UK Dance Weekender Review 2003

16th - 18th May 2003 @ Camber Sands, East Sussex

After their last and most successful sell-out weekender to date (Nov 02), the UK Weekender had some reputation to uphold. At face value (ie: upon inspection of the flyers) the 70+ DJ line up was tasty to say the least.

Upon arrival, we all knew the drill. Unpack, fill the fridge (as below, note Absinth, beer, whisky, vodka, energy drinks, and 1 cheese & onion pasty?), shower, shave & get ready for a large marathon session!

By the time we’d sorted out our proverbial shite we were just in time to catch Jules in the Devious main room. We’d missed Anne Savage after she’d just returned home from a two week tour of Oz, but Owen was more than chuffed with the kiss he got when we bumped in to her off stage.

Fresh from the Radio 1 airwaves Judge Jules played his usual no-nonsense upfront tunes, David Guetta vs David Bowie’s ‘Just For One Day’ & Benny B’s ‘Satisfaction’ were possibly the two that caused the biggest stir. His Hi-Gate production partner Yomanda’s latest release ‘Free’ also got an exclusive Weekeneder play.

Time to go say hi to Blocko in the Outrageous Funky Room 3, the back bar, previously used as a VIP bar. It was good to see him as always, however only an embarrassingly small crowd had thought the same, with just a handful of clientele it was a poor turn out for a man famed as one of the creator’s of Ibiza’s Space Terrace. Just back from Spain, unfazed, chirpy and ever smiling he dropped Tim Deluxe’s new ‘Less Talk More Action’, then an awesome Basement Jaxx remix of DJ Sneak’s ‘Fix My Sink’ - just what the DJ ordered!

The Innovation Drum’n’Bass arena was host to the roughest DJ legends in the land all under one roof. Up step Radio 1 duo Fabio & Grooverider, blasting out Hype’s new ‘Original Foundation’ track (one of their ‘Top 5 Mighty Rollers’) and another old-skool buddy Simon ‘Bassline’ Smith’s ‘Sunset’ out on white label… Obviously a huge response by all and Followed by D’n’B don Kenny Ken who was all smiles from behind the decks, reflecting the incredible jump up party atmosphere buzzing round.

After a few refreshingly cheap drinks - bearing in mind the £6 a bottle I paid @ Chuff Chuff last month? - We head back upstairs for Kiss FM & Turnmills supremo Tall Paul. Out comes DJ Dero’s masterful stormer ‘Revolution’ alongside ‘Push’ by Universal Nation. Before departing he received a dancing ovation hyped up by a probably merry Charlie C who’d just taken over. After a few suspicious couple of mixes Tomcraft’s ‘Loneliness’ inevitably tore the roof off!

The after party continued back at the chalets/home until the wee small hours by which time we agreed if we were gonna make it the weekend we should definitely sleep at some point. Ah-men.

Devious Weekender Review continued...