elrow Town brings the surreal and stupendous to London

Elrow Town breezed into London last weekend in a blaze of psychedelic colour, animatronics and banging tunes.

It is now a week since the second day kicked off and the hedonistic musical mayhem is still fresh in the memory.

Great sets from Claptone, Fatboy Slim and Idris Elba were the order of the day, seven days ago.

And last Saturday saw Paul Kalkbrenner, Paco Osuna and Steve Lawler entertaining up-for-it revellers across the Psychedelic Trip and Sambodromo do Brasil arenas.

Both main stages were incredible feats, with inflatable giraffes and other critters looming over the dancefloor in the Sambodromo and awesome ‘walking’ praying mantises stalking the massive pyramidal Psychedelic Trip.

The event, in the shadow of the Olympic stadium, in Stratford, brought a hefty dose of the surreal to this corner of East London, with smiles on faces wherever you looked. It was a timely reminder not to take life too seriously.

Here’s hoping elrow Town is now a regular feature.

elrow Town ready to bring crazy carnival to London's Olympic Park

elrow Town London details an eye-popping array of captivating features, extensive food programming and crazy characters for Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 August.

Famed for its immersive production, elrow Town London will set the bar even higher for interactive, audiovisual festivals when it once again takes over the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, London.

The crazy carnival atmosphere is set to fill the site of the 2012 Olympics with a different brand of fun and games.

elrow Town London hosts two immersive themes: Psychedelic Trip and Sambodromo Do Brasil. The former transports townspeople to a hippy commune that's built on peace and love while the latter plunges you deep into the rainforest for hair-raising encounters with wild animals, lost explorers, samba dancers and stranded DJs.

The roving international two-day event will feature DJ luminaries such as superstar Fatboy Slim, masked house honcho Claptone, Paul Kalkbrenner, Paco Osuna and Luther star Idris Elba.

For tickets click here

Eastern Electrics 2018 Review

Two years after leaving Hatfield House, Eastern Electrics may finally have found a place it can call home, writes TopReviews4U editor Paul Christian. 

The roving festival, which has previously pitched up at Knebworth as well as in Hatfield, seemed settled in its Morden Park residence, a year after moving there.

This felt like it belonged, with room to breathe, reasonably far away from residents and with a knowhow brought about by learning from previous experience. 

Gone was the hated RFID pre-loaded payment system, which seemed to make the bar experience far more relaxed and leaving your stresses at the gate should be what festivals are all about. 

Also this year a second day was added on Sunday, featuring more urban acts to compliment the underground house and techno fayre, as EE added a third 'E' - expansion. 

But some things never change, thankfully.

The epic Switchyard arena was still a central feature and was packed full of up-for-it ravers under sunny skies.  

Also the ever-present Star of EE 'pub' was still there and always busy. 

The excellent new Defected tent was like a separate venue, with its entrance tunnel building anticipation, before a stepped dancing stage, the whole length of the marquee, came into view and quality house music filled the plush setting. 

The main stage offered some of the cream of the crop including Hot Since 82 and Jamie Jones.

But it was in the plethora of side stages where EE really excels with variety both musically and aesthetically. 

Everything just felt right at Eastern Electrics this year - long may it continue.