Kanye rocks Global Gathering

Global Gathering is known as the UK’s leading dance music festival – so how would US rapper Kanye West’s gig go down with the ravers?

FRIDAY

KANYE WEST -What was lacking in stage production - the promised Glow In The Dark tour light displays and props were mysteriously missing – was certainly made up for with charisma and enthusiasm from Mr West.

He bounded across the stage from the first bar of the first song, ‘Good Morning’, taken from his latest ‘Graduation’ album.

What followed was a mega mix of his impressive list of greatest hits, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, ‘Heard ‘Em Say’, ‘Gold Digger’ and ‘American Boy’.

With minimal chat between tracks, Kanye showed why he’s the self-styled “number one hip hop artist in the world today”.

Even though he stumbled over the lyrics for Touch The Sky and apologised for not hitting the high notes due to a hoarse voice, by the finale - the DAFT PUNK-sampling ‘Stronger’ - he had the majority of hip hop-wary clubbers at the festival hanging on every word.


Rating - 9/10


SATURDAY

HADOUKEN - The Leeds band drew a large mid-afternoon crowd on what was the hottest day of the year so far.

Their punk edged techno/indie crossover exploded from the stage with riotous songs like ‘Get Smashed Gatecrash’ and ‘Crank It Up’ leading into more synth-heavy numbers such as their ode to ‘Hoxton heroes and indie Cindys’, ‘That Boy That Girl’.

“I bet you’re all wondering what those idiots are doing standing up here in skinny black jeans,” bare-chested singer James Smith told the crowd, before persuading the men (and some ladies) to take their tops off and spin them above their heads.

Finally came a tribute to “the best band in the world, THE PRODIGY” and a fairly impressive cover of their hit ‘Breathe’.

Easily the most innovative set of the weekend.

Rating - 9/10

ROBYN - Eccentric pop dance star Robyn took to the stage in a tyre tread print catsuit and ‘fashion forward’ clumpy shoes and launched into re-energised versions of songs from her recent eponymous album including a fantastic rendition of the gangster-baiting single ‘Handle Me’ and the melancholic ‘With Every Heartbeat’.

It was an enjoyable enough set but after so much drama on stage already, Robyn’s slot felt a bit like a Salad Cream sandwich.

Rating - 7/10

MARK RONSON - Saturday’s headliner Mark Ronson took to the stage looking like he’d been partaking in the festival spirit with the rest of the revellers and within half an hour had announced, “this is the best crowd I have ever played to – and that includes Glastonbury!”

Of course most people don’t expect to now see the likes of collaborators AMY WINEHOUSE and LILY ALEN on stage with the Version Players but the big surprise of the night was an appearance by Chicago rapper (and friend of Kanye West) RHYMEFEST, who performed his single ‘Brand New’ to a great response.

Ronson also conducted a fantastic rendition of his old skool hip hop production, ‘Ooh Wee’ – getting the crowd to sing back the hook.

But it was down to soulful vocalist DANIEL MERRIWEATHER to steal the show, bringing the night to a emotional close with ‘Stop Me’.

Rating - 8/10

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/music/caught_live/article1476046.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=Kanye+West