The AIL night out: Global Gathering

Now in its 14th year, this is 50,000 people over two days each summer...Let us take you out!
The AIL night out: Global Gathering picture

On the last weekend of July we travelled to Stratford-upon-Avon for Global Gathering, “the world’s biggest dance music festival”, famed for covering all aspects of dance music including trance, bass music, techno and house. Now in its 14th year, it attracts over 50,000 people over two days each summer.

Friday
As the shuttle bus pulls up to Long Marston Airfield we spy the turrets of the dance arenas, followed by the tens of thousands of multi-coloured tents edged close together in the campsite. Bus revellers cheer as we arrive, some of whom have already reached various levels of inebriation. Global Gathering has always attracted huge commercial successes, who this year include David Guetta, Chase & Status, Katy B and Tinie Tempah. For fans of deeper electronic music, tonight there’s the Defected in the House, Circus and Global Freight Depot arenas.

Highlights
For the vast majority the main events are David Guetta over at the Hangar, Chase & Status and Katy B on the main stage, with Tinie Tempah over on the BBC 1Xtra arena. Chicago DJ Cajmere plays a blinding set on the Defected stage, a highlight being mixing Lil Louis’ French Kiss and Roland Clark’s I Get Deep togethe. Hot Since 82, Dennis Ferrer and Maya Jane Coles are other high points.

Low points
Given that this is such a well known dance music festival, we’re a bit surprised to find out that the music finishes at 3 am (4 am if you’ve purchased a VIP ticket which gives you access to the Grove Clubhouse), and doesn’t start again till midday on Sunday. So everyone heads back to their tents for a sensible night of rest…

Saturday
It’s far busier than on Friday, with many people having travelled up just for one night. The most talked about set is that of headliners The Prodigy on the main stage, and they don’t disappoint the crowds by playing anthemic hits Breathe and Firestarter, complete with fireworks. Annie Mac, Eric Prydz and Alesso also draw in huge crowds

Highlights
In the afternoon, a plane performs some incredible sky acrobatics while looping the loop providing entertainment for those soaking up the sun in the campsite (this is a working airfield after all). Also: Dixon’s blinding set with lots of new cuts from the Innervisions label he runs with Ame; after his back-to-back session with Tensnake, Skream dropping the sublime Black Water by Detroit techno group Octave One; the Paradise arena hosting Jamie Jones (voted number 1 DJ in the world by resident Advisor readers in 2012). Those with VIP tickets head to the Grove, clearly not wanting the party to end.

Low points
The last track of the festival (in the VIP area) is Tiga’s version of Sunglasses at Night, although sadly the music ends abruptly as the clock strikes 5 am.


AIL went to Global Gathering courtesy of festival partners Lucozade.

Published Aug 4, 2014