HTF were lucky enough to attend this years Boardmaster Festival in Newquay and what a hell of a weekend it was. Brimming with overwhelming amounts of talent across a wide range of genres all packed in for fans to enjoy!
We caught a few acts after doing our interviews over the weekend and you can read what we thought here below.. See you again next year!
Twin Atlantic – Vans Off The Wall Stage – 12/08/11 – Reviewer: Steph Knight
This band do not know how to play bad, in fact they are so awesome they warrant their own league of brilliance.
Their performance at this years Boardmasters Festival was another clear winning onslaught for them, they prove that Scotland really do rival well established English bands as good as anyone.
Highlighting tracks are hard to distinguish as every single one is howled back to them by the crowd, it is obvious that everyone loves this band as much as we do. As they played tracks from new album ‘Free’ and some old classics from the masterpiece that is ‘Vivarium’, it was pleasing to see that their new album has fulfilled expectations. There was always that slight worry that maybe they would slump like so many bands do after producing such a cracking debut, but bow down, Twin Atlantic still kick ass as much as they did in 2009.
Now our advice is obvious, go watch them live and believe the hype, these guys are next generation awesome and we hope they continue to produce, play and wow crowds in their thousands for years to come.
Benji Boko – Tuaca Electric Garden – 12/08/11 – Reviewer: Sacha Moore
Intrigued by this music producer, HTF had to go and checkout Benji Boko’s live set at this years Relentless Boardmaster’s. Situated in the area named ‘Tuaca Electric Garden’ there was an instant electrical happy vibe!
It was not wrong to say, that instantly on entering Tuaca you felt the happy funky vibes and smiling faces. A great atmosphere to kick off the festival! Large and airy, with a slight jungle/foreign vibe in high bamboo fencing, and bar huts. Tuaca was situated on the edge of Watergate Bay, where you had a panoramic view of the surrounding coast; beautiful!
Instantly, people were dancing as we walked towards the stage. There was a very happy positive vibe to this early evening set and it was funky and extremely upbeat. People all danced together, and it wasn’t too cramped or un-friendly in the least.
Jaw-dropping goodness would be the starting point to describe Benji Boko. You cannot define the genre other then very creative and one of a kind. He had everyone going, not a still person in sight, and how could you not move with hearing the most incredibly quirky and fun mixes heard from any producer that weekend, Benji Boko re- worked hip hop heavy beats, to funky classic’s through to dance smackers. Mixing tracks such as Ludacris ‘Move Bitch’– Dead Prez- ‘Bigger then Hip Hop’ through to ‘Gold Dust’ DJ Fresh, it was the most amazing mix heard in quite some time.
Benji Boko ripped up the crowd with a mix of ‘Wheres Your Head At’ by Basement Jaxx, lasting for over twenty minutes or so. Benji proceeded in overlapping this tune with about three other different tracks, each one blending perfectly and leaving the crowd in amazement and excitement as Benji’s energetic mix switched from tune to tune, all the while with this incredible Basement Jaxx backing
To get more of an insight into this producer, check out soundcloud link here and click on live festival summer 2011 mix
http://soundcloud.com/benjiboko/benji-boko-2011-promo-video-mix
Get yourself to one of his live sets!
DJ Yoda – Relentless Stage – 12/08/11 – Reviewer: Sacha Moore
Quoted By ‘Q‘ magazine’ as “one of the top 10 DJ’s you must see before you die” and generally knowing that this man is an absolute master scratch artist and mixer, it was worth having to queue.
DJ Yoda is pure genius, mixing so many amazing tunes. This man is a producing professional. Going from chart toppers, ‘Adele – Rolling In The Deep‘, to ‘Gyptian – Hold You‘ to his very own heavy remix of the classic ‘Tetris’, DJ Yoda was an extremely deep and mental mix.
The bass was the loudest we’ve heard all weekend. DJ Yoda vibrates hearts. The loudness of the speakers only highlighted the incredibleness of this long-time legend. We could hear every piece to every note and scratch. Very clear and deep. Literally amazing.
