Bang Face

Bang Face (often referred to as BangFace[1]) is a regular electronic dance music event that has been taking place at various venues across the UK since 2003.[2] Starting as a monthly club night in London, it has grown to include an annual three-day weekender at Southport, a boat party on the River Thames, as well as guest shows at festivals such as Glastonbury.[3] In 2013 Bang Face celebrated its 10th birthday with DJ Mag stating Bang Face [maintains] "the perfect blend of old skool rave and the finest contemporary leftfield sounds".[4] In March 2015 Bang Face reached the milestone of 100 events by hosting the Weekender at Southport Holiday Park. Resident Advisor asked the question "Is Bangface the most unique rave out there?" and described it as a "Neo-rave utopia".[5]

Bang Face
Genre	Electronic music
Location(s)	United Kingdom
Years active	2003-present
Founded by	James Bang Face aka Saint Acid
Website	Official website

Description

Bang Face is known for its fun and creative party atmosphere featuring inflatables being bounced above the crowd, banners bearing comedic slogans and fancy dress themes. A photo feature illustrating this appeared in the Observer Magazine.[6] It is this atmosphere that has become Bang Face’s unique signature with Time Out London claiming that the 2009 Weekender would “make Bestival look like f***ing ‘Question Time’".[2] Bang Face hosts a wide range of electronic dance music.[7]

Bang Face normally themes its events using historical references to significant events falling on the same day, for example a James Bond-themed fancy dress code for an event coinciding with Roger Moore's birthday party.[8]

London events

Bang Face began as a monthly club night in London and quickly became increasing popular with a resurgence in electronic dance music.[9] It gained attention early on with a video endorsement from Ozzy Osbourne who described it as "the Punk Rave Place". Whilst supporting mainly new and upcoming artists, Bang Face began to gain attention in the media. It appeared top of the recommended club features in publications such as NME’s ‘Top clubs to get your rocks off’ and The Guardian Guide: “Bang Face celebrates with luminaries Venetian Snares, A Guy Called Gerald and Hellfish to unleash all manner of mayhem”.[10][11] Bang Face also holds an annual boat party on the River Thames.

Weekenders

After five years of monthly club nights Bang Face launched the first Weekender in 2008, held over three days at Pontins in Camber Sands. Following the success of this event it has now become an annual event.[2][6] A fly poster for the first Weekender appeared in Channel 4's Shameless as a stage prop.[12][13] In 2012 the Bang Face Weekender was held at Trevelgue Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall and headlined by Aphex Twin.[14] The Bang Face Weekender returned in 2015 to Pontins Holiday Park Southport for the 100th event.[5] The Bang Face Weekender was also held again in April 2016 at Southport.

Festivals & European Events

Bang Face began to host showcase events at UK festivals, starting with The Glade in 2006.[15] In 2010 it hosted a night at the Glastonbury Festival for the first time, which was ranked ninth in a Daily Telegraph columnist's Top 10 highlights of the festival.[3] BangFace returned to Glastonbury in June 2011.[16] In 2013 - 2014 Bang Face organised events in Belgium and Holland where they have a strong fanbase. This included a takeover at Dour Festival in 2014.[17]

See also

• List of electronic music festivals

References

1. "RaveTalk.co.uk: Bang Face vs Bangface".
2. Lawrence, Eddy (13 November 2008). Time Out London. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. Jones, Lucy (29 June 2010). "Top ten highlights of Glastonbury 2010". The Telegraph.
4. "BANGFACE: A DECADE OF BANGING".
5. "Bangface: Neo-rave utopia".
6. Sturrock, Alex (May 2008). "Street Life". Observer.
7. McGrath, Allan (January 2007). "Bangface". DJ Mag.
8. "Bang Face's Eighth Birthday Party". Time Out London. 17 September 2011.
9. Knight, Sam (21 January 2007). New York Times. Missing or empty |title= (help)
10. "The Clubs". NME. June 2006.
11. "Pick of the week". The Guardian. 7 October 2006.
12. "Shameface!".
13. Company Pictures (March 2008). "Shameless TV Series". Channel 4. 5.
14. "Bang Face Weekender 2012!".
15. "Glade Get Bang Face". Clash Magazine. 18 June 2006.
16. "Glastonbury Festivals - 2011 Line-ups". Archived from the original on 2007-12-23.
17. "BangFace voor het eerst op Dour Festival".

• http://djmag.com/content/bangface-decade-banging

External links

• Official website