Leading the charge, globally acclaimed dance music icons Jungle will deliver a headline DJ set, bringing their signature blend of funk, soul, and electronic grooves to the Stowaway stage. Reggae legends The Wailers, known for their timeless hits and connection to Bob Marley’s legacy, will bring an authentic roots reggae experience. Another pioneer of reggae and punk, Don Letts, will be behind the decks, spinning an eclectic selection that embodies his genre-crossing legacy. Groove Armada’s Tom Findlay makes a welcome return following the duo’s unforgettable 2024 set, promising another journey through house, funk, and electronic classics.

“I had a ball playing twice at the brilliant Stowaway last summer and so happy to be invited back this year to play disco on the Listen Here stage either side of some of my favourite DJs…. see you on the dance floor!” – Tom Findlay (Groove Armada)

The second wave of artists also features jungle trailblazer DJ Storm, a key figure in the Drum & Bass scene, and NTS selector Shy One, known for her genre-fluid approach to DJing. Festival favourite Luke Una will go B2B with the ever-eclectic Prosumer, delivering a set brimming with deep cuts and dancefloor energy. They join an already stacked line-up featuring previously announced headliners Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, Shy FX, Derrick Carter, Horse Meat Disco, Seun Kuti, Anna Erhard, James Alexander Bright, Cousin Kula, and Webmoms. Our very own Hobbs & Ron Mexico will also be there for their debut at Stowaway and will bring their usual energy, vibes and fun! With this stellar selection, Stowaway continues to raise the bar as one of the UK’s most exciting rising festivals, blending electronic, jazz, reggae, and leftfield sounds into an unmissable weekend.

“The Stowaway lineup is designed to offer something for every musical taste, showcasing a diverse range of sounds across the festival each night. From late-night discos to family-friendly singalongs, each day brings something new, with our stages offering fresh experiences every evening. We want to take you on a musical adventure, whether it’s exploring the woods, relaxing by the jetty, or hunting down our secret late-night ‘covers’ bar…” – Festival founder Duncan Wheeler

Launched in 2022, Stowaway Festival was created as the perfect escape from modern-day distractions, offering an immersive weekend of music, nature, and connection. Set against a breathtaking backdrop, the festival brings together world-class DJs and live acts for an uplifting, genre-spanning experience. Its popularity continues to soar—this summer, attendance grew by over 20%, defying the odds in a challenging festival climate. The festival prides itself on its intimate atmosphere, where like-minded music lovers can dance beneath the stars, explore hidden woodland stages, and discover new sounds in a truly unique setting.

Beyond the music, Stowaway offers a thoughtfully curated selection of artisan food and drink, with everything from locally sourced street food to craft cocktails and independent breweries. Adventurous festival-goers can take part in wild swimming, canoeing, and paddleboarding, while those looking to unwind can experience wellness sessions, yoga, and the lakeside woodland spa. Families are well catered for too, with a full programme of kid’s activities, all included in the ticket price.

Made by friends, for friends, Stowaway Festival is more than just a weekend of music—it’s a hidden world of discovery, connection, and pure escapism.

Tickets for Stowaway Festival 2025 are on sale now and start at £209 and payment plans are available. Don’t hang about, secure yours today from their website!

The post Stowaway Festival 2025 Drops 2nd Wave Of Artists appeared first on Data Transmission.

Stowaway Festival 2025 has just dropped their first wave of artists. The festival will take place between 15th and 17th August in the beautiful ancient woodlands and lakes near Stowe, Buckinghamshire.

Topping the bill are Fabio & Grooverider with The Outlook Orchestra, the first headliners to be announced. They’ll be joined by a killer lineup that includes Shy FX, Derrick Carter, Horse Meat Disco, Sean Kuti, Anna Erhard, James Alexander Bright, Cousin Kula, and Webmoms. And don’t worry, there’s loads more to come—more headliners and acts will be revealed early next year.

Stowaway is only in its 3rd year but is already establishing a reputation for balancing the sometimes incompatible concepts of ‘electronic music’
and ‘kid friendly’. – The Guardian, Festival Guide 2024

Since kicking off in 2022, Stowaway Festival has been all about giving people a break from the everyday grind. It’s the kind of weekend where you can vibe to top-notch music in a jaw-dropping setting, surrounded by amazing people. The festival’s been on the up too—2024 saw a 20% boost in attendance, a big win in what’s been a tough time for festivals.

But it’s not just about the tunes. There’s loads to dive into: mouth-watering artisan food and drink, wild swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, and wellness activities to help you chill out. Got kids? No problem—there’s plenty for them to do too, all included in the ticket. And if you’re after something a bit more indulgent, the lakeside woodland spa’s got you covered.

