Newest member of the Hello Trance team, Adam Kehoe recently went to Creamfields North Festival and has taken the time to gives us a full review of his day 3 experience at this years festival.
Here’s a review of day 2 [26th August 2023] of the festival.
Creamfields 2023: A Musical Extravaganza Beyond Compare [Part 2]
(25-27th August 2023)
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
After a successful first day of Creamfields in the heart of Daresbury, we returned for another fun-filled day. Saturday’s at Creamfields finish at 4am, so I was prepared for a longer than normal rave.
Despite the terrible weather and traffic causing chaos getting into the North Car Park, I headed over to the Creamfields logo near the Arc stage for the Creamfields Social 10yr Anniversary group photo. It was wonderful to meet other members of the group, and to have the Palmtree recommend my phone be used for the shots, was an honour.
Photo Credit: Adam Kehoe
We quickly headed over to the Pepsi Max pres. RONG stage for Factor B’s emotional trance set, followed by Daxson’s driving melodies. Catching up with friends is the best activity to do at a large scale festival. Roaming the festival grounds, checking out every stage and the vast amounts of music genres was much appreciated, even with the muddy conditions that affected everyone.
Of course we headed back to the trance tent to support Giuseppe Ottaviani, the maestro of euphoric melodies, live adaptations of tracks and a surreal mesmerizing journey of trance. We will always do our best to support artists aligned to our favourite agencies that do such a good job.
Photo Credit: Adam Kehoe
Ben Hemsley was on the mainstage, and given we caught up with him at Parklife only a few months ago, we felt it was natural to check out his set. Full of melodic and soulful beats, his music was the perfect way to kick off the evening. Another walk around the festival grounds where we caught Cristoph, Third Party, Becky Hill and John Summit all delivering outstanding sets to the multitude of teenagers and Gen Z’s, equipped with their phones and dancing away.
Bryan Kearney and Shugz continued the trance takeover, delivering powerful sets that had the entire crowd dancing in unison. The energy in the air was electric, and the synergy between the DJs and the audience was undeniable.
We had never seen Pete Tong play before, so we scheduled some time in the diary to make sure we caught a bit of his Ibiza’ enthused set. He reminded all of us all why he’s a legend in the world of electronic music. His expertly curated set spanned the history of house music, from classic anthems to cutting-edge tracks, leaving no doubt that he still knows how to work a crowd.
It was almost time for Scooter, the hardcore loving trio from Germany whom I grew up listening to before Trance came into my life. Dmitri Vegas and Like Mike were performing, and whilst not a fan, I did appreciate their music, albeit fast at times.
Scooter brought a burst of energy to the stage, performing their iconic hits such as ‘One (Always Hardcore)’, ‘Techno Is Back’, ‘Fk 2020’, ‘How Much Is The Fish?’ and igniting a massive dance to ‘Jumping All Over The World’, and a sing-along to ‘The Logical Song’. The nostalgia mixed with the fervor of their performance created a moment of unity among festival-goers. Would have loved to have heard ‘Lonely’, ‘The Night’ or ‘Friends’.
Photo Credit: Adam Kehoe
We left around 10:30 to head to the Steel Yard, and get our spot ready for Eric Prydz who was on at midnight.
Enrico Sangiuliano played a really nice progressive house set, with relaxing and calming beats, and the production levels in the Steel Yard were the best I’ve ever seen them.
So many lasers, lights and a definite experience anyone should witness.
Eric Prydz, a name synonymous with groundbreaking visuals and progressive house, delivered a set that was nothing short of epic. His holographic displays and stunning light show left everyone in awe, while his music took us on a euphoric journey through soundscapes that seemed otherworldly.
Photo Credit: Adam Kehoe
We closed out our day with a few minutes of Adam Beyer, before making our way to the Sub-Aural tent for some Sub Focus drum and bass. They took things in a different direction with their drum and bass set, sending shockwaves through the audience with their bass-heavy drops and mind-bending visuals.
In conclusion, Creamfields Festival Day 2 was a musical journey like no other.
From trance to techno, house to drum and bass, every genre was celebrated, and every DJ left their mark. It was a day of unity, euphoria, and musical magic that reminded us why we love electronic music festivals. Creamfields, you outdid yourself once again!Photo Credit: Adam Kehoe