VIDEOS: South West Four 2017 Review and Pictures

South West Four continues to go from strength to strength, with increasingly impressive light shows – and DJ sets -making this wonderful event an audio-visual feast for dance music fans. 

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That is helped significantly by headliners Luke deadmau5, whose entire schtick is the awesome marriage of breathtaking incandescent stage decor and whomping synth-laden aural fodder. 

But support acts also pitched in, with Markus Schulz's terrific Dakota concept bringing visual storytelling alongside his riff and bass heavy neotrance madness.

On Sunday's headliner – deadmau5 has maintained a bleeding cool edge in an era of throwaway EDM and a proliferation of festivals – much like SW4 itself.

His set was a tour de force uptempo crowd pleasers like Ghosts N Stuff were tempered with euphoric dreamstates like Phantoms Can't Hang, and some hip-hop and DJ tool-like samples were thrown in as the Mau5 pitched it up as well as down.

Deadmau5 makes you work, he won't throw you euphoric bones track after track and the overall effect is that he creates a mood, a nose-thumbing meta journey, where occasionally you're in on the joke and occasionally you're the butt of it – but you don't mind either way.

His set here was quite simply fantastic. 

I also particularly enjoyed Ferry Corsten's set in The Gallery tent, where the Dutch maestro appeared to revel a greater freedom to play his beloved trance to an equally ecstatic crowd.

Honourable mention must also go to Gareth Emery.

The main stage was also busy throughout as top talents like Martin Soveig, Example and DJ Wire and Sub Focus veered closer to the overground. 

But is simply too much to list in terms of the stellar line-up, so I'll concentrate on my overriding impressions.

South West Four has never felt so sure of itself to me, it is how an event like this should be – no unnecessary gimmicks, just solid entertainment aimed squarely at the punters.

Long may this jewel in the summer crown continue.

Eastern Electrics 2017 review and pictures

Well what a great event Eastern Electrics was!

On the way out of the festival I overheard someone saying: “It wasn’t as good a venue as Hatfield House.”

But, I must say, I disagree.

As much as I don’t want to criticise the beautiful grounds of Hatfield House, it always seemed an odd fit to me and the whole event seemed cramped at the Hertfordshire site.

That was not the case at the latest home of EE – a sun-kissed Morden Park.

Whilst not exactly the most salubrious part of our fair capital, the expansive park offered Eastern Electrics room to breathe.

It was a triumph, with great line-ups, sensible position of arenas and an up-for-it crowd.

Sets from Steve Lawler, Carl Cox, Ninetyone, everyone in the Defected tent, Terry Farley and DJ Pierre were excellent.

This must be the biggest one-day incarnation of EE I’ve been to and it was great to have a voyage of musical discovery, as I ambled from tent to tent eager to hear more cutting edge electronic music.

I also felt there was more variation this time round, with great minimal fayre in the always brilliant Switchyard, and funkier and uplifting offerings in other arenas.

My only minor gripe was with the increasingly prevalent festival RFID wristband system (queue up to put cash on it, then queue up to get a drink using it – why?!).

That said, for a system which for me is pointless, it did run as smoothly as I’d hoped.

But I don’t want to end on a negative, so I’ll restate just how much fun Eastern Electrics was this year and how self-assured this seemingly wandering festival has now become.

It has established itself as a staple of the summer and long may it continue – wherever it is.

   

Eastern Electrics 2017 set times and stage splits revealed

Set times for the Eastern Electrics (EE) festival in Morden Park, London, on August 5, have been announced. 

Headliners and acts include Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, Hot Since 82, Sonny Fodera, Art Department, Heartless Crew, Skream, Dennis Ferrer, Waze & Odyssey and many more. 
Check below to see where your favourite DJs will be playing and when and check back for further updates. 

Eastern Electrics 2017 festival: stage splits revealed CLICK TO VIEW

The stage splits for this year's Eastern Electrics festival have been announced. 

See below to see who is playing where on August 5. 

VIDEO: Mauro Picotto plays intimate London event as Alchemy comes to town

Thumping beats and soaring riffs were in evidence as Mauro Picotto's Alchemy rumbled into London this week, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian. 

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The event, at Work Bar, in Chapel Market, saw Picotto joined by Gabry Fasano and Alby & Devid.

Fans whooped as Picotto dropped a remix of classic Lizard (Gonna Get Ya) and other storming techno, trance and house tracks in an eclectic set, at the intimate venue.

Comical facial and hand gestures were the order of the night as 'The Lizard Man' interacted with the knowledgeable and up-for-it crowd.

Best of all the Alchemy stars mingled with revellers between sets, in an informal and surreal experience, almost unheard of in today's world of aloof EDM silliness. 

Strong support was also welcomed as reverberating subs and techno riffs made for a uniquely Italian flavour, like the Peroni clubbers supped as the bass kicked. 

With plenty more on offer from both the Alchemy label and Work Bar, there's lots to look forward to in London and beyond. 