To mature revellers who still love the thud of bass but want a festival which is clean, safe, beautiful, friendly and fun, Stowaway is a gift. – Oxford Mail

The festival’s also big on doing things the right way. They work with local suppliers, focus on eco-friendly practices, and keep the vibe community-centred. There are recycling points all over, and they’re all about cutting down on single-use plastic—so don’t forget your reusable bottle. Plus, they’re teaming up with local charities to give back.

For the explorers out there, there’s plenty of adventure to be had. Think hidden trails, secret stages, and surprise pop-up performances that keep things fresh. Workshops like yoga, mindfulness, and crafting make sure there’s a little something for everyone.

For a small festival, Stowaway packs a lot in, especially given everything – including the fairground rides – is free, something we’ve never seen before. With an ethos that seems to prioritise love over money, its future feels assured. – Record Of The Day

So, whether you’re raving under the stars, soaking up the natural beauty, or uncovering the festival’s hidden gems, Stowaway is the perfect place to make memories with your crew. Keep an eye out for more updates—2025’s shaping up to be something special!

Tickets for Stowaway Festival 2025 are on sale now and start at £209. Don’t hang about, secure yours today from their website!

The post Stowaway Festival 2025 Announces 1st Wave of Artists appeared first on Data Transmission.

El Dorado supplies more than just unthinkable beats, being previously described by visitors and media as the UK’s best kept secret music festival. Spanning across their stunning natural location, year after year El Dorado keeps revellers enthralled with their elaborate and quirky production and uplifting atmosphere. From curating a top of the line music programme to delicious gastronomy and wellness activities – the festival has something for everyone without compromising on quality and intimacy.

Bringing the smoothest liquid drum and bass, Hybrid Minds will flood Eastnor Castle with their monumental sounds alongside the mystic mania of Shy FX. The original Reggae selector and soundclash champion David Rodigan plans to shake the venue with his Jamaican mashups, joined by the electric mastermind Skream who will be sending sonic waves with his set.

Drawing on styles with electronic music from house, soca, hiphop, soul and jungle to create something entirely unique with an epic 6-piece live show, Afriquoi are an underground sensation set to stun everyone with their uplifting fusion of African music and live electronics. At the same time, party people can move like dancing queens to Bjorn Again who will be performing the greatest and best hits from ABBA.

Further acts playing at the festival’s return include Kojey Radical, Wilkinson, Horse Meat Disco, Franc Moody, SHERELLE, High Contrast, ENNY,  Ewan McVicar, Weaver Bros., Nia Archives, Riot Jazz,  and many more.

Aiming to offer the most vibrant and sustainable El Dorado yet, the four-day camping festival is working with C-Free who are assisting in the goal of becoming net-zero in the coming years. What’s more; working with the Eden Forest project in order to help the local Madagascian community, with every ticket sold El Dorado will plant a Mangrove tree in Madagascar creating their very own El Dorado forest. 

More info and tickets are available here

The post El Dorado announce a return for 2022 appeared first on Data Transmission.

The West Midlands’s biggest electronic music festival and celebration of street culture have moved to Sandwell Valley Country Park.  Sandwell Valley Country Park is 660 acres of stunning scenery and ideal for MADE Festival. The festival is a mix of cutting edge music, urban arts, creative performances, delicious street food and friendly vibes. It’s just 8 minutes from Birmingham New Street to the nearest station by train with trams and buses conveniently on hand. They’ve also increased to 20,000 capacity and launched a massive line up. 

Mike Skinner a.k.a. The Streets heads back to home turf to headline at his biggest ever West Midlands show. They are alongside a typically diverse and forward-thinking mix of drum & bass, house, disco, hip hop and bass music covering huge names and the brightest rising stars.

Already announced are Gorgon City, Hybrid Minds, Wilkinson, Shy FX, Sonny Fodera, Holy Goof, Horse Meat Disco, Flava D, SASASAS, Jay1 and Artwork.

Tickets will sell fast, starting from just £45 +b/f or £70 + b/f for VIP from www.made-festival.co.uk.

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AVA Festival and Conference is the brainchild of founder Sarah McBriar, and supported by many Northern Irish creatives. Belfast’s young community craves a creative outlet, and AVA provides so many needed opportunities that the industry lacks in Northern Ireland. With opportunities for volunteering, designing, light installations, general organisation of the festival and more, AVA festival allows for a whole community to be involved.

Whilst AVA provides an opportunity for creatives, it also provides a much needed space for party goers. The spirit of the festival’s attendees and the support they had, especially for local artists, was heartwarming. The passion and energy of the crowds throughout the whole weekend was infectious.

AVA is also embedded in promoting local Northern Irish culture and DJs. It is a festival born and bred in Northern Ireland, giving the opportunity for local artists to take the big stage, alongside world wide names. AVA also hosts an Emerging DJ competition, which allows the winner the honour of opening the main stage of the festival on the Saturday.

