Returning to its stunning grounds in the Norfolk countryside on the 8th -11th August, Houghton Festival aims to raise the bar for dance festivals once more. Riding a wave of momentum after two flawless years back to back, the event looks to have put their bad luck behind them which saw three years of painful cancellations in a row. The festival’s remarkable story is one of determination and never giving in to the obstacles put in their way. The result now sees Houghton as one of the standout events in the electronic music festival calendar.
Curated by the veteran Fabric resident DJ, Craig Richards, Houghton prioritises the experience of the raver. In so doing they’ve built a unique identity, with a 24 hour licence that sees music play non-stop all weekend, whilst DJ’s have the opportunity to show off the breadth of their selections with three hour sets. This year an abundance of exciting artists make their debut, including Daniel Avery, Moodyman, Skee Mask and many more. Beyond the music itself, the idyllic grounds of Houghton Hall where revellers have the freedom to explore the 13 stages in and around the forest, are truly breathtaking and offer the opportunity to find something new whichever way you turn.
The orchard returns with a wellness programme which offers an escape from the marathon timetable. Richards’s love for sculpture see’s art and design also play a key role in Houghton’s identity with numerous pieces dotted around the site, including an 8 metre high steel sculpture dedicated to the late Andrew Weatherall. If you get the chance, take a tour around the Houghton Hall gardens where Andrew Gormely is the artist in residence this year. With each day the excitement for Houghton festival grows, below we outline 5 artists you don’t want to miss.
Prosumer
Hailing from Germany, Prosumer has been a staple of the dance scene over the last two decades. With a residency at the world-renowned NYC Downlow, he’s a figurehead of the queer scene. Expect disco, hi-energy and some quality remixes during his three hour set. You can catch Prosumer at Earthling 11pm Thursday.
Marie Davidson (Live)
Everyone knows Marie Davidson thanks to 2019’s infamous single ‘Work It’ that took festivals by storm. However, since then the artist took a few years away from the dance scene, in fact announcing that she’d retired from club music. Thankfully recent singles ‘Pleasure On My Mind’ and ‘Y.A.A.M’ certainly show the Canadian artist is back to her hard-hitting roots. We last saw her play live in 2019 where her remarkable energy was palpable. You can catch her perform live at the Warehouse stage – with its accompanying A/V design – at 2am Saturday.
Red Axes
Under their Red Axes alias, the duo of Dori Sadovnik and Niv Arzi have pioneered the genre of indie-dance and aided the growth of left-field dance music. With a recent release on Fabric records, they bring their live show to the Derren Smart stage on Saturday night. Their taste of post-punk, psychedelic rock and house will make for a special atmosphere. You can also catch them play a DJ set Sunday night closing the Quarry.
Dresden
Under their Dresden alias, Ivan Smagghe and Manfredas have built a loyal following. Their down-tempo, psychedelic selections take dancers on a journey into the unknown. If you’re looking to discover something new, then you won’t want to miss Dresden. They were a standout at last year’s edition and we expect more of the same this time. You can catch them at the Quarry at 9pm on Sunday.
John Talabot
John Talabot’s set at Earthling last year was a real you had to be there moment. Consistently merging songs and layering sounds, the Spaniards psychedelic selections sent heads spinning. Such was the craze for his set, once dancers returned home they searched every corner of the internet for his closing track desperate to find the remix. Talabot eventually took to Instagram to announce it was Versa Style’s ‘Keep The Peace’. He’s back this year closing the Outburst stage on Sunday, we have a feeling it’ll be another set you won’t want to miss.
Get your tickets at: www.houghtonfestival.co.uk
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Words: Jake Wright