JUNE | PREVIEW
Bangers, beats and Brexit
51st State Festival organisers say Brexit, combined with
spiralling travel and artist costs, was a challenging recipe
C
elebrating the roots of
house music is a task
that necessitates an
international outreach.
51st State Festival returns to
Trent Country Park on 4 August,
exploring classic and tech house,
garage, disco, soul, dub, dancehall
and more.
The event’s prestigious pedigree
is down to its truly transatlantic
curation, gathering as it does, the
finest talent from the US, the UK
and the Caribbean.
This year however, with the
political and economic climate
as it is, the event organisers told
Access that the challenges were
bigger than ever, as they promise
improvements across the board.
“To enhance the festival
experience we will be bringing
bigger and better production
values including immersive
themed stages, bigger arenas and
structures, sharper sound systems
and state of the art visuals,” 51st
State Festival promoter Michael
Hughes tells Access.
Compounding these efforts are
the unique challenges brought on
by recent political wranglings.
He adds: “Flexibility in the
artist budget is needed due to the
increasing costs of flights and
travel and the increasing weaker
GBP against the Euro and US
dollar when agreeing artist fees.
It’s ‘the Brexit effect’.
“Other challenges include
travel logistics like organising
everything from ground
transportation, accommodation
bookings, arranging meals and
visa applications.”
These hurdles make planning
new additions to the event all
the more challenging. However,
this year, the ambition certainly
appears unaffected.
New additions include a roller
disco area within the Studio 51
Disco tent, where there will be a
choice to groove off the normal
dance floor or show off your moves
in the roller disco with roller
skates.
Hughes adds: “The VIP and
‘VVIP’ areas will also be expanded
and developed with improved
facilities and structures offering an
This page: International DJs
captivate the growing crowds
enhanced high-end experience.”
VIP benefits this year include
exclusive VIP entrance, premium
drinks & food, vanity areas, posh
toilets, viewing platform with
views over the main stage area,
seating and lounging areas with
giant TVs showing main stage
performers and a free photo booth
with props.
Meanwhile, free massages, face
paint and body art will be offered.
As 51st State evolves, so too
does the wider festival market,
which Hughes says has changed
significantly since the 90s.
“Firstly, the age of customers
has changed. A lot of our loyal
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