I didn't go but have a look at this....

[Jack Bastard]

I think that perhaps some of our members from across the water tend to associate festivals that have high production values and impressive stages with the very commercial end of dance music, a la some of the videos that have been posted of Skrillex, Avicci, Steve Aoki et al. It is only natural that the more discerning heads might adopt an opposing view to this, ie preferring more intimate settings, and more mature crowds. To me that seems like just a cultural difference, as we simply do not have these associations here in the UK. If anything, festivals like this are among the few opportunities that those of us who choose to live lives alternative to the mainstream actually get to unite the tribes. Boomtown Festival itself has a reputation for being pretty edgy and gritty, tbf, so the cheese accusations are way off, although I can definitely see how they could be arrived at by those who associate impressive stages with shit music and young inexperienced audiences. I myself have had the pleasure of experiencing Arcadia performances at a few festivals over the last couple of years, and although I didn't make it to Boomtown this year by all accounts it was one of the best yet. What may not be all that immediately obvious is the nature of the construction itself. Arcadia started out as part of Glastonbury's Trash City, and has maintained that trashcore punk rock attitude. The sheer level of creativity involved is quite humbling, this is definitely not your meaningless, empty, lowest common denominator entertainment that ends when it hits the back of your eye, it has a purpose, a meaning and an identity that stays with you and gives you something to think about.

+1 (though I still love 500 capacity TEN shindigs too)

Also try to get hold of Glastonbury After Hours documentary by Julian Temple, which is all about these guys.

[Eliot Han]

/facepalmThat's not what is being said at all. I don't understand where the fuck the last two posts are coming from, sorry guys.

...

Fucking hell of course not really. How can you not be going mad for that stage? Anyone who isn't needs to hand in their geek card here and now. You're a disgrace to modding and knob-twiddling tech geeks everywhere. That is cool as fuck and that is plain to see.

Sorry if I read that incorrectly, although the festival looks fun, wicked setup but not all of us across the pond hate on the big festivals. I don't care for the mainstream flashy festivals as much but the desert scene out here is quite cool and the Do Lab throw some legit events out here as well such as lightning in a bottle ...

[Ed Paris]

not hating or anything but i love small venues. the bigger the party the more diverse the crowd and this can get really complicated. i´ve yet to get to a party +1000 that´ll blow me away. i´m also more a fan of down to earth and honest parties. lazers, fire, smoke, robots...that´s to much. all i need is a good dj, a good drink and some friends to have the best time of my life. oh and basements are the shit!

[Le Goat]

I'm not so into squats these days because I like leaving with my possessions.

[BFLY]

not hating or anything but i love small venues. the bigger the party the more diverse the crowd and this can get really complicated. i´ve yet to get to a party +1000 that´ll blow me away. i´m also more a fan of down to earth and honest parties. lazers, fire, smoke, robots...that´s to much. all i need is a good dj, a good drink and some friends to have the best time of my life. oh and basements are the shit!

This is exactly it, imo why do you need to add all these effects and robots and such? Look at the more commercial DJ's there all using big light shows, fireworks, crazy sets and so on. Alot of the time there music is shit. I went to see Jackmaster at Plastic People a few weeks back, all it was, was a dark room, a sound system and wicked music. NO NEED FOR GIMMICKS!

However the rest of this festival does look pretty cool. Ik pretty into house, bass and techno and would like someone to name the djs big in any of these scenes?

[rotebass]

This is exactly it, imo why do you need to add all these effects and robots and such? Look at the more commercial DJ's there all using big light shows, fireworks, crazy sets and so on.

I recently worked a performance of Phantom of the Opera where they spent over $20k to drop a chandelier at the climax. Some people would ask why in the world you would do that. I say, why the hell not?

The idea that these gimmicks automatically equal bad is the fallacy in this thread. Now that said, the gimmicks don't automatically equal good either.

Alot of the time there music is shit.

No, YOU think the music is shit.

I'm not saying I like them, but the fact of the matter is that you could put on your favourite record and the average person is probably going to say "turn that faggy techno off" (even if the record wasn't techno), then they are going to put on some guetta remix of some nicki minaj song. All the pretentious rants and douche bag comments in the world aren't going to change the fact that you're both right (or wrong, if you are the pessimist type).

[guiltyblade]

I don't even think its the genre of music people are talking about. Its the flow of music and actually sets people play at these big festivals versus say an underground club/warehouse.

Big festivals usually give each DJ an hour or more to play. They all play their bangers, or all the same songs. Not to be said about this festival being shown, but in general festivals with a lot of these names have been the same djs playing the same tracks, not building a night. Its literally a reset of tracks, set, and mood when a new DJ comes on.

In a basement, club, dark alley, warehouse set up. The Djs are usually all working together towards a single goal. Towards a person really setting it off. Or towards a few DJs setting it off. Its builds a night and give an overall flow to an event.

I can't count the amount of time I went to a festival and literally heard the same song being played by every DJ. Its annoying, the DJ after another isn't even catering there set in the least, just playing the bangers they want.

I guess the intimacy of a warehouse, club, basement whatever, leads to an overall flow. This is why I always prefer going to events or whatever over a festival.

[Timbo21]

I think that perhaps some of our members from across the water tend to associate festivals that have high production values and impressive stages with the very commercial end of dance music, a la some of the videos that have been posted of Skrillex, Avicci, Steve Aoki et al. It is only natural that the more discerning heads from that part of the world might adopt an opposing view to this, ie preferring more intimate settings, and more mature crowds.

To me that seems like just a cultural difference, as we simply do not have these associations here in the UK.

It's not cultural difference at all.

Back in the late 80's/early 90's in the UK you had the big raves spring up that had fairgrounds and lasers etc vs those who preferred the smaller crowds in lesser known clubs playing House. The bigger raves ended up playing Hardcore.

There was quite a dsilike of the big rave culture by many of those who had introduced House music to the UK

In a basement, club, dark alley, warehouse set up. The Djs are usually all working together towards a single goal. Towards a person really setting it off. Or towards a few DJs setting it off. Its builds a night and give an overall flow to an event.

Yes, you used to have 3 DJ's playing. They would all be there at the start of the night, and the night would build

[backtothefront]

Like I said, I'm just sad that I can come to forum of so-called geeks post a link to a robotic, firebreathing and lasershooting stage made from stuff from junkyards and kitted out with k upon k of state of the art audio kit

About to watch the vid, but it sounds a bit like Arcadia at Glastonbury which is very impressive.

My opinion?

You've got some absolute, fuckin' LEGENDS in that line-up. Pure, fuckin' legends. Sounds like an awesome night, I would have loved every minute of it.

Have to agree with this, there are some superb DJ's/Performers in that lineup. As I say I've not watched the vid yet, but I wouldn't class the lineup as particularly cheesy. SW4 on the other hand, looking at it's lineup, has a smelly blue cheese aroma around it!

[crckrs]

Thread reminds me of FB - too much ego and people trying to be alpha mode in here.

Just chill out! I love keeping up with these forums but threads like these put me off so badly. Everyone whining over which music they like/dont like/something about cheese?/festivals not being basement enough (again dafuq?)

Be a little open minded; I don't like classical music but I don't go on classic musical forums and rip on them. If you like dark grungier stuff then start a thread about it!

This guy just posted a fun looking event and gets shredded. Who in their right mind whilst absolutely legless on the piss with your mates wouldn't see a giant mechanical spider shooting lasers and fire and go "HOLY CRAP THATS NUTS?!"
And if you responded 'not me' you either don't drink, don't have mates or you're a boring sociopath.