- A typically crisp spring evening was the setting for John Digweed's return to the classic Santiago La Feria. The Bedrock founder has a long history of visits to Chile, but his latest trip was a chance to show off material from his new LP Versus, which he produced with Nick Muir.
La Feria was already full to capacity as the late-20-something crowd moved to the technically competent, if somewhat underwhelming, selections of Demian Muller. When Digweed finally appeared, it was to much shouting and applause from the crowd. After a nervous first couple of minutes, Digweed settled into the groove and moved through an hour defined by a hard '90s house sound, which developed into more progressive, melodic moods as the set went on. As he approached the third hour, a staggering rendition of Jagwar Ma's "Come Save Me" blew the crowd away.
Simply put, Digweed's still got what it takes to keep feet moving and minds engaged. He maintains a bold presence while delivering his trademark sound, which is what has allowed him to remain relevant for almost 20 years. In the hellish-red lit main room of La Feria, with its bubble wrap lighting scheme, Digweed presided masterfully over the music. The evening marked a solid return for two classics. La Feria, which is still the only real venue exclusively for electronic music in Santiago, and Digweed, who is still very much a force to be reckoned with.