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South West Four Festival 2017

Get ready for the ultimate weekend of EDM, dance and house as globally renowned stars descend upon Clapham Common.

 

If the term “SW4” means nothing more to you than a postcode district in the South West of London, where have you been? SW4 is no longer simply a postal code, it’s one of the country’s most highly anticipated festivals which showcases the best in EDM, house music, techno, garage and more, and its back from 26th-27th August for its fourteenth year running. The aptly named festival takes place at the urban oasis that is Clapham Common, and despite remaining true to its roots when it comes to location, the festival has continued to get bigger and better, and this year is no exception. With internationally renowned DJs, artists and musicians, there really is something for everyone at SW4, so grab your wellies, your mates and your pac-a-mac (this is England after all) and get ready for the ultimate weekend of the summer.

The performers

The line-up at SW4 this year is nothing less than explosive, with stellar acts from all over the world pitching their tents on the common (not literally of course, but we can hope). Like any major festival, SW4 is split across multiple stages, making sure that everyone is musically catered for at all times. Even better, there’s no need to worry (like you do at some festivals) that the best acts have all been crammed into one night, leaving the other slightly anti-climactic: both nights are equally fantastic with incredible performers spread out across the weekend.

With this in mind, Saturday night kicks off the festival with some of the biggest performers of the weekend, many of whom are making their appearance on the Outdoor Main Stage, including the likes of drum & bass/electro rock legends Pendulum, DJ and remixer-extraordinaire Wilkinson, genre-defining producers and DJs Sigma, Jax Jones and Duke Dumont as well as man of the moment Tom Zanetti and everyone’s favourite guy Tinie Tempah. If that line-up doesn’t fill you with pre-party excitement then I don’t know what will; prepare for things to go OFF.

The Area10 Arena, hosted by the legendary MK, is where you can find another smattering of global EDM superstars from the likes of British house DJ Hannah Wants whose 2016 smash hit Rhymes had us all up on our feet (while, admittedly, trying to figure out what the lyrics were actually saying) and house music star Julio Bashmore. Make sure you swing by this arena in plenty of time to catch Gorgon City’s set as well; no one can deny that “Ready for Your Love” is an absolute tune so it will inevitably be all the better live, #buzzing. Finally, for a delicious combination of dance, house and electro, make sure to make a pit stop at the Capital FM Arena, for mind-blowing performances from non-other than Robin Schulz, Kungs, Don Diablo and Jonas Blue. Be there or be truly square!

Just as soon as it’s begun, Sunday will come around all too quickly, but its line-up will ensure that the festival goes out with the bang it deserves. The Outdoor Main Stage will play host to a variety of famous faces, from progressive house DJ Deadmau5 (pronounced “dead mouse” if you’re still unsure, the clue is in the weird headpiece) and dance music duo Knife Party to Sub Focus, Martin Solveig, Redlight and very special guests Example & DJ Wire whose collaborative sets continue to blow minds worldwide. Who said Sunday has to be the day of rest, right? Other performers across the festival’s closing day include the global ambassador of techno Marco Carola, who will be gracing the Indoor Main Stage (hosted by Amnesia Ibiza) with his humbling presence. A further stage at SW4 (with- it has to be said- a mouthful of a name) is “The Following meets Nothing Else Matters Arena” (perhaps come up with a catchy nickname to refer to this stage across the weekend). Both artists have collaborated to curate a stage jam packed with talent, including the likes of Disciples, Danny Howard, Chris Lorenzo vs DJ Zinc (gotta love a good EDM battle) and Sam Divine. One of the highlights of the weekend will surely be the homage to Ministry of Sound’s iconic Friday night event The Gallery, with namesake stage The Gallery Arena. And the iconicity keeps on coming with the big names set to perform on this stage, including none other than Laidback Luke, Nicky Romero and VIG (very important guest- I’m a genius, I know) Paul Oakenfold. Before I overload your already super-excited mind with any more huge names, I think it’s safe to say that SW4’s line-up is nothing less than stupendous, offering festival-goers performances that truly need to be experienced to be believed.

Did somebody say after party?

As if all of that wasn’t enough, no party is complete without some kind of aftermath, which is why the genius curators of SW4 have ensured that the party never ends (or at least goes on for a little longer) by providing revellers with a selection of after parties to satisfy their raving needs. On Saturday night, partygoers can make their way to Brixton nightclub Electric, who will play host to a crazily impressive number of equally impressive DJs, including Wilkinson, Sigma, Pendulum, DJ Hype and more. Alternatively, ravers may find themselves moseying over to Ministry of Sound whose fantastically named after party “South West More” has a line-up almost as impressive as the festival itself, with sets from the likes of Maya Jane Coles, The Mendez Brothers and more.

If revellers haven’t collapsed in a heap of elated exhaustion by Sunday night, they can give the weekend the ultimate send off by dancing away the festival blues back at Electric, Brixton. The final afterparty of the weekend is hosted by Amnesia Ibiza and includes sets from Pan-Pot, Mar-T, Bowler and special guest Tiga. If one thing is for sure it’s that South West Four (with the possible addition of South West More) will fulfil your partying quota for weeks to come.

Still haven’t got your tickets? Saturday and Weekend tickets have officially sold out, but act quickly and you can still grab Sunday and after party tickets here https://www.southwestfour.com/ tickets/ . You’d be a fool not to! See you on the Common!

By Elise Harvey