Brighton Centre, 9 October 2009
It was always going to be about frocks ‘n’ frolics at the UK’s biggest Fresher’s Ball in Brighton, a city that sees an influx of new talent year-on-year in the further education and frolicking-reveller department. The party was well prepared with the set up of this mini-festival within the enormous Brighton Centre. Complete with casino tables, ball pit, bouncy castle, face painting and Jagermeister shots, there was enough to keep the crowd entertained if they happened to drift away from the huge line-up on offer.
Warming up proceedings on the main stage was Rampage dropping nothing but berserk blinding beats business, followed by Plastician’s dark sinister seductive electronica, backed up by the brilliant Junior Red. Brascoe (a new crew from London) brought the live element in nicely with a mix of jazzy DnB beats and a blend of live uplifting vocal, however it wasn’t until Pendulum hit the stage that the frenzy ensued.
Yes, all manners and suits aside, the Fresher’s congealed into one huge bonding mass driven only by the master that is Paul El Hornet Harding at the wheel, as they bumped, bounced and banged heads to the greats. Pendulum, as cross over geniuses are the biggest draw and drew this lot into a state any parent would have been mortified to see.
Composure was quickly gained through the appearance of Zane Lowe, though to follow Pendulum, you’d have to better it right? Mr Lowe deserves credit where credit is due as he played such a sophisticated selection of mixes both new and old school delivered with a flawless intensity. Zane did the job and gets full marks from me.
Bombay Bicycle Club
Venturing over to the second stage was another night in itself with the likes of Ou Est Le Swimming Pool and Bombay Bicycle Club in attendance, the latter wooing the crowd with happy-go-lucky songs and vulnerable vocals that appealed to the quirky student contingent perfectly.
As the night ensued with students battling between the live stage, the main stage and the bouncy castles, the casualties started to appear as the hotdog stand got busy and the St John’s ambulance had something to do. So by the time Judge Jules hit the stage, the place was empty except for the happy hardcore crew who had something left for the duration. Don’t know what that says about Judge Jules but I blame it on the Jagermeister myself…
Zane Lowe
Bombay Bicycle Club
Brascoe
Plastician (left), Junior Red (right)
Words and Photography by Emmest
