This was advertised as starting 6pm and ending at midnight. We dutifully turned up at 6 but there were probably only 50 people waiting. It didn't open for another hour at least (some sort of technical delay it seems) by which time there were a couple of hundred people outside. So, in we went and were immediately handed a free tin of Rush. Well, it was nice thought and I suppose someone must like it 
Anyway, what a fantastic location for a party. Right on top of the old town with amazing views of the harbour, and an impressive looking sound system and stage. It is a bit odd dancing in broad daylight though.
The proceedings started off with DJ Skream. I'm not a big fan of breakbeat and he did nothing to change my mind I'm afraid. He wasn't blessed with the best spot either as people were still coming in. It was nice that there was a large bar and it wasn't a complete rip off. 5EU for a Sol and 8 for a vodak and Coke is expensive by UK standards but not up to the micky taking levels of most of the clubs.
Next was David E Sugar. I assume someone in some record company somewhere has him marked out as a future star but I just don't get it. He looked and sounded a bit 80s to me. Think 'Modern Romance' with a guitar. Rather lack-lustre.
Then Pete Tong. His entrance was accompanied by a rush to the dance floor and, I have to say, he has a great knack of picking the right tune for the moment. Fantastic. He played as the sun went down and was totally spot on, finishing in the then darkness with one of the new remixes of Nalin and Kane's Beachball. His hour long set was worth the money alone and very well received by young and old alike.
He was followed by Mark Ronson who was doing a DJ set. He was technically quite good but very American influenced and his mix of hip hop and pop wasn't really suited to the occasion I felt. In fact I would say his reception was more polite than enthusiastic. He rapidly and skillfully chopped in track after track but towards the end of the set he started playing things the whole way through, as if he was running out of ideas or just fed up. I think you would have Mark Ronson DJing at your party if a) you had loads of money and b) you and your guests didn't know much about music. He used the mic a few times but said at least one rude word in every sentence which made him sound more cock than cool. He finished with the new Boy George record he has produced which he said was the best thing he has ever done. I have to disagree. He seems like a really nice, modest kind of guy ( I'll blame the swearing on nerves) and as he said, was quite new to DJing. I can't see it as an alternative career for him, not that he needs one.
By now it was well into darkness and it was Sasha's turn. I didn't know what to expect. I know he used to be good, but now he's well on his way to 50 I wasn't holding out a lot of hope. As it turned out, it was like a carefully crafted trip into space. Someone found the power switch for the laser and things really took off again. A very nice set although it sped up rapidly towards the end, like at 45 minutes he remembered he only had an hour and had to push harder towards the crescendo. He is still up there with the best.
Then there was a live band, Burka son Sistema or something, but by this time we were close to collapse through starvation and had to leave. There's a hint there for the organisers; lay on some food next time!
We did spot some famous people in the crowd, Emma B and Jeremy Healy for instance and lots of people who looked familiar but we couldn't place. Unsurprisingly, no-one asked for my autograph.
In summary then, a great evening and well worth the EU22. Great sound, great lights and effects and a consistently good atmosphere even though the acts were a bit variable.
PS. We overheard a bloke outside with a big TV camera say that the year before it was seriously under-attended and as a result they started letting people in for free. I don't know if it was the case this year but if you are tight fisted and in the area anyway, it might be worth trying to blag it.
Anyway, what a fantastic location for a party. Right on top of the old town with amazing views of the harbour, and an impressive looking sound system and stage. It is a bit odd dancing in broad daylight though.
The proceedings started off with DJ Skream. I'm not a big fan of breakbeat and he did nothing to change my mind I'm afraid. He wasn't blessed with the best spot either as people were still coming in. It was nice that there was a large bar and it wasn't a complete rip off. 5EU for a Sol and 8 for a vodak and Coke is expensive by UK standards but not up to the micky taking levels of most of the clubs.
Next was David E Sugar. I assume someone in some record company somewhere has him marked out as a future star but I just don't get it. He looked and sounded a bit 80s to me. Think 'Modern Romance' with a guitar. Rather lack-lustre.
Then Pete Tong. His entrance was accompanied by a rush to the dance floor and, I have to say, he has a great knack of picking the right tune for the moment. Fantastic. He played as the sun went down and was totally spot on, finishing in the then darkness with one of the new remixes of Nalin and Kane's Beachball. His hour long set was worth the money alone and very well received by young and old alike.
He was followed by Mark Ronson who was doing a DJ set. He was technically quite good but very American influenced and his mix of hip hop and pop wasn't really suited to the occasion I felt. In fact I would say his reception was more polite than enthusiastic. He rapidly and skillfully chopped in track after track but towards the end of the set he started playing things the whole way through, as if he was running out of ideas or just fed up. I think you would have Mark Ronson DJing at your party if a) you had loads of money and b) you and your guests didn't know much about music. He used the mic a few times but said at least one rude word in every sentence which made him sound more cock than cool. He finished with the new Boy George record he has produced which he said was the best thing he has ever done. I have to disagree. He seems like a really nice, modest kind of guy ( I'll blame the swearing on nerves) and as he said, was quite new to DJing. I can't see it as an alternative career for him, not that he needs one.
By now it was well into darkness and it was Sasha's turn. I didn't know what to expect. I know he used to be good, but now he's well on his way to 50 I wasn't holding out a lot of hope. As it turned out, it was like a carefully crafted trip into space. Someone found the power switch for the laser and things really took off again. A very nice set although it sped up rapidly towards the end, like at 45 minutes he remembered he only had an hour and had to push harder towards the crescendo. He is still up there with the best.
Then there was a live band, Burka son Sistema or something, but by this time we were close to collapse through starvation and had to leave. There's a hint there for the organisers; lay on some food next time!
We did spot some famous people in the crowd, Emma B and Jeremy Healy for instance and lots of people who looked familiar but we couldn't place. Unsurprisingly, no-one asked for my autograph.
In summary then, a great evening and well worth the EU22. Great sound, great lights and effects and a consistently good atmosphere even though the acts were a bit variable.
PS. We overheard a bloke outside with a big TV camera say that the year before it was seriously under-attended and as a result they started letting people in for free. I don't know if it was the case this year but if you are tight fisted and in the area anyway, it might be worth trying to blag it.