Red Bull Culture Clash – which sees four music crews go head-to-head – is making its debut in Manchester and Bristol alongside a finale in London on June 17.
“Red Bull Culture Clash is an innovative live music experience which has taken place in the UK four times before. The show comprises of four stages, each featuring a different crew representing different genres. These crews battle for the title of Red Bull Culture Clash winner.”
The mini tour – which is taking in the UK’s most formidable music cities – will kick-off in Bristol on March 4 at The Passenger Shed, before making its way to Manchester’s Old Granada studios on March 10.
These unmissable shows will play host to unique line-ups of legendary and emerging bass talent going head-to-head, track-to-track, setting the pace for the London finale June 17 at the capital’s ExCel.
The line-up have yet to be announced but tickets go on sale on January 14, the Bristol and Manchester shows will cost £12, whilst the London finale will set you back £45.
And if you don’t know what the Culture Clash is here’s a quick run through the rules and how the rounds take place.
THE RULES
AS AGREED BY THE COMPETING CREWS
1. Red Bull Culture Clash is split into four rounds.
2. A crew’s set in each round lasts between five and 15 minutes: synchronise your watches!
3. A countdown clock will appear on the main screens 10 seconds before the end of each set. When the time is up, sound will fade out, then cut.
4. Crews are actively encouraged to play custom-made dubplate specials and introduce their (secret) guests anytime during the event. However, in the final round, it’s dubs, remixes and live guest performances only. No regular records whatsoever!
5. Strictly no repeats. If a crew repeats a tune played earlier in the night, they’re disqualified from that round, so listen up good. The only exception is if the record is explicitly announced as a so-called “counteraction”, and somehow altered (dubplate, remix, live performance, etc) – more on this later!
6. Each round is won by crowd reaction, pure and simple. If two crews cannot be separated, a decibel reader brings the science. If there’s a draw between two crews after all rounds, the host calls on the crowd to crown the champion in a run-off vote.
7. Livestream viewers cannot influence who wins a round – but they can support their favourite crew by making noise online and unlocking extra special secret weapons for them.
8. Each clash is controlled by the two hosts and the two hosts alone. They have full authority to enforce the rules both during and after each round. The hosts’ decision is final.
Four crews, one champion – may the best sound win!
THE ROUNDS
HOW THE DRAMA UNFOLDS
Round 1: Pressure Drop
10 minutes per crew. Time to check your levels, mics, watches and selection – clash is coming! DJs take the temperature of the crowd and then turn it up a notch.
Round 2: The Selector
15 minutes per crew. DJs play any style, and crews are judged purely on tune selection. Knowledge is king.
Round 3: Sleeping With The Enemy
10 minutes per crew. Crews twist it, playing an opponent’s style of music. Big test. The mighty may fall.
Round 4: Armageddon
2 x 5 minutes per crew. Clashing crews pull out their biggest anthems. This is the final round, so double points and double daring! Note: The livestream audience will decide who has the right to play the very last set.
