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The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22!
A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden
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Global Gathering 2009: Reviewed

Reported by Agnes Klos / Submitted 04-08-09 15:27

Nothing captures the buzz of summer in its best glowing frame better than Global Gathering. As the name indicates, this annual dance music festival attracts a global audience and a killer line-up of international DJs. Its unique vibe and unforgettable energy is hard to compete with. With the starting gun ready, HarderFaster sent Agnes Klos to give us a taste of GG 2009.



If you have been clubbing for a while but have never been to an open-air festival then you are simply not getting the complete view of the club scene. There is nothing that can be compared with an open-air festival. “It is once-in-a-life-time experience which stays engraved in your memory till your last day, and maybe even longer. An absolute must-do for all advanced clubbers,” said one clubbing veteran who had been to the most unique parties, such as Burning Man in the middle of the Nevada desert.

Global Gathering is a chance to see the biggest names on the music market in a space of just two days. But I have to tell you straight away: it is an effort to hear everyone you like. Be prepared to run from one arena to another (doubly hard if it’s muddy) and of course some acts overlap, so organisation and forward planning are needed. Unless, of course, you are not bothered and you instinctively follow the flow! Still it’s always heaps of fun.



Approaching the festival site seemed slightly unreal, Long Marston Airfield, near Stratford-Upon-Avon, is the equivalent size of 50 football pitches with its enormous tents spaced out over kilometres of field and orbiting a funfair in the middle. Serious twisters competed for your attention away from the music with thrill rides, side stalls, bumper cars, bungee jumping and a horrifying Maze of Terror, all in all a truly dazzling experience.

The unprecedented fun had already started with an unrivalled line-up on Friday. Acts like Funkagenda and The Prodigy were definitely responsible for the crowd on the dance floor. Being a fan of lighter house music tunes, you could have easily swapped the aforementioned acts from the main stage to those in the Godskitchen tent. Paul Thomas hit off with some funky tunes, David Guetta warmed up revellers till everyone got sizzling hot with excitement and Paul van Dyk’s trademark floating, orchestral trance rushed through the fields like a hurricane. Dancing till 2am under the stars filled the party-hungry crowd with peaceful joy and anticipation for much more.

Saturday early afternoon gave an impression of the festival slowing down, compared with the pace of the previous day. Most people just wandered around or sat in front of their tents, relaxing, playing and laughing. The speakers began pumping out tunes at 2pm, gradually waking up and dragging all like a magical force.



As dusk fell, the simplistic decoration of paper squares and scaffoldings around arenas began transforming into fluorescent glowing sensations. Then suddenly, the empty space filled with party-goers, descending from all corners of the Airfield. Within minutes music hypnotised the crowd who obediently followed its lead. One Aussie next to me said: “Look at them; they are like moths drawn to a flame.”

Repetitive beats booming across the field, a forest of arms swaying in the dark and guys holding ‘Tune!’ signs high in the air; all meant just one thing: the party was beginning to kick off good and proper.

I watched as an awesome energetic main stage set was served up by Steve Angello. Then Eric Prydz stole the show and lifted the tempo of the day with a great sunset session. The crowd - already hyped up - was well-prepared at that stage for the most memorable performance of the evening: Orbital. The distinctive upbeat of electronic pop-dance sounds, mixed with groundbreaking visuals produced an electrifying live performance. The pair threw in classic accapellas like Berlinda Carlisle’s ‘Heaven Is A Place On Earth’ into the blender and mixed with their innovative electro beats. The effect? A teeming horde to whom those light spec wearing guys were simply gods.

At the Tuborg Live Stage the most exciting act was Sneaky Sound System who united everyone with their hit UFO. It was pure magic when hundreds of us started signing together “I saw an UFO and nobody believes me.” John Digweed at the Bedrock 10 arena smashed those yearning for crispy fresh beats while Godskitchen proved to be the place for those who like trance and darker energy.

Pyrotechnics, CO2 shooting into the air, confetti rain and lightening equipment; everything was there, making other festivals green of envy no doubt. But Godskitchen prepared another unexpected little treat between a pumping set from Sander Van Doorn and Above & Beyond: the lightening show. Huge white transparent squares surrounding the DJ booth turned into a plasma screen showing off the far limits of today’s technology.

Carl Cox ruled at the arena named after him, serving anthem after anthem and packing even more revellers on the already heaving floor during his three hour set. Finally the VIP arena didn’t bring any disappointment either with Roy Mclaren keeping the dancefloor packed till 5am.



The only downside I found to the festival: badly lit parking areas and no help or information when trying to find your area. Speaking from my own experience, if you leave your pullover in the car and want to find it at 2am you may end up looking for your car for two hours in the freezing cold. It can seriously spoil your fun.

VIPers could relax their muscles in hot jacuzzis tubes, sipping cold drinks and listening to blissful sounds of house. The golden circle allowed those with VIP passes to get seriously close to the scene and follow every single move of their favourite DJs. One thing is certain: a glammed-up crowd is turning Global Gathering into a festival with a fashion manifesto. Painted faces, angel wings and fancy sunglasses were in high demand.

I asked one of the girls dressed up like a fairy what she liked the most about Global Gathering and she said something interesting: “The middle of the dancefloor, as it is one of the few places which are not polluted by everyday worries and troubles.” Wow, powerful words for such a small person.



