‘I always wake up feeling great on the day of a festival because I know it’s going to be special. Each one brings its own vibe and crowds. There is nothing like the festival experience!’
With festivals now an integral part of modern day club culture, the phenomenon is something Andy has become familiar with since his first ever appearance at Global Gathering in 2006.
‘Festivals are for music lovers to go to with their friends and enjoy an entire day together – outside in the sun, sharing laughs, food and drink and listening to good music. I love getting there a few hours early and having a walk around, see what’s going down. Stepping up on the stage and seeing the sea of faces, it’s an incredible feeling.’
With all the sun, drinks and general festival shenanigans, Andy Whitby could be easily forgiven if he just got down with the party. We all do!
‘When you step up on a stage faced with so many clubbers in front of you, many of which might not have heard hard dance before and just stumbled there by accident, it just makes the adrenaline pump through your body that little quicker. It creates something special. It’s hard to explain but once that first track drops it just elevates you’.
Its not just the performance side that needs extra effort for such high profile gigs but also the preparation of the music in the sets itself, and with a no-nonsense mix of upfront music and ever reliable bootlegs and remixes that Andy’s sets have become synonymous with, anyone who has seen Andy play knows its all about the big moments.
‘I always have secret weapons for the festival shows. Last year I played a hardstyle remix of Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Bonkerz’ which tore the roof off of the arena at Escape into the Park. Even now, a year later, I’m still getting e-mails about that track from people wanting to know how to get a copy.’
So with Andy taking over the main stages of everyone else’s festivals, will we be seeing AWsum following his footsteps and venturing into the world of tents, sun and wellies?
‘We have already co-hosted an arena at last year’s Westfest with Frantic and at the Atomik Weekender, but to hold your own at one of the bigger festivals is something we want to do... we’re in discussions right now.’
Watch this space…
Words: Sam Townend
