Bang Face Weekender 2008

United Kingdom | | 02 May 2008

After 348 miles, eight hours and two Burger King meals I am finally at the wrought-iron gates of Camber Sands Pontins holiday park. Home, for 3 days, of the neo-geddon rave - Bang Face style.

Following a crowd of ravers, I find myself outside the Queen Victoria, which for the weekend will provide the unique role of acting as both the smallest venue and a 24-hour pub. Within minutes I’m standing in the Bang Room, a room hot enough to kill, and with laser lights going off all over the place the scene is set with Luke Vibert and the Ragga Twins in full flow. An outstandingly energetic performance from Aaron Spectre leaves the crowd as exhausted as they’re satisfied, the German unleashing dark jungle basslines and filtered snare drums from behind a force-field of twisted dreadlocks. It’s arguably gave one of the most memorable sets of the weekend.

Standing over 6'4", Venetian Snares continues to tear through the entire Bang Room with all manner of vicious kicks and sharp snares while hundreds of inflatable animals float on and around the crowd. Brighton resident Scotch Egg carries the session on with his unique sound of happy hardcore and glitchy gabba.

The near boiling temperature blends with my fading consciousness, prompting an unerring desire for a cup of tea back at my chalet. With only PG Tips on my mind, I meander back to my home for the weekend which I find to be occupied by none other than Venetian Snares, the Canadian previously responsible for single-handedly tearing an entire dance floor to shreds, ‘real’ name Aaron Funk.

Freshly victorious from a game of thumb-war with Monsieur Snares – inevitably taking this important victory far too seriously - I light up a cigarette, crack open a beer and then wake up some four hours later. Noticeable differences to our chalet now include four extra people piled up on top of each other and a giant, inflatable Stay Puft Marshmallow Man with its back to my window.

Starting as I left off (needing a cup of tea), I set the wheels in motion and boil the kettle. Normski is kicking out funky grooves and shout outs via Bangface TV. Anyone brave enough to tune in would be treated to soulful grooves accompanied by dancing inflatable sharks.

Day turns to night and back to day again; acts bleeding into act. This has now gone beyond a festival and has become more like a survival special, ‘I'm a raver, get me out of it’. Who better to help then than Altern-8. Purely and simply, Altern-8 are rave. Recently, I've been living in fear that the Klaxons would pop up on Radio1 with a bastardised cover of 1991's Activ-8. Luckily, it's thus far proved unfounded, for nothing represents the spirit of rave like a room full of people wearing dust masks and clutching onto glow sticks for dear life.

I blink. It's Sunday and it's late-morning. On the one hand I have made it this far, on the other there are still about 15 hours to go. I have no idea how CassetteBoy survive the heat of their custom monkey suits, but it’s appreciated by the many who swarm the depths of the Queen Vic' to experience the cut & paste comedy duo perform. Upstairs in the Bang Room ravers are (still) going strong to Jackson And His Computer Band.

With sets to come from UK Beatbox Champion Beardyman and bass-guitar hero Squarepusher, the focus now rests on cockney legends Chas & Dave, a set which, markedly unfocused, goes by in a blur of knee slapping and dance floor jiggery. Beardyman shows us his routine of humorous beatboxing, utilising technology to perform techno, D’n’B and dubstep tunes, a concoction which makes for a high-energy set (whatever is in the Pontins water, I could definitely use some myself).

With a total lock down around the stage due to security concerns, the only way that I can see Squarepusher is by muscling my way to the front of the crowd. Tom Jenkinson, playing through an armoured fortress of industrial laptop screens, is positioned between a pair of screens, making his set somewhat resemble a Punch & Judy show. Thousands of wide-eyed children stare on as wife-beating policemen and crocodiles are replaced with bright lights, finely chopped beats and slap bass. Yeah. That's the way to do it.

All in all, it’s an impressive debut festival from the Bang Face team. With a dream line-up, insane decor and a full-weekend now completed, I can't wait to see what they come up with next. First, that cup of tea.