Contributor
Thousands of fans from more than 50 different countries descended to the Sportpaleis in Antwerp this weekend for the 2018 edition of Rampage Festival.
After previously selling out The Lotto Arena with ease, the promoters made the switch to the biggest event hall in Belgium a few years back. Since then the 15,000 capacity Sportpaleis has now become a place of pilgrimage for European drum & bass and dubstep fans and this was the first time the event had both a Friday & Saturday offering.
Aside from the abundance of beer, waffles and chocolate on offer I had previously made the short trip from London to attend the legendary Star Warz night at Vooruit in Ghent. Dance music fans generally associate Belgium for it’s EDM roots with Tomorrowland, but the drum and bass scene over there is thriving now more than ever. Brand new concepts like Bredren Invites are emerging from across the country and there are a lot of talented young producers coming through with releases on the main labels.
Though the festival has headliners, the organisers opt to allocate the focus on lighting and visual installations ahead of anything else. The emphasis on the experience as a whole was refreshing and made me care less about the minutiae of each DJ performance, and more about the detail and dedication that goes into creating such an impressive visual spectacle.
I found myself frequently gazing up at the lighting rig in awe, transfixed by the LED panels firing lasers in all angles. The walloping screen behind the stage dominated the arena and it was hard to look anywhere else. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the crowd behind me, it became clear just how many people were inside; the party was packed to the rafters. The crowd was large and diverse, with every third person sporting a Rampage branded t-shirt. If you strayed into the wrong area at the wrong time in the middle, you would find yourself in a mosh pit full of pumped-up ravers. The arena fortunately had two levels, with staircases on either side of the main dancefloor leading to a raised seated area that stretched all the way to the back of the room.
The acts on the lineup across both days were a mix of first-timers and Rampage regulars with Pendulum, Andy C, Chase & Status, Killbox, Flux Plavilion, SASASAS, Youngsta, Snails and many more taking to the decks.
The highlight for me on Friday was the Ram Records head honcho, Andy C. Few artists can hold the attention of a big festival crowd while plotting a deep thoughtful musical journey, but the executioner on the Friday night walked the line perfectly. During his set he twisted out inconceivably fast mixes. His face occasionally lit up by bursts of flames from the onstage production, all while chaos ensued below him.
Saturday evening’s opening bill featured some of Belgium’s most respected local talent from Space Pirate Recordings. It was interesting to watch the crowd flood into the arena as they roamed the space, trying to find their new favourite spot from the previous night, discovering new and unusual aspects of the room along the way.
Watch Andy C's set by selecting the play icon
SASASAS brought the night to life later on, conveying incredible stage presence through each build up and hard hitting drop. As a group the DJ & MC team were especially tight, effortlessly combining sharp lyrics with homage’s to MC Stormin who sadly passed away last month. Chase & Status followed and exceeded all my expectations, delivering a set of rolling bangers amidst plenty of classics from the Ram back catalogue. The set sounded ace on the booming sound system and the quality of selections and mixing had me glued to the floor.
It’s not everyday you see so many revellers dancing to drum and bass together in such an impressive spectacle. The quality of the event, offering Europeans a mix of live and DJ sets across multiple musical styles points to a bright future for the Belgian scene and is proof of how far the organisers have come. If you live in Europe and are looking for a weekend break away from the norm, Rampage has everything you’re after.
See you next year for the 10th anniversary! More info
Follow Barney on Twitter @BBlackhurst
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