Music fans flocked to a debut day of drum n bass and house when UNDER FEST hosted a sell-out festival under the bridge of a busy flyover in Peterborough.
With a theme of “My Home Is The Rave” the event attracted a crowd of all ages with two stages set alongside the picturesque River Nene.
Featuring stellar headline names, such as BBC 1 Xtra’s Charlie Tee, the mini festival was hosted at what is possibly one of the UK’s most exciting emerging music venue spaces, at the pretty Orton Mere meadows, more used to bird spotters, walkers and cyclists than day ravers – including a few in fancy dress T-Rex dinosaur costumes.
Oozing with illegal warehouse party vibe, UBDER FEST featured a backdrop of clever stunning graffiti with the drum n bass stage quite literally underneath the Nene Flyover, while the second stage was inside an old school, big-top circus tent alongside the bridge.
This was the first time that promoters of Mixology had hosted a two stage, one-day festival at the flyover venue, making it the largest event in the promoter's 11-year history.
Stand out performances came from producer Vibe Chemistry with looping musical mayhem mangled with a bass banging fervour, all topped off with the irrepressible energy of two MCs whose onstage joy was compelling to watch.
Also, Cambridge-based Hedex, who brought his trademark hectic pace with massive drops and big energy, whipping the audience into an intense frenzy. Joined by the electricity of MC Eksman, the crowd went into total meltdown as he cried “Semi-Automatic!” and they returned with an ear-piercing collective bray of blah blah blah!
Disrupta took it next level with a set so heavy it felt weighty and mind-blowingly insane. Not to be missed, the set stormed in with basslines that rattled rib cages.
Over at the house music big top tent, the stand outs were scene legends Murphys Law bringing a happy feet, Ibiza style dancing vibe and Richy Ahmed with his funky dancefloor fundamentals.
The day’s line-up featured a number of local artists from Peterborough with Alisha, Dan Clare (one half of DJ duo Maur), ADR, Micah Baxter, singer Emily Makis and Mixology residents Tom Skinner and James Chan all performing in their hometown.
There was also a strong Midlands contingent with Murphy’s Law (Leicester) and Dylan May (Derby, completing the other half of Maur) also playing on the big top festival stage.
UNDER will return in Early May Bank Holiday in 2024. You can sign-up for pre-sale tickets now via www.under.events.
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