This summer again will be the war of the festivals between the UK's biggest superclubs (with the exception of the deceased 'Home'). Each have their own individual features, along with those shared by others. What makes one superior than the others? ticket prices? location? line up? One thing is for sure-the amount of advertising that goes into these events means that they have to get a large crowd to attend.Will you be one of them? Who will you choose?

Festivals are those one off occasions that promise so much. Early morning travel to arrive on location amongst a sea of fellow music lovers-highly expectant that the
whole affair is goin to be 'the most memorable'. Upon entry you stroll around in the midday sun, or rush to seek cover from the rain. You plan your route for the night.
Which DJ's are playing where at what times, making decisions where two clash-who will do it for you most on the decks!?!
Night begins to fall over the whole site as you begin to find your spot for the night in the overwhelming tents. Suddenly its as though everyone comes to life around midnight
-feeling every beat, touching every break-down! the DJ's take you on a journey shared by 25,000+ others-each willing for it never to end. The music begins to peak, tempo's
begin to rise as it slowly winds down to a more emotional style. The last beats are heard as the clock hits 6am. Music off, where has time gone? 16 hours of musical
torment to contemplate on the long journey home. Did you hear Van dyk play 'another way', nick warren play 'sparc', sasha play 'xpander' ..... you bet they did- imprinting
memories to last a life time.... well...till next year!

I:Vibes has set out to 'home in' on the features that these events offer,segregate the hopeful from the hopeless-and just maybe make up your mind of where you may
end up going this summer! Spotlights will be on the previously mentioned: Location, prices, line ups, atmosphere, past events with actual accounts from the clubbers themselves!

The mood of each event will be captured and brought to you as it is: no false facts.... no biasness.....the facts as they are when i write this article!

No more banter: here we go:

EVENTS:

GATECRASHER SUMMER SOUND SYSTEM:
22nd June, 2002 Summer Sound System number 3 hits Turweston Park once more. 40,000 people-10 arenas-over 100 DJS.


GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL GATHERING:
27th July, 2002 4pm-7am .Global Gathering takes place @ Long Marston Airfield, Near Stratford-Upon Avon, Warwickshire..8 arenas-around 92 djs


CREAMFIELDS:
Saturday 24th August, 2pm -6am.The Old Liverpool Airport, Speke Road, Liverpool .Information on capacity and DJS undisclosed as yet: usually around 9 arenas-25,000 people -60+djs


HOMELANDS:
Saturday June 1st, 1pm-6am.the bowl, matterley estate, nr winchester, hampshire, england.11 arenas-usually around 35-40,000 people-80+Djs


THE LINE UPS/ARENAS:
A vast majority of the A-class DJ's will play all four events, but it is usually the nature of the arenas that holds the key to the attraction for so many people.
Introductions to a wider variety of music genres means the appeal factor for a larger number of people grows also. Creamfields had "big beat/bugged out" arena,
Gatecrasher introduced a dominent "progressive" and "hard house" arena, Homelands added the "retro" arena and Godskitchen "helter skelter".
These capture the imagination of a prolonged night of your own personal music satisfaction-and gives the clubber a sense of 'stay where you are for 16hrs of true music
heaven'.


GATECRASHER SUMMER SOUND SYSTEM:

The Chemical Generation in association with Jocky Slut:
CHEMICAL BROTHERS / GROOVE ARMADA / SASHA / DAVE CLARKE / DARREN EMERSON / STANTON WARRIORS / JUSTIN ROBERTSON / JAMES HOLROYD / DADDY AD

Gatecrasher Main Arena:
PAUL OAKENFOLD / PAUL VAN DYK / MAURO PICOTTO / JUDGE JULES / FERGIE / ARMIN VAN BUUREN / SCOTT BOND / TALLA 2XLC / LUCIEN FOORT / MATT HARDWICK / NICK RILEY + VERY SPECIAL GUEST DJ TIËSTO

Bedroom '01 'Be Yourself' Arena:
DANNY TENAGLIA / PETE TONG / FUTURESHOCK (DEX'N'FX) / RALPH LAWSON / TOM STEPHAN / MUTINY / MARGARET DYGAS

