South West Four 2017 Phase 1 line-up complete - includes deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Pendulum, Marco Carola and more

Phase 1 of the line-up for South West Four 2017 is complete with many more acts to still be announced, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.

Early headline announcements include deadmau5, Eric Prydz, Pendulum, Marco Carola, Sigm, MK, Duke Dumont, Gareth Emery and more.

Keep checking back on TopReviews4U for more on SW4 and other top UK dance events.

   

• For more information and tickets go to www.southwestfour.com





deadmau5 to headline South West Four in London

Superstar DJ deadmau5 is set to headline SW4 in London on August 27. 
Also announced for the Sunday leg of the long-running weekender are Marco Carola, Gareth Emery and more. 
Also returning to Clapham Common once again is The Gallery Club Arena.
Sunday pre-sale tickets on sale Wednesday at 9am.

• For more information visit https://goo.gl/P7FcpD

VIDEO: The Last Jedi - Star Wars Episode VIII name revealed

The name of Star Wars Episode VIII has been revealed as 'The Last Jedi', writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.
The movie, which is out in December, follows 2015's 'The Force Awakens'.
It will star Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Daisy Ridley and Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as villain Kylo Ren and other returning cast members. 
Check back for further updates. 

ANTS and Groove Armada set to invade London in 'biggest show outside Ibiza'

One of the hottest movements in clubland - ANTS - will invade London led by dance royalty Groove Armada.

The event, at the 02 Academy, Brixton, on April 13, promises to be ANTS' biggest show outside of Ibiza, when the insectoid house and techno swarm heads to the capital.

Groove Armada have been at the forefront of house music for two decades and they are equally happy playing big stages or sweat-soaked basements.

Their breakthrough releases, the downtempo anthem ‘At The River’ and million selling album ‘Vertigo’ has led to the act releasing seven studio albums to date plus a Fabric Live album in 2016.

One of Ibiza’s most respected electronic music gatherings, ‘The Colony’, as it is known to its legions of supporters, will invade London’s 02 Academy Brixton for its second party in the capital, following its sold out show at Electric Brixton in February 2016.

Not many music collectives have seen a meteoric rise to the top of the electronic music scene quite like ANTS, with the brand growing from its Ibiza base to host main stages at festivals and high profile club shows across the globe.

After launching at Ushuaia, Ibiza in 2013, ANTS has evolved into one of the most essential Ibiza parties, drawing the island’s clubbing cognoscenti as well as clued up clubbers from around the world. It is internationally renowned for its perfectly curated underground line-ups and monster production, creating unique and unforgettable experiences.

Hosted by trusted resident DJ and phenomenal underground producer Andrea Oliva, ANTS has welcomed a wide plethora of international artists including Sasha, Maya Jane Coles, Eats Everything, Groove Armada, Eli & Fur, Joris Voorn, Nic Fanciulli, Hot Since 82, Kolsch, and many more.

The groundbreaking Ushuaia residency has since led to ANTS events in Miami, Dubai, Hong Kong, Mexico’s BPM festival and Snowbombing, among other prestigious locations.

The legendary O2 Academy Brixton has hosted some of the most influential names in the scene with Carl Cox, John Digweed, Moderat, Four Tet and Caribou all hosting sold out shows at the venue over the years. The state of the art sound system and massive production values make this one of the hottest venues in the country.

Easter Thursday will witness the ANTS take over as the colony evolves.

• Register for priority access and tickets here 

EDC UK 2017 - CANCELLED

As someone who has not only attended, but reviewed each and every EDC UK, since the first odd affair at the Olympic Park, in London, to the (we all assumed) spiritual home at the National Bowl, in Milton Keynes, it was a real shock to learn the planned 2017 event had been cancelled, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian.

An odd and intriguing statement (above) was released by the US-based event organisers, Insomniac, which appeared to blame the venue. 


It also claimed EDC head honchos were keen to "properly reimagine all areas of the experience". 


Given the sell-out multi-million pound events over the last few years this seems odd. 
EDC always drew vast crowds and had become a major feature in the summer festival calendar. 


I first began to suspect the 'Electric Daisies' might fail to bloom earlier this month when the festival's previous promoters told me they had nothing to do with the event this year, and weren't really able to tell me who was dealing with that side of things. 

And now it is clear - the answer is: no one is.


While Insomniac's vague statement could be taken at face value - they could just feel they can't put on the show they want to - I find it somewhat unsatisfactory.


From what I've seen from the travelling show's US incarnations the UK event at MK was easily on par with them - but then I always preferred the trance and house tents rather than the main Kinetic Field stage anyway.


The rumour mill has, quite expectedly, gone into overdrive. Suggestions that there are no big-name DJs available is one theory, or rather more believably, that their astronomical fees were unrealistic and rendered the event unprofitable. 

It is no secret that the likes of previous performers (and TopReviews4U interviewees) like Tiesto and Steve Aoki are raking in megabucks for festival sets. 


There is also the suggestion that the EDM bubble could be slowly deflating, in a discordant whomping parp - not unlike the 'music' itself. 


I'm inclined to believe a combination of poor ticket sales and overhyped DJ fees is at the root of the sorry mess the Electric Daisy Carnival's UK leg has become.