
Major Lazer Soundsystem
Malaa
Martin Garrix
Morten
N0sefin
Nicole Moudaber
Nina Kraviz
Nora En Pure
Paul Kalkbrenner
Purple Disco Machine
R3hab
Rebecca & Fiona
Salvatore Ganacci
Solardo
Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano
Sven Väth
Steve Aoki
Tale of Us
Tiësto
Vintage Culture
Local/regional talent
Zone+
Anmarz
Majid
Vinyl Mode
K.Led
Spceboi
Biirdperson
Baloo
Cosmicat
Dish Dash
About MDLBEAST:
MDLBEAST LLC was established following the success of its flagship festival MDLBEAST SOUNDSTORM. It is a music entertainment company that aims to showcase established as well as up and coming talent, present audiences with original content and deliver live entertainment.
The company further expanded across three business lines: talent, content and events with the vision to inspire and connect with Neo-Arab youth. Talent focuses on scouting and developing upcoming regional artists, giving them a platform to elevate their presence in the region across its various channels including MDLBEAST Records, the company’s record label arm which produces and distributes music by local, regional and international artists. The company’s media & publishing arm produces, distributes and publishes original content through the lens of music inspired by Neo-Arab youth culture complementary to its live entertainment events.
For further news and imagery, please visit our media hub: MDLBEAST hub
End of the Road is a festival for people passionate about music. Set halfway between Salisbury and Blandford in Dorset, this years festival didn’t disappoint. With such an eclectic mix, it was appropriate that the main tent was sponsored by the ‘Loud and Quiet’ independent publication. No two words at each end of the musical spectrum sum up the performances over the magical weekend.
Stereolab headlined the Thursday night, with their first set since before the pandemic in March 2020. Clearly the bandhad initial stage nerves, but launching their biggest hit, French Disko, they renamed it ‘F**k the Daily Telegraph‘, presumably due to the chorus ‘La Resistance‘. Long gone are the days when festival would be three day affairs beginning on the Friday – such is the power of End of the Road’s attraction that they can attract such talent when people used to be accustomed to setting up their tent and perusing the merch stalls on opening night.
The political messages continued into Saturday morning, with the Mark Jenkin’s film ‘Bait‘ starting proceedings for the day. One of the defining British films of the decade, it portrayed beautifully the war between the local Cornish fishermen and the gentrification of the once-thriving village by rich city folk. Welsh musician Gwenno accompanied the film in person with a mesmerising score.
Later in the day as the sun began setting, Damon Albarn appeared as special guest on the main stage. Clearly enjoying himself and goofing around onstage, he mixed solo material, Gorillaz and The Good, the Bad and the Queen tracks, it was an impressive addition to the bill. Finishing with classic Blur song ‘This is a Low‘, it was a difficult act to follow or compete with. The only downside was that while Damon played the main Woods stage, Arlo Parks was booked to play the Garden stage at the same time – such a crime for there to be a clash pulling fans apart when people still haven’t developed the ability to be in two places at the same time. Still, she was booked over 12 months ago to play in 2020 so it shows the astute ear and crystal ball the organisers have for upcoming talent.
To beat Damon and Arlo Parks, the festival would have to pull out impressive headliners. And they did.
Hot Chip and John Grant would later be booked at competing stages as headliners on the same evening. Having chosen to see Hot Chip, it would have taken an unreal performance to have stolen the show from them. They were simply on fire with arguably the best headline show of the summer at any festival. This may sound like over-the-top praise, but in addition to their own classic pop and funk, they mixed in the mosh-pit frenzy of Beastie Boys classic ‘Sabotage‘ and finished appropriately with Springsteen’s ‘Dancing in the Dark‘.
Saturday began again with another Welsh six-piece, Melin Melyn – with catchy eccentric pop with a country twang. Joined by Dr Sausage onstage with a fake wig, beard and easel, they felt like a fresh new Super Furry Animals.
Later on Saturday, Anna Meredith dazzled the crowd with her self-defacing charm. Her music straddled so many different genres it would be unwise to categorise her, but she is a must-see on any lineup. Finishing with an unbelievable cover of ‘Enter Sandman’ which Metallica would have been proud of, it’s clear why she was even awarded an MBE on the Queen’s honours list in 2019.
Making a rare solo performance, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood followed on the Garden Stage. Introducing a number of classical songs from soundtracks to There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread, and You Were Never Really Here it was a unique concert experience. He’ll be playing a number of cathedrals and concert halls throughout 2022 and the acoustics in such venues will make this an exceptional experience.
Sunday began with a had a hard rock feel with Oldboy and John taking to the Big Top. Ear-splittingly loud, the two-piece (both appropriately called John), highlight how many exciting bands are currently out there, from Slaves, Royal Blood and IDLES.
Later, Porridge Radio took to the same stage, with singer and lead guitarist Dana Margolin rinsing her head under the tap multiple times before taking to the stage due to the sheer heat on the festival site.
Clearly it was a beautiful weekend on the festival site, and the peacocks rummaging around the grounds added to the beauty of the weekend. Simon Amstell’s comedy performance even described the crowd as the ‘forest people’ which was apt due to the magical transformation Larmer Tree gardens took for the weekend.
Heckled by sheep in the field behind, it was hard not to laugh at many of the comedy performances throughout the weekend.
Finishing off the weekend were Black Country New Road, with someone in the crowd shouting ‘you’re the best band in the world’ – not quite yet, but watch this space.
Little Simz followed and arguably the rapper should have been booked as a headliner, such was the power of her performance. Her album is entitled ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert‘, but that personality was not on show today – she was here to party in style and show the world, or at least Dorset, what a star she will be.
After Little Simz, watching Arab Strap showed the contrast of the festival. Aidan Moffat’s very dark but humorous lyrics painted him as a grumpy old Father Christmas, and it was clear many in the crowd didn’t see the comedic elements of the Scottish legends.
With many bands booked throughout the weekend having to cancel either due to Covid or travel restrictions, 2022 at End of the Road cannot come soon enough. With legends and Bowie favourites Pixies expected to headline, the next twelve months can’t pass quick enough so we can all head back to this incredible unique festival.