The conference was held on Friday morning in the Mac, a cultural hub and art gallery in Belfast city centre’s cathedral quarter. The conference hosted a keynote with The Black Madonna, a talk from Kevin Sanderson, alongside tech demos, the presence of organisations such as Help Musicians Northern Ireland, and talks on mental health in music.

After spending the afternoon at the conference, we arrived early Friday evening to the festival. We headed straight to Boiler Room to catch DJ Boring, who, when we arrived was filling up cups of vodka for the crowd, and playing Datura ‘Yerba del Diablo Part III (Datura 2K Remix)’.

We then went to explore the venue. This year’s festival was hosted for the second year in S13, a former B&Q warehouse with a capacity of 5000, which sadly saw AVA as its last event before its closure. Although held in the same venue as last year, this year’s festival had a few additions and alterations, and you can tell the team at AVA made their last year in this venue count.

The exit of Boiler Room led to the main building, which hosted the Main Stage, the Unit 4 stage, the chill out area, the merchandise stand and two bars. We continued out the exit of the main building, and this led us to the toilets, food trucks, a free water stand, two more bars and the loading bay, which hosted the Red Bull stage. The food trucks offered fresh food from Freight Belfast and Belfast Woodfired Pizza Co., both local restaurants. AVA gives local vendors the chance to showcase their food, and promote their businesses.

We returned to Boiler Room to see the second half of HAAi‘s set. HAAi ended both her set and the first day of Boiler Room with ‘Till I Come’ 9PM, a Belfast favourite. After the end of the Boiler Room stage, the crowd dispersed, and we headed to the Red Bull stage for Horse Meat Disco, just in time to hear Patrick Cowley ‘Do You Wanna Funk? (ft. Sylvester)’. Palms Trax followed, closing his set with Hot Butter ‘Popcorn’, which was completely unexpected and very well received by the crowd.

We then headed to the main stage to see Avalon Emerson, and then ended our night in Unit 4, with two hours of the man who never fails to impress, Mall Grab, before heading home for a well needed rest, to prepare for the following day.

On Saturday we were sure to arrive in time to catch the beginning of Honey Dijon’s set. Her debut in Belfast was much anticipated, and the crowd she attracted by 5pm was incredible.

We then headed to spend a sunny afternoon dancing to Irish born, Berlin based, Sally C’s Boiler Room debut. Playing ‘POP IT’ by Belfast favourite Kettama, Sally C kept the crowd bouncing with her curated selection of tracks which went down perfectly in a Belfast Boiler Room. After the end of Sally C, we returned to the main stage for the end of Honey Dijon, arriving just in time to hear Felix Jaehn ‘Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better)’ ft. Jasmine Thompson.

We then headed to the Red Bull stage for the end of Ben UFO and the beginning of Or:la. Quickly becoming one of my favourite DJs, and an act I will always look forward to seeing, Northern Irish Or:la has cemented herself as an artist who will get the crowd going. Her hard-hitting sets put fists in the air as soon as she comes on stage. After Or:la, it was time to sit down and have a pint, before the next five hours of dancing commenced.

After a refreshing Heverlee, we headed back to the Red Bull stage to see Berlin-based Rebekah and then headed to the main stage to see Hammer. We then returned to the Red Bull stage (so much back and forth) for Randomer. Having seen Randomer before, I knew what I was in for, but I’m not sure everyone else was. When we arrived Randomer was playing Brisk & Ham ‘Get Down’, a 173 BPM track which sent the whole crowd into an absolute frenzy. We danced and sweated until 11pm with Randomer, then headed to Unit 4 for Call Super.

The best set of the whole weekend had to be Call Super. Although I only caught the last half hour, Call Super really had the whole room in the palm of his hands. A combination of a Belfast crowd who are literally up for anything the DJ will play, alongside a set featuring ‘Freaks on Hubbard’ (Dave Clarke Mix), Tony de Vit ‘The Dawn’ and a remix of Destiny’s Child – ‘Independent Woman’ (which I am still searching for), this half-hour was definitely the highlight of the whole weekend.

We ended the second night at the main stage in the very capable hands of Daniel Avery. There was a disco bus into the city centre, with an afterparty in Thompsons nightclub, but after two days of partying, we decided to call it a night.

The closing party on Sunday was held in Thompsons nightclub terrace, with local DJs Jordan and Bobby Analog bringing the best weekend of the year for dance music fans to a close.

AVA Festival and Conference is a weekend with events in pockets in every corner of Belfast. The presence AVA has is felt throughout the whole city; noticeable through the buzz of hundreds of dance music fans gathered at the conference, the mass of crowds heading towards S13 in the south of the city, and the glitter on the seats in your taxi home left by the people before.

Belfast is an amazing city, and it’s thanks to festivals like AVA, which are improving the culture and dance music scene within the small, but vibrant, Northern Irish capital. A weekend in Belfast attending AVA Festival and Conference is the perfect way to begin your summer festival season. Belfast offers amazing hotels and outstanding options for food, and is still a relatively cost effective city. Do not miss this next year, you will not regret it!

