With Clapham party bar Gigalum announcing the launch of their very own festival this week, creator William Campbell-Jones took some time out from his busy schedule and spoke to us exclusively about the birth of Sub Audio Festival.
What would you say is the main concept behind Sub Audio Festival?
As far as we know this is the first festival in the UK dedicated to Silent Disco, and having done some amazing headphone events at Gigalum we know that this will create real buzz and solidarity amongst the entire crowd. With a capacity of only 1000 people, the atmosphere will be so much more intimate than your average festival, a real house party vibe!
What excites you most about Sub Audio Festival?
Dancing in the warm sunshine (we’ve pulled a few strings with the weather gods so no worries there). We have over 70 DJs, playing such a great range of styles including house, electro swing, indie, rock, breakbeat, balkan, glitch hop, you name it. Apart from the huge bar, we’ll also have some great food stalls that people can enjoy from midday without being blasted by a big sound system, just take your headphones off and tuck in.
What do you think the silent disco element brings to the event?
At big festivals my friends often end up going their separate ways; one person wants to listen to the headliner at the main stage while the other wants to check out a different tent and another prefers to relax on the grass with their drink. Then it’s hard to meet up again as the mobile network is always overloaded!
With a silent disco you can all stay together dancing to different DJs or hanging out with some lunch. It also avoids problems with bad sound systems or quiet spots, as you can control the volume and switch between the 3 channels on the top-of-the-range headphones we provide. Whether you’re in front of the DJ on the dancefloor or lounging on the grass at that back, you get the full experience.
Sub Audio Festival is set to be one of the hits of the summer in 2014.
As your Art Director worked on the Secret Garden Party what can we expect?
We want to keep as much of it as a surprise as possible, but to give you a taste; you’ll be able to get involved with or watch a whole range of pop-up experiences including glitter-wrestling, a giant ball pit, spoken word events, live body painting and an acoustic living room. Think hay bales and bunting rather than dry-ice and lasers!
Clapham Common is a wonderful setting, was there ever anywhere else you wanted to host it?
No. Clapham Common is such a brillant social hub in the summer for everyone in the area and has a great history with music events. There are so many surrounding bars and restaurants to go to before and after, it was a no brainer. The spot we have is right by Clapham South tube too so everyone will have super easy access.
What makes Sub Audio different to other festivals in London?
Most proper music festivals are easily over £50 a ticket, but we’re only asking for £23! Sub Audio will be so much more about the party than profit.
Like the sound of Sub Audio? Tickets available here for £23. Sub Audio Festival will be taking place on Saturday 24th May and Sunday 25th May 2014 on Clapham Common.
