Revved up and ready to go

Electronic music lovers get to party with the scene’s top spinners on Tuesday night as the 808 Festival returns to the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) in Bang Na.
To party animals in Bangkok, 808 has become synonymous with quality dance music, thanks to its spectacular debut that featured Steve Aoki, Bingo Players, Chuckie and Bassjackers.
This year, the festival promises an explosive line-up on two stages to mark the 10th anniversary of organiser Retox Sessions, which is once again teaming up with Contango to blow minds with two main arenas taken over by EDM and techno megastars.

Among the leading lights scheduled to take the stage on Tuesday is 25-year-old Dutch producer, Nicky Romero. Romero is a breakthrough star who now sits at number 7 in DJ Mag Top 100 DJs. In 2009, he sent a bootleg of David Guetta smash “When Love Takes Over” out into the world and has been rolling ever since. His recent studio output includes a track on Rihanna’s album “Unapologetic”, collaboration with Calvin Harris on “Iron”, Madonna’s remix and releases with Fedde Le Grand on “Nervo” and a pairing with Avicii for “I Could Be The One”, which peaked at number one in the UK charts

 Romero’s fellow countryman, Dannic is also slated to man the deck. The prodigious DJ and producer has achieved a great deal since exploding onto the scene. Having debuted at number 74 in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll last year, he is starting to gain the recognition he deserves. Dannic’s first solo track “Doster” on Revealed Recordings received heavy support from Hardwell and his music remains a staple in the sets of Tiesto, Avicii, Hardwell, Romero and Bingo Players.
Another headliner is Richie Hawtin, who is often referred to as the god of the techno circuit. A true innovator, Hawtin resurrects Detroit techno and pushes himself to the very edge of his creative boundaries. Other innovators in music Thai fans will get to experience are Thom Jongkind and Idir Makhlaf, collectively known as Blasterjaxx. Planning on taking over the world with their unique sound, which is best described as a crossover between electro-house, progressive and big room, they are now regarded as one of the most promising EDM artists in the world with big hits like “Faith” and “Fifteen” to their credit.

If you’ve seen Loco Dice perform during his 10-year Tribehouse residency in his hometown of Dusseldorf or at DC-10 in Ibiza where he spun from 2002-2006, you will know that this German DJ and producer is someone who can put together intangible moods with a direct approach. Through his DJ sets and his productions on labels like Minus, Cadenza, Ovum, Four Twenty and Cocoon, he merges perspectives in his delicate sense for sounds and reflective atmospheres, underpinning them with solid, physical grooves inspired by the hip-hop that was his early sonic stomping ground in the mid- to late 90s. Don’t miss the chance to party with the maestro next week.
Since 2005, Retox Sessions has established itself as Bangkok’s most active electronic music promoter by continually bringing such headline performers as David Guetta, Afrojack, Paul Van Dyk, Benny Benassi, Justice and Steve Aoki to local electronic dance music fans.

Retox Sessions has been running parties at some of the finest nightclubs including Q Bar, Narcissus and Glow. In addition to a long list of events, Retox Sessions has taken the Bangkok clubbing scene to new heights with large-scale dance music festivals like Together Festival, 808 Festival, and most recently Road to Ultra Thailand, featuring some of the world’s top DJs and producers.


In the groove
>> 808 Festival takes place Tuesday from 6pm onwards at Hall 106, Bitec Bang Na (BTS Bangna).
>> Advance tickets are Bt2,200 at Bt2,700 at the door. Visit www.Amiando.com/808festival2014.
>> You must be at least 20 to get in so don’t forget your ID.
>> More at www.808Festival.com.