The first UK Zoo Project Festival was at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, in Kent on 14th-16th September, with 50 artists playing at the event. It brought the Zoo Project and Channel Zoo from Ibiza to the UK, with the cutting edge electronic music and encouraging party goers to release their inner animals. This was one festival not to missed, rounding off an awesome summer of festivals that the UK has provided.
Zoo Project Festival was set in a wildlife park, with animals so many acres away from main festival site. The animal area was free to all ticket holders, with Black Rhinos, Siberian and Indian Tigers, African Elephants, Monkeys, Barbary Lions and Hyenas all to be seen, being fed between 12-3pm. The landscape surrounding the wildlife park was truly stunning and a perfect, tranquil get away to rest tired bodies and minds before the festival would start again.
Within the festival grounds were hippy stores, a fair ground of numerous attractions, face painting artists and various vans and stalls supplying the food and drinks for all. A general store was also on site with all local amenities of snacks, cigarettes and those toiletries that may have been left at home.
Friday evening saw DJ Mag, Louche and Kaluki host the three stages. Some of DJ’s playing on the DJ Mag stage was Julio Bashmore, Eats Everything and Pearson Sound, whilst the Louche Stage had Margaret Dygas, Sam Proper and Brinsley Kazak & Josh T.
The Kaluki Stage showcased Visionquest (Lee Curtiss, Ryan Crosson and Shaun Reeves), Heidi, Yaya, Frederico Grazzini, Ellesse and Pete Zorba all doing their thing.
The main highlights in the tent was Visionquest pumping out top tunes like there was no tomorrow and making the first evening go off with a bang, with their heavenly electronic compositions. Friday evening finished around 12am with Lee Curtiss showcasing the finale, whilst his fellow team partied the night away and shown off their best dance moves, both backstage and in the midst of everybody in the crowd.
Never Say Never, Cocoon and Channel Zoo had provided the stages together for Saturday evening, with a fully astounding line up for all to revel in. The Never Say Never Stage had label owner; Sasha on stage with DJ Sneak, Scuba, Guy Gerber, James Teej and Defex.
Guy Gerber who is now touring with his ‘live’ show personally made the evening with a mind-blowing, evoking performance from him. He has toured the most eminent festivals and events this summer and sure this will continue for copious years, with his innovative sound that he brings to dance floors.
Taking to the Cocoon Stage was Raresh, Dinky, Tobi Neumann, Ilario Alicante, Andre Galluzzi and Dana Ruh, which was another ultimate personal favourite, with smashing atmosphere and music that could make you dance for a lifetime. Ilario Alicante had everybody bopping on their feet, not stopping for a breath. The Italian, 23 year old seemed to know exactly what the crowd wanted and is sure to go far, with already being signed to Cocoon’s label and playing at Circo Loco and Zoo Project on many occasions to date.
Home to Wednesday’s in Ibiza was the Channel Zoo Stage that had a line up of Spencer Parker, C2U, Funk E, Lee Pennington, Michael James and Nic & Kaleb. The festival finished roughly 4am the following morning, with the party continuing in the camping areas, where everyone was on full form and rearing to go from the energy provided through each and every DJ that evening.
The final showdown came on Sunday where Oustgut Ton, Secretsundaze and Jaunt> & Junk hosted the stages. Ben Klock, Ryan Elliott, Barker & Baumecker, Norman Nodge and Evan Baggs all participated in the Oustgut Stage.
The Secretsundaze Stage had Chez Damier, Giles Smith, James Priestly, Brawther and Wbeeza perform, whilst the Jaunt> & Junk Stage seen Droog, Jordan Peak and Sam Russo, amongst others take to the stage.
The Minx FX team performed throughout the entire event, with dancers, flame throwers, acrobats and break dancers. There was an acrobat from Ibiza bringing the house down. He was superbly elegant in his white clothing and white sheets to match. It was truly picturesque, centring in the middle of the dance floor balancing from the ceiling.
The Minx FX team re-created an atmospheric look from the Zoo Project seal pit in Ibiza. The flame throwers and the most beautiful male and female dancers showcased their best moves, dressed up in full animal attire and theatrical makeup to compliment. Think feathers, face paint, huge eyelashes, glittery garments and sun kissed bodies.
People were falling in love with the performers as well as the DJ’s who created an ambient atmosphere for the final call of the Zoo Project Festival. The concept and designs of the entire show was breath taking and mimicked the Zoo Project and Channel Zoo in Ibiza flawlessly!
The entire festival had such a blissful, outgoing vibe to it, with each and every person willing to go out and have as much pleasure as possible both onsite and back in the camping areas. The tone was constantly kicking it even when tensions were high with hangovers. The attitude was to release that animal inside you and get out there to see the finest electronic DJ’s and well produced tracks around. The Zoo Project Festival was a perfect, intimate setting to the first festival in the UK.
If you are thinking about visiting the next Zoo Project Festival, then go… It will take your breath away and make you feel alive, as well as releasing that inner animal we have rearing to escape from inside us!
For further information about the Zoo Project Festival in the UK, then take a look at:
http://www.thezooproject-festival.com
https://twitter.com/thezooproject
http://www.facebook.com/zooprojectfestival/info
