Jon Blakely and I produced coverage of Global Gathering 2005 - the UK's biggest dance festival.
More photos can be found at www.vuepointmedia.com/global_gathering_2005.htm
WORDS: SIMON BAINES
PHOTOGRAPHY: JON BLAKELY
TAKEN FROM: 69 MAGAZINE AND 69 MAGAZINE ONLINE http://www.69-247.com
ALSO PUBLISHED BY bbc.co.uk/coventryandwarwickshire
Gods Kitchen's Global Gathering took just four years to establish itself as the UK's biggest and best dance event. Not content with that, the Gods decided that this year they were going to better it. The Weekender was born.
This year, the festival would run across a weekend - well, Friday night through to Sunday morning. This saw the arrival of a camp site, and the line-up swell to boast over 130 artists across 16 music arenas. For the first time, Radio 1 through its support behind the event, with it's own, massive beach themed stage. This, being the kind of out-door stage you would find at a regular festival such as V, became a central focal point for the punters. A main stage if you like.
Pete Tong kicked the whole thing off, but long queues and rigorous security checks meant he, like many others for the first part of Friday night, played to minimal crowds.
The Happy Mondays were back, with a set not all that different from their 2004 performance. They did however, premier a new single which sees them going back to their true dance routes.
BBC Radio One's Dave Pearce gets things started on the Saturday with a Dance Anthems set live on the Radio 1 stage. Following him, are the Shapeshifters (DJ's Simon and Max) who are also well received. "We didn't know what to expect from today and we were really we really really pleasantly surprised. The crowd was loving it... we really enjoyed it and we got a lot of love from the crowd". They're spending the summer DJing around the world, in countries as diverse as Croatia, Germany, France, Spain, Ibiza... "We've just done Pacha in Ibiza with Frankie Knuckles and that was probably the best gig we've ever done". They've got a residency at Cream, and they're busy working on an album, which will follow their third single out next January. You'll know the Shapeshifters from their radio friendly tunes Lola's Theme and Back to Basics, which has led to some production duties for them, working for some big names. "We've just done one for Frankie Knuckles, we've remixed 'You've Got The Love'... and we've just done something with George Michael actually. Some people love him, some people hate him" says Simon, "personally, I think he's got one of the best voices in the world".
Judge Jules takes over the decks, spending a rare moment in the UK before jetting off to Europe again to fulfill his Sunday Night residency at Eden, Ibiza and his other Euro commitments in Mallorca, Sweden, Finland and Amsterdam. I asked the Judge how Global Gathering compared to other dance festivals across Europe. "Those festivals are much more staged and more glamorous. They have dance troupes, and MCs.... and flamboyant acts between the DJs". Would UK festivals follow the same trend? "No I don't think so... and I don't think they need to. In terms of quality DJs and music, this is better by far". Now that Global has made the step to become an entire weekend music festival, could he see them getting as big as say, Glastonbury? "Glastonbury is only so big because it caters for all tastes and is just so diverse. In terms of consistency and specialized music, I would say this is actually bigger".
Judge Jule's set begins with a PA by Lil Love, who perform a rousing rendition of "A little Love". While hardly flamboyant, he does make some attempt to emulate Euro Style shows with an amazing male dance off, followed by some gorgeous girls dancing to another PA, this time by Above and Beyond. This is a small guy with an amazing voice on a track that has a touch of Dirty Vegas about it. The crowd love it.
In the Babooshka Arena, Eric Morillo plays to a more serious clubbing crowd. A sea of glow-sticks move up and down in unison as the crowd go wild to a hard house set, accompanied by great lighting and trippy images on large screens. The biggest tunes here are a hard house remix of Mylo's "In Your Arms" and dance classic Ride on Time by Blackbox. Morillo's loving it.
This year was the first year that the punters were allowed into the VIP area - for an extra charge. Really, there's not much here, other than slightly nicer toilets and some hot tubs. The best thing though, is the Miss Money Pennys tent. Lisa Walker is a dancer for Moneypenny's in Birmingham, and she's brought her mate Samantha Bukes. "It's amazing" says Samantha, "I've never been to anything like it in my life!" . Their highlight so far? "It's got to be Judge Jules, definitely!". Next, they're off to the hot-tubs.
The hot tubs, pool and spa area has a constant queue of people itching to get a taste of a VIP lifestyle. Michael, Jo, Sophie, Paul and J have traveled up from London. "The best so far has been the freestylers, and above and beyond. We went backstage on the radio one stage and peeked through the window. We had a little look at what was going on! We're staying in here til we are kicked out though... although we will go and see Paul Van Dyk".
Next we catch up with Ryan Adams. Not the singer, but a competition winner from Radio 1's Chris Moyles show. "I got through to the prize drawer and they phoned me up and said 'Who would you like to be in the hot tub with you? It's got to be someone from radio one!' and I couldn't think of any female DJs. I had total mental block and ended up saying Pete Tong! The prize involves VIP tickets, free tents, sleeping bags, Radio 1 VIP backstage. We've enjoyed Sasha, Kid Creme, we cant wait for Tiesto later. I come here every year, and two of my friends didn't have enough money this year, so I got them here. Pete, Dan and Robbie... we've got the full crew so it's amazing". Now he's got his memory back, which female DJ would he have chosen? "Annie Mac, definitely! And hat's off to Moyles I'm going to call him on Monday and make sure he gets the appreciation he deserves".
Enough hanging around the VIP area, it's time for another tour of the tents. Hernan Cattaneo is keeping happy house clubbers raving in the Bedrock Arena and Ferry Corsten is proving his worth as one of the UK's finest DJs, playing to another packed out crowd in the Gods Kitchen Arena. One man though, has nothing to prove, as one of the World's best DJs, he even has a tent here named after him. The man of course, is Carl Cox. Cox needs no fancy graphics, dancers, PA's or lights. The crowd worship the man, who's three hour set is surely going to be a highlight for many.
Meanwhile on the Radio One stage, the man described by Judge Jules as the world's best DJ, Tiesto takes to the decks infront of a sea of people going back as far as the eye can see. Much of the crowd hasn't shifted from their place infront of this stage. Surprisingly few look shattered, or even drunk. This lot are happy to get high on the music alone.
Like most festivals, Global Gathering seems to peak at around 11:30pm. Perhaps this is down to the Radio 1 stage closing down at this time. The night's not over though - Global Gathering goes on until 6am, despite many content with retreating to their tents, ears still ringing and heads thumping.
Global Gathering is the DJ's favorite, and despite a lot of people being let down by long queues, lengthy security checks, and too-ing and frowing for wristbands etc, it seems this event remains the crowd's favorite UK dance festival.