                                         

EXCLUSIVE: DJ Sam Feldt speaks to TopReviews4U ahead of South West Four 2017

With the dance music extravaganza South West Four approaching, TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian caught up with one of the stars, ahead of the two-day festival on Clapham Common, on 26-27 August.

Here Dutch tropical house DJ Sam Feldt exclusively answers our questions, ahead of his set at the long-running London showpiece.

• How would you describe your musical style?

My musical style is very much rooted in the melodic or tropical style of house. I’m inspired by all different types of music and I like to take elements of different genres and put them into my own productions.

• What is different/special about playing in the UK?

The crowd in the UK is similar to the crowd back home in The Netherlands. I’d say that the English crowd is more critical than anywhere else, but they also know how to have a good time.

• ‘Show Me Love’ was a massive commercial hit, what do you think of remixes of classic tracks in general?

I like them, only when they’re done right! I enjoyed creating my own version on such a massive hit like ‘Show Me Love’, where I added my own touch and style to such a well-known track.

• With tropical house becoming mainstream, in pop songs and charts, is there any way it can reinvent itself as an underground sound, and should it?   

I think it’s all about progression. Each genre evolves over time, it keeps the music interesting and it allows producers to become more forward-thinking and innovative when creating new music.

• Who are your DJ inspirations?

Tiesto was a huge inspiration to me starting out, and he still inspires me today. My peers are also a massive influence on my music.

• What is your favourite dance track of all time?

Gigi D’Agostino – ‘The Riddle’. It’s the first single I ever bought!

• Why do you think the Netherlands is consistently at the forefront of global dance music?

We’ve had so many great DJ’ing talents come out of The Netherlands, from the likes of Tiesto, Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Oliver Heldens, Fedde Le Grand and Hardwell, there’s too many to name! We also have great festivals in the Netherlands that specifically cater to dance music, as well as hosting Amsterdam Dance event each year. Thousands from all over the world to come and enjoy and experience dance music at Amsterdam Dance Event, the city really comes to life during that week. Dance music is very much cemented in our culture and I’m honoured to wave the flag for my country.

• You made it onto DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs - how important are these lists?

Lists like DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ’s are important because it gives fans of your music the opportunity to get their voices heard. Although it’s mostly about popularity and doesn’t say a lot about the quality of ones set, it’s a big honour to be in the list!

• Where is more important in terms of dance music now, Las Vegas or Ibiza, or elsewhere?

Las Vegas and Ibiza are two of the leading places for dance music for sure. But there’s so many different places around the world that contribute to the dance music world, like The Netherlands or London. In London, you can turn on the radio and 80% of the tracks on mainstream radio is dance orientated. You guys have a massive dance scene over here!

• What can festival-goers at South West Four expect from your set?

Festival-goers can expect a fun, energetic set and can experience my music with my live band. It’s my first time playing at SW4 this year, I’ve heard a lot of great things from my fellow DJ’s and producers, I’m really excited to play.

For tickets and more information, click here 

Eastern Electrics 2017: Venue announced

The venue for this summer’s Eastern Electrics has been revealed, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian. 

Organisers released a video on Instagram last night confirming the switch from Hatfield House, in Hertfordshire to Morden Park, London.

The event, on Saturday, August 5, will feature Carl Cox, Hot Since 82, Dennis Ferrer, Ame, Steve Lawler and many more over a host of stages.

• For tickets click here   

South West Four 2017: New Sunday acts announced

New headliners, including John Digweed, Vitalic (live) and Carl Craig have been announced for the Sunday leg of this year's South West Four festival on Clapham Common, on August 27. 

Check back for further SW4 updates.  

Finale dates for The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl revealed

Interlinked DC Comics superheroes CW shows The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl US finale dates have been revealed.

Arrow returns on Wednesday, April 26 with “Dangerous Liaisons” at 8pm.

The Flash returns on Tuesday, April 25 with ‘The Once and Future Flash’ at 8pm.

Supergirl is back on Monday, April 24 with ‘Ace Reporter’ at 8pm.

US finale air dates are as follows:

Monday, May 22

Supergirl Season 2 Finale – 8pm

Tuesday, May 23

The Flash Season 3 Finale – 8pm

Wednesday, May 24

Arrow Season 5 Finale – 8pm

ANTS at 02 Academy Brixton Review

“Driving”, “underground”, “progressive” and “relentless” – all of these adjectives and more can be used to describe the invasion of Ibiza’s ANTS concept at the 02 Brixton Academy, in London, on Easter Thursday, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian. 

Fantastic lighting and production was abundant as the dancefloor was bathed in shades of red and other bright colours alongside ANTS signature monochrome.

Booming bas and rolling percussion put smiles on faces and the place heaved like an ant colony that had been disturbed by a hungry aardvark.

A roster of top underground talent included Eats Everything, Groove Armada, Adrea Oliva, Waze & Odyssey, Secondcity and Dennis Christopher – and their cutting edge sounds filled the iconic old venue.

This is the second ANTS event I have been to in London and I can report that the concept continues to go from strength-to-strength.

The Ushaia-born colony continues along the path of global domination and will be back in London, at South West Four, on August 26.