Down by the River: Riverside Festival

We quiz Soma boss Dave Clarke on this year's Electric Frog and Pressure Riverside Festival

Feature by Ronan Martin | 10 Apr 2014

Next month sees the return of the Electric Frog and Pressure Riverside Festival – an event which has evolved considerably, both in format and scope, over the years. Originally a one dayer held at the SWG3 complex, the festival now boasts a two day bill and a picturesque spot on the Clyde next to the Riverside Museum. With the party a month or so away, we catch up with Dave Clarke of Pressure and the legendary Soma label to get the lowdown...

 How would you sum up the party in its current form?

We are looking at developing a world class electronic music festival based at a site that is perfect for the events idea – the futuristic building down by the river brings together the area where Glasgow was industrially built from. I think it sums up where Scotland is at the moment.

What elements have worked in previous years and what, if anything will change this time round?

From the start, we've always looked for interesting venues and endeavour to put together line-ups that you'd struggle to find elsewhere. This time around we have spent a great deal of time getting the infrastructure of the site nailed and we're really looking forward to opening the doors and getting the party started. I think in general, whether it's in an industrial street full of arches, or the grounds of the Riverside Museum, we deliver something a little bit different.

The line-up is nice and varied with newer faces like Jamie Jones and Visionquest sharing the bill with seasoned veterans like Derrick Carter, Derrick May, François K and Andrew Weatherall. Talk us through the line-up...

We have looked at bringing together a range of DJs who complement each other in styles, with enough variation to keep everyone’s interest throughout the day. We have still to announce the stage splits, but there is a thread running through each stage where current DJs and their influences are all playing together.

Our main focus is to deliver a party and this line-up makes sure that is not an issue.

Also, although some of the DJs have played on the circuit for some time and have been cited as influences to a lot of the fresh talent, they are all still very relevant and are still continuing to push musical boundaries. 

Cajmere b2b DJ Sneak is a tantalising prospect! Is there a particular remit for this? Can we expect a Cajual/Relief Records classics set or will it be more spontaneous on the day?

Indeed – two of the biggest personalities in house music trying to outdo each other will be a sight to see and hear. We can't wait for this. It will be completely spontaneous, though I’d imagine that there will be some cheekiness involved to steal the limelight from each other i.e. playing each other’s biggest tunes, though that is just a guess – we'll find out when you guys do.

Moritz Von Oswald is a real catch too and comes with an esteemed reputation for his contributions to minimal techno and the dub scene. Yet perhaps some of the younger festival-goers will not be as familiar with his work. Tell us what we can expect from him?

Moritz is a classic example of an artist who has maintained his relevance and who keeps creating fantastic new projects throughout his career. Expect the ground-breaking Basic Channel to get an airing – this project really was in our opinion, the blueprint for the stripped back electronic sound that became absolutely huge. DJs will still drop a Basic Channel record and see the dancefloor erupt twenty years on.

The influence of dub always features in his music; it’s always great to hear the use of space in music to create intensity. The Rhythm and Sound dub project was a development of this. The collaboration with Juan Atkins for the Borderland album this year shows that he continues to be a creative force. Expect the sound system to be put through its paces with this set!

The Riverside Festival takes place 3-4 May, The Riverside Museum, Glasgow http://www.riversidefestivalglasgow.com