The question now left on our lips is, where will AVA Festival be held next year?

The post Reviewed: AVA Festival & Conference 2019 appeared first on Data Transmission.

Last week we took ourselves on a two-hour journey from London, away from the hustle and bustle of fast-paced city life and escaped into the depths of Forbidden Forest. A festival with a devout following of foresters, all eager for a day and night of explicit electronic music consumption.

We had the pleasure of sharing in the first outing at their new home, after having moved from Wymeswold Forest in Loughborough, and we have to say we were really impressed.

A simple four-stage layout themed in all of its individual glory. From the Disco Express to the Reactor, the Rift to the Manor; each arena presented itself as an entirely standalone ecosystem. The first thing of highlighted mention has to be the lack of overspill of sound from stage to stage. The stages were relatively adjacent to each other, you could move freely between them with an absolutely fractional carrying of sound from one into the next. If it wasn’t already apparent that having a festival amongst natures natural oxygen tanks also comes with copious acoustic benefits, it was becoming quickly noticeable.

We have to also point out that there was an impressive amount of different installations. In terms of refreshments, amenities and merchandise, there was a lot to indulge in if you needed a breather from the high-intensity musical experience that enveloped you.

Moving onto the matter at hand, the music. Offering a wide range of sonics from disco to the almighty drums and house through to the hammering of robust techno, there isn’t really a vibe that exists that you couldn’t catch on-site at FF.

Their lineup programming showed some serious maturity in terms of educated and informed artist choices, perhaps maybe some adjustments would have been better suited in terms of set times but you have to take into account other commitments for artists; that is something that, unless you have had an involvement in event management or booking artists, you simply won’t be able to appreciate the level of potential frustration it can bring.

We were really pleased to see the magnitude of different tiers of artists, too. FF is definitely to be advocated for their championing of up and coming artists as well as established power-punchers. Take for example Alisha, the lady of the moment in the tech house world rising at breakneck speeds due to a burgeoning level of talent and hunger, along with a great team around her. We have had the privilege of knowing and watching Alisha for a number of years and we are still always blown away by her performances. For someone at such a young age to be able to command a crowd with relative ease, just by being herself, now that really is something.

There were a lot of respectively standout performances throughout the day – ABODE golden boy GW Harrison, PAX, Bibi b2b Skream, A.M.C., Turno, Flava D, Horse Meat Disco, Alan Fitzpatrick, Nicole Moudaber – We could honestly go on and on about it, looking back and quantifying it just makes it even more impressive in terms of big names. It could even be said that you are a real appreciator of many different genres then you will struggle to see everyone you want to see. Some people might take that as a negative, but we think that is an instrumental sign of a good festival.

After a couple of years of dying to make our descent into the forest, we broke that abstinence with one hell of a show. You often visit festivals and bring an excessive amount of expectation with you, this can be because of the hype online both in chatter and visually, you then get there and it doesn’t live up to the anticipation. Well, that certainly didn’t happen, and we are glad that there isn’t too long to wait for the next edition of Forbidden Forest as their pre-sale and general admission has near enough sold out already… telling you all you need to know about what kind of experience is on offer.

Top marks for a top day, taking the edge off the four-hour round trip in a pleasantly received fashion.

The post Reviewed: Forbidden Forest 2019 appeared first on Data Transmission.

GALA Festival is an independent music, culture and arts festival which launched in 2016, and took place in Peckham Rye Park in 2018. The event showcases the best food, drink and music from South East London and surrounding areas.

GALA have put together a line-up of heavyweights in the house, disco and good time party music, all alongside a well-considered local food and drink offering. To keep the intimate feel of the festival, GALA have kept capacity and site footprint almost exactly the same for 2019’s event.

Artists to watch out for (in no particular order)

Palms Trax

Palm Trax has an open-minded following with his cult monthly radio show, the decidedly less-than-culinary ‘Cooking with Palms Trax’, which has broadcast on Berlin Community Radio since 2015. On each show, Donaldson takes a deep, vinyl-led drive into his adopted history, fostering a level of trust and shared curiosity that has allowed him to helm all-night sets under the ‘Cooking with Palms Trax’ moniker which he brings to GALA Festival 2019. He’s been holding down residencies in Boston, Glasgow and Bordeaux, as well as inviting like-minded DJs into his metaphorical kitchen, throughout a series of self-curated evenings into early mornings of music. This is definitely not one to miss.

Crazy P (Live)

Crazy P are a disco/house acts that play live, bring total vibes to any venue they grace and have the ability to really get the crowd buzzing. Daniel the singer is absolutely fantastic and they are a really talented bunch of individuals. They are playing at GALA for the third time, and are definitely one to catch.

