Creamfields 2015 review
First thoughts
Creamfields is often hyped as being the number one House festival in the UK. This weekend, we at Licklist decided to head to the North to find out what all the fuss is about. The conclusion? Northerners know how to do festivals. This was a festival different to any other, mostly because of the huge focus on putting on a show. The staging, and talent of each of the DJs meant that you got an amazing experience with each set you watched, and each left a different vibe surging through the crowd. The weekend passed by in a blur of fairground rides, overpriced food, amazing music and many trips to the bar. There’s no doubt about it, we’re now converted Creamfields addicts. 2016, we will definitely be back for you.
The stages
This year, Creamfields had two main stages: The North Stage and The South Stage, located at opposite ends of the festival grounds. These were definitely the stages which attracted the biggest crowds, with thousands of rowdy and excited ravers all huddled together to watch the sets. These two stages were massive, with all the exciting lighting and visual effects to go with them, and the crowds were loving it. As well as these two giant stages, there were seven other stages, each of these housed in tents, which also offered some amazing DJ sets for crowds to watch. Where the two main stages offered audiences with the most mainstream DJs of the Creamfields line up, the smaller stages such as Cream and Size were where the more niche DJs laid down their sets.
The music
Honestly, you’ve not seen how wildly a person can jump around in a confined space, or how viciously a person can fist pump to a beat unless you’ve been to a house music festival. There’s something about the mixture of the music and alcohol that just sends people into overdrive, and it’s amazing. Creamfields 2015 certainly did not disappoint when it came to the DJ’s on offer. There were so many big names on the line-up that it was difficult to see every set you wanted to, and there were more people than we could count running between stages to catch as many of their favourite acts as possible.
On the Saturday, there were a lot of crowd pleasers. David Zowie was one of the earliest acts of the day, but still had a huge crowd chanting the lyrics to House Every Weekend along with him. His set was so great that we’ll forgive him for coming on late and only performing for twenty minutes. Other crowd pleasers of the Saturday included Armin Van Buren on the South Stage, Alesso in the Cream tent and Kygo on the South Stage, who had the crowds screaming for more by the time he exited the stage. The atmosphere amongst the crowd during these sets was insane, and each of them left you with real “feel good” vibes – the kind you can only get from an amazing live act.
The biggest crowd of the day however, seemed to be for Avicii. Thousands and thousands of festival goers flocked to see the South stage’s headlining act. Avicii played an hour and a half set, and it definitely had its ups, but it unfortunately had just as many downs, and he was fighting against boo’s from the crowd by the end of his set. Better luck next year Avicii! Overall though, the music was incredible, and being part of the huge crowds during each set, all singing along to the lyrics and bouncing to the beat in perfect unison was an amazing feeling.
The People
I’ll be the first to admit that I always expect the worst from the people at festivals. People shoving each other in the crowds and swearing at one another after having a couple too many is just the norm. Crowd culture at Creamfields this weekend could not have been more different to these expectations. I think I must have made a dozen new BFF’s in the space of one day. Rather than people getting the rowdy drunk that I had expected, people were friendly drunk – you know, the type where literally everyone who makes eye contact with you becomes an instant best friend? From people coming and sitting with us, and asking how the heck to connect to the festival wifi, then joining us for drinks, to tall boys asking if I wanted to sit on their shoulders during my favourite Martin Garix song, people couldn’t have been friendlier if they tried.
Everyone is so focused on having a good time and enjoying the music that there’s absolutely no negative vibes. It was Amazing. Obviously, as with every festival, you do get the odd rowdy person trying their best to sell laughing gas and other dubious things to anyone who will listen, or pulling their trousers down in the middle of the crowd because they’re too drunk to realise that that’s totally not okay. However, the majority of people are just there to have fun, which only made the festival atmosphere that much better.
Entertainment and food
Festivals are overpriced. We’re not even going to try to say they’re not, because it would be a blatant lie. Creamfields prices are pretty much what you’d expect from any festival. £5 for the most basic burger on the menu, from a food van which you know has just got all of its ingredients from the basics section at the local Tesco. But you pay it anyway, because you’re either too drunk to care, or too starving to wait for a more reasonable priced option. The drinks are equally as expensive, but one plus side is that you’re never over 100 feet from a bar. Maybe that’s a small exaggeration, but there are literally more bars than stages at Creamfields. It’s amazing. There were plenty of food options in the festival arena too, with dozens of different food vans all lined up next to one another.
Other than the music and stages, the other forms of entertainment at Creamfields came as various different fairground rides. We avoided them, because really, mixing alcohol with a ride which throws you around in every direction is just asking for trouble. However, this didn’t seem to stop anyone else, and screams of either fear or delight became part of the festivals soundtrack for the weekend.
Camping and transport
One piece of advice: Do not, under any circumstances, forget where you pitched your tent. If you don’t remember at least the general location of where you pitched up, enjoy sleeping on the cold and wet grass for three nights. The sea of thousands of brightly coloured tents at Creamfields was quite a sight. We spoke to a few people who camped at Creamfields this year, and all of them recommended it over doing the festival for just one day, or having alternate accommodation. In the words of one Geordie girl we got chatting to: “camping at Creamfields means the partying never stops, the raving never stops, the drinking never stops. It’s like a three day long piss up.” Couldn’t have said it better ourselves. One piece of advice from campers this year: bring a padlock for your tent – you never know how nosy your neighbours are.
Transport at the festival seemed to be relatively easy, with options to be dropped off outside by taxis or parents, parking areas or routes to walk in if you wanted to. This year, we used the hospitality carpark to park in. (Obviously this is only an option if one member of your group is happy to avoid alcohol for the day.) At £15 for a day, it felt pretty pricey, but in comparison to the rates some of the taxis were charging, we soon forgave ourselves for forking the money over. Plus, you get to park super close to the festival gates. Perfect for when you’re leaving at the end of the night and your feet are cursing you with ever step you take.
The Verdict
Creamfields 2015 was definitely one of the best festivals we have attended this year. The music, the atmosphere, the staging, the vibes given off by the audience and artists alike – everything together was the recipe for the perfect festival. We at Licklist would recommend Creamfields as a contender for your festival choice for next summer. Early bird tickets for next year’s event will be going on sale very soon, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for them. Until next time, Creamfields.
By Lauren Chassebi