The stages are set, the players all booked and the animals ready to roar, for what looks set to be one of the most exciting, original and decadent festivals in the UK this summer as Ibiza hits the Midlands once again. Three more days of debauchery in the enchanted mayhem of Donington Park Forest brought to you by world-renowned Ibiza party dons, The Zoo Project. The line up for this year’s festival features an array of genres within the electronic music spectrum – House, Drum & Bass, Hip-Hop, Electro, UK Bass, Garage, Ambient and Experimental all have a place at the party. Influential rave-diggers will spin alongside the hottest new beatsmiths, continuing the Zoo Project mantra of unearthing underground talent before they take off.
Recently added acts include: Sasha, Mike Skinner (DJ Set), Breach, Tama Sumo, Bleak, Mr Beatnick, Evan Baggs, Jonny Dub, Squarehead, and Jigsaw. For the first time, Red Bull Studios will be bringing a flavour of their London-based studio sound to the heart of Zoo Project festival. Stand-out talent fresh from Red Bull Studios London will combine with pioneers such as The Streets front man Mike Skinner, Manchester’s most loved Mr. Scruff, the legendary Nightmares on Wax, party starter Shy FX, and leaders of the new school T Williams and Ten Walls. Further surprises and announcements will be made via Zoo Project Festival’s social media networks.
Removing boundaries between artists and audience, performers and partiers has always been at the heart of The Zoo Project Festival. Ibiza’s finest The Minx FX will perform alongside the UK’s biggest performance company Area 51 throughout the event, expect world-class entertainment from some of the best animalistic acrobats, dancers and contortionists. VICE Magazine’s electronic music channel Thump have been added to the roster of esteemed stage hosts this year – they will host and curate James Zabiela’s Born Electric stage, and with a number of musical tastemakers hosting stages across the forest, taking your pick of the best will definitely be the easy part; 2014’s event will also include stages hosted by Born Electric, Wax Da Jam, DJ Mag, Channel Zoo, secretsundaze, Zutekh, Jaunt Records, Running Wild, Don’t Get Lemon, Nest, Mute, Play it Down, RiffRaff, Secret Party Project, Teknicolor, 52:50, Discotech, Detonate, Art Of Sound and DBE.
With dance music stalwart Groove Armada set to Headline, ravers can expect the kind of uplifting house tracks synonymous with the name. Some of their 2014’s releases you can look forward to hearing include “Jack in Black” and “Pork Soda”. Other Headline acts include James Zabiela, Steve Lawler, Breach, Mr. Scruff, DJ Falcon, Mala, Ben UFO b2b Midland, A Guy Called Gerald Live, Phaeleh, Craig Richards, Special Request, John Talabot, Tama Sumo and Benjamin Damage live. It’s never The Zoo Project Festival without a large dose of OTT hedonism and a carnivalesque vibe. If you’re still not ready to release your inner animal, have a look at last year’s offical after movie here to see what’s in store. Zoo Project Festival runs from the 12th to the 14th of September, 2014 in Donnington Park Forest, tickets are on sale now here.
Photo Credit: Tom Horton
Words by Akua Ofei // Edited by Ayo Adepoju