Honey Dijon

Honey Dijon stormed to DJ stardom early 2018 with here Boiler Room recording at Sugar Mountain (AUS) and has since become a house old name in the electronic music scene. Whether it’s for her pumping energetic sets, her on stage dancing or the Instagram account which oozes personality and charisma there is no surprise she is where she is now, and is fully deserved (if I don’t say so myself). She returns for the second consecutive year and let’s see what the Queen of House brings to Peckham Rye.

Midland

Another enormous act returning for his second consecutive year. Bringing his self-acclaimed far from perfect set which includes, groovy house, disco and fist pumping techno. Midland is a DJs DJ, and holds a place in many peoples all-time top 5. He also went on the record top say “GALA’s sound and vibe were the best I’ve experienced at a London day festival.” Listen to his recently recorded set @ the infamous Robin Johnson in Frankfurt earlier this year.

Horse Meat Disco

The group label themselves as queer music for everyone and have curated a reputation for bringing disco back to London. Holding numerous parties across the capital and making appearances worldwide, if you want a constant good vibe, there set will be a must watch.

Tickets are available from here

Need a hotel? Head to booking.com

The post 5 Acts to watch out for at GALA Festival appeared first on Data Transmission.

As usual, the festival line-up is packed full of big names and up-and-comers from across the club and live music spectrum, headlined this year by Lily Allen and Chase & Status.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be heading to Love Saves the Day looking for a proper old stomp around. With that in mind, here are our top acts to get you dancing this year.

MIDLAND

Midland is known for eclectic sets that navigate through house, techno, disco and whatever takes his fancy in-between. Having started in the post-dubstep, 130 bpm scene in Leeds, alongside the likes of Ben UFO and Pearson Sound, Midland’s influences are broad, rich and bass-driven. If you’re into anything from UK beats to Chicago classics, go watch his set.

DJ STORM

There is so much drum ’n’ bass to see at LSTD this year, from Chase and Status to Goldie to Randall and SP:MC. If you only make it to one dnb set, make it DJ Storm’s ‘history lesson’. Dubbed the first lady of drum ‘n’ bass, Storm is an integral part of the Metalheadz family and remains one of the most influential figures in the scene. She’s a true DJ’s DJ – expect exceptional mixing and A grade selections from the last 25 years of drum’n’bass.

DENIS SULTA

Glaswegian warehouse DJ to global party-starter, Denis Sulta is one of the most exciting DJs to come hurtling into house music this decade. Starting out in Glasgow’s legendary Sub Club, Denis has an infectious energy behind the decks and a true talent for making a dancefloor sweat. Check out his headline set on centre-stage for huge house stompers, acid bangers and unpretentious throwback classics.

HORSE MEAT DISCO

Limber up, glitter up, and get ready to boogie at ‘the queer party for everyone’. Horse Meat Disco started as a Sunday disco party in London, which has blossomed into a travelling 4-piece DJ crew and a festival favourite around the country. A Horse Meat Disco party is a feel-good journey through disco classics and diva soul, full of massive singalongs and hands-in-the-air fun.

CHANNEL ONE SOUND SYSTEM

Nothing says Bristol quite like sound system culture. Every at year at Love Saves The Day, one corner of the festival is taken over by a huge dub sound system. This year the ‘Teachings in Dub’ stage will be hosted by the legendary Channel One Sound System, run by Mikey Dread. Whether you’re into dub music or not, these guys are a must see at LSTD. Expect the loudest PA system at the festival and a packed stage of happy faces throughout the weekend. We defy you to stand still.

Loves Saves The Day festival will take place on May 25th and 26th in Eastville Park, Bristol. See the full line-up and get your ticketshere.

The post 5 Acts to get you dancing at Love Saves The Day appeared first on Data Transmission.

There are just 4 weeks left until Halloween! If you haven’t started thinking about which parties you want to attend, you better start thinking now before they all sell out!

Need some help choosing between the array of events already out there? We’ve got your back!  Below you’ll find all the biggest and best events across the nation with lineups included to most and links to take you straight to your desired party or to buy tickets!

London

Playaz – O2 Academy, Brixton

Saturday 27th October – 9pm – 4am

The biggest D&B line up to hit the capital on Halloween weekend!

Raising the bar after an incredible sold out NYE show and unforgettable Printworks London debut…Playaz are BACK in the capital on Saturday 27th October for the biggest ever Halloween show in their 20 year history for the first time at the world-renowned O2 Academy Brixton!

Tickets here

More Info

Drumcode – Tobacco Dock

Saturday 27th October – 12pm – 10:30pm

Adam Beyer and his label cohorts return to the ancient burial ground of Tobacco Dock for its annual haunting. A hoard of fiends and ghouls again descend on East London for the darkest, most bone-rattling, apocalyptic techno in the universe.