Bedrock Arena:
SASHA & JOHN DIGWEED (BACK2BACK) / NICK WARREN / SANDER KLEINENBERG / JAMES ZABIELA / CHRIS FORTIER / PHIL THOMPSON / JONATHAN LISLE

Carl Cox Global Arena:
CARL COX / GREEN VELVET / LUKE SLATER / UMEK & VALENTINO / CAJMERE / TREVOR ROCKCLIFFE / C1 / MISSTRESS BARBARA

Twice As Nice Arena:
DJ SPOONY / MIKEE B / DJ LUCK & MC NEAT / PIED PIPER / MATT JAM LAMONT / KARL TUFF ENUFF BROWN / DJ OMAR / STEVE SMOOTH SUTHERLAND / MIKE RUFFCUT LLOYD / ED CASE / MASTERSTEPZ / LISA UNIQUE - MC'S - PSG / CREED / SPLASH / UNKNOWN / SPECIAL K / WIZZARD / SHARKY P / FOXY

Tidy Trax Arena:
TIDY BOYS / LISA LASHES / SIGNUM / ANDY FARLEY / ANNE SAVAGE / ROB TISSERA / BK / PAUL GLAZBY / EDDIE HALLIWELL / NICK SENTIENCE / LEE HASLAM / JON BISHOP / THE FREAK / TROPHY TWINS

Drum And Bass Arena:
RONI SIZE & DYNAMITE / DILLINJA & LEMON D / CRAZE & PLUS ONE / FABIO / DJ HYPE / ANDY C / DJ MARKY (BRASIL) / DJ PATIFE (BRASIL) / SHY FX / NICKY BALCKMARKET / ZINC / DJ SS / FRENZIC / UNGLE DRUMMER - SPECIAL GUEST - DJ STARSCREAM (AKA:SLIPNOT NO. ZERO) - MC'S - SKIBADEE / FOXY / GQ / STAMINA / POWER / DETT

Bud Bus:
ARTHUR BAKER / DAVID HOLMES / SOULWAX / ROB DA BANK / HARRY K / DJ MAGAZINE COMPETITION WINNER

Strongbow Lounge:
JIM BYERS / MATT DIX / BEN ARNOLD / ALEX GRIFFITHS



GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL GATHERING:

Godskitchen Arena:
PAUL OAKENFOLD / FERGIE / MAURO PICOTTO / TIESTO / JUDGE JULES / TALL PAUL / ARMIN VAN BUUREN / JOHN OO FLEMMING / MARCO V / DJ SCOT PROJECT / AJ GIBSON

Colours Arena:
JOHN DIGWEED / STEVE LAWLER / SATOSHI TOMIIE / WAY OUT WEST / SANDER KLEINENBERG / JOHN GRAHAM / PHIL THOMPSON / CHRIS FORTIER / JON MANCINI /
IAIN 'BONEY' CLARK

Gallery Arena:
SISTER BLISS / TALL PAUL / FERRY CORSTEN / GUY ORNADEL / SIGNUM / DUMONDE / JOHN KELLY / JOY KITIKONTI / JOHAN GIELEN / DANIEL SOTO / STEVE LEE / DARREN CHRISTIAN

Sundissential Arena:
LISA LASHES / ANNE SAVAGE / LISA PIN UP / ANDY FARLEY / NICK RAFFERTY / ROB TISSERA / LAB 4 / IAN M / PAUL KERSHAW / STRANGE DAVE AND DANGLE / MARK GREY

Helter Skelter Arena:
RONI SIZE / DJ CRAZE / GROOVERIDER / KRUST / HYPE / ANDY C / SHY FX / MICKEY FINN / ZINC / BROCKIE / MAMPI SWIFT / BAD COMPANY / NICKY BLACKMARKET /
GARRY K / DOLLAR / DANGEROUS D