This man is simply a pro’, so smooth and casual as he constantly switches it up and plays us tunes and mixes we never expect each time. So humbling to see him enjoy the crowd so much and smile at our responses.
The crowd just wanted more and more; no one wanted this man to stop. He even got booed at one point because he wouldn’t come back on stage. A definite must see before you die!
Stereo MC’s – Main Stage – 13/08/11 – Reviewer: Sacha Moore
HTF were determined to catch some of Stereo MC’s’ set and we were not let down.
Front man Rob Birch was spot on with professionalism and passion and was joined on stage by two rather sexy vocalists, who gave us some great moves whilst belting out their beautiful strong voices.
With the obvious classic’s, ‘Connected’ and ‘Step Up’ they also included most recent single ‘Boy’, taken from this summer’s new release ‘Emperor’s Nightingale’. Mixed with the vocals, drums and electronic sounds, Rob even broke out the mini hand-held blue keyboard at one point. His energy was uplifting and positive, just like the man himself.
A thoroughly enjoyable up-lifting set from the Stereo MC’s. Bringing smiles and dancing together it was a very exciting and warming performance for all. Legends!
Zane Lowe – Main Stage – 13/08/11 – Reviewer: Steph Knight
If there was a music god it would be this man. He has such a huge variety of tasteful skill, that no other DJ out there at the moment can even poke a dent to his musical ego. He throws so many classics into the mix with that needed slice of current tuneage enabling his audience to pure and simply loose there minds.
Hands down Zane Lowe, you f***ing rule.
Lethal Bizzle – Relentless Stage – 13/08/11 – Reviewer: Steph Knight
The room was absolutely packed with raving lunatics outside, loosing their minds to that fact the room had ‘reached capacity‘. That seemed to be a recurring fact at this years Boardmasters Festival; bouncers shouting at you in the face saying ‘OVER CAPACITY’; so we guess we are not coming in then, but there was hope… By pulling out the ‘magazine card’ as you were, we managed to squeeze stage right to witness this guy in action.
He approaches the room with confidence and an overwhelming amount of attitude. His performance was jaw dropping as he powered out hit after hit to his audience.
Unfortunately again we are yet to see ‘Dickhead’ live, we are expecting this could be because he wanted a ‘PG performance’ tonight.
He was a highlight for the entire festival for us and HTF cannot wait to see him perform again, in the words of Bizzle himself.. DENCH!
Breakage & SP.MC – Tuaca Electric Garden – 13/08/11 – Reviewer: Sacha Moore
Wow, this was different. Breakage were so unique, looking so cool and chilled with fags constantly in mouth, yet playing some of the deepest, grimiest created music we have heard in a longtime.
With a great MC present, this guy was taking no shit. With some bad mannered fan’s pushing and a few just a little ‘too off their faces’ he was taking none of it and gained much respect throughout from the ones who were there simply there for the music.
It was almost more like a story as Breakage let in to a lot of exclusives, fresh new mixes and teaser’s. Breakage were so HEAVY, DEEP and INDIVIDUAL tonight.
It was great to hear a bit of Magnetic Man and Chase and Status mixed in as the bass thumped hard into bodies, grimy and deep. A remix of Benga‘s ‘Night‘ was also good to hear considering Benga himself calls it “the best remix” of his own tune that he has heard. We were also treated to a brand new Roots Manuva remix which the crowd lapped up.
Ending their set, Breakage broke out everyone favourite Renault Clio T.V advert with ‘Aint Nobody‘, featuring Claire Maguire. Fan’s could not wait to finally hear this live and we were not let down. Adding the backing to Flux Pavilion‘s ‘Bass Cannon‘, no one was expecting this heaviness.
HTF recommend catching a live set of Breakage. You won’t have experienced anything else like them, and with so many exciting new tracks on there way we predict that they will return this winter.
