Grabbing the (Red) Bull by the Horns

The cavernous surroundings of the Red Bull Electric Ballroom offered a welcome respite from the rain on Friday, with UK electro pop outfit Fenech-Soler pouncing on their opportunity to impress with admirable vigour. Fan favourite ‘Lies’ proves a monster, its third-act dual percussion-assisted crescendo combining with the stage’s hypnotic strobe lights to create a wicked audiovisual assault.

How do you follow that? If you’re Bitches With Wolves, you throw out the rulebook and take your bow to the strains to The Lion King’s ‘Circle Of Life’ before delivering a retro-flavoured set that featured a barnstorming cover of Fragma’s ‘90s club anthem ‘Toca’s Miracle’. Inspired!
Continuing the covers theme was London-born MC supremo Maverick Sabre, whose heartfelt rendition of ‘Wonderwall’ captivated the crowd. Sporting an Ireland jersey and paying tribute to his long-time home of New Ross, Sabre proudly embraced his Irish roots with conviction amidst a breathless performance.
Further homegrown talent was on display as the Shit Robot show transformed the Ballroom into a futuristic wonderland and provided one of the most memorable images of the weekend, as the unmistakable green robot headset bopped away in the middle of a mesmerising video wall, while delivering a thumping set that didn’t let up for a minute.
As the dust settled, Justin Robertson capitalised on the momentum, unleashing a pulsating hour of infectious electronica, regularly teasing with slow builds that pay off in explosive fashion.
Not to be outdone on the visual front, Sven Väth was on hand to deliver his own bizarre imagery, the most notable of which saw the German disc-spinner clad in a knight’s helmet carved from a disco ball. A somehow oddly appropriate sight for his rumble-heavy antics and a great way to close out day one.
DAY TWO
As “Brunkergate” unfolds over on the Vodafone Stage, the Ballroom kicks Saturday off with its own celebrity curiosity, as rugby hero Cian Healy AKA DJ Church and his air horn-toting cohort Gordo treat the packed crowd to an impressive if slightly familiar set of tunes. While it’s more a playlist than a mixing session, Healy’s enthusiastic cheerleading shines through and it’s impossible not to get swept up in the fun.
Anticipation is at fever pitch later in the evening when Steve Aoki steps up to his decks. What follows is almost communal as an enraptured audience hang on every hook, beat and pounding kick-in throughout. The American DJ matches their spirit, gleefully feeding off their energy and eventually leaving his post to briefly join his loyal disciples in the crowd.
Before exiting the stage, Aoki makes a point of introducing Diplo to the packed arena. Utilising his superstar aura, the in-demand producer turns the ballroom on its head, transforming the crowd into an ocean of flailing limbs, nodding heads and waving glowsticks. Quite stunning.
And so to Saturday night’s main event. It appears that Italian noise terrorists The Bloody Beetroots are on a mission to unleash as much musical carnage and chaos as possible. The ballroom quickly resembles a sonic battleground as the crowd attempt to outdo the madness onstage. Perhaps in response, the masked men usher in the devastating one-two punch of ‘Warp’ and their frenzied take on Refused’s punk classic ‘New Noise’. As the smoke clears the Beetroots take a brief moment to survey their work. Mission accomplished.
DAY THREE
Making a late play on Sunday afternoon to steal Shit Robot’s ‘Most Amazing Visual’ crown is Brit electro whizkid Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Decked in his signature Native American headdress, he rocks the house accompanied by a trio of fright-wigged femme fatales, their presence creating a Plan 9 From Outer Space effect. Except you know, good.
With mere hours remaining at the festival, the remaining acts attempt to make every second count. Back-to-back sets from Alex Metric and Fake Blood keep revellers on their toes in frantic fashion, while Kid Cudi-approved duo Crookers bring their unique brand of hip house to the Ballroom, unleashing a rhythmic rollercoaster that nearly blows the roof right off the building.
Laughing in the face of the idea that the last act of the festival should wind things down, Dutch sensation Afrojack delights in pushing the tempo, not to mention the decibel levels. With ears ringing and hearts pumping, the curtain falls on the Ballroom following a weekend of constant energy and thrills. Same time
next year?