MC'S: SKIBADEE / SHABBA FEARLESS / DYNAMITE / DETT / IC3 / MC MC / SPYDA / FATMAN D / JUICEMAN / PRESHA / MAN PARRIS

Atomic Jam Arena:
DERRICK MAY / SPEEDY J / SLAM / UMEK / FUNK D'VOID / SURGEON / BEN SIMS / BILLY NASTY / SUBURBAN NIGHT / ADE FENTON / TONY WORK

Babooshka Arena:
DAVID MORALES / DANNY RAMPLING / HARRY 'CHOO CHOO' ROMERO / SANDEY RIVERA / KINGS OF TOMORROW / JUNIOR SANCHEZ / PAUL RICHARDS / JAMES ALGATE



CREAMFIELDS:
As yet the arenas have been named, but the djs have not been placed in the arenas: here are the ARTISTS to appear:

FAITHLESS / UNDERWORLD / MIS–TEEQ KOSHEEN / LEMON JELLY / STANTON WARRIORS / BENT / FC KAHUNA / LAYO AND BUSHWACKA (live) / A MAN CALLED ADAM / DIRTY VEGAS / SASHA / DEEP DISH / PETE TONG / DAVE CLARKE / TIESTO / ERICK MORILLO / SEB FONTAINE / XPRESS 2 / JUDGE JULES / YOUSEF / TALL PAUL / FERGIE / STEVE LAWLER / LOTTIE / NICK WARREN / SANDER KLEINENBERG / FERRY CORSTEN / ARMIN VAN BUUREN / JOHN KELLY / SANDRA COLLINS / JUSTIN ROBERTSON / UMEK / JON CARTER / JAMES ZABIELA / JFK / GUY ORNADEL / SCOTT BOND / CORVIN DALEK / ROB DA BANK / PAUL BLEASDALE / JAN CARBON / ANDY CARROLL / RICHARD SCANTY / PAUL OAKENFOLD / PAUL VAN DYK / DJ SHADOW / HARRY ' CHOO CHOO' ROMERO /
DANNY RAMPLING / JO MILLS / MUNITY / FUTURESHOCK / ANDY FARLEY / ANNNE SAVAGE

In these arena's:
the Creamfields live outdoor stage, Cream live arena, Passion, Sunday Best, Subliminal, Pacha Futura and the Bacardi B Bar, alongside Creamfields favourites' Bugged Out! & Radio One Outdoor stage and Cream x10 arena.




HOMELANDS:

Muzik Arena:
BASEMENT JAXX / ROGER SANCHEZ / SOFT CELL / ROYKSOPP / BETA BAND / STANTON WARRIORS / JON CARTER / PLUMP DJS / ALI B / CIRCULATION / ROB DA BANK /
EROL ALKIN / GERLING / D.O.G. / DYGAS

Essential Mix Arena:
PETE TONG / SEB FONTAINE / TIESTO / FERGIE / SLAM / LUCIEN FOORT

Slinky Arena:
JUDGE JULES / FERRY CORSTEN / ARMIN VAN BUUREN / JOHN KELLY / LISA LASHES / JOHN OO FLEMMING / SIGNUM / CORVIN DALEK / DJ SCOT PROJECT / TIM LYALL /
DAVE LEA

The End Arena:
JEFF MILLS / LAURENT GARNIER / RITCHIE HAWTIN / MR C / HERNAN CATTANEO / DJ ANDERSON NOISE

Retro Arena:
GRAEME PARK / PAUL TAYLOR / ALISON LIMERICK / SHADES OF RHYTHM / NEIL METZNER / JASON VEREKER / NICK HUSSEY / DANNY WHITEHEAD

Space / Excession / The Face Arena:
SASHA / JOHN DIGWEED / LAYO AND BUSHWACKA / STEVE LAWLER / RUI DA SILVA / SANDER KLEINENBERG / NICK WARREN / LEE BURRIDGE / CRAIG RICHARDS /
SAEED AND PALASH / JAMES ZABIELA / ROBBIE BUTLER / JAN CARBON

