Beginner’s Guide to Eastern Electrics 2016
If you are the kind of guy/gal that illicit routine noise complaints for thudding, juddering bass at 4 in the morning, you should really be keeping an eye out for tickets to this one day favourite down at Hatfield House. Eastern Electrics is a young festival that has managed to cultivate a top quality, award winning reputation for putting on a colossal one day spread of the best house and techno artists the world has to offer. EE’s nine stages have seen the likes of industry techno king Matthias Tanzmann, deck monster (and fellow Weeg) Jasper James and DJ EZ, the man of myth and legend. What makes this festival the deep rumbling, head nodding, hands raising dream-factory that is a short burst of techno excellence in the middle of the season, an explosion of exceptional dance music and then it’s gone, as if you’ve woken from the sweetest dream. Licklist is here to make sure your brief dalliance with Eastern Electrics is well spent.
Line Up first, boys and girls. Richy Ahmed is coming back to main stage after a monster appearance last year, where the staggering line up brought in monstrous audience numbers that took EE into the stratosphere of festival excellence, prompting further disbelief when you remember the fest is only turning three this year. Skream also returns this year to try and top a ludicrous set last year on the stage that was named after him, Skreamizm, which he’ll be sharing with the likes of Boddika and David Carter. Honestly there’s so much to see if you are a fan of house that’s ‘ocean floor levels’ of deep but be sure and catch American mainstay Seth Troxler who has a long and..achem…storied history with Eastern Electrics. His introductory music video at his very first EE appearance in 2013 is revealing to say the least. Be sure to check out the set thats synonymous with everything EE represents; impeccable musical taste and an irrepressibly irreverent sense of humour.
Boring but necessary bit is always the accommodation and travel situation; however when a fest takes place in the big Smoke it’s always smart to be as prepared as you can be. Fortunately, EE posts a lot of suggested hostel options on their website to give you an affordable alternative to begging a local acquaintance for a couch to sleep on or forking out for a ludicrous London priced hotel room. They are also running a Big Green Coach program that can get you directly to the fest and back without needing to book accom, however only a limited number of cities offer the system. Check to see if your hometown is on the list here.
Fortunately, since its a one day event then camping options don’t ramp up the running costs of the fest and tickets are relatively cheap for what you get. Current tickets are getting touted at just under £40 which, for the kind of quality sets, food and location you are getting, is a serious deal. The biggest issue with this fest is there is so much on that it is hard to feel you’ve made the most of your time so be sure you get there early for the 11:00am opening. You really won’t be disappointed with whats on offer so load up on food and drink to get you through a monster Saturday August 6th and we’ll see you in the crowds!
Kyle Cairns