Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, 1991 (UK), NERO, Charlie Tee, Lens, Rova, Pirapus, und Flash

Although Sub Focus has been releasing records since 2003, he only really achieved well deserved but semi-mainstream success after his 2009 self-titled debut album was released. The English electronic music producer, known separately from his stage name as Nick Douwma, exploded on to the dance, electronic and drum and bass scene with tracks such as “Rock It / Follow the Light,” (which found its way onto the Top 40 UK singles chart) “Splash” and “Could This Be Real.” All of which are high energy, fast-paced thudding bass-ridden songs perfect for a night full of dancing.
I first saw Sub Focus at Reading Festival in 2010 in the NME tent; the perfect enclosed location to set a night-time atmosphere and to sufficiently squash the crowd into a sea of swaying and jumping dancers. Even on such a big stage at a relatively early time to perform, the entire audience never faltered in response to Sub Focus’s massive tunes. With every track, there was barely time to rest before heavy and fast beats dropped and everyone went wild. That was especially with the help of the MC constantly reminding us to “bounce, bounce, bounce” with every track – not that we needed his instructions!
More recently Sub Focus seems to have upped his game in terms of his own stage presence; relying more on his circular, sub speaker-esque lighting to create hype and ambience rather than his MCs. Plus, with his second album being named ‘Torus,’ this shape seems to be a pivotal element of Sub Focus’s independent identity or brand. This sense of identity is certainly more evident in his recent shows, one of which was a headline slot at Reading and Leeds Festival 2013, which demonstrated how his sound and Sub Focus as an artist, rather than just a producer, has developed.

Definitely a crowed pleaser is Dimensions and Nottingham seemed to want to adopt This guy! He was on the Wilkinson set along with Transit mafia as part of the Detonate All Dayer which has become a really great successful event for Nottingham.

The venue, The Level at the Nottingham Trent University is a perfect stage to host some of the top DJ’s in the country. When you want to hit the dance floor or just sit back and relax and watch the balcony the staff and secure are really friendly.

I wasn’t sure what to expect listening to 1991 live. This was the first time I would have seen him and it was nothing short of incredible. The transition from liquid to just filthy. This dude got the crowd going! He’s also a total sweetheart and down to earth. Was such a pleasure hanging out with him after his set. A must see if you get the chance!

Nero exploded onto the electronic scene back in 2010; although they’d officially formed as long ago as 2004, they timed their entry perfectly, arriving at right around the time that dubstep was genuinely crossing over into the mainstream consciousness. Their appearance on the BBC’S Sound of 2011 list served as a precursor to a string of radio hits; first ‘Me & You’, in at fifteen on the UK singles chart, ‘Guilt’, which went one better at eight, and then their first number one, ‘Promises’, in August of that year; it managed the impressive feat of making the corresponding position in the States, too. A sell-out headline tour of the UK would follow, and saw the London trio reinterpret their debut record, Welcome Reality, for the live stage. With beatmakers Daniel Stephens and Joe Ray perched atop a wall of speakers and screens - like their own take of Daft Punk’s pyramid - vocalist Alana Watson stalked the front of the stage, delivering stirring vocal turns on all of the group’s hits to date, as well as delivering covers as diverse as Friendly Fires and Sub Focus. Elsewhere, they genuinely pushed the envelope by delivering a ‘dubstep symphony’ with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; they’re now busying themselves with work on their second record, so expect a slew of new dates to follow once it’s ready.