Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl

Gatecrasher - The Summer Sound System 2002

After the miserable early wake up call on Friday morning (Brazil vs England) something special was required to perk up the office…

What better than Gatecrasher’s Summer Sound System in Oxfordshire…. On arrival we were slightly miffed by the £5 parking charge (I’m sure it’s a new feature)? We soon get over it as we enter the event like excited school children at a new adventure play park.

The Bud Ice Bus is surrounded by groovers to the day-time funking sounds of David Holmes & Rob Da Bank. Various loons doted around felt the need for speed on the fair ground rides surrounding the aerodrome.

The Chemical Generation arena was rammed from side to side for the Chemical Brothers admirable performance, we had to sneak under the tarpaulin to get in for their set! The atmosphere was electric as the pair blasted out tune after tune both new and old from their albums.

Paul Van Dyke had the The Sheffield Massive! Main arena jumping and pumping with his trancey build ups and stomping breakdowns, glow sticks in the air and grins on happy faces. His superb set was followed by Armin Van Buren (another Gatecrasher white Van man!).

In the ‘Dance Ritual’ arena was Masters At Work geniuses ‘Little Louie’ Vega and Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez they taking centre stage by starting off slowly, working the crowd up with some of their own tunes thrown in for good measure.

The Drum & Bass arena was kicking off for Roni Size (Live) fully equip with crew, synthesizers and his female vocalist. Andy C and Nikki Black Market played while the MC & crowd were chanting for the infamous Valve sound system (supposedly one of the best in the world) to be turned up - due to Environmental Health and licensing restrictions this was unfortunately denied to the crowds disappointment.

Sasha & Digweed’s 3 hour back 2 back progressive extravaganza caused a massive stir in the Bedrock arena, whilst Danny Tenaglia was swinging huge search lights across the floor in the ‘Be Yourself’ room from start to finish of his mini marathon 7 hour set (he recently done a 20 hour stint in Miami this year). His signature deep, melodic, funky, jack house kept the room rocking all night long.

Things were then stepped up, UK Garage style in the Twice As Nice arena courtesy of Radio 1 DJs Spoony & Mikee B. Next was something a bit tougher via the Tidy Boys in the Tidy Trax arena (of course), a hero’s welcome thanked the guys for their efforts before Lisa Lashes banged it out hard and fast!

There was one less arena (and Super Star DJ) than advertised due to Carl Cox’s Global arena having structural damage! Coupled with a lack of available DJ times information did lead to some confusion as to who was on at what time…

Time to catch our breath, so we sample some cultural delights in the shape of a funny looking peace pipe during our unique chill out in the Tee-Pees?!? The Strongbow Lounge seemed to be everyone’s little meeting place, lost faces hunting for familiar ones left right and centre… but a very attractive centre it had.

Over in the VIP arena guests were treated to a vintage selection of funky tracks from the Dope Smuglaz’s Tim Sheridan. For the last set we went at it hammer and tongs, maybe it should hammer and Lashes? Lisa took the roof off and led the way for Radio 1 new boy Fergie to notch it up for the finale set.

With two previous year experience under our belts we managed to sneak out of the car park, past the police spot checks (S.A.S style) & on our way in a record time, dodging huge the bottle neck of starry eyed drivers trying to get home.

There was one less arena (and Super Star DJ) than advertised due to Carl Cox’s Global arena having structural damage! Coupled with a lack of available DJ times information did lead to some confusion as to who was on at what time… never the less - Gatecrasher manages to prove their reign at the top is far from over…. The northern Super Club’s choice of top name artists means everyone leaves happy. Gatecrasher Summer Sound System opens the doors for 50,000 clubbers to experience the love and feel the vibe, man. Peace.

Congratulations to our three sets of competition winners and our extended thanks to the Gatecrasher crew and Rhiannon @ www.SpringPr.com