HD Festival 2014 Review

Into its fourth year, High Definition moved to a new venue to deliver its biggest line-up to date. On 5 July 2014 a short bus ride from Tunbridge Wells’ train station lead to the stately Eridge Park which seemed more befitting to a Jane Austen Period drama than an all-out dance fuelled Saturday festival.

A surprisingly slow queue opened out into a large grassed space circled by various tents and surrounded by some truly impressive views of the countryside. Heading straight to the bar following instructions to purchase drink tokens for all liquid transactions we found the £5 beers quite reasonable.  There was also a wide range of beverages available if beer wasn’t your thing.

The festival was well put together with two bars, one at either side of the site, two large tents and a few smaller tents, with some fairground rides you would have found at an old-school rave situated at the center. The main stage was tucked away at the back of the field which worked well in delivering minimal through traffic for the crowd who were there to see Carl Cox, Marco Carola and Jon Rundell.

The sound systems were solid and the DJs looked like they were having a lot of fun across the board. Carl Cox delivered a classic set late in the afternoon in the bright sunshine sun to everyone’s surprise because of the forecast of rain. Oneman, as usual did not disappoint in the evening playing to the packed out Digital Arena before Gorgon City stepped up and played their recent hits, as well as Ten Walls’ Walking with Elephants, a personal favorite of mine and what seemed to be everyone else’s too.

An apparent no-show from Ms Dynamite disappointed a few people but there was plenty to make up for it; Huxley, Midland and Bicep had the crowds firmly in their grasp throughout their sets and delivered beat after beat to warm receptions.

If you wanted to up the tempo with a trip to the Epidemik rave tent it was best to get in there early and experience a stand out display from Eksman and Logan-D taking us through the late and great years of DnB, one rewind at a time.

High Definition provided a great day out with big acts and a vibe I would be happy to return for.

Review by Sam Walsh

 


Created with flickr slideshow.

 

Mark Knight, Marco Carola and more added to HD Festival lineup

On the main stage, previously announced headliner and prevailing house legend Carl Cox will now be joined by international techno connoisseur Marco Carola.
 
One of the most widely respected DJs in the game, Marco Carola has been mixing techno for over twenty years, and currently stands at the forefront of the global techno scene. Originally from Napoli in southern Italy, Carola has travelled the world as a producer, DJ and label owner, releasing five critically-acclaimed albums in the process. Renowned for his legendary 2006 Fabric mix, which made a significant contribution to the mid-00s minimal trend, his extensive touring schedule has seen him play countless gigs in Ibiza, New York and all over South America. Carola’s high energy sets can often be up to eight hours long, taking audiences on a journey and demonstrating his impressive three deck skills! High Definition is thrilled to have such a globally respected star to joining proceedings.
 
High Definition Festival is also proud to introduce the ‘Toolroom Knights Stage’ featuring label founder and Grammy nominee Mark Knight. Over the last seven years, Knight has never left DJ Mag’s Top 100 poll and has notched up performances at some of the world’s most iconic music venues. Joining Mark Knight are the increasingly prolific house duo Prok & Fitch, who having already racked up some impressive achievements on and off dance floors the world over are set to impress Eridge Park with their heavy-duty sound. Also stamping their mark on High Definition will be newcomer Weiss and Amsterdam’s Mike Mago, who has already won support from a wide variety of powerhouse producers including Tensnake and Josh Wink.  But that’s not all- the Toolroom Knights line up is completed by a plethora of fast-rising acts including: BearcubsGeorge AndrewsPete GriffithsMark Dickson and Mike Mac plus a B2B set fromLuke JacquinJames Stewart and GW Harrison!
 
 
The team behind High Definition have also recently announced their VIP Arena, which is set to play host to some of Ibiza’s finest regulars. Showcasing their progressive dance floor smashers in the VIP arena are the Hoxton Whoresalongside the adroit sounds of DJs Deeptrak and Soul Avengerz, not to mention 2 Good SoulsMike LinnaneTerence KaySam C and Banton. As if that weren’t enough there’s more in the form of the Tech TwinsMark Hollis & Jamie Watts, Ben Jammin & Harry AshbyChris VCharlie ACliff Knowles and Chris Passion.
 
These recent additions will join (amongst others) The Martinez Brothers, who are gearing up for an amazing six-hour set of latin-infused house and techno, as well as Gorgon City, currently riding high with ‘Ready for Your Love’ and ‘Real’, and Joy Orbison, who will be bringing his sublime bass hybrids to High Definition alongside house and techno greats DuskyFilsonikGeorge Fitzgerald and Jon Rundell.
 
Flying the flag for bass music are Mistajam, recent chart-topper Route 94, dubstep don Artwork b2b with Zinc, Ms Dynamite, the eclectic as-ever Oneman, and Radio 1’s B.Traits plus drum & bass royalty Shy FX. 
 
On the 5th of July, High Definition is set to once again showcase the globe’s very best artists for a day and night of superlative electronic sounds.
 
FULL LINE UP SO FAR:
CARL COX & FRIENDS 
CARL COX
MARCO CAROLA
GEORGE FITZGERALD
JON RUNDELL
CHARLIE HEDGES 
 
RANDOM 
THE MARTINEZ BROTHERS (6 HR SET)
ROUTE 94
FILSONIK
TRISTAN INGRAM
RANDOM DJS
SAM SUPPLIER
 
AUS MUSIC 
DUSKY
BICEP
HUXLEY
MIDLAND
WILL SAUL
TOM RIO
AND VERY SPECIAL GUEST: JOY ORBISON
  
TOOLROOM NIGHTS 
MARK KNIGHT
PROK & FITCH
WEISS
MIKE MAGO
BEARCUBS
GEORGE ANDREWS
PETE GRIFFITHS
MARK DICKSON & MIKE MAC
SKYHIGH
LUKE JACQUIN, JAMES STEWART & GW HARRISON
 
DIGITAL ARENA 
GORGON CITY
ONEMAN
MS DYNAMITE
ZINC B2B ARTWORK
B.TRAITS
SHY FX
MISTAJAM
HANNAH WANTS
ALL ABOUT SHE
ROSKA
MY NU LENG
DJ DIE
 
EPIDEMIK : THE SEVEN AGES OF RAVE
RATPACK
MAMPI SWIFT & IC3
SLIPMATT & SAM SUPPLIER
BROCKIE & DET
DJ PHANTASY & HARRY SHOTTA (THE HARRY SHOTTA SHOW)
BILLY DANIEL BUNTER & MC CUTTER
UNCLE DUGS & MC FEARLESS
LOGAN-D & MC EKSMAN
20 YEARS SHOWCASE OF VIBES & LIVELEE
TERRY-M & WHILEYONE & MC ELEMENT & SLOFFEE
EDDIE ESP B2B JASON JAY & MC STRICT
 
VIP AREA
HOXTON WHORES
DEEPTRAK
SOUL AVENGERZ
2 GOOD SOULS
MIKE LINNANE
TERENCE KAY
SAM C AND BANTON
TECH TWINS
MARK HOLLIS & JAMIE WATTS
BEN JAMMIN & HARRY ASHBY
CHRIS V
CHARLIE A
CLIFF KNOWLES
CHRIS PASSION