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The day the music didn't die: Revellers at last year's first-ever Sunburn festival at Candolim beach, Goa | DIGITAL TAN
Dispelling all rumours of festival cancellations, the rather undeterred Sunburn 2008 line-up of artists from the UK and US say the show will go on. Bhairavi Jhaveri finds out what's new this year
It's official. We have our first, very own electronic music festival, as Sunburn continues to take place in its second year, despite a million reasons conspiring its backfire since last month Mumbai's terror attacks, and the fear of more attacks in Goa. Thanks to a brave line-up that have families back home, told festival organiser Nikhil Chinapa, "Terrorism will not change our lives," Sunburn 2008 is taking place, and music lovers couldn't be more thrilled. "The DJs and artists have trust in us, and we have of course stepped up our security this year," says Chinapa.
Armed security and routine drills
"There will be armed security in and around the festival area, and no vehicular traffic will be allowed near the event area," explains Chinapa. Besides frisking and metal detectors, emergency and evacuation services will deter any disturbances.
Much more than music this year
Like many music festivals around the world, Sunburn too will let you mix music with a little bit of art, learning and relaxing, this time around. "You can get a massage or a pedicure at the dry spa, shop at the flea market, cue into the whys of climate change at the British Council stall, or check out some live art that will be auctioned later on, the proceeds of which will go to charity," says Nikhil. The festival will wear a more fun, vibrant feel, with "Electric Circus" as its theme for the décor and design.
Music for everyone
The festival has introduced a lot of different genres in electronic dance music this year, including breakbeat with a London-based audio-visual act, Shiva Soundsystem. Live act Jalebee Cartel, Swen Weber and Tatva Kundalini will bring in their share of electronica to the festival. Defected Records, the biggest house label in the world from UK, will have their own stage. Dutch psychedelic trance duo Growling Mad Scientists, popularly known as GMS, will perform in the country at the fest after a long hiatus. "There is something for every kind of EDM listener," says Nikhil.
More loos, more food, a bigger bar and lesser complaints
"Nobody wants to walk on sand with a full bladder, we realised, so we decided to have more loos spread out in various areas. There will also be a special Bar stage, a much bigger bar than last year's, and a DJ will spin music in this area too," says the VJ-cum-DJ. Besides more food counters and more arrangements for drinking water, the organisers have also tried to deal with the issue of music from two stages clashing. "Distance is the only way to deal with this problem; we have tried to set the stages as far apart as we could."
This year, party animals who don't want to call it a night at 10 pm, can continue partying to the Sunburn line-up of DJs at official after-parties at club, Butter.
"Having gone through a similar experience in London, I feel we need to show support to the Indian people at a time of need and help get things back to normal so thay they carry on with their daily lives. This makes the trip even more special for me"
John Fleming
The line-up
Headlining act: DJ Eddie Halliwell
Other highlights
>>Shapeshifters
>>GMS
>>Copyright
>>ATFC
>>DJ Shah
>>Midival Punditz
>>Pearl
>>Jalebee Cartel
>>Simon Dunmore
>>Tatva Kundalini
>>Sanjay Dutta
>>Norman Doray
>>Shiva Soundsystem
>>Order of essence
>>Richard Durand
>>John 00 Fleming & Digital Blonde
>>DJ clement
What's new at this year's Sunburn?
There will be 4 stages at the venue a Bar stage (12 pm to 4 pm), a Sunset stage (5.30 pm to 8 pm), and two Main stages (3 pm to 10 pm). Official after-parties where the Sunburn line-up will continue playing, will run from 11 pm to 6 am.
The international spread at this year's Sunburn
Check out house music with BIG energy styles and a party vibe with the Shapeshifters
UK-based duo, Simon Marlin and Max Reich are most popular for their UK No. 1 single, Lola's Theme. Shapeshifters is currently signed by Defected Records, UK, and this will be their first time in the country. For Sunburn, the Shapeshifters have planned a gig that's "Same as everywhere else; you can only do what you do and hope that people get on a groove and take the journey with you," says the duo.
Why DJ Eddie Halliwell is the headlining act at Sunburn
This English dance music DJ has held residencies at Goodgreef and Gatecrasher, two of the biggest house clubs in the UK. He is a headliner at both clubs now.
He makes regular appearances at international superclubs Cream and Godskitchen.
He is popular for his hip hop scratches, that he fuses with other genres of music.
Defected Records will have its own stage at this year's Sunburn
Defected boss (Managing Director, Defected Records) and DJ, Simon Dunmore is known to have founded one of the most popular indie house labels in the world, and has virtually patented the funky, vocal house sound that dominates most clubs today.
Enjoy soulful house blended with sounds from around the world by Copyright
London-based duo, Sam Holt and Gavin Mills together known as Copyright, also fall under the Defected label. They played in the country earlier this year, and described the experience as "Amazing! The crowd was really infectious," and they can't wait to get back and rock the beach.
"Melody is everything," says French DJ Norman Doray
Norman started DJing in 2002, and has since collaborated with friend Pierre De La Touche and Arno Cost to create tracks that have put the trio (aka the Freshmakers) on the world map of house music.
Listen to the man who has mixed for Moby and Missy Elliot: ATFC
A resident at Gatecrasher, Sheffield and Leeds, ATFC has mixed for a variety of artists including Fatboy Slim, Simply Red, David Bedingfield, Moby, and Missy Elliot.
What: Sunburn dance music festival 2008
Where: Candolim beach, North Goa
When: December 27 to 29, from 12 pm to 10 am
Tickets: Rs 2,500 for a 3-day pass; individual day tickets priced at Rs 1,500 (days one and two), and Rs 2,000 (day 3).
Three-day VIP pass: Rs 5,000 includes complimentary Sunburn merchandise, free goodies, premium service, access to an exclusive VIP bar with a special menu, and complimentary entry to the official post-event party.
Tickets are available online only. Log onto http://www.sunburn-festival.com/ |
