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Creamfields UK 2003 continued...

Through the corner of my eye I spotted the immaculately sculptured flat top of the one they affectionately call Oakie, lifetime god in these here parts. He was to follow Massive on the main stage. By now the feet were rhythmically moving and our arms were slowly reaching to the skies.

We met up with friends after hours of waffling texts and messages, oh - what a state these crazy chicks were in and it was only 10pm! Still we got a drink sorted and after pleasantries we headed to that den of sin, Bugged Out, with the Chemicals in session. Oh my god. The place was rockin! Heavy house and progressive sounds were vibrating around all over the shot. Things were beginning to get a little blurry. We stupidly kept moving and slid into the Strongbow Tent to see Ozzy’s boy wonder Louis Osbourne taking the roof off. I didn’t even realise he was a DJ. I thought that he just lurked in the shadows on that show but he played 'Professional Widow' to this illuminated crowd so he’s OK in my book; definitely one of the high points of the night (check our recent meeting with him in the Interviews section).

One of the girls was in a bad way by now and this was the harbinger of doom if you like. Most of our (in) action would revolve around the fantastic Sunday Best Arena. At one point, our efforts too move to another tent resulted in a half our circular of a tent not much bigger than a tennis court. Other moments were spent stomach clutched gazing up at the funfair rides and the crazy fools spinning around. I was on my own juggler thanks very much. We ventured off leaving the casualties behind and coming across (excise the pun) the Aftershock Pole Dancers, yep that's right, rubbing their perfectly formed breasts against each others! Grrr.. prob not the best situation for getting randy in unless you're already on to a winner so we carried on.

A few lost hours later in between which we ended up in the Subliminal Arena for Jose Nunez' US House grooves, running off to catch up with Lisa Lashes & Rob Tissera tearing it up in the Frantic & Nukleuz 'Hardware' tent the bouncing round to catch PVD & Tiesto in Cream's Future Trance arena and not forgetting Dave Clarke's monster set (admittedly not necessarily in that order). We continued (get it?) to the Essential Mix Arena broadcast live on Radio1 as Pete Tong announced it was 3am. The atmosphere was amazing and this could have been the magic moment; hands in the air, bellowing out, eyes closed.

Morning had broken and like a scene from 'Apocalypse Now' we carefully meandered through the debris and corpses en route to the car. Where had the evening gone? From now on it was going to be perpetual fatigue and loneliness. Certain things you never tend to forget at 6am like a woman trying to inconspicuously wee outside her car and failing miserably to our childish amusement.

Stopping at the nearest services for several cups of coffee, post refuelling and an crucial power nap, we headed on our way down to the coast just praying that it would be a smooth journey. Praise be to the DJ. A big Sunday roast and much "Z" catching beckoned for this relative festival virgin. An epic journey for an epic weekend, then again they do say half the fun is getting there. Hmmm.

Reviewed by Amar Patel and our thanks to Scott Madhill for the pics!