{"id":2037,"date":"2016-09-14T12:54:30","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T11:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/xpress\/?p=2037"},"modified":"2016-11-04T20:34:17","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T20:34:17","slug":"xpress-decks-creamfields","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffstudentmedia.co.uk\/xpress\/2016\/09\/xpress-decks-creamfields\/","title":{"rendered":"Xpress decks up at Creamfields"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Picture your standard 5am on a Saturday morning \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 most of you are probably only just getting in from a night out at Pryzm or Glam. Now picture this; a cold morning on the M62 with a colleague from Xpress passed out in the car and getting lost trying to find the entrance to Creamfields 2016. Once we arrived, all aerosols were confiscated \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 the only festival I have attended where they seemed almost illegal. An odd thought, as I\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6m sure you can imagine, we didn\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6t get off to the best start.<\/b><\/p>\n

When you think of festival camping most people imagine a soggy field with disgusting toilets and no showers; I can tell you that the Gold Campsite at Creamfields was the complete opposite of this. We were provided with complimentary use of showers, had our own food outlets, a pamper tent with hairdryers and straighteners, where the \u00d4\u00c7\u00a3scousebrows\u00d4\u00c7\u00d8 came out in full force from the ladies, a hairdresser on site and \u00d4\u00c7\u00a3proper\u00d4\u00c7\u00d8 toilets with no sign of your usual smelly \u00d4\u00c7\u00a3portaloo\u00d4\u00c7\u00d8. Not to mention the VIP hospitality tent we had access to; the cocktail bars, exclusive dance tents and sofas made it more Ibizaesque than anywhere else on the site. We had definitely landed at Creamfields alright.<\/p>\n

At 10am the music hadn\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6t started and the cans were already out in full flow. For me, this is what every great festival is about \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 the atmosphere, as well as the music. So if you can\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6t beat them, join them! Our neighbours had travelled from Kent, enduring at least a four hour drive, proving that Creamfields is still recognised as one of the most popular festivals in the UK. Other festival-goers had flown in from Spain and France showing that Creamfields has earnt its place as one of the leading EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festivals in the world.<\/p>\n

The first day, although technically day 3 of the entire festival, ravers were treated to the likes of Otto Knows, Martin Garrix and legendary DJ, Pete Tong. Having had silent discos on the Thursday and artists like Alesso, Sigala and Martin Solveig on the Friday, everyone around us showed no sign of slowing down just yet. The highlight of the Saturday, for me, was of course Avicii. Having been a fan of his work since day one and having seen him live on numerous occasions, watching the Swede DJ never gets old. This time it was even more special, and emotional, knowing that this was to be his last ever UK performance. Guess what? He didn\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6t disappoint. With a crowd of thousands trying to bust out their best dance moves to \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffWake Me Up\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6 and pretending they know the words to \u00d4\u00c7\u00ffLevels\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6, the atmosphere was electric. His entire set was a spectacle with an array of fireworks thanks to the Cream production team, which culminated in me having a tear in my eye\u252c\u00e1 he left the stage thanking the UK for the last ever time\u252c\u00e1 2am and everyone heads back to their tents, needless to say the atmosphere of the arena spiralled out into the campsites where the party continued into the early hours.<\/p>\n

2am and everyone heads back to their tents, needless to say the atmosphere of the arena spiralled out into the campsites where the party continued into the early hours. Only a few hours later and Creamfields was buzzing as the sun rose on its final day. We were extremely lucky with the weather; the heat just added to the electric atmosphere. The Sunday treated us to sets by Hannah Wants, the Disciples, Fatboy Slim and not to mention Calvin Harris. Our interviews with the likes of Seb Fontaine, Dutch DJ Dannic and Fatboy Slim taught us a lot about whether they prefer Cardiff or Swansea, the Welsh accent or the Scottish accent and Gareth Bale or David Beckham! They\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6ve even given us some tips for all of our Xpress Radio DJ\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s starting out \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 check out or interviews to get the full low-down from some of the best DJ\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s in the world.<\/p>\n

After the festival, Joel Davies from the Rhondda Valley said that he comes back to Creamfields every year because the line-up of artists always gets bigger and better. Speaking to Xpress Radio, the 23-year-old declared that \u00d4\u00c7\u00a3the new addition of the Steel Yard Arena to the festival this year was fantastic! It gives us access to more amazing DJ\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s and provides fantastic opportunities for new ones coming through.\u00d4\u00c7\u00d8 When asked about whether the festival was good value for money he told us that \u00d4\u00c7\u00a3\u252c\u00fa230 for a four day camping ticket is great value! The only thing I would want to change about Creamfields is its location \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 it\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s too far from South Wales!\u00d4\u00c7\u00d8<\/p>\n

If you want a festival with a carefree atmosphere, dancing until you drop and an Ibiza experience without jetting off to the island, then Creamfields is the one for you. There was something going on everywhere you looked and the whole setup of the festival made it easy to get around. So for \u252c\u00fa230, a four-day ticket to experience all of this and the world\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s greatest DJ\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s, then you get your money\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6s worth.<\/p>\n

Thank you Creamfields for bringing the Ibiza party to Cheshire. I think my colleague may have even enjoyed herself too \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 yes, I saw you jammin\u00d4\u00c7\u00d6 to Eric Prydz Sara! Until next year my friend, until next year\u00d4\u00c7\u00aa<\/p>\n

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For more information on Creamfields festival and getting your hands on 2017 tickets or other Cream events then visit: www.creamfields.com. Creamfields returns next year to Daresbury Estate in Cheshire 24th<\/sup>-27th<\/sup> August for its 20th<\/sup> anniversary.<\/p>\n

Sophie Barnes \u00d4\u00c7\u00f4 Xpress Radio<\/i><\/p>\n