The last ten years has seen We Are FSTVL go from strength to strength, solidifying its reputation as a world-class electronic music festival. It’s where over 1,000 of the globe’s electronic elite have performed and the FSTVL tribe of half a million people have gathered since its inception in 2013.
Thanks to the festival’s growth, this year sees the event transform from a two to three day show across the August Bank Holiday weekend – for two massive days and three magical nights. The festival’s venue, Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster which is affectionately known as ‘the airfield of dreams’, will be transformed into a true rite of passage for the techno and deep house community to mark the biggest chapter yet in We Are FSTVL‘s stellar history.
Never ones to rest on their laurels, We Are FSTVL has always pushed the boundaries in terms of bespoke stage structures and production including the behemoth that was Terminal 1, The Maze, The Techno Warehouse, The Perfect Sky and 2023 promises to take it to the next level. With twice as many arenas as 2022, over 150 of the top electronic artists, eight incredible arenas and four brand new immersive technology concepts, this is destined to be the brand’s most epic event yet and an unforgettable end to the Summer of 2023.
Making their way home to headline the show for the first time are electronic icons The Prodigy. Hailing from Braintree, Essex, The Prodigy entered the British music scene in 1990 and shaped the sound of hardcore rave music. Made up of breakdancer and aspiring producer Liam Howlett, along with dancers Keith Flint and Leeroy Thornhill, the band turned the conflicting sound of rave music into a global force to be reckoned with.
From berserk techno beats to punk rock, The Prodigy‘s sound became a favourite across the globe and their first number one single on the UK Singles Chart, ‘Firestarter‘, remains an absolute anthem. Last year, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the track #110 on their list of ‘200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time’. Dubbed the ‘Kings of Live Techno’ by Music Week, the group has sold an estimated 30 million records and their electrifying live shows continue to sell out arenas across the globe, so We Are FSTVL revellers are in for something special.
Joining The prodigy is one of the hottest artists on the planet right now, Michael Bibi. Founder of the famous record label Solid Grooves, the unstoppable Michael Bibi is set to take the ‘airfield of dreams’ by storm. This will be his fifth We Are FSTVL performance, having treated festival goers to a b3b with Loco Dice and Dennis Cruz in [2022].
Nothing comes between him and making sure that his musical input keeps the party swinging. Bibi‘s raw passion for playing and making music, combined with his love for the party scene, has seen him deliver stand out performances at the likes of Forbidden Forest, Parklife and Creamfields, as well as his own night at the famous DC10 in Ibiza. We might not know his We Are FSTVL setlist yet, but we can be sure it’s going to be very special.
Aussie tech house DJ and producer FISHER joins the bill, who shot to fame following his crossover track ‘Losing It‘ in 2019. ‘Losing It’ went straight to number one in both the Australian and American club charts and was also nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. His first time at We Are FSTVL, fans can expect FISHER to serve non-stop feel-good beats.
Internationally renowned DJ, broadcaster and author Annie Mac also makes her return to We Are FSTVL. A key music industry figure championing female and LGBTQ+ artists, Annie can often be seen on the biggest stages of music festivals across the UK and the world, as well as DJ booths of the world’s best clubs. She has created a far-reaching presence rooted in quality, integrity and the authentic connections that unite us all as loyal fans.
Returning for the seventh time is the King of Ibiza himself, Carl Cox, who joins We Are FSTVL for a one-of-a-kind live performance. A musical ambassador and a veteran of acid house, a champion of techno, a dance music pioneer and label owner – you name it, Carl’s been there and done it, never losing sight of his passions – playing music, breaking tunes and celebrating life. Carl ranked #22 on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs at the end of last year, after taking his production to a whole new level performing as a live artist. His new live show debuted at Ultra in Miami 2022 and since then, Carl has said playing live is ‘the future for him’. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for We Are FSTVL 2023.
Local hero Sonny Fodera, described as ‘one of the biggest draws in house’ by Mixmag, has ‘created his own brand of groove driven and emotive house music that resonates with devoted fans across the globe’. His meteoric rise in the scene over the last few years has led to sold out tours in the UK and America, as well as summer residencies at the likes of Ibiza Rocks. Not only that, Sonny has played at major festivals including Coachella, EDC Vegas and WMC Miami. His Spotify and Apple Music stats say it all – with over 50+ million streams, he’s one of the most played acts in the industry and his house rhythms are sure to bring the vibes yet again following an unbelievable set at last year’s show.
Bringing his renowned poetic house sound to the airfield is Folamour. 2019 was the turning point for this French mastermind, with more than 130 dates around the world and a Boiler Room which elevated him as one of the most promising artists of the new generation, he quickly became a household name. A cross between disco and house, Folamour’s sound has created laid back but energetic club tracks bound to get the crowd grooving.
Multi BRIT Award nominated Joel Corry, who has spent the last ten years playing clubs across the UK and Europe, will also take to the We Are decks with his endless floor fillers. 2022 was another blockbuster year in Joel’s career, with a trio of club tracks across leading dance labels which all landed inside the Beatport Top 10, another collaboration with industry heavyweight David Guetta, flagship DJ residencies in Ibiza and Las Vegas and the release of his seventh UK Top 20 hit ‘History’ with Becky Hill, which serve as a reminder of Joel’s pedigree as a DJ, producer and selector.
