Creamfields 2002 - Liverpool

"'The most fun you can have in a disused airfield’… ‘The traditional end of summer party for the dance world’……….. I thought it was about time I gave the Leeds festival a miss (I mean, really, G'N'R???!!! [There's nothing wrong with a bit of good old-fashioned ROCK!!!!!!! - Emlyn]) and went raving by the Mersey instead. I had no idea what to expect, not much idea of who I wanted to see (except, of course, Underworld) but that’s the way it should be – a proper adventure! Anyway I had my trusty dance music friend Ed on hand to explain what was going on - hence the detailed descriptions below, maybe next time I'll know what I'm talking about!

Getting to Liverpool was a bit tricky due to a train strike but once in Scouseland we only had to hop onto a shuttle bus and within 30 mins were deposited neatly just outside the site – a disused airfield indeed – and what a PERFECT place for it!, just off a main road, right on the Mersey estuary, no where near anyone’s house. We walked in a most orderly fashion along a muddy path, giggling at some very dodgy outfits ahead, admiring lots of pink fluff adorned ladies and itching to get inside and find out what was going on….

Full on raving at five in the afternoon is what! We walked past the outdoor Radio One Soundstage to the sounds of Café del Mar and other bouncy beats from Judge Jules and Dave Pearce, played to an already big and equally bouncy crowd. Before setting off to explore we popped into the Bugged Out tent for some of Richie Hawtin’s mutated techno sounds, with lots of FX thrown in. At first it was a all a bit much for this little (new) raver, then I realised that this is exactly what Creamfields is all about – 35000 people absolutely determined to have an unbelievably incredible time for 15 hours solid – and there was such a HUGE amount of fantastic music on offer that there was no time to waste!….

So, having acclimatised ourselves to the site (very simple) we set off to the Sunday Best tent to have a look at the Stanton Warriors, who played a lively hip hop type set and looked very happy indeed, as did the crowd. The highpoint was definitely a bootleg mix of Tim Delux vs Layo & Bushwacka’s Love Story – this got me dancing instantly and I’m not sure I stopped from that point in!

After a confused search for the (rather clean) toilets (the site was really easy to negotiate, we were just being useless!) we realised it was time for Underworld already, we weren’t sure why they were on so early (8.30-10), but it all made sense when the sun started going down behind us as we watched what was easily one of the very best live performances I have EVER seen, danced to euphorically by one of the happiest crowds I have ever seen.

Rick Smith twiddled and manipulated his machines to produce everything we wanted to hear – Dark and Long, Cowgirl, King of Snake, Rez, plus new single Two months off and other fantastic new stuff, rounding it all off with Moaner – what more could you want! Karl Hyde, a true superstar, bounced and leapt and danced around the stage for the whole set, looking happier than the whole crowd put together (and that’s saying something!) – what a man! And the best part? – we’ve just seen one of the best performances of our lives and danced and grinned like crazy for 90 minutes – and its only 9.30!!!!! still over 8 hours and about a million DJs to go!

9.30…After giving ourselves a few minutes to let the wonderfulness of Underworld sink in, it was off to the Cream Future Trance tent - trance for the kids (including recent single ‘It’s easier to fly’) spun by the master himself - Paul Oakenfold - to a huge tent full of very happy people. We only caught the last half hour or so but I was mightily impressed!

Midnight…no time to hang around! We quickly scooted off to Cream x10 for Timo Maas, a fantastic two hours of tech and progressive house interspersed with dark beats which kept the huge tent dancing - easily one of the best sets of the night. We stayed for a bit of X-Press 2 – 3 people, 6 decks, Rocky Diesel and Ashley Beedle providing their dark take on the tech house sound - then left them to it and went off for a bit of a wander and a cup of tea (well, we all need a sit down and a nice brew once in a while!)

1am (I think)…the party is well under way and all ten tents (I think it was ten, I lost count) are crammed full, blasting out just about every kind of dance music you could ever want to hear – absolutely wonderful!, I start wondering why on earth I’ve never been here before.

1.30am (maybe)…we venture into the Global Underground tent for the end of Sascha’s prog house, plus a few songs from the new album, delivered by a happy looking Alex Coe. Next Deep Dish takes over the decks with…well, to be honest I don’t know what it was but we were stood near the speakers and it nearly knocked me over!……

3am, time for a breather….

We wandered next door (everything is conveniently close!) where Justin Robertson was keeping the Bugged Out moomins jumping and treated us to our third (and best) rendition of Silver Screen Shower Scene of the night, followed by a driving tech set for the people. Many of said people were having a nice sit down at the back of this huge tent, which was all very peaceful, but there was still plenty of crazy dancing at the front, and we decided we had some life left in us yet!

4am…I’d come here with only two intentions – to see Underwolrd and at least one female DJ (oh, and to dance myself silly in a field!), and lovely Lottie’s house grooves in the Subliminal tent seemed the best option. There was a bit of a queue and we nearly gave up – she was WELL worth the wait! I think this was the best thing I saw all night (day?night? – no idea!) – a happy bouncy beautiful woman up on stage, clearly having the time of her life with all her mates, leaving out the more tribal/dark elements and opting to keep the tent jumping to some four to the floor ear candy. I didn’t think it could get any better, until she was joined by a very cool lady singing beautiful vocals over the top – absolute heaven for two hours, still dancing, still smiling, surrounded by lovely folk and my two wonderful friends…as much fun as you can have on a disused airfield? As much fun as you can have ANYWHERE!!

6am…..its all over, the narky man running around back stage just won’t let Lottie play one more record (possibly the only male I have ever encountered not to be persuaded by half a dozen beautiful women and a tent full of people BEGGING him!). We wander out into the Merseyside dawn, congratulate ourselves on making it this far, thank a very bleary eyed steward for looking after us (well, he looked at me like I was a freak, but I was brought up to be polite and he looked so unhappy!) and make our way to a big bus which very quickly transports us, dazed and somewhat confused, to Liverpool – a bit too quickly, wasn’t I dancing like a crazy woman on a disused airfield half an hour ago???" - Catherine Tonge and - Ed S

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* All Images Courtesy of BBC News *