It’s 11am and we are heading North up the M1 on a sunny September morning. WeLoveDJs is on the road, location, Lotherton Hall for the Mint festival 2013!
Anticipation ahead of this event was massive, with the videos from last years inaugural festival, teasing festival go-oers with images of what to expect. Getting to the venue, situated in the grounds of Lotherton Hall; a stunning country house near Aberford, West Yorkshire, was made easy due to complimentary busses laid on by Mint Festival! Thank You (for now)…
The beautifully sunny afternoon made the whole site look amazing! The 7 marquees arranged around central seating and bar area, offered guests a snippet of the musical genres that awaited them within each tent. As with other festivals, we q’d to purchase bar tokens, which are supposed to shorten q’s at the bar. We are still to be convinced!
The afternoon started with a visit to Set One Twenty / Bigger Than Barry, where George Fitzgerald was treating the eager crowd to a fierce set of rolling beats and chunky baselines. Wondering amongst the revellers, it was clear that all of Mint’s tents were stepping up and delivering musically. Praise was heard all round and the smiling faces of Northern Lass’s and Cheeky Chappies was abundant!
We headed to Goodgreef & Digital Society, to witness the one and only Ferry Corsten. He did not disappoint. From start to finish, his set built and built, each track complimenting the previous, reminding us why this man has been in the business for so long. One look around at the crowd, and with a squint, you were back in Passion, Pam’s House, Decadence and The Gallery. Combined with amazing production and infectious use of visuals; the lyrics of tracks beamed out 15 feet above the DJ booth, interspersed with CO2 cannons and breath-taking pyrotechnics, all cumulated in a musical spectacle. The man received a cloud-rousing applause at the end of his set. ‘Nough Said!
Meanwhile! On the darker side of town! Teknicolor & Distrikt, were belting out some of the most “jet black polished chrome techno” (Dubfire) since Radio Slaves Grindhouse (2008). The Funktion 1 stacks, surrounding the DJ booth, literally blew you away! Literally! Standing on the dance floor you knew exactly what Jones wanted you to know; he is the King of minimal techno. Anyone who has been to and witnessed one of his sets at Paradise, DC10, or any of the Hot Creation nights, knows how this disk jockey operates. It is an onslaught of ear-bleeding repetitive bass-line beats, high-hat clinks and gut-wrenching mid ranges to make the body tweak, click and pop at the right moment. WeLoveDJs, have been a fan of Jamie Jones for some time, his technical ability and track selection is paramount. WeLoveJamie.
We were lucky enough to catch the last 30 min of Surgeon’s set, the man behind ‘House of God’, in Birmingham, UK, over at the Backlight tent. Of what we heard, his set was outstanding and further proved that the Second City has some amazing DJ/Production talent in its mits! One Records head honcho Adam Shelton, also played alongside Jamie Jones over at Districkt, cementing the Birmingham underground scene among the best of the best!
‘Bitch’ tent, provided the usual BIG house tracks, blasting a packed crown to the onslaught of the sounds of Euro Giants Dimiteri & Like Mike, to the home-grown talents of Danny Howard from BBC Radio 1.
As dusk fell across the beautiful surroundings, the speaker stacks continued to assault the revellers with ever-growing atmospheres from their tents. As we wandered between the, ‘Bitch’ tent and the ‘System. & Louche’ tent, we were treated to the Applebottom Remix of Wildchild’s Renegade Master. Somehow, among the twisted mass of people, plastic, thundering bass-lines and the promise of what the night still held, this summed up the event for us and made us all crack a smile. Happy smilie face.
Techno heavyweight, Seth Troxler was our next port of call. The Michigan born DJ took control of the decks in the System tent, who supplied the faithful with a 180 min journey through all that is magical is tech house. From crowd reactions, he delivered! WeLoveSeth.
Night had drawn, and so had the beats… WeLoveDJs headed back to the Set One Twenty tent. Eats Everything, was already in set as we arrived. One word: AMAZING! His set, combined with the incredible production from the team at Set One Twenty, meant the packed out crowd was treated, to arguably the best set of the night. The music ripped through every inch of your body and the incredible blend of of mind-bending lasers, cannons, CO2 &visuals kept you fixed upon the stage. Eats Everything’s blend of house, techno and a cheeky vocal was the perfect concoction to keep a packed tent, raving till the very last track…and begging for more….WeLoveEatsE!
Closing was upon us, so it meant only one thing. It was time. Marco Carola!!! Back to the System & Louche tent. An already packed-out tent was being submitted to the technical genius of Mr Carola, it was beautiful. In all aspects, music, sound quality, visuals, production, management. Security ensured the tent remained full-yet-movable, something, which WeLoveDJs feels, is lacking at other festivals. Marco’s track selection was outstanding and he held the audience in the palm of his hand throughout. Through clever lighting and orchestrated build-ups, Carola took us straight back to the Red Room at Space or the loony-loony terrace of DC-10; it was magical! Enormous bass drops, blackout lighting and of course dramatic CO2/laser assaults, the finalé shook the wheat form the chaff! – Incredible. WeLoveCarola!
Overall the event was exceptionally managed, security was tight and friendly, we did not see or feel any trouble or atmosphere throughout the whole venue, which was really refreshing. Qing was an issue. It seems, no matter what venues do, they cannot get this sorted! WeFeel the solution is simple, more staff!! Seriously.
Overall, the 2013 Mint Festival was outstanding. Musically, it was on form, loud and in your face. There was however once sour grape, which WeLoveDJs can’t overlook!!
THE BUSSES! – If you were there you know, if you weren’t, think Bus Wankers and then some. WeLoveDJs realise the situation with the shuttle busses is nothing to do with the festival itself so will allow you to find out yourself!
In conclusion, Mint Festival 2013 was the perfect way to end an amazing summer of music. Whether you’ve been to the White Isle or stayed on the British Isle, house music and especially the tech house brand, has been ever relevant in recent months.
We look forward to the coming months. Winter brings with itself a whole heap of treats, including the Winter Sessions at the Manchester super-brand, Warehouse Project, Cream Birmingham presents: Cream Winter Sessions! Can we even bring ourselves to mention ‘Christmas and New Years?’ of course we fucking can! Merry Christmas. WeLoveHouse, WeLoveChristmas, WeLove DJs x
———- WeRecommend ———-
Adam Shelton: https://soundcloud.com/rhys-metcalf/sets/adam-shelton-mint-festival
Eats Everything: https://soundcloud.com/discobelle/eats-everything-live-lola-club
Jamie Jone: https://soundcloud.com/jamie-jones/jamie-jones-live-dj-set-1
Marco Carola: https://soundcloud.com/music-on-official/marco-carola-music-on-the-mix-ibiza-2013
Seth Troxler: https://soundcloud.com/skreamizm/seth-troxler-eats-everything
Cream Birmingham: https://www.facebook.com/events/213612058803761/?fref=ts