Co-founder of dance label Hot Creations, curator of the Paradise event series and member of band Hot Natured, Jamie Jones makes his return to We Are FSTVL. The Welsh DJ has pioneered his own distinct sound thanks to his knowledge and experience which allows him to cultivate sets that weave through a range of diverse, complementary styles to energise and enchant the dancefloor.
The last decade has seen Jamie take the White Isle by storm, after launching one of Ibiza’s most popular parties, Paradise, at DC-10. His innate passion for music comes through in every set with his head boppin’ in that trademark style as he channels his unique energy into invigorating dance floors from Sunwaves festival in Romania to closing the main stage at EDC Vegas.
Global ambassador of techno Marco Carola, one of the most in demand DJs on the globe for the last two decades, will also be bringing his infamous energetic and impressive three deck style of mixing back to We Are FSTVL after a monumental set last year. Joining him is Vintage Culture, one of the most creative talents of his generation in Brazil and beyond. Describing himself as a ‘vibe connector’, he has the ability to engage with each and every member of the crowd, whether playing to hundreds in a club or thousands at a festival. He prefers to ‘go long’ so he can really dig deep into his collection and loves sunset or sundown sets so he can create those extra special, spine-tingling moments of real musical magic. We can’t wait for this one!
The biggest DnB DJ in the world, Andy C, is set to return to the festival for another of his legendary live performances that have earned him an accolade of over 40 industry awards. From DJ Mag (Best British DJ), DNBA (Best DJ), Top 100 DJs Poll (Highest Drum & Bass DJ) to the Ibiza DJ Awards (Best Bass DJ), there really is no stopping him. Manchester’s rising star Interplanetary Criminal, famous for his track Baddest Of Them All with Eliza Rose which was the soundtrack of summer 2022, will bring his distinctly UK sound to the airfield. Featuring the finest garage, rave and dub mixes – his set list is sure not to disappoint.
Antwerp native Amelie Lens, who is at the forefront of today’s techno scene, is another act making her We Are debut this year on the XXL Stage. Heading up two labels, Lenske and Exhale Records, as well as her fast-growing party series EXHALE and own radio show, Amelie is an industry trailblazer. She regularly headlines festivals including Awakenings, Sonar and Timewarp, so we can’t wait to see what she has in store for us at We Are FSTVL.
John Summit has quickly become the hottest name in dance music worldwide so of course organisers have snapped him up for their bank holiday blow-out. His feel-good tunes take the pumping grooves of his hometown Chicago’s classic music, add a healthy dose of melody, and top it all off with 2020s studio polish.
Summit‘s prolific output has resulted in the accumulation of 5 million monthly Spotify listeners, becoming the top-selling artist across all genres of Beatport in 2021, a number one track on US Dance radio with his record ‘Human‘ and it doesn’t stop there with his recent announcement of his new label/event brand, ‘OFF THE GRID.’ His remix of Schak’s ‘Movin’ All Around (Jumpin’)’ is currently climbing its way up the Beatport chart too and is sure to be another certified banger for his multi-hour sets!
Scottish duo LF System, who met through playing B2B sets at the Edinburgh club night FLY, make their We Are FSTVL debut and are set for a massive reception from fans. Named by The Blessed Madonna as her ‘one to watch’ for 2022, their track ‘Afraid To Feel’ elevated the pair from their modest roots to international attention. Not only that, their success has played a significant part in the resurgence of the Scottish music scene too. ‘Afraid To Feel’ reached #1 on the same day that Paulo Nutini topped the album charts with ‘Last Night in The Bittersweet’ – a moment that Lewis Capaldi celebrated during his headline show at Glasgow’s TRNSMT.
Next on the bill is Mochakk who has become a global phenomenon recently thanks to an expansive North American tour with multiple sold out dates, dominating a laundry list of festivals internationally, done B2B sets with the likes of Vintage Culture, and a slot at the holy grail, Circoloco Ibiza. His thrilling persona behind the decks matches his prolific production and the We Are tribe are in for a treat.
The world’s top dance music brands have hosted arenas at We Are FSTVL over the years and this year, organizers have brought together the best of the best for its tenth anniversary. Featuring first time appearances from Patrick Topping’s label Trick, XXL TECHNO, Eastenderz and ‘the trippiest party on the planet’ Foreverland, as well as returning global electronic brands Circoloco and Solid Grooves, Abode, Disco Disco, LoveJuice, Dance on Arrival, Boat Club and more to still be announced, this will be the only place you want to spend the August bank holiday.
The 2023 show will also see the addition of camping, where festival goers can recalibrate their souls, re-energize their spirit and not have to worry about that dreaded post-festival journey home. All campers can arrive from Friday afternoon to get set up early and take their time getting ready before the party kicks off when the sun goes down, with a late night silent disco open exclusively for them.
Described as ‘a firm favorite with Londoners thanks to big-name dance behemoths and equally big production values’ by TimeOut, We Are FSTVL 2023 is one not to miss.
Tickets available HERE!