Tickets here

More Info

A.W.O.L. (A Way Of Life) – fabric 

Friday 26th October – 11pm – 7am

Junglists are you ready?! A massive lineup of Jungle, DnB and UK Garage awaits you at fabric. Bringing you the best of old skool, new skool and everything in between with some of the pioneers of jungle and granddaddies of DnB on the ones and twos!

Tickets here

More Info

Hollywood Forever Halloween Pt1: Danny Howard / Max Chapman / PAX – Egg

Friday 26th October – 10pm – 6am

As the full moon sets on this night, Egg London calls all night creatures to come out and party alongside the undead as Halloween madness descends once again for a homage event to the feted ‘Hollywood Forever’ cemetery, the last resting place for many of Tinsel Town’s greatest movie stars, ramped up by an all-star techno and house line up that’s set to unleash the wildest of party spirits.

Tickets here

More Info

Hollywood Forever Halloween Pt2: Christian Smith / Drunken Kong / Loco & Jam / Luther Vine – Egg

Saturday 27th October – 10pm – 8am

As the full moon sets on October 27th, Egg London calls all night creatures to come out and dance as Halloween madness descends for their ‘Hollywood Forever’ party which pays homage to Tinsel Town’s greatest movie stars. A full-on soundtrack of techno and house supplied by international and established talent will mark the occasion…

Tickets here

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Desecration – Studio 338

Saturday 27th October – 8pm – 6am

This Halloween, enter the dark chambers of the unholy altar where the slaughter and bloodletting of innocents will be offered up to appease the dark spirits for another year. Dance under a burning pentagram and the watchful gaze of the high priest and his army of satanic monks before the midnight sacrifice takes you through the gates of hell and into the underworld…

Tickets here

More Info

Summer-ized Sessions – Secret Garden Rave – The Steelyard

Saturday 3rd November  – 10pm – 6am

The Secret Garden Rave returns to London this Halloween bigger, louder and more colourful than ever!! From glow sticks and body painters to Unicorns and glitter fairies, as they transform The Steel Yard into their Secret Garden Rave. Expect special headliners and guests bringing you upfront, cutting edge house and Techno! Dancers, Live acts, face painters and so much more…

Tickets here

More Info

Manchester

Halloween Special at WHP – Store Street

Friday 26th October – 9:30pm – 5am

Containing more than enough low-end to make Store Street quake, Halloween at WHP sees the UKs finest grime and bass artists gathered together to test the subwoofers to their fullest. My Nu Leng and TQD will be joined by Mike Skinner, FineArt, P Money, Dub Phizix & Strategy, Dismantle and loads more!

Tickets here

More Info

Horse Meat Disco’s Halloween – Gorilla

Friday 26th October – 10pm – 4am

Manchester! Ready to BOO-gie?

Horse Meat Disco will be bringing the spirit-rousing disco skelections to their favourite Manchester haunt! They’ll be bringing the terrifyingly wonderful Chris Massey with them, who will be on support duties.

Tickets here

More Info

Southampton

Elrow Horroween – Mayflower Park

Saturday 20th October – 1pm – 11pm

Following the runaway success of previous takeovers on the South Coast, elrow team up with Dirty Box Promotions for a colossal Horroween special! Get set for a ten hour, daytime extravaganza with 6000 party goers in their biggest show yet in the city.

Tickets here

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Bristol

In:Motion: Hospitality Halloween – Motion

Friday 26th October – 10pm – 6am

Rolling deep since 1996 and still at the top of the drum & bass pile more than 20 years later, Hospital Records continues to bring an infectious upbeat energy to the scene, which is why they’re an integral part of the In:Motion season year on year. For this year’s Halloween special a sterling cast of the label’s leading lights will be at the controls in Motion’s main room.

Tickets here

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Leeds

Detonate Halloween – O2 Academy

Friday 26th October – 10pm – 5am

Detonate bring their frighteningly big line up to Leeds! Check back here for more info as and when it’s released!

Tickets here

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PRISM Presents Halloween at MiNT Club

Saturday 27th October – 10pm – 6am

PRISM is back and ready to take centre stage this Halloween at MiNT Club…

After their last two sell-out Halloween show’s they are back with a three headliner event under Leeds’ favourite rainbow roof… Expect a full club Halloween transformation and the on-point production that you have become accustomed to with MiNT throughout the years and obviously there will be a few spooky twists thrown in for good measure.

Tickets here

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Glasgow

Acid House Halloween Warehouse Party – SWG3

Friday 26th October – 10pm – 3am

Back by popular demand after the launch party in February 2018, Acid House Warehouse Party is back at SWG3 for a Halloween special. Fancy dress is encouraged at this event, so feel free to go dressed up in all your old-skool rave gear or another Halloween look! Recreating the buzz from 30 years ago when acid house parties were happening all over the UK!

Tickets here

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Edinburgh

Terminal V Festival – Royal Highland Centre

Saturday 27th October – 12pm – 11pm

Terminal V returns this October to The Royal Highland Centre for a mammoth Halloween extravaganza, with the biggest electronic music artists on the planet descending upon Auld Reekie for a day & night experience you will never forget.

