Big Chill - Lulworth Castle

The Big Chill Festival @ Lulworth 2001

Friday 17th to Sunday 19th August 2001
Lulworth Castle, Dorset., England
Adults £89, Children £25 (age 5-16), live-in vehicles £10 surcharge

Last updated: Sun 12th Jan 2003

17th August 2001
Lulworth Castle, Dorset.

Why do people go to festivals? I ask because any slant on a review of the Big Chill has to be with that question in mind. Is it for the music? If so then big festivals, have the headlining acts that draw in the crowds. Is it for the thrill? If so then dance festivals probably suit pretty well. Is it escapism? Is it political? Then Glastonbury or single issue festivals are likely to be your thing. This weekend in Lulworth Cove in Dorset something special was going on that managed to blend all the above. The point is that this won't be everyone's 'cup of tea' but if the reason you go to festivals is a combination of the above then this is a festival you should experience.

Lulworth Castle

The attention to detail that goes into this festival is fantastic. The location is beautiful and large, set amongst the grounds of Lulworth Castle. Although the camping is not as luxurious as Larmer Tree it still beats most festivals hands down. The music is universally excellent, maverick in some senses and lots of it is quite downbeat but then the label on this festival spells that out. Big Chill boast an extensive family and when there it's obvious that this is the case. There is a beautiful atmosphere right through the weekend. Everything else from the Arts Trail to the Body and Soul Area, from the great food to the hot showers contributes to the enjoyment of this festival.

trees are cool

Against most forecasts the rain held off on Friday. Yam Yam's world-music inspired tracks on the Open Air Stage got everyone into the right mood for the evening. Kinobe followed with their acclaimed chill out sounds. Caught the end of Modaji stirring the emotions in the dance tent making way for Phil Asher & Nathan Haines before Gilles Peterson and Earl Zinger whooped up the crowd with acid-jazz meets breakbeats. On the Open Air Stage Big Chill regular Mr Scruff played an awesome two hour set finishing with Talking Heads' Once In Lifetime. Scruff didn't want to finish, he seemed itching to play 'one more' but a licence is a licence.

The 'chillers' woke up to torrential rain on Saturday morning that lasted until well into the afternoon. With many people taking refuge the outdoor stage audiences were thin until the rain stopped. A shame as Eva played a lovely set on the Sanctuary Stage (that has a sea view!), she has a beautiful voice. Holistic DJ's had a small crowd rocking but it was Funky Lowlives upbeat set in the Dance Tent that had most people going. The Bays on the Open Air Stage had a great bassy vibe going whilst Pork Recordings Bernard Moss played to a great reception on the Sanctuary with a Death in Vegas edge to some of the instrumental sounds. Different Drummer Sounds' breakbeats warmed up the growing audience at the Open Air Stage up ahead of Saturdays headliners, Kruder & Dorfmeister. This was the Austrian's first major live appearance in the UK and featured MC Sugar B and some wild and wonderful visuals from Fritz Fitzke. The three hour deeply groovy set was excellent and kept everyone dancing throughout. Mixmasters they are and so much so that is often difficult to tell which raw material has been remixed. It's the innovation and free flowing beats that drive K&D's international following. The Big Chill is an ideal audience and this set is a highlight of the weekend. Stages and bars closed at 1am and people headed for the Arts Trail, media Mix tent films, 24 hour cafe or for the superb Miniscule of Sound (beware the bouncers!).

Kruder & Dorfmeister

Chillers woke on Sunday to sunshine. It could mean only one thing....that Norman Jay was in town. Sure enough Norman and the Good Times production crew were filling their increasingly traditional slot on a Sunday afternoon at Big Chill do's. Starting with gentle ambient tunes, sympathising with the hangovers, moving more upbeat over the course of the two hours, spinning some classic dancey tracks into funky beats towards the end. Two hours of bliss that had everyone forgetting hangovers and up on their feet. These sets have come to represent a lot here and Norman Jay loves it, "I've played all the festivals, Homelands etc. but this is the festival with the best crowd. It's a festival that encourages maverick music and I love playing for you". Norman you are a god.

Norman Jay

Kirsty Hawkshaw on the Sanctuary Stage next. Her reputation stems mainly from Opus 3's Fine Day. Here her voice is as sublime and as the program notes point out, she is playing some wonderful music. Matthew Herbert performs a very popular set on the Open Air Stage. Tom Middleton mixes some goosebump inducing music with the Joyful Company of Singers (a 25 strong choir) before spinning some trad Middleton Electronica and house. The festival line up drew to a close with founder Pete Lawrence's chilled out set on the Sanctuary Stage, Bent on the Open Air Stage and Amalgamation of Soundz in the Club Tent. Great expectations of Bent were perhaps not matched. Their set contained much of the awesome Programmed to Love album, with some wonderful vocals from Zoe Johnson. It was great and they clearly enjoyed it but it lacked that little bit extra that the audience were hoping for. That leaves the class act of Amalgamation of Soundz, very highly rated within the establishment, playing with mixes that had the audience bouncing along throughout. Yet another highlight of the weekend.

Bent

It has been a spectacular year for the Big Chill. Following the downsizing of the very popular Enchanted Garden festival, Lulworth was always a bit of a gamble. But it sold out all 7,000 tickets in the final week. An earlier successful tour of Australia and stint in Japan. The repeat of last years amazing Naxos trip next month, except this year it's two weeks. The extended family of chillers is growing rapidly. This reflects the outstanding approach of co-founders and organisers Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin, which reflect in my opinion what festivals should be. This in turn is reflected by the loyalty and interest of many superb musicians. The Big Chill is not commercial and still small enough to not need to be. I expect the extended family will continue to grow very rapidly but not too rapidly....please!

Pete & Katrina