Movement / The End Arena:
ROOTS MANUVA / RONI SIZE / LTJ BUKEM / DJ MARKY / DILLINJA / UNCUT / BRYAN GEE / ANDY C / HYPE / KRUST / DJ PATIFE / DIE / LEMON D / SUV / NOOKIE / FUTURE CUT / ADDICTION / RUF STUFF / DYNAMITE MC / MC CONRAD / MC GQ / MC SHABBA D / MC 1C3 / MC DARRISON / STAMINA MC

Subliminal / Back To Basics / Underwater Arena:
ERICK MORILLO / DARREN EMERSON / X-PRESS 2 / DANNY RAMPLING / 10,000 BC (YOUSEF + PAUL WOOLFORD) / LOTTIE / HARRY 'CHOO CHOO' ROMERO / TIM DELUXE /
RAPLH LAWSON / FC KAHUNA

Gilles Petersons Worldwide / Time Out Arena:
ZERO 7 / KRUDER + DORFMEISTER / STEREOTYP / GILLES PETERSON / GOTAN PROJECT / JAZZANOVA / ANTI POP CONSORTIUM / CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA / BENJY B

Radio 1 Outdoor Stage:
CARL COX / SEB FONTAINE / JUDGE JULES / DAVE PEARCE / WESTWOOD

Bacardi Bar:
JON CUTLER / MATTHIAS BEILBRONN / PAUL ASHER / STUART PATTERSON / KENNY HAWKES / MATT CASSELI / ROB DA BANK / ROB WOOD / BENJY B / BASIL BLACK ll BASIC


So as you can see, each event holds a similar line up-but eaching holding one or two surprises that make them stand out from the other. Its a tough one to call... saeed
& palash @homelands.... John Graham @Godskitchen.....faithless @Creamfields.....and Chemical Brothers @Gatecrasher. From the opening festivals ran by these promoters-they have increased the line ups, expanded the arenas, extended the times and probably most importantly-set out to fulfill a persons music addiction.

Other major nights such as 'The End', 'Space', as so forth have also seized upon the opportunity to press their sound through the magnitude of festival clubbing. Spoilt for choice yet?


PRICING:
Festivals can be an expensive occasion. Ticket price, travel arrangements, drinks ect soon make the whole event a wallet denter! Be sure that these are special though,
each one will be spectacular in their own way. The events exceed normal clubs opening times providing you with what is virtually a day out!

GATECRASHER:
£49.00 (SUBJECT TO 10% BOOKING FEE)
WAY AHEAD (24HR) 0870 128 2000 / TICKETMASTER (24HR) 0870 902 0001 AND ONLINE WWW.WAYAHEAD.COM
ALSO AVAILABLE AT SCHUH & SELECTED HMV STORES NATIONWIDE)

GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL GATHERING:
£45 + booking fee TICKETMASTER (24HR) 0870 902 0001 AND ONLINE WWW.WAYAHEAD.COM

CREAMFIELDS:
£46 (plus booking fee) ;Cream Tickets 0870 242 7326 / Piccadilly Box Office 0870 444 5556
Ticketmaster 0870 902 0001 / Way Ahead 0115 912 9000 / Star Green 020 7734 8932

HOMELANDS:
Tickets £49.00 Adv. Each ticket is subject to a maximum
£5.00 booking fee and conditions. TICKETMASTER (24HR) 0870 902 0001 AND ONLINE WWW.WAYAHEAD.COM


The atmosphere at these events are second to none. They are not on the intimate level of that which many UK club nights hold. Instead its a mass ecstacy. When you
start to get through the build up to the night and find your own spot it becomes a spectacular occasion with all the extras that make it true-lasers, amusements- and
plenty of promos to match those "anthematic" and well respected tracks that are sure to get you going!

Here are a few statements to capture the imagination!

GATECRASHER SUMMER SOUND SYSTEM:
"10,000 VOICES CHANTING "OAKIE" IN UNISON AS THE LASER BEAMS SWOOP OVER HEADS AND UPSTRETCHED ARMS... THE PYROTECHNICS LIGHTING UP THE WHOLE ARENA AS THE BASSLINE KICKS IN..."