Boasting 10000 capacity and 4 stages for an 11 extravaganza! They even have an after party for those who are game!

Tickets here 

More Info

Birmingham

GLAS x 02:31 x EBL – Stranger Raves – Halloween Showcase – LAB11

Friday 26th October – 8pm – 4am

After the HUGE Stranger Raves event at LAB11 last year Birmingham heavyweights GLAS, 02:31 & EBL are teaming up to bring you the BIGGEST HALLOWEEN RAVE in the UK Expect Bass Music, Disco, House, Techno and UK Garage!

This event sold out in record time last year, so be quick if you plan on joining them

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Magic Door Halloween – LAB11

Friday 2nd November – 10pm – 6am

For some crazy reason, they have never hosted a Halloween party?! Well finally Magic Door Halloween is coming and as you can imagine…they will be going fully in on this one! Seriously scary production, ethereal outfits galore, some full-on spooky house and plenty of macabre twists & turns throughout the night. All set in the naturally pretty creepy warren of spaces known as LAB11…

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Brighton

The Halloween CarnEvil – Cannon Place

Saturday 27th October – 2pm – 10pm

A brand new large capacity Halloween event comes to Brighton in a brand new multi-functional event space! Artists already announced include: Sub Focus, Congo Natty and DJ Zinc

2 Stages of Music – Bass, Drum & Bass, House, Grime & more
20+ Acts
Live Scare Actors
Festival level Production
Indoor Funfair including Bumper Cars & More
Interactive Stalls, Games & Face Painters
Incredible Halloween Decor
Local and National Branded Food Stalls
Official Afterparties
Plus much more.

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Maidstone

Toolroom 15 – The Halloween Homecoming Street Party – The Source Bar

Saturday 27th October – 7pm – 6am

Toolroom’s birthday celebrations this year has spanned the entire globe. One of the most genuinely international brands in electronic music, they’ve visited the Toolroom Family across the world and couldn’t go without throwing an extra special Halloween party in their backyard of Maidstone. Hold tight for one hell of a Halloween!

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The post What’s On…Halloween appeared first on Data Transmission.

Anyone that’s been to a festival that’s more than 2 or 3 days will know it can be a struggle to catch all of the artists you aim to see. Even if you have a pre-plan, that quickly goes out the window, especially with a line up as killer as Defected Croatia. I was returning for the second time to Defected Croatia arriving a day early to settle in only to get a WhatsApp message from the Defected group announcing a pre-party on the beach from 8-12 with Defected A&R managers Andy Daniell & Melvo Baptiste…as if 6 days and nights wasn’t enough! The spontaneous beach set was absolutely banging attracting around 500 early birds radio DJ Melvo Baptiste kept having to remind us all that we still have 6 days to go and pacing ourselves is absolutely essential, Ha! Sounds of Jon Cutler – ‘It’s yours’ (Joey Negro remix) & Purple Disco Machine – ‘Dished'(male stripper) set a good foundation for the 6 days to come.

Officially day 1 and Todd Terry kicked off the Olive Grove stage with block party beats, a bit of disco & 90s hip hop – Nice to see such a great response to old school rap from a crowd of house heads. Heading over to the main stage Mat.Joe had done a stellar job of creating an energetic crowd prior to Claptone’s infamous mask & top hat emerging.

Photo By: Julien Duval

Big build-ups and dirty drops were on the agenda, Fisher – ‘Losing it’ & Claptone’s remix of George Kranz ‘Din Daa Daa’ we’re a couple of favourites. Basement Jaxx took over with a DJ set to throw us back to some of the ultimate classics of all time, mixing in his own ‘Do your thing’ & ‘Where’s your head at’ had the crowd uplifted and vibrant. Head honcho Simon Dunmore took to the stage to give praise to legendary Basement Jaxx & take over the controller with Sam Divine until the sun came up. As opposed to the debut year of Defected Croatia the main stage now stayed open till 6am for the first and last days of the festival which I thought was an absolute treat!

Day 2 aka ‘Flamingo Friday’s’ saw the beach stage taken over by Glitterbox with the likes of John Morales, The Shapeshifters (with Teni Tinks) & Todd Terry. It was bouncing with two steppers belting out vocals alongside the seafront covered in Glitterbox stamps and inflatable flamingos – this truly felt like a Glitterbox party. Absolute highlight tracks would have to be Whitney Houston – ‘I’m Every Woman’, Masters At Work – ‘To Be In Love’ & Aly-Us – ‘Follow Me’ (club mix). Purely through the reaction from the crowd to some timeless classics, it certainly felt like house heaven.

