Festival Preview: South West Four Weekender

Across the August 25th – 26th Bank Holiday many of the worlds biggest electronic dance acts and DJs descend on Clapham Common for South West Four with tickets still available here are Notion’s Top 4 pics for Saturday and Sunday!

Saturday at SW4

One of the most stylish Canadian’s on the planet,  A-Trak is the holder of 7 major titles in DJing; recently featured on the cover of Billboard Magazine alongside Diplo and Skrillex (both performing at SW4), the 30 year old DJ/producer is responsible for dancefloor hits including ‘Duck Sauce’, and the Armand Van Helden collaboration ‘Barbra Streisand’. Check the video below for 15 year old A-Trak’s first Technics / DMC World Championship winning performance in 1997.

Public Enemy‘s SW4 show is a part of their world tour celebrating 25 years since the release of classic debut LP ‘Yo! Bum Rush The Show’. Promising a set with all the fire, punch and bombastic approach Public Enemy first took to becoming the worlds first premiere live hip-hop act. Here’s a great video of them performing with Ice Cube from a 1991 episode of sketch show In Living Color; seen here presented by many members of the Wayans Family.

Rising to fame in 2002, Italian Benny Benassi has been behind some of the biggest tracks of the 21st century, hits including the massive and pumping ‘Satisfaction’. Since then Benassi has gone on to have multiple chart smashes and this year produced 3 tracks for Madonna’s MDNA, whilst his most recent album features a star studded selection of guests including Kelis, Chris Brown, T-Pain and Pitbull, expect massive tracks and crowd rockers from one of the scene’s finest.

It’s go big or go home if you’re at SW4 and how bigger can you get than stadium filling Chase & Status, producing diverse tracks from the pantheon of electronic music the chart smashing duo are currently working on their third album having previously produced tracks for Example and Rihanna alongside working with acts including Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal and Tempa T, see the video for ‘Hypest Hype’ ft, Tempa T below.

Sunday at SW4

Since the mid 00′s Diplo has been regarded as one of the worlds finest party DJs so expect his SW4 set to be no exception. A true 21st century producer, Diplo has always pushed unknown genres from Brazil’s Funk Carioca to the New Orleans Bounce sound. The Florida native channels his output via varying means from the Mad Decent imprint, club Hooked on Hollerphonix, to the acclaimed reggae and dancehall project Major Lazer.

Having just released their third electronic album ‘Unpatterns’ on Wichita Recordings Simian Mobile Disco are always ready to throw down the heaviest techno set. Famed for both their live and DJ sets they are ever a highlight on any line-up, leaving audiences in shock & awe.

Born in suburban Detroit Seth Troxler began djing in 2002 at the age of 16 whilst at a record store whose staff included Theo Parrish. Since then he has moved to Berlin where he has released a slew of distinctive electronic productions across labels including Crosstown Rebels, Wagon Repair and Souvenir among others. Listen to this set from Fuse Club Brussels for what to expect from Seth Troxler’s SW4 set.

Controversial crossover superstar Skrillex headlines on Sunday; the Grammy Award Winning DJ/Producer is adding to his credentials with upcoming soundtracks for both Harmony Korine’s (Kids / Gummo) Spring Breakers (staring Selena Gomez, and James Franco) and Disney’s upcoming video-game styled adventure Wreck-It-Ralph making him a enigmatic one to watch.

South West Four Weekender is open 12:00pm -22:00pm each day with some tickets still remaining at Ticketmaster!

- Ben Loom @stronglook