Pohoda Festival 2008 - Review

The Festival trail is a pretty well trodden path these days, however there’s a whole wealth (and world) of celebrations of summer and music out there and searching them out is part of the magic. An event that has been building over the last 12 years in Slovakia and now making waves in the UK and across Europe – The Pohoda festival takes place over 2 days every July. So, like any self respecting festival goer - off we go in search of some new festival highs…

Flying into Bratislava, the Slovakian capital then heading south for an hour by road, we cut through beautiful scenery including the biggest field of sun flowers known to man, before arriving arrive in Trencin, where Pohoda (pronounced PO-Hoda) is held. Trencin is in the…

Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 11:51 am

Circo Loco, Rome - Review - 24/04/2008

On approaching Sallone De Fontane, you are totally impressed. A huge palatial style venue, grand pillars support its front and ornate fountains decorate the foregrounds. Green and Blue lighting swirls all around, and it’s not long before the disco is in full swing.

Circo Loco’s sell out pre Ibiza season shin dig here in Rome has an unfaultable line up, and the excitement in the air tonight is truly infectious. The only seating area is in VIP, so a full night on the mammoth dance floor is commanded, and this is no difficult feat. As the clock strikes midnight, Tania Vulcano is shaking things up with warm building techno, dropping some classic 2007 deep house tracks such as Maferetumeco by Enzelkind. Next up is Ali Dubfire bouncing happily behind the…

Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Amsterdam Dance Event 2007 - A look back

With over 700 DJ’s and acts performing at 34 of Amsterdam’s finest venues, the twelfth edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event has broken all records. From 18th - 20th October Amsterdam became the `Capital of Dance’, attracting a festival audience of 72,000 and 1,800 key industry professionals to the sold out conference. Organiser Buma Cultuur has continued to develop the event each year and has once again succeeded in defending ADE’s title of Europe’s main electronic music conference and the world’s biggest club festival.

“Looking back at this edition of ADE I can proudly say that we witnessed the best edition so far. It really surprised me that this edition was so successful, you can plan for it, you can work hard for it, but when it becomes one…

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 11:20 am

Fabric turned 8. But how was it?

Fabric birthday’s have become a pretty legendary affair, and the 8th one tonight is no different. A smiling bouncer in police dress, topped with a flashing helmet greets. Winding down the abyss of stairs, patrons meet with floor staff pushing bins full of free beer and fancy dress. Soon everyone is in full party swing…

Mathew Johnson’s ensemble Cobblestone Jazz plays live in room 1; they bounce off each other with improvision blending percussion, piano, atmospherics and bass lines. Bodies quiver to climax against the almighty sound system. A fine start to the evening!

Across in Room 2, Black Devil Disco Club cut killer pop music with a twist; dashes of acid flavours are thrown into the groove as the green lasers swirl around this warehouse style room. Back to room 1…

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 12:47 pm

SeeMe 07 Look Back

Sofia once again became the focus of the regions music industry for the second edition of the South-East European Music Event (SeeMe). The event launched in May 2006 and is the only event in the region that is for dance music industry professionals and electronic music fans. The event is held at the historic Central Military Club, which is one of the earliest monumental buildings and conveniently located in the centre of the city.

I was keen to see how the things had progressed since the events launch and soon realised that I had only scratched the surface of the real situation in the region on my first visit. Day 1 started with a panel discussing issues of copyright and royalties and there were translators so everyone could understand…

Friday, June 22nd, 2007 at 9:57 am