NEWS
EVENTS
FROM ICONIC ACTS TO MIND-BLOWING STAGES: EXPLORING THE PHENOMENAL CREAMFIELDS SOUTH FESTIVAL 2023 EXPERIENCE
Party animals and music aficionados united for the sensational Creamfields South 2023 that kicked off festival season at the end of May. The 3-day newly created festival drew hordes of electronic music enthusiasts to Chelmsford's Hylands Park in Essex for its second year.
As a music enthusiast, there's always a thrill in discovering new festivals, especially the ones that offer an unparalleled lineup which Creamfields provides. This festival is not your average summer music event. It's a unique blend of music, entertainment, and luxury, all rolled into one unforgettable weekend. Everything has been painstakingly put together to give you the ultimate raving experience with one of the very best lineups in Electronic music, period. I'd probably say that Creamfields is the very epitome of top-tier festival porn.
In 2022, the Liverpool-originated brand, Creamfields, embarked on a new journey, breaking free from its traditional home in Cheshire and venturing south. The Daresbury-launched event from 2006, now relabelled as Creamfields North, gave birth to its sibling—Creamfields South. This new addition to the Creamfields family not only offered a fresh location but also kickstarted the festival season at the end of May, a perfect timing that coincided with the onset of summer.
In the heart of Chelmsford's Hylands Park, Creamfields South set the stage for an unforgettable weekend filled with music, dancing, and eating (The Kebab wraps from the Greek food Stall in the Hospitality area were off the charts!). From the towering outdoor Arc, hosting the festival's headline acts, to the ginormous tents of Lovejuice, the festival's grounds were a sprawling haven of electronic music.
Day 1
The musical extravaganza at Creamfields South ranged from soul-stirring covers by Becky Hill on the Arc's stage to Sammy Porter's mesmerising grooves at Lovejuice. The Creamfields faithful were treated to an eclectic mix of sounds, from Pawsa's 'Room Service' to Club Caviar's pumped remix of Lock 'N Load's 'Blow Ya Mind'.
One of the newest additions to Creamfileds is the Runway stage. This outdoor mega structure hosted an array of tech-house performances, with Solardo closing off the first day with their impressive set filled to the brim with big room rollers. But the star attraction of the evening was undoubtedly Tiesto, the '90s trance superstar, who delivered a stellar performance, leaving the crowd in awe. As the final notes of 'Adagio For Strings' faded, the crowd we were once again reminded why this titan in EDM has remained at the top of his game for so long.
Day 2
The second day started on a high, with the festival site bustling with eager ravers unsure of which stage to walk to due to the plethora of top acts crammed into 3 days of bass heaven. The Nation tent, named after Cream's original venue, was packed for Carl Cox's captivating set that touched on his earlier career with some timeless classics spanning early Hardcore and beyond. The outdoor stage saw Annie Mac paying tribute to the late Tina Turner with 'Rolling On The River' as the faithful Creamfields ravers belted out word for word in unison for a memorable Creamfields heartwarming moment.
The evening saw a slew of performances from Serum, Chase & Status, Alan Fitzpatrick & wAFF, and Jamie Jones. Chase and Status completely ripped the roof off the packed Sub-Aural (interesting name) tent. Their new single "Baddadan" got a unique 1st play to a hugely receptive crowd that skanked the soles off their Jordans. However, the highlight of the night, and quite fittingly so was Calvin Harris's headlining set, which drew a massive crowd, and had the festival-goers singing along to his chart-topping songs word for word at the top of their lungs. I forgot how many belters this talented Scotsman actually churned out, I properly got involved in some serious skank and cheese and danced like no one was watching. I think I can safely say that "ole" Calvin is my "guilty pleasure".
Day 3
On the final day, Creamfields South lined up a star-studded list of acts to keep the momentum going. Wilkinson took the stage at Lovejuice, delivering an electrifying hyped fueled drum, bass and dubstep set, while Ben Hemsley stole the show at Runway with his electrifying performance. This young lad has come a long way from his hometown in North Shields, in a very short space of time.
The grand finale saw Fatboy Slim and Swedish House Mafia face off on adjacent stages, with the latter's reunion tour proving to get more heads in anticipation of this legendary trio coming back together again.
So, there you have it—a complete rundown (well, my rundown of events anyway) of the Creamfields South 2023. As I sign off, I hope I left you with a taste of the exhilarating experience that festival-goers at Creamfields South experienced. If you can't really picture it or just didn't "feel the vibe", then the big "mama", Creamfields North, is taking place on the August Bank Holiday in Dewsbury. This is guaranteed to be the very best EDM extravaganza in 2023's festival calendar for any electronic music fanatic. So secure your spot and create your own "run down" of events yourself!
