Over the last 20 years Creamfields has grown into the UK’s largest dance music festival — and this weekend’s 20th edition promises to be biggest yet thanks to the addition of a fourth day. Taking place in the rolling, often rain-sodden, hills of Daresbury, Cheshire, Cream has plenty of surprises in store across the four days.
Being their 20th birthday the organisers are pulling out all the stops for the 20th edition with two brand-new stage concepts. First up, you’ve got the festival’s new steel megastructure, The Steel Yard, which was debuted in London earlier this year to rave reviews. Secondly, Creamfields are painstakingly rebuilding Nation (Cream’s former Liverpool home, which would celebrating its 25th Anniversary this summer) at the festival with a secret line-up.
Creamfields remains the only UK festival that truly embraces all genres of electronic music, so — you’ve got EDM, grime and trance heads rubbing shoulders with fans of house, techno and D&B.
So, with that in mind we’ve selected 10 artists we think you should definitely be checking out across the four days.
[tw_list no=”1″]Deadmau5 & Eric Prydz[/tw_list]
Steel Yard Stage, Friday
One of the biggest scalps for this weekend’s Creamfields line-up is an exclusive live performance from Eric Prydz and the always outspoken Deadmau5. It won’t just be any performance, though, the makeshift duo will be performing Live inside of Creamfields’ most technologically advanced stage, the festival’s new Steel Yard megastructure. Essentially, the Steel Yard is a giant aircraft hanger which was given it debut earlier this year in London for Pyrdz’s EPIC 5.0 show, and judging by the videos circulating online, it’s going to be a massive draw on Friday night.
[tw_list no=”2″]Annie Mac[/tw_list]
BBC Radio 1 Stage, Friday
Everyone loves Annie Mac and truth be told Creamfields wouldn’t be the same if she wasn’t there kick-starting the party on the main stage. The first lady of Radio 1 will be performing on the Radio 1 main stage on Friday. Her sets, which take in everything from bass house to techno, are always a firm favourite with the Creamfields faithful.
[tw_list no=”3″]Lauren Lo Sung[/tw_list]
BBC Introducing Stage, Friday
For the first time, the BBC will be hosting their Introducing stage at Creamfields and local hero Lauren Lo Sung will be performing on the stage on Friday. The Liverpool selector and producer is having something of a breakout year in 2017. With gigs at Hi Ibiza and Park Life already under her belt and releases on DJ Steaw’s new label, House Puff, things are going really well for the Liverpudlian. Her DJ style marries low slung basslines with sumptuous rolling progression which saw her crowned Liverpool’s best DJ in 2014. She plays the BBC Introducing stage on Friday.
[tw_list no=”4″]Richie Hawtin[/tw_list]
The Steel Yard Presents S\/STEM, Saturday
Techno don Richie Hawtin will be performing his brand-new AV live show ‘ClOSE’ exclusively at Creamfields on Saturday evening. It promises to even more awe-inspiring than its debut at Coachella earlier in the year because the Minus boss will performing inside the Steel Yard stage. Having recently released his own mixer, Hawtin’s new live show promises to be his most technologically advanced and intimate to date.
[tw_list no=”5″]The Black Madonna[/tw_list]
All Gone Pete Tong Stage, Saturday
Smart Bar resident The Black Madonna will be Pete Tong’s special guest for the All Gone Pete Tong stage on Saturday. The Black Madonna meteoric rise seems to have come out of nowhere but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Marea Stamper journey to the top has been long and protracted for the US-based grafter. Her DJ sets are always eclectic affairs and she knows exactly how to keep energy levels high with her smile-inducing blend of disco, house and techno.
[tw_list no=”6″]Kölsch[/tw_list]
Steel Yard Presents Pryda, Sunday
2017 has been Kölsch’s biggest year to date for Danish DJ and producer. And it’s only going to get bigger with the release of his third studio album on Kompakt Records dropping next month. The Dane’s ability to work within the space between house, techno and electro has seen the hat-wearing Dane become one of dance music’s hottest properties in 2017. The thought of seeing the Danish don spinning in the Steel Yard on Sunday evening has already got us salivating.
[tw_list no=”7″]Eric Prydz[/tw_list]
Steel Yard Presents Pryda, Sunday
Having road-tested Creamfields’ new Steel Yard stage at London’s Victoria park earlier in the year, Eric Prydz has been given the honour of hosting the megastructure once again on Sunday. The Steel Yard Presents Pryda promises to be one the biggest attractions on Sunday as the Swedish progressive don spins alongside the likes of Kolsch, Cristoph, Adam Beyer, Weska and the inimitable Sasha, who will be Prydz’s special guest. The Steel Yard is certainly looking like the place to be on Sunday.
[tw_list no=”8″]Jackmaster[/tw_list]
Yousef Presents Circus, Sunday
Glasgow’s Jackmaster has established himself as one of the most in demands DJs in the world. With an encyclopaedic knowledge of house and techno that borders on the obsessive, the Numbers boss has been going from strength to strength in recent years thanks to his label and night of the same name. Last year, Jack Revill grabbed second position in Resident Advisor’s Top 100 DJs poll and since then the Numbers boss has quickly earned a reputation as one of the most astute selectors in the game. Jackmaster will be playing alongside home town hero Yousef on the Yousef Presents Circus stage on Sunday.
[tw_list no=”9″]Deadmau5[/tw_list]
South Stage, Saturday
Not only will Deadmau5 be performing live alongside Eric Prydz on the Friday for a UK festival exclusive, the Canadian producer will also be headlining the South Stage on the Saturday. Unfortunately, his performance won’t be his full Cube live show (which you can see above) but don’t surprised if the Mau5 has a few tricks up his sleeve and performs a hybrid Live show for his headline slot on the Saturday evening.
[tw_list no=”10″]Above & Beyond[/tw_list]
Mega Arena, Saturday
You can’t possibly go to Creamfields without checking out some of the trance that’s on offer, and for our money there’s no-one better than Above & Beyond. The trio will be doling out their life-affirming Group Therapy to the masses on Saturday evening in the Mega Arena alongside the likes of Grum, Andrew Bayer & Ilan Bluestone and Lost Frequencies — be there or be square.
For info go to www.creamfields.com / www.facebook.com/
