Freeze Festival London - Review
rating: 3
Freeze Festival? Better have wrapped up warm, since it was exactly that. A cold October day, perfect for the lineup of winter sports and tent covered big DJ sets and musical talent. However as my first time at Freeze, I am not so sure whether it is traditionally to this stature or may have been different this year, either way I felt like there was a lot less going-on in comparison to the other Relentless festivals, NASS and Boardmasters. Based in central London, located in the ground of Battersea Power station, it is a perfect place to hold event to such sports. Hyde Park nor any university territories could provide adequate space or atmosphere for such event, plus the built-up industrial site gave the perfect twist to the normal expectation of locations for winter sports.
Freeze festival, just like the other famous Relentless sports festivals NASS and Boardmasters, Freeze brought in world famous athletes, to jump the massive 32 meter jump which contained 500 tonnes or real snow. This year also brought in music acts such as Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy, A-YO (Mark Ronson & Zane Lowe), DJ Shadow, Shy Fx and many more. These acts played across 5 moderately sized stages across the friday and saturday of the end of October. So, what was my thoughts of this festival? Close but no cigar. My festival expectation had only been partially filled. I love watching sports. You name it, I've probably paid to watch it at some point this summer, but Freeze Festival did not give me that festival experience I thought I would find. More like a two day event to showcase big names. Dont get me wrong, I would definitely come back next year, but with the space of the location and the types of entertainment going on, its hard for anyone (including me) who lives outside London to find themselves able to make full use of whats going on. With that one, mammoth of a sized slope and tents where music didn't start to take place till 2pm, before then it didn't really seem necessary to be there. Due to that is why I cant make a review on the musical acts. With not so much diversity in the music lineup, I was more active to watch sports than music and with my long commute home, I was only able to stay a few hours. Nice little festival for those living close. I would have expected to see a few more shorter, smaller slopes or a few more street-style for skating or BMXing, just for that extra entertainment factor. Either way, my winter sports needs have been filled and being close by to various underground stations and travel options, im sure most people thought the location and music on offer was exactly what they wanted.