With Simon Patterson at the helm, the Creamfields 2011 trance arena is in good hands. As committed a DJ as he is a producer, the UK gun has proven his formidable talent here on several visits: notably with Sean Tyas in 2008, then for Trance Energy in 2009 and alongside Sied Van Riel on the Airport tour. Needless to say, he’s itching to get back.

Patterson has nothing put praise for the intimate Airport tour, and admits he’s got to take a different game-plan to the festival stage. “In a festival you normally get one hour, and in that hour I have to make sure that every track is worth playing,” he tells inthemix ahead of the tour. “You have to play tracks that you know are gonna kill it.”

Patterson also reveals he’s looking to model his future sets on the example of Giuseppe Ottaviani, who headlined the Stereosonic trance arena in 2010. “Eventually I’ll try to play shows like Giuseppe Ottaviani does – live,” Patterson muses. ”Today I believe it’s all about show. Anyone can DJ. I just want to be able to do something inspirational behind the decks like playing or remixing live.”

For Creamfields, though, he’ll be utilising Serato to deliver the festival-pitched, driving trance that he’s made his own. And he’s also keen to catch some of the line-up’s other stars. “I’m a big fan of Bart Claessen and have been a big fan of Gabriel & Dresden,” he says. “If Gabriel & Dresden bring out all those old tracks they will be very interesting to see. I love their work. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone who’s on the line-up!”