Last night saw famous party brand Cream and the biggest show to hit UK airwaves, BBC Radio 1, bring together some of the most renowned names in electronic dance music - and all under one pretty big roof. As part of the BBC Radio 1 Weekend Privilege played host to the second instalment of fun since Friday's free party at Ushuaïa Beach Hotel and boy did the crowd come marching in...
Party pen for the official capacity of around 10,000 people, Privilege was filled to the brim with holiday makers keen to be involved in one of the most legendary and talked about weekends in the dance music calendar. Cream favourites Gareth Wyn and Sean Hughes got the party started in both the main room and Vista blue as Radio 1 competition winner, Hannah Jaques bashed out Calmly Gage ft. MDA's track Play the game in the Vista room. At first the club was strangely quiet but as the 1am rush hit and an animal army arrived, Zoo project was the obvious reason for the slightly later than anticipated arrival of party-goers.
Prior to the stampede of excitable clubbers, I enjoyed Gareth Wyn's set whilst having a bit of dance floor banter with the lighting guys, soaking up the Radio 1 buzz and chasing the pretty flashing lights which darted about the floor - fun times! With a huge chandelier creation made from disco balls dazzling above my head, the main room was prepared for a serious party and the Radio 1 meets Cream team had clearly pulled out all the stops. Logos flashed from wall to wall and flickered on square lights which descended from the rooftop, and when later paired with the voice of infamous Radio 1 host and DJ Pete Tong both the room and the big weekend came to life. Playing a 2 hour set the honcho of British radio pumped out a carefully selected play list which ensured the crowd was embraced by the music and that the atmosphere was elevated to a new time high. Playing a continuation of his set from Ushuaía's party on Friday, Pete Tong boosted the party vibe and with the ultimate staple of BBC Radio on centre stage the main room was buzzing.
Taking a walk into the Vista Club - brand new to the club this season, Ibiza Rocks main man Zane Lowe was on a hype ting as usual; smashing out a mash up of dub step, hip hop and grime featuring tracks such as Jay Z ft. Kanye West - That sh*t cray - I think he likes this one, and Mercy by Kanye West. Taking a few strides back into Vista Blue my ears pinged up as Eats Everything filled the clubs more intimate space with some really nice and bouncy, bass ridden house. The crowd which was mainly made up of 'the Ibiza cool kids' in snapbacks and vests with plunging necklines - aside from the avid Tellytubby fan who came dressed as yellow favourite Lala, were clearly enjoying Bristonian Daniel Pearce's deep techy set.
Jaguar Skills soon jumped into the cove like booth which was illuminated with a blue haze, and sporting a 'Love me Tenga.' top and his signature balaclava he unleashed some choppy basslines into the crowd making a dub step and electro fuelled bounce surge through the room. Later Chase & Status were joined by MC Rage in the Vista Club who collectively brought an electric vibe to the room with their fierce and hugely popular drum and bass tracks; playing the likes of No problem and Hocus Pocus from their latest album 'No More Idols'.
Crossing over to the hugely crowded main room for a bit of proggy action, Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso had taken over the stage and with a manic energy they bashed out some of the fiercest electro sounds I have heard for a while. Incorporating some old favourites like Save the world - Swedish House Mafia, the pair got a little naughty and together created some rascal remixes which pumped an insane amount of energy into the crowd. As confetti fell and lasers flashed over the dance floor I made my way back into the Vista Club to catch a bit of Sub Focus and ID before the lady of BBCR1 - Annie Mac, took over the main room. Dropping Rudimental's catchy track Feel the love and his own hit Out the blue - both featuring hooking vocals over sharp bouncy drum and bass beats, Sub Focus along with hype man ID had the Vista Club in the palm of their hands.
The time had come and the legend that is Annie Mac had entered the stage, the main room erupted as she opened her set with Sleaze - Knife Party ft. Mista Jam, later dropping Beat Down - Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas and then a personal favourite Da Funk by the amazing Daft Punk, the girl had it down and the crowd was hers. Fire, flames, sparklers and confetti shot from the stage as an entourage of Radio 1 and Cream faces danced behind the booth as Annie partied on. Playing to a backdrop of the most insane visuals that I have seen for a long time - flickering from Cream logos to running stick men in a multitude of patterns and colours, the party had the production down to a T.
Reminding us why they are such a stella collaboration the guys at Cream and Radio 1 finished their weekend extravaganza in style with a performance from the infamous Benny Benassi who came armed with an equally as jaw-dropping production - which appeared to be influenced by anatomy with enzyme like molecules darting around the screens. Taking a kind of sci-fi turn and getting a little eerie his set came to life as he banged out Dyro by Paradox, Just Tripping - Fedde Le Grand and Glowing in the Dark by Jupiter Ace. The whole room was undeniably at the feet of this years 'Special guest' for this month's Creamfields festival's, in particular the event's very own 'Electro man' who fist pumped his way through the night whilst overlooking the club's famous pool.
So, after a fun-filled party which showcased as many genres as a woman does emotions during menopause I managed to check out pretty much all of the acts - whilst practising my best drum and bass moves, dub step bounce and electro hand thrust of course. Assuming that next years' line-up will be as fierce as what last nights party brought us BBC Radio 1 Weekend 2013 is going to go off, I just hope there will be a little more dance space and a lot less sweat.
