As everyone else heads off to Ibiza for another season of hedonistic shenanigans the ever reigning heavyweights of dance, Cream, touch down in Australia for their Tropics Tour. Managing to touch base with a couple of the eclectic line-up and the organisers, ITM got the lowdown on what can be expected from this world first. Time to get a bit excited then!
Having often queued for hours in the pouring rain that is Liverpool’s trademark waiting to get into what, perhaps, is still the ultimate club experience in the UK, I was eager to discover if the organisers have something special in store for the Aussie punters. “We aim to stand out differently against our competitors and this we think will be an annual event that will grow and be the first of many unique and fresh concepts we have for Australia. Cream in the Tropics Tour is different in that no one has done it before. The aim is to bring something a little bit different. On this occasion, we’re bringing a taste of Ibiza to a certain degree, with a very Australian feel. Globally, Cream events are going off in South America, Europe, Asia and now, Australia.” Not content to, as they put it, “simply do club tours” Cream plan to bring a little extra to the table. “We like to keep a little bit secret but we’ve imported production that will include an array of high end visual effects, animated and 3D visuals along with a sophisticated lighting rig. The Cream production itself is used in Ibiza and of course Creamfields but we think the most amazing visual effect will be the natural beauty of the surrounding Tropical region.”
So we get an idea of the visual feast to be laid out before us but what sounds can we expect to be hearing? “On this particular tour we’re concentrating on the house sound. Jackin’ disco dirty funked up house to be precise! We think is suits the tropical surroundings and creates the best party atmosphere. This lot play in Ibiza all the time so it seemed perfect for this Tropics tour. As the tour is new and fresh, we wanted to introduce new and fresh acts that are performing everywhere in Europe. As they profess, “We can pretty much secure any act but the secret is also pushing the new ones and championing new upfront sounds”, and with the lineup including Phat Phil, Mutiny UK and Supafly”. I caught up firstly with Phat Phil, a man from my very own town, Chester, and asked what he was most looking forward to about the upcoming tour. “I think the locations and number of events… I have visited many places in Australia but never been this far up North.” As to the sound we can expect to be hearing emanating from the man when he’s behing the wheels? “Dirty, dark, twisted disco beats – real body and soul music” but let’s not forget the “huge portion of ass shaking boompty boomp funk”. Describing his career as “one long highlight” and counting himself fortunate to “have found my groove in life” it’s pretty fair to say this is a man well and truly up for it. Support your local Cestrian and check out his website HERE for a more detailed bio, some hilarious photos and some damn fine mixes.
Next up we have Dylan Barnes and Rob Davey who make up Mutiny UK who “became involved through our lovely friend Karen Young who has made a new life for herself in Oz and is busy spreading the word and preaching the gospel that is British House music!” Often compared to the likes of Basement Jaxx and Daft Punk the duo more accurately describe their sound as ” Dirty, Funked Up, Jackin’, Party House Music!!” This would appear to be keeping within the remit for the Cream tour then. Elaborating a little though “Music should be about feel so we try to just enjoy what we do and leave other people to decide what our sound is.” Having already completed remixes for Robbie Williams and Maxi Jazz, Mutiny have just finished their second album “In The Now” with their first single “The Virus” tearing up dancefloors all over Europe”. “We had some amazing response to our last album. We would say that it was a complete learning curve. Up’s and Down’s all the way. But we took all of it positively as everything after writing it was a bonus. We’d do some things the same and other things differently.” So how do the lads find sharing their time between the studio and the DJing “It’s a hard blend to get right. Love the both of them. But, writing and producing is what we’re really all about and DJ’ing should be to compliment that. Although I just wanna DJ sometimes and not bother with the Studio. Especially when the Sun is shining. Write and produce by winter, DJ by summer. If only!!!!” So, perhaps understandably the pair are pretty happy about their slice of the party pie at present. ” Sun’s shining here, Gig tomorrow in Brighton, Then off to OZ via Singapoore…shopping haven….....Can’t be bad can it? We get paid to do this…...It’s a hard life!” Just as their name suggests, where there’s Mutiny, there’s mayhem – and all in the best possible sense of the word. ” Watch this space. We love a laugh. Can’t wait to get stuck in!!” For more info check out Mutiny UK’s website HERE.
This is promising to be the first event of it’s kind – a tour which not only brings world famous international DJs to the Far North Queensland’s shores but also with them a visually outstanding light show and unique Cream production flown in especially for this event. Not content to lay on just another club night – the Cream in the Tropics tour will be hosting the most extravagant beach party at Coconuts, Magnetic Island, famed for the Full Moon parties. The Playpen in Cairns will be hosting next and then Cream will touch the shores of the Whitsundays where the Airlie Sailing Club will be transformed into the biggest day party ever to be had with the backdrop that dreams are made of. The Cream in the Tropics tour finale will take place in the only venue large enough to hold the spectacular set-up, the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre and the day has been specially chosen as the day after is a Public Holiday, so there’s absolutely no excuse not to join in the fun. Let’s get amongst it then.
Cream in the Tropics tour dates:
Thu June 26th, Beach Party at Coconuts, Magnetic Island. sunset-sunrise. $27+bf
Fri June 27th, Playpen Nightclub, Cairns. 10pm-5am. $27+bf
Sat June 28th, Airlie Beach Yacht Club, Whitsundays 3pm-late. $30+bf
Tue July 1st, Entertainment Centre, Townsville. 8pm-2am. $30
Fri July 4th, Gas, Sydney, 9pm-5am. $38.50 (BUY TICKETS)
