The Eastern Electrics Festival moved from Hatfield House to Morden Park in London this year. Electronic dance music fan Paul Christian reviews the festival at its 2017 home.
Well what a great event Eastern Electrics was!
On the way out of the festival I overheard someone saying: “It wasn’t as good a venue as Hatfield House.”
But, I must say, I disagree.
Much as I don’t want to criticise the beautiful grounds of Hatfield House, it always seemed an odd fit to me and the whole event seemed cramped at the Hertfordshire site.
That was not the case at the latest home of EE – Morden Park.
Whilst not exactly the most salubrious part of our fair capital, the expansive park offered Eastern Electrics room to breathe.
It was a triumph, with great line-ups, sensible position of arenas and an up-for-it crowd.
Sets from Steve Lawler, Carl Cox, Ninetyone, everyone in the Defected tent, Terry Farley and DJ Pierre were excellent.
This must be the biggest one-day incarnation of EE I’ve been to, and it was great to have a voyage of musical discovery, as I ambled from tent to tent eager to hear more cutting edge electronic music.
I also felt there was more variation this time round, with great minimal fayre in the always brilliant Switchyard, and funkier and uplifting offerings in other arenas.
My only minor gripe was with the increasingly prevalent festival RFID wristband system (queue up to put cash on it, then queue up to get a drink using it – why?!).
That said, for a system which for me is pointless, it did run as smoothly as I’d hoped.
But I don’t want to end on a negative, so I’ll restate just how much fun Eastern Electrics was this year and how self-assured this seemingly wandering festival has now become.
It has established itself as a staple of the summer and long may it continue – wherever it is.
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