Global Gathering Review

I THOUGHT my happy hardcore days were long gone but when I spotted the Friday-night line-up for the Fantazia tent, I thought I might as well dig out my glow sticks and bop away to the early hours one last time before the impending doom of my thirties arrives.
 
Stu Allan, Baby D, N-Trance, Rat Pack and Altern8, what more could a child of the nineties ask for? All you northerners who donned your Classics once a month and headed off in the back of your mate’s Nova for the Maximes back-to-the-old-school all-nighter will know what I mean. The memories of heaving over the blocked toilets as the merry mixes of Stu Allen thudded through the spit-laden doors came flooding back like it was just yesterday.
 
The Prodigy delivered the only-to-be expected energy-fuelled performance, with Keith Flint singing so hard it’s a wonder his eyes didn’t pop out of his head, particularly during Firestarter. The crowd lapped it up when they flopped out Warriors Dance but for me the highlight of the main stage had to be Orbital on Saturday night.
 
I wasn’t really into them first time round but coaxed out of my sleeping bag by the promise of curly fries and cheese, I decided to watch them with my boyfriend to see what all the fuss was about – and I wasn’t disappointed. Absolutely amazing! The visuals, the beats, the little lights on their heads, all completely entrancing and so boogie I did.
 
Other names worth a mention: Carl Cox, genius, brilliant as always, roll on Ibiza closing parties! Lisa Pin Up – did not for one minute think she would be my cup of tea but left there infused with hardcore happiness and dreams of myself becoming a superstar deejaaay; Shapeshifters and ATFC in the VIP area, was throwing some shapes to that I can tell you.
 
We decided to glam-it-up this year and pay a little bit extra to go VIP – well worth it.
The campsite was nice and small so not much chance of wandering round in the dark, tripping over tent pegs and panicking because you can’t find your tent. The food places in there looked much nicer than anywhere else. Those with an appetite could try everything from toasties and fresh fruit through to wild boar! We had our very own entrance to the festival and a bar.
 
Woke up to find my boyfriend bouncing off the walls of the tent with excitement at being able to take a shower, and using the toilets was a most pleseant experience – I even sat down! What more can you ask for?
 
The Nocturnal Groove tent was a mini festival in itself! There was a nice, clean grassed area at the back to take a breather on – no crushed cans and empty chip wrappers here thank you very much! And the visuals were almost hypnotic – images projected onto the sides and roof of the tent making it feel like a full-on underground rave.
 
Made two fatal errors however. 1 – did not realise there were Jacuzzis in there that you could actually go in! 2 – did not realise that VIP got you to the front of the mainstage. Call myself a festival-pro?
 
In summary, I feel rough, I’ve got a lot of washing to do and my car stinks but it was well worth it!

 

Fran Kindon