United Festival — Forget about work - let's rave

Forget about work - let's rave

Whistles and glowsticks were mandatory – United Festival took you back in time to the days where people just danced, not caring in the slightest what they looked like. None of this supposed ‘cool’ two step (pssh…!)

Another instalment within the renowned Found Series collection, this chapter celebrated 25 years of British rave culture – for 11 hours. There were 8 stages and over 150 acts, all packed in tents – so whatever the weather, it was never going to disappoint. The layout was the same as Ceremony Festival, another of the Found Series, which took place the day before. The atmosphere remained, and it was in actual fact busier (despite it being a Sunday). The layout of the festival was simple, and worked to great effect.

As with the other festivals within the Found Series, the token service operated, which prevented overcrowding at bars – but it did however mean that you had the chance of having non-refundable tokens at the end of the night. Swings and roundabouts.

It takes you a while to acclimatise to raving during the day; the reverberating bass throughout the Finsbury Park grounds slowly tempts you from one tent to another – next thing you know you’re deep within it, and it’s half one in the afternoon. The crowd throughout the festival were a real mix of ages, styles, interests – but all with the same common interest, dancing until one can dance no more.

The One Nation tent played some heavy Drum ‘n’ Bass vibes, whilst the United Main Stage put on some super sets – namely through DJ Hype, then Oxide & Neutrino, people lost in the music. It was great. DJ Luck & MC Neat packed out the TwiceAsNice stage – people flooding over the railings, it was pure fantastical madness. A real surprise stage, almost the forgotten child –tucked up at the top of the hill, Mental Asylum played trance, europop, club classics – all sorts! It was almost a moment of juxtaposition, that such a small looking tent could create such euphoria – but it did, and how!

In its second year this is a little gem of a festival in North London. Rave in the day and forget you have work the next day. If next year’s too long to wait, look out for the Found Horror Series this October.