GP’s Summer Round-Up – Part 1

Yes, I’ve certainly let the old blogging slip. Maybe the introduction of Twitter or simply the shocking demise of myspace – I don’t know but I’m back with my end of summer report!

It all started tremendously well on the banks of the med in July. We were back in Sete for the 4th edition of the Worldwide Festival. Having started sort of badly with the loss of my wallet at the Gare de Lyon, everything improved the moment we landed to a brief shower at Sete Central. In fact, it was here that I saw the first of many newcomers to the festival – curious Brits tired of the same old routine in the UK searching for a slightly different experience.

I think it worked this year – possibly a little too much techno at some points but all round it was a festival with many great musical highlights – Dorian Concept in the rain, Laurent Garnier without his equipment, Mocky and his girls, SOIL & “PIMP” bettering their previous highs, Jimi Tenor stepping up Afro-psych style, Theo Parrish brought his own mixer without soundchecking (bad move!), Carl Craig playing Har You’s ‘Welcome to The Party’, Simbad and Lefto MC’ing when I just couldn’t anymore! The bPm missing his set (pow!!) but then turning out a blinder in revenge at the end of the day, Rutten/Okino/Eddy and Yannah making the final afternoon on the beach one of class and heritage, and D.O.P smashing the place to pieces in the night… so many great memories!

And best of all a brilliant crowd: loads of ‘veterans’ from the first three years plus a brilliant mixture of new crew to spice things up. I think we reached a kind of tipping point this year but we’re still learning and some improvements will be made again next year. I’m already working on the line-up and the Freshly Cut crew are working on improving sound and facilities. I don’t want this festival to become predictable or just another slightly “left” dance fest. For me it’s all about hearing ‘Theme de Yoyo’ on the beach or ‘Sweet and Sour’ by The Crusaders at 4am alongside a bit of Martyn or Fulgeance. It’s about having the power to drop an obvious classic knowing that the groundwork was done.

I have to thank Alex Jazzanova for possibly my favourite set of the weekend – he absolutely delivered on the Saturday night whilst the entire backstage crew was searching for plugs and rare technical appliances to get the Garnier show on! It seems like a long time ago now but, with the summer more or less done and dusted we can really start looking forward to edition 5 next year during the World Cup Quarter Final weekend!

WWF aside, I played out as much as most years in 2009. Loved the boat trip with Adam Regan and friends at the Garden Festival, had fun in Sofia with Crazy P, had some brilliant times in Corsica where we’re looking to do a mini WW Fest fringe thing next summer. Tenerife was a first for me and it was great to play back to back with Truby and Simbad. Camp Bestival was strange when they turned the lights on and I suddenly realized that half the crowd was under 10! Playing Corsica Studios with the ‘We Fear Silence’ collective was really refreshing too. So all in all a good summer.

Oh gosh, this week I’m doing 3 nights at Ronnie Scott’s who are celebrating 50 years… so them and Time Out asked me to put a little line-up together: jazz on Thursday with Nostalgia 77 featuring Keith and Julie Tippett plus Matthew Halsall coming down from Manchester with his quintet. It’s Afro and hip hop on Friday with Tony Allen, Roots Manuva and (good timing!)
Speech Dabelle; and finally on Saturday, (Ronnie will turn in his grave) we’ve put together an electronic night featuring Mount Kimbie, Henrik Schwarz and Bugge Wesseltoft. I’m also gonna slip off for a late set at Fabric on Friday with Marky, Prince Paul (looking forward to seeing him again!) and Freddie Foxxx!

Cheers – GP