"GET LOST IN THE SHEER ENORMITY OF THE EXPERIENCE"

"DANNY TENAGLIA WILL TAKE US INTO HIS DARK, TWISTED AND TRIBAL WORLD WITH ONE OF HIS MARATHON SETS THAT ARE INFAMOUS AROUND THE GLOBE"

"SASHA AND JOHN DIGWEED BACK TO BACK DJ SESSIONS ARE ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENTS. ONLY A FOOL COULD MISS THE TWO INNOVATORS OF THE UK PROGRESSIVE SCENE BLENDING AND MIXING THEIR SUBLIME HOUSE SEAMLESSLY INTO THE NIGHT IN THEIR VERY OWN SPACE"

"ANY SELF RESPECTING TECHNO FAN WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS CLUBBING MILESTONE, THE THREE DECK DJING DEITY, CARL COX, IN HIS OWN GLOBAL ARENA. LOVERS OF DIRTY BASSLINES AND RELENTLESS BEATS WILL FEEL RIGHT AT HOME"

"WE'VE GOT GEARS WE HAVEN'T EVEN USED YET!" COMES THE RALLY CRY FROM THE NORTHERN HARD HOUSE CAPTIAL, TIDY TRAX. POWER UP AND GET READY FOR SOME HARD HOUSE, HARD TRANCE AND HARD DANCING WITH THE GANG"


GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL GATHERING:
"built on the successes of last year and created a unique clubbers paradise in Global Gathering"

"we believe we have produced the basis for one of the most visually stunning events ever staged. The concept is simply to give you an even more extreme adventure adding DJs, acts, and attractions to make the most definitive dance festival experience ever."

"Imagine walking into a lush grass field and being greeted by a breathtaking menagerie of light and sound. A virtual theme park focused around seven huge dance arenas of unparalleled quality. The centrepiece is a 20m spray fountain with a colossal laser projector screening true 3D images onto the fountain below, creating the illusion of the image floating in mid-air."

"Huge stage sets, trussing and video screens all pulsing in time to the undeniable beat of dance music"

"This is an event for dance music people everywhere. A hedonists playground where you can lose yourself, make new friends and party harder and longer than ever before. The effort put in to stage this event will take your breath away so come and be a part of something very special."


CREAMFIELDS:
"Creamfields is the grand finale of Radio 1's summer of dance music"

"Other attractions at Creamfields 2002, the legendary Five-a-side football tournament & the full on fairground will be back."

"You know Its What August Bank Holidays are for"

HOMELANDS:
"Walking towards Homelands with the sun on your back and a bass line building in the distance is one of the biggest thrills of the dance music year. Stepping on to the site and knowing that anyone who’s anyone in dance music is here around you, and that you have the pick of the world’s clubbing to choose from is an adrenalin rush that simply cannot be equalled"

"mind blowing visuals, breathtaking laser shows & thundering sound systems, to create an unrivalled clubbing experience"

"“life is not a party, but the party is life”"


CLUBBERS VOTE:
So after all the hype previously brought to you from the events-how have these events figured in the past? is all the hype worth it? were they success'?
or were they failures? What has the atmosphere been like? travel any good? worth the money ? Past reviews from independant sources are the only way to answer these
questions. The clubbers experiences speak volumes!


GATECRASHER SUMMER SOUND SYSTEM:
"Well Gatecrasher was a really well organised event, parking was good, though I didn't expect to have to pay! They always put on a good show, the best dj's,
fantastic atmosphere but a little more attitude than the first one, I personally blame it on having a garage arena.

There were a couple of downsides for me, the music wasn't loud enough (come on its called Summer Sound System ffs) and it was just too big,
I kept loosing my mates and we seemed to spend most of the night looking for each other :-/ "

by Chambwars.

