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 Review Creamfields always has that enviable position in the calendar of being the last festival event of the summer; the final big blowout before the winter nights start drawing in, where mugs of something warm and comforting appeal more than standing in a field until dawn. And it is probably this that gives the vibe of the event its uniqueness. Plus, of course, a belting line up. First on the main stage this year were Iceland’s finest, Gus Gus (pronounced ‘Goose Goose,’ Strongbow was reliably informed by the keyboard player while loafing around backstage). Lower down the bill than at previous festivals this summer, they garnered a small, enthusiastic crowd as the gates opened, but nothing like they deserved. Just a couple of hours later Mint Royale and the Stanton Warriors would have the arena heaving with the former bringing some live funk to the table, and the latter an MC to toast over the cuts and scratches. The pyramidal Radio 1 stage seemed to bring the sun with it, occasionally burning through the cloud cover to the sounds of Dave Pearce, Judge Jules and their special guest for the afternoon session Armin Van Buuren. Later Seb Fontaine, MYNC Project and Mauro Picotto took those with a penchant for open-air grooving into the night. Headliners Massive Attack took to the packed main arena as the sun began to dip over the Mersey. Their only festival appearance of the summer was a much-hyped affair, and while the classics were rolled out, the performance lacked the physical voices that make many of them so special in the first instance. Clearly finding the likes of Shara Nelson and Tracey Thorn available for every live show is unlikely, but for this reason Robert Del Naja’s grandstanding lacked a punch. On to the Bugged Out! arena, where techno mainstay Dave Clarke was found to be pummelling his audience with a blistering live set of his new material. ‘House music’ was the refrain repeated over and over the humping beats, and with each abrasive drop, the crowd roared with audible approval. Following hot on Clarke’s heals, the Chemical Brothers, another big draw for the festival, mixed breaks and techno, including re-rubs of their latest collaboration with the Flaming Lips. So as we know, our friends at Cream can always be counted on to provide a fine and fitting end to the season, and this year was no exception. |
