Events

Get ready for a summer of epic proportions as the UK’s most revered club brand storms back into the festival market after a 6-year hiatus, with a phenomenal statement of intent. Having built an impressive portfolio of venues in this interim period alongside hosting a handful of successful outdoor events they have planned this major festival to the finest detail. Renowned leaders of the pack, the first acts out of the gate give you a steer on just what you can expect from one of the country’s best loved music brands. With 2008 set to celebrate two decades of acid house, the back drop is set for a true celebration of electronic music past, present and future. Gatecrasher was a defining moment in the history of club culture and The Summer Sound System 2008 will see them back on centre stage with a spell binding line up, magical production and fresh, new vision.

Returning to the site of summer’s past, the event will take place over 2 fun filled days in Northampton, on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May. The bank holiday blow out will be peppered with surprises and a dizzyingly diverse selection of the world’s finest artists and talent all with the highest production values the UK has to offer. First up, the world-renowned THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS confirm a headline slot on Sunday’s main stage with their unique blend of psychedelia, and electronic block rockin’ beats. With only a handful of UK live dates planned this year this may be a rare chance to catch the Grammy Award winning festival heroes and their unique, electrifying live performance. Renowned for their incendiary live performances, seminal electro/rock band THE PRODIGY will be headlining Saturday’s shindig with their unique blend of brutal punk-rock riffs and dark, voodoo beats. One of just 4 UK festival experiences this promises to be radically different from recent shows, and will be an unmissable showcase of classic and new tracks, for the in demand band who last played live in the UK 2 years ago.

Joining them on the Saturday will be the twisted and sexy post-punk brilliance of Brazilian sextet CSS. Their fabulously kooky pop and colourful performances have made them one of the buzz bands of the year and a MUST for 2008. Raising the stakes for Sunday and further cementing this as a unique offering, will be Mercury Prize winning DIZZEE RASCAL with his exotic blend of MCing, conventional rap, grime and ragga. An exceptional talent for an exceptional festival – and just the tip of the iceberg!

The A list acts don’t stop there. The next exceptional guests come in the form of sampling, experimental, grime, cutting and pasting Soulwax Nite Versions A.k.a. 2manyDJs bringing their live show to the weekend. Expect samples ranging from The Gossip to James Brown to The Klaxons.

2 days of must-see performances are guaranteed with a giddy array of artists already confirmed for this weekend musical marathon across 20 arenas. SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO, DIGITALISM (LIVE), NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB, TIGA, AUDIO BULLY’S, BLOC PARTY (DJ SET), THE WHIP, PETE TONG, RONI SIZE, DJ MARKY, ZANE LOWE AND DJ YODA are all on board for this exceptional misadventure in music, with more big names still to come..

The music and artists are not the only thing of exceptional quality, this year will also see a new flock of promoters add their own twist to celebrations: Northern Techo Monkeys DIRTY DISCO, ZANE LOWE and TIGA will all be hosting their own arenas whilst Metropolis and One Nation take charge of the urban flavours. The super cool Ed Banger label will be bringing a mêlée of French tech wizardry to the show with old favourites Hed Kandi and Fantazia returning for late night mayhem. VIPs can look forward to the sounds of Sean Rowley’s Guilty Pleasures, which sets the scene for one of the best party packages on the planet.

Music aside, Summer Sound System will be upping the ante with the entire event spectacle. Introducing boutique camping, a 24-hour market place with gourmet food stalls and out of town shopping plus an onsite diary room, supersonic fairground and a veritable feast of additional adventures. Facilities will be second to none with secure onsite lockers, plentiful cash machines, Ibiza angels to massage away your aching limbs and even karaoke for the wannabe starlets.

With a nod to the past and a foot in the future this will be the ultimate event for the discerning clubber and all round music lover. As the first major festival of the year it’s the perfect date to kick start your summer. A cast that crosses indie, dance, pop and urban this is set to mark a new chapter for Gatecrasher and set the stage for their greatest ever show.