Photo By: Julien Duval

As CamelPhats flight was delayed, the main stage got pushed for an extra couple of hours which allowed Radio 1 DJ Monki & Defected resident Franky Rizardo an extra half hour or so each to play from which I heard no complaints! Hard-hitting house tracks gave little time for a breather on the dance floor with Franky blasting one of his biggest and best ‘Same Man’. CamelPhats recent boom in popularity through their hit ‘Cola’ with Elderbrook fools some into thinking they’re new to this. CamelPhat have been around for over 10 years and it really showed in their set, they drew a big crowd and delivered some dirty house bangers, of course, their new one ‘Dopamine Machine’ was heard and there was no other way to close their set than with the global favourite ‘Cola’.

Photo By: Julien Duval

Day 3, Halfway through and praise to Wez Saunders opening garage sessions at the Olive Grove & Sam Divine going b2b with her husband DJ Hatcha while I floated on a donut. Can’t go wrong with a bit of Sweet Female Attitude – ‘I’ll Bring You Flowers’ or Artful Dodger- ‘Moving Too Fast’. The energy in the b2b set was fire with Hatcha staying true to his roots and even throwing in a cheeky bit of drum n bass!

Low Steppa drew me from floating around the beach stage with a filthy bassline dominating the festival grounds. I think it’s important to say that even though Defected host 3 stages and 3000 house heads across 6 days the stages are constantly busy without feeling overcrowded, there is always room to dance and if you wanna get right up to the front of the stage it’s not an epic battle, the quality of sound is also so good I felt more than comfy being around the edges of any stage. Amine Edge & Dance came on to play and absolutely shut down the main stage with their new track with Clyde P – ‘Dancin’ and kept the vibe just as banging throughout, we were left thirsty for more so off to the Barbarellas we went to catch them play again.

Photo By: Julien Duval

Day 4 and arriving around 1pm the site was a little empty, everyone clearly feeling it, lucky for us Defected had a very special guest Peggy Gou who absolutely rammed the beach stage! Dropping 2000 and One – ‘Spanish Fly’ and her remix of Shakedowns – ‘At Night’, safe to say we were not disappointed to have got up early for her set.

Dimitri From Paris took to the beach stage to rock some dirty disco house and warm us up for Masters At Work who were nothing short of incredible. Anyone who has seen Kenny Dope or Lil Louie Vega play before will know the kind of energy they have and together behind the decks it’s always something special, they closed out the main stage with a full dance floor till the lights came on, what a day.

Day 5 and my favourite of all days. Energy levels were low, everyone was off to a slow start, luckily block party beats on the beach stage were keeping us coherent, but the real treats were packed in at main stage: Andre Hommen opening up the with sounds of The Martinez Brothers- ‘H 2 Da Izzo’ and Mat.Joe’s – ‘Love Stream’ got feet stomping again. Josh Butler soon took over with one of my favourites ‘Be Somebody’. The energy was back, the air was filled with love and disgusted bass faces, gwan Mr Butler!

Photo By: Julien Duval

Next up was Honey Dijon, not a minute to take a breath! It was the kinda set where you need to nip off to the toilet but just can’t as the beats are too banging. Big build-ups had us feeling like she was playing with us but the drops were well worth the wait, I think they turned the bass up for this one.

The man, the legend, Dennis Ferrer emerges to close out day 5, I love the energy this man has when playing! Always dancing and singing along to each and every track dropped. I’ve seen him play many times before, what separated this set from all others is the encore. Lights on applause all around quickly to be drowned out by a crowd acapella of his hit ‘Hey Hey’. Of course, he dropped the track and had Simon Dunmore & Sam Divine front row in with the crowd getting down too – what an atmosphere. But hold up… only one man can get a second encore – Dennis Ferrer. At this point, Simon gave him a nod and he dropped his remix of ‘Underground’ followed by ‘Fish Go Deep’ and ‘Mind Your Step’ while several of the Defected DJs climbed onto the back of the stage and danced with us, absolutely legendary.

Photo By: Julien Duval

Day 6 and Defected you’ve been incredible, what better way to close out the last day than with, Horse Meat Disco & Purple Disco Machine on the beach stage bringing all of the disco classics that have built house music to what it is today, could definitely feel that we were ready to wind down till hitting the main stage and the likes of Sandy Rivera dropping ‘So good’. Sam Divine smashing out her rolling house set with a favourite Sweet Female Attitude- ‘I’ll Bring You Flowers’ remix & her banger with Curtis Gabriel – ‘Confessions’ and house royalty Roger Sanchez remixing Underworld -‘Born Slippy’ was a perfect end to an epic week.

Massive respect and love to the Defected team for setting new par levels with how to organise and run a festival, I returned for the second time for a reason – It’s unmatched, for quality of sound, music, artists, location and crowd you absolutely nailed it again. Safe to say I’ll be seeing you next year for another week of house hedonism heaven.

The post Reviewed: Defected Croatia 2018 appeared first on Data Transmission.