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We Love Homelands 2004 Review
Saturday 29th May 2004 @ Matterly Bowl, Winchester
What the feeeeeeeeeekkkk?? Homelands already, but that means… no it can’t be… surely not, the start of Summer’s clubbing season - damn I’ve hardly recovered from my birthday bash in March? Doesn’t time fly in clubland?
An unusually quiet night on Homelands eve, saw us still not managing to get it together enough to arrive at the venue on time, but no great surprise there. The sun was shinning and it was a gorgeous day as we left sunny Brighton ‘on a mission’. Trying to arrive as ‘prepared’ as possible (not mentioning setting off without any directions whatsoever), although this was nearly my 6th Homelands (I think), we still made the obligatory wrong turn…
Recent years have seen an increasing presence of the dreaded (as in feared, not dreadlocked) sniffer dog! So at the same time as thousands of other festy goers that day, we text and called ahead to check with friends what the dilly was with the dogs? Some reported that the dogs were more interested in playing ball, than finding drugs, other stories sounded a little more scary altogether…
Any how, having missed the likes of Radio 1’s chill out kings Chris Coco and Rob Da Bank (Sunday Best), Maidstone’s rising star Nic Fanciulli, Rodney P & Skitz, the Scrath Perverts and the Freestylers we already had a lot to make up for!
Once inside we headed for the Strongbow rooms to cash in on our complimentary stash of the apple stuff (thanking you) before getting ‘on one’ and heading straight for 2 Many DJ’s! Chopping it up faster than a chopper, they dropped a wicked remix of Frances Ferdinand ‘London/New York’ burning down electro style, and their festival classics ‘Rock The Casbar’ by The Clash, and Eurhythmics ‘I Feel Love’ to get the crowd a jumping and pumping.
Time for some sexy, grinding and legendary US house courtesy of Felix Da Housecat… After an impressive double mix album for Bugged Out last year, he’s since been busy working on some new shit we’re pretty sure we heard that night. With enough for another lap around the block, it was time to check out the other arenas.
This years controversial void left by the techno tent was filled proudly by Mr Tim Westwood and a pure hip hop crowd, kinda taking things full circle musically (house roots point towards early hip hop and hip house for those unaware). "Just watch as the rest will follow" Melvin Bragg, Director of the festival co-ordinators, the huge ‘Mean Fidler Organisation’ quoted at the recent press launch in early May.
Quickly on to the incredible Groove Armada gents with a little electro, a little punk, an intriguing remix of ‘Good Life’ by a crazy little Spanish label which name escapes me… Old skool pounding sounds, reminiscent of hardcore days and dirty techno raves… Fan-f*cking-tastic!
 Time for some outdoor action from Dave Pearce on the Radio 1 pyramid stage, the last set of the nigt here before things move inside for the warmer and boy did he finish it off in style, tune after tune, he provided a highly credible trance set not to be forgotten…
We scooted round the other arenas amongst the shadows of the many turbo powered fair-ground rides just in time to witness Roni Size live, tearing down the place in the Movement Arena! Meanwhile Erick (More [eyebrows]) Morillo, a recently confessed CD lover who plays no (or very little) vinyl in his sets, dropped the extremely large ‘Rocking Music’ by Martin Solveig with a sexy little accapella of ‘Give Yourself To Me’ raised the vibe back in Arena 2..
Back up at the Strongbow Lounge hosted by the now infamous Cuban brothers (as seen on MTV), up to their usual tricks as always running around in their pants and dodgy tashes, smoking cigars and covered in gallons of fake tan - putting a smile on everyone’s faces and occasionally groping some innocent bystanders. This year Strongbow Lounge had their own VIP bit for a selected few, it comprised of their slightly clapped out 1980’s people carrier with a Strongbow pure free bar and a few sporadic house plants dotted around just for that extra touch, no expense spent! Whilst sipping away we bumped in to the hugely talented Sombrero Soundsystem (Nick and James?), and managed to blag another copy of a mix CD they had on them for new girl and festival virgin Suzie ‘The Bum’ Bungard!
Over in the Homelands VIP room to the soundtrack of Frankie Knuckles ‘It’s Gonna Rain’, we greeted the likes of Roger Sanchez (Release Yourself), Yousef (Circus), Morillo (Subliminal), Maxi Jazz (Faithless), the insane Loose Cannons and the Audio Bully’s sharing a beverage or three.
Round at the Aftershock tent the saunas were a bit too trippy for me (whas it all about eh?), and the rumours that one unfortunate couple had their clothes nicked from poolside reassured me the whole thing was not for me although rated by those who dared.
With just enough time to catch the long haired little ginger club kid, Tim Deluxe to rinse a remix of ‘It Just Won’t Do’ before things got pretty hazy!
Yet again, another amazing ‘best night of my life’ experience from the We Love Homelands extravaganza, now a firm favourite of the British festivals - they have battled on, setting trends from the start. Dare you miss next year’s show?
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