- As drizzle fell over London on Saturday, a Percolate sign—built in the style of Hollywood's—stood on a wet, grassy bank against a backdrop of cranes and grey sky. I watched as a bedraggled man picked up the "A" and stumbled down the hill with it, only for another punter to stop him in his tracks and replace it, to cheers from onlookers. A trivial moment perhaps, but one of many that made Percolate Open Air a fun day out.
Percolate's first "party in a park"—all the promotional material insisted it wasn't a festival—took place at Three Mills Island near Bow in East London. Entering the site felt like visiting a coastal castle, with gulls overhead and a smell of seawater lingering in the air. A short walk through The House Mill, a Grade I-listed building, took you to the perfectly round and grassy Three Mills Green. The space had never been used before, which is always a nice touch, and it generated a sense of occasion. A big question hung over the day: would Percolate be able to translate what they do in the club into the outdoor space?
In short, yes. Percolate Open Air married the ease and intimacy of Oval Space with a sense of community akin to Gottwood. It felt like a family affair, from director Simon Denby's family getting stuck in with the site build, to the young and trendy punters emblazoned with Percolate's trademark "Party People" stickers at the entrance. There was a strong feeling of togetherness throughout the day, which might have been helped by the rain—nothing unites the British like partying in adverse weather conditions. Rain fell almost the entire time, and while there were definitely some subdued moments, overall it seemed to boost everyone's spirits.
Dancing umbrellas and flying hula hoops replaced hands in the air as Scuba took to the main stage for a set of unexpected crowd pleasers like Sandy B's "Make The World Go Round." One of only two stages onsite, The Face was decorated with corrugated iron and plants hanging from wooden slats. Around 15 screens displayed warped, inky visuals, and the signature Percolate sign shone proudly above the decks. Earlier in the day, during Paranoid London's well-received set of infectious and playful acid house, the soundsystem had excelled. But the levels were noticeably fluctuating for DJ Koze's closing performance. As a result the crowd felt a little flat at points, though Koze quickly resurrected the vibe with a masterclass of long build-ups and tracks like Felix Da Housecat's "Kickdrum" and his own euphoric version of Låpsley's "Operator."
At the opposite end of the site—positioned not quite far enough away to prevent slight sound bleed in the middle—was The Unit, a compact stage with a hefty soundsystem that reminded me of Gottwood's Road To Nowhere. A wall of metallic green panels flanked each side of the decks, shuddering in time with the beats. Above the booth hung a cluster of small disco balls. The stage highlighted Percolate's knack for curating a lineup. Leon Vynehall, Ryan Elliott and Evan Baggs got the party started at midday with a five hour back-to-back. Dropping records like Transcendence's "Magique Noire" and Pépé Bradock’s "Deep Burnt," they provided the perfect incentive for arriving early. Later, Saoirse delighted a small but engaged crowd with expert mixing, squelchy synths and driving basslines, before handing over to a poised Sonja Moonear to close. Red lasers glittered in the rain and amber spotlights sparkled through the smoky haze as the Swiss DJ revelled in deep, percussive cuts like Headless Ghost's "Swept Illusions (Dorisburg 808 Dance Mix)."
Overall, Percolate's big party in the park felt slick and polished. Apart for some long queues at the food stands—of which there were only two—I can think of few immediate lessons to take onboard for next year. But then, after five years in the game, the Percolate team are practiced promoters. On Saturday, in the open air, they excelled once again.
Photo credit /
Michael Njunge for Here & Now
Dancing umbrellas and flying hula hoops replaced hands in the air as Scuba took to the main stage for a set of unexpected crowd pleasers like Sandy B's "Make The World Go Round." One of only two stages onsite, The Face was decorated with corrugated iron and plants hanging from wooden slats. Around 15 screens displayed warped, inky visuals, and the signature Percolate sign shone proudly above the decks. Earlier in the day, during Paranoid London's well-received set of infectious and playful acid house, the soundsystem had excelled. But the levels were noticeably fluctuating for DJ Koze's closing performance. As a result the crowd felt a little flat at points, though Koze quickly resurrected the vibe with a masterclass of long build-ups and tracks like Felix Da Housecat's "Kickdrum" and his own euphoric version of Låpsley's "Operator."
At the opposite end of the site—positioned not quite far enough away to prevent slight sound bleed in the middle—was The Unit, a compact stage with a hefty soundsystem that reminded me of Gottwood's Road To Nowhere. A wall of metallic green panels flanked each side of the decks, shuddering in time with the beats. Above the booth hung a cluster of small disco balls. The stage highlighted Percolate's knack for curating a lineup. Leon Vynehall, Ryan Elliott and Evan Baggs got the party started at midday with a five hour back-to-back. Dropping records like Transcendence's "Magique Noire" and Pépé Bradock’s "Deep Burnt," they provided the perfect incentive for arriving early. Later, Saoirse delighted a small but engaged crowd with expert mixing, squelchy synths and driving basslines, before handing over to a poised Sonja Moonear to close. Red lasers glittered in the rain and amber spotlights sparkled through the smoky haze as the Swiss DJ revelled in deep, percussive cuts like Headless Ghost's "Swept Illusions (Dorisburg 808 Dance Mix)." Overall, Percolate's big party in the park felt slick and polished. Apart for some long queues at the food stands—of which there were only two—I can think of few immediate lessons to take onboard for next year. But then, after five years in the game, the Percolate team are practiced promoters. On Saturday, in the open air, they excelled once again. Photo credit / Michael Njunge for Here & Now