Bloc Festival – Preview

Reflecting on the great music festivals that we have seen in our time, rarely do they lack an exceptional factor; the ambition of Glastonbury, the values of Woodstock, to the brilliant locations of Melt! (an ex-metal refinery works) and Exit (organised by students against Milošević within the breathtaking Petrovaradin fortress). This is the year that Bloc has made a decisive step up. The previous 5 years, the festival had been located at Pontin’s Holiday Camp and subsequently, Butlins in Minehead. Both of which were alternatives to the conventional festival experience of mud and poor hygiene, but now, relocated to the capital, Bloc now sees an expansion in both capacity and enterprise.

Deep within the swathes of East London, the simultaneous site of London Pleasure Gardens provides 60,000 square metres of Waterside Docklands, and this patch of the Thames provides so much more than a view. The incredible MS Stubnitz ship, which was built in 1964 at the Volkswerft Stralsund, and usually touring the Baltic and North Sea ports, will be one of the major performance spaces. 80 metres long and 2,541 tonnes in weight, it is the achievement of Urs Blaser, a Swiss-born sonic artist who spent the eighties touring Europe and organising avant-garde art events in industrial spaces. As a buoyant companion, the former Charing Cross floating pier has been converted into a cocktail bar. The Gardens will also include a 30m geodesic Dome, with artists performing in the middle of the crowd, accompanied by laser and light shows. The collaboration of the brilliant Shangri La team brings the mesmerising Hub stage from Glastonbury as well as dizzying visual installations.

 

The organisers have certainly proved themselves a savvy bunch, no better exemplified than the glorious 6am license that has been granted. Yet this 15,000 capacity event has drawn the crowds mainly due to its exquisite lineup. It is a diverse grouping, yet falling under the umbrella of electronic music. The acts include Four Tet, Nicolas Jaar, Ricardo Villalobos, Gary Numan, Joker, Battles, Squarepusher, James Blake, Jacques Greene, Hype Williams and Snoop Dogg. Kollektivnye’s Bloc warmup playlist can be found HERE

 . A fairground waltzer is being installed as a ‘literal representation’ of Ceephax Acid Crew’s Waltzer label. There will be UK Exclusive live performances from A.T.O.L., Arpanet and Flying Lotus, a Resident Advisor showcase, an appearance from Steve Reich at the age of 75 (an excellent interview with him on influences can be found here ). Yet the show that we are most looking forward to is Amon Tobin’s award winning ISAM: Live – a euphoric experience in itself.

We are salivating in anticipation at this event, and will be providing coverage of Bloc throughout the festival. A very small amount of tickets remain.

UPDATE: Weekend tickets are now sold-out, a very limited amount of day tickets remain.

 

London Pleasure Gardens, Royal Victoria Docks, E16 2BS

July 6th – 7th | 2pm – 6am |  £99 (weekend ticket)

Station | Pontoon Docks DLR

blocweekend.com