"The first Gatecrasher SSS was special, it was something a little bit different than the others. The introduction of the hard house arena added a bit of spice to the
occasion-and brought more crasher kids out (which is good). Then on the other hand the progressive arena contrasted everything-a more chilled out arena but
it gave you the variety which is needed. The event was well organised. We did not have to queue at all, straight in. The outlay wasnt too bad... it was in a nice
circular shape with the outdoor stage in the middle. The weather was top quality. The only downfall is the small size of the main arena. It hosted all the big names
:sasha, paul van dyk...ect..and at one point in the night it was a one in one out system. The crowd were fantastic-everyone was a true clubber-no little kids running
around.
The second Gatecrasher SSS was average. The weather was awful. It was freezing inside the main arena-although on the same site-the atmosphere and experience did
not live up to the previous year. In the progressive arena with the likes of Max Graham-it was excellent music-but it was not full at all.. all the focus was given to the
main arena-and DJ's clashed-playing at the same time. Sander Kleinenberg (if memory serves me right) was on really ealry..we caught about 10 mins of his set by the
time we had got in! The people were a lot varied. Hardly any crasher kids..and those were not frowned at you. At the end of the day-the expectancy of Crasher kids
is high. The sound system in the main arena was shocking. Really low and at some point only seemed to be partially working.
Gatecrasher SSS has the potential to be the best-but like GC2000 it doesnt always work out this way!"

GODSKITCHEN GLOBAL SOUND SYSTEM:
"Hehe, The event it's self was brilliant, I think I preferred this to gatecrasher. It wasn't over packed, amazing atmosphere. Organisation was okay but towards the end
of the night I did notice the distinct lack of stewards or any security, well I spotted some guy sleeping on a chair :).

Travel was an absolute nightmare, getting back from this event put me off clubbing for a while, it could well have been one of my most traumatising missions ever!"

by Chambwars

CREAMFIELDS:
"Creamfields was my first major festival. We did not know what to expect. We has a nice drive down, sunny all the way. We got there and there was no real queue.
The place looked well mapped out. Things didnt really get goin until the night. Sasha and Oakefold were in the main arena..but 20 mins before hand they got really full.
We managed to squeeze in and make our way towards half way. It was absolutely packed.. enough room to bob up and down... really baking..and condensation dripping
off the roof..we made our way out after that cos it was too overwhelming. When sasha was playing some dodgy scouser tried to pinch me glowsticks! (when glowsticks
were fashionable! he he).. i know scousers have a stereotype.. but it is quite true.. the chill out area was outside.. so it was freezing in the night... thats all i remember
really... "

HOMELANDS:
"Well what can i say..this may possibly be the worst clubbing experience i have endured.It was a 3 hr drive from where we live. It went quick..we arrived on the dual
carriage-way running alongside the place where it was held (Matterley bowl) in good time. This is where the disaster starts...it then begins to rain whilst we are in
the car.. no problem really... but to our dismay..we ended up sitting in the car for 5hrs!! waiting to get onto the car park! Eventually we move onto the car park-which
is just a surrounding field-1 mile away from the arena. So we begin to trapes along the grass.. through mud and eventually into the arena. It is actually in this 'bowl' all
the sides are just grass enbankments. We try to make the most of it but the rain is lashing down. We head for the top tent which had Lisa Lashes playing in at the time
if i remember rightly. on our way in two guys start fighting-the first time ive seen a fight at a clubbing event! .. they get pulled away by clubbers -after the security
couldnt be bothered to deal with it. Lisa was the highlight of the night. Later on we step outside as we head over to see Van Dyk do 2-6am...the arena is packed and we
get a place at the very back.. we are wet and cold... we endure the first two hours and feel that we cant go on..so we decide to leave. We trudge through the mud back
to the car. We get changed in the open air-absolutely freezing!.. we all jump in and try to get out of this muddy field.. we were lucky..we just about managed it-but
for the peoplewho were last to leave-i bet they had no chance!!!"

So there you have it-a conclusive guide to this years events-some may have had bad press in the past-but as said the potential is there ot be the best thing in clubbing
history-sasha,digweed,van dyk all in the same place at once-hours of pure music exhilaration. I hope you make the right choice and all is well. If any of you attend these
festivals then please let me know-be good to compare to past events! have fun!

Sources:
Gatecrasher.co.uk
Cream.co.uk
Godskitchen.co.uk
homelands.co.uk