Godskitchen Global Gathering 2002 Review

Saturday 27th July - Stratford Upon Avon - UK

This being our first Global Gathering (and only Godskitchen’s second) we didn’t really know what to expect other than a mammoth event. We were greeted with an ‘Homelands 2001’ Global Gathering 2002 Review photo style tail back, the only good thing about sitting in the car cooking for an or so was the highly attractive view of the 2 honeys in the car behind us (Kate, where’s my J’s worth darling?)!!   The all too familiar police sniffer dogs crew were also in attendance to greet punters on arrival!

Once inside the grounds we immediately checked out the arenas, the décor both inside and out was fantastically done. Global Gathering’s trippy pinnacle was a 20m water spray fountain with various images projected on to it (this was surrounded by mongers chilling on bean bags and getting lightly sprayed)… The efforts on the individual marquees projected a show themselves, enormous inflatable balls and things all over the shot. Giant windmill things were blowing in the wind outside, yet again GG have no holds bared when it comes to designing mesmerising setups.

The toilets weren’t that cool but they never are at these events. There was plenty of water tanks dotted around though which was good to see, hopefully other promoters will do the same.

The Sundissential kids were treated to superb sets from Lisa Lashes followed by Anne Savage. Lashes included a few trademark tracks like ‘Unbelievable’ and the huge ‘Instantly’ & ‘Revolution’ by Anne Savage & BK alongside some tunes we hadn’t heard before. As she dropped BK’s ‘Music For The People’ Anne Savage came on stage, they held hands and raised them together as the whole place went wild for the Hard House Queens! Savage played a few classics like ‘Flash’ and ‘So Wat’ (again that BK dude) and Lee Haslam’s tune ‘Music Is The Drug’…

Way Out West’s (live) set in the Colours arena was awesome, the performance included an amazing vocalist whose name escapes me… If you haven’t heard these guys live, make it a priority!

In The Gallery arena Joy Kitikonti played an uplifting trance set including his own massive ‘joyenergizer’ track. He was followed by the promoter of The Gallery’s brother; Mr Tall Paul. Jonah’s ‘sssst listen’ tune got a massive response as the crowd soaked up the 2^nd tallest man in dance music’s set.

The DanceStar UK award’s ‘Best Club DJ’ Tiesto banged it out in the Godskitchen main arena, some of his own tracks and the ‘Music Is The Drug’ track proving popular for both DJ’s and clubbers alike. Officially Holland’s 2^nd biggest export reigns supreme again.

Danny Rampling and David Morales played brilliantly. I admit I’ve heard Rampling many times before and been disappointed on a few occasions but this set was just as funky as his former Love Groove Dance Party (LGDP) show on Radio 1... Morales with his bulging biceps, US house grooves and soulful breaks had the Babooshka tent ‘freaking… just like in the Paradise Garage’.

Off for a light spot of Techno(?) courtesy of no other than Derrick May. The US techno legend’s signature beats had gurners gritting their teeth and smiling widely whilst stomping away in the Atomic Jam arena. Derrick was joined by the likes of Billy Nasty, Funk D’Void and Slam who all went down a storm with the Tech-no Prisoners.

Meanwhile Lisa Pin-up banged it out back in the Sundissential arena, ‘the perfect set’ one special punter described it as. She played a wicked mix of Robert Miles’ ‘Children’ and another wild remix of Faithless’ ‘Insomnia’ that caused such a stir people walking past the tents instantly broke in to a dance (myself included)! Satoshi Tomiie was getting tribal with the Colours lot. His deep and dirty prog-house loops had us nodding with approval, and a clearer understanding of how he’s become one of Global Underground’s DJ elite.

We were looking forward to the DMC mixing champion DJ Craze's set but those little bloody £5 DJ lists things were wrong?! How annoying? For Jules’s set, the arena was unsurprisingly full to the brim with his loyal followers. His first tune was Jurgen Vries’ ‘The Theme’ that got a huge response too and set the way for his energy anthems filled show.

Fireworks, fire blasts and sparklers blew up from the floor in the main arena as someone announced ‘GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL GATHERING 2002 PRESENTS THE MAN WE ALL KNOW AS... FERGIE’! He emerged through an opening being showered with thousands of green lasers, his silhouette took its place behind the decks, as the silhouettes of the dancers also stood proud. A dial tone rang out followed by Yeah Mother Fucker as the beat came in and the dancers and crowd went wild again. His faster pace was lapped up by thousands of Hard-house heads..

An incredible event, the atmosphere was brilliant - the crowd looked amazing too, there were Star Wars characters (Dark Vaders and Storm Troopers) as well as stilt walkers, nurses, and some freaky alien looking things (to be avoided on acid) all adding to the entertainment value of the event. Can't wait till festival season 2003 for more GK madness!

Many thanks to Godskitchen for their hospitality & congratulations again to our 2 sets of competition winners!!