To sum up, the eighth year of the festival managed to surpass the previous one again. The best dance music on Earth was unleashed during some unforgettable performances. If your taste in dance music is quite diverse, including house, hard house, trance, hardstyle, dubstep, hip hop and drum’n’bass, this is the place to be. Global Gathering, embarking on a mission to host the most renowned DJs every year, providing you with an opportunity to leave the festival with a feeling that you have seen simply the best.


What do some of the DJs think about Global Gathering?

‘The crowd at Global Gathering is always fantastic.’
John Digweed

‘Simply the best electronic music festival in the World, bar none.’
Carl Cox

‘Global is always one of the best festivals an artist can experience.’
Paul Van Dyk


I had a chance to talk to one of dubstep's top DJ-producers: Caspa, aka 26-year-old Gary McCann from West London. He was the first dubstepper together with his partner Rusko to do a Fabriclive CD mix and is well-known from a night called Dub Police at Fabric.

What do you think about Global Gathering 2009?

Oh, this year has been amazing. Good line-up and incredible crowd. The festival grows from strength to strength every year, it is just so much fun to be here. It is a great honour to be able to play and enjoy this incredible vibe.

Why do you like coming back here every year?

Global Gathering is a festival that unites everyone. There are so many different cultures, religions and music styles coming together under one name with the common aim to have fun and enjoy the event. The divisions between people disappear and it is pure joy to watch.

What was the strangest request that you have received while DJing?

“Can I sip your drink?,” seriously. I could not believe that but it is true.

Who would you like to play back-to-back with?

Definitely Tiësto. I have played in front of a big audience before but Tiësto plays in front of thousands. He is the one who can play on football stadiums, making so many fans come together. I would like to play with him to feel what it is like, to feel the energy which is created at such concerts. It must be an incredible feeling standing in front of such a crowd. It would be wicked to share this type of an experience with him.



Do you plan your set ahead?

I do plan the first four tracks but not the rest. I believe that you have to adjust your set to the audience in front you are playing to at that given time. You can’t come and just play something that you had in mind if people do not like it. You have to stay flexible and open to what is going on around you and on the dancefloor. I like to interact with the crowd and listen to their request.

Is there someone or something that influences your music?

I take my inspiration from everywhere, from different sources. From radio, from CDs that I buy, from other people and other artists. But I would not say that I have one figure in mind who I try to copy. I stay open-mined to everything that is changing around me. When I was young I used to listen to jungle and a lot of techno. Most of my present music stems from that early passions.

Do you have message for our readers?

Just stay open-minded. Do not block your mind to new trends and new types of music. Do not limit yourself. Listen to music and then decide whether you like or not. Do not jump into conclusions. Try not to be narrow-minded. Music is about freedom and happiness.


Photos courtesy of Agnes Klos and the HarderFaster archive. Not to be reproduced without permission.s
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Other Features By Agnes Klos:
Back2Basics - 10 Years of Party Productions & Tomorrowland Stage Hosts
Atmosphere Records - The opening of IBIZA 1936
Entering the world of Waldfrieden in Germany with DJoanna
Piracy is not a crime – sail away with Feestgedruis!
Progressive flavours with DJ R'Deem ahead of Neelix party
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: Matt-Endemic on 4th Aug 2009 15:50.07
I've been to Global for the past 5/6 years and it's been getting considerably worse each year as the company tries to cut corners and maximise profit. The main stage volume was shocking on friday, and although the prodigy put on a good show it was a shame that it couldn't be heard properly, infact the sound through all tents was pretty shit.
There was hardly any decoration in any tent, and although the godskitchen visuals we're good, the lack of lazers was annoying. People queing for 5 1/2 hours to get in, badly lit car parks ect etc. I don't understand why people still pay full price for a ticket to this.
In terms of sound and lighting the fantazia terrece on friday put all the other tents to shame. Highlights were orbital and Armin's 3 hr set, proteus also smashed it.

From: Andy_B on 5th Aug 2009 14:48.57
I have to be honest and say that everything Matt said is right and then some .. I'm sure a large majority of people who went to Global would feel the same!!

I have been to a lot of festivals (free and commercial) over the years and thought I'd go to Global this year to see what all the hype was about! Sadly I was seriously disappointed.

My generally feeling was that the organisation was some of the worst I've ever experienced of any event be it music, sport or whatever. There was only one small entrance, which was ridiculous considering the number of people attending and was very hard to find space to pitch a tent once we finally got in. There were also no stewards controlling the parking spaces nor the queue going in so many people were knocking on the walls to get a move on with the 5.5 hour queue whilst others were jumping it out of desperation.

I also felt as though they were making cost costs (see Matt’s post) and using sneaky methods to make extra revenue such as selling cans in the camping area and only allowing bottles inside the arena area even though they sell the same cans inside so you had to sit outside drinking them before going in. When questioning inside why that was I was told by the bar man “to make extra money of course”. I also think it fair not to bring food and drink into the arena area but it is unbelievable that they didn’t allow you to bring your food and drink into the camp site. This is the first time my friends and I have heard of that for any dance or rock festival.

Normally I don’t let these little things get to me when I go out with the intension to have a good time but the epic queue, the initial cost to attend and the general shoddiness dampened the spirits of our whole 9 strong group!


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