Insomniac’s 16th annual Nocturnal Festival brought in a “record breaking 42,000 fans.” There were several unique additions to this year’s festival which took place on Saturday September 26th, 2010.

“We are committed to making each festival even better than the last one. For Nocturnal, we presented fifty of the world’s best DJs and brought this amazing new tent all the way from New York. We also offered all our guests free filtered water and we look forward to continuing this program at our other festival venues.”

“Insomniac super-sized the main stage area by introducing the most enormous tent structure ever seen on the West Coast. With black interior walls, 56 foot high ceilings and 78,000 square feet of space, the tent creates the ideal space for special effects, multimedia concert performances and, of course, dancing music fans.”

Although we had planned to be in town in time to see Bird Peterson (4-5pm) and Hudson Mohawke (5-6pm) at the Upside Down Room stage we barely caught the bitter end of Felguk‘s (6-7pm) set. Luckily we had already seen them perform before, but for those unfortunate ones who haven’t seen them perform, we highly recommend the enlightening experience. These two get down and dirty creating a wave of energy that shocks the crowd into dancing throughout their whole set.

Next in the Upside Down Room stage was Kavinsky (7-8pm), who for reasons unknown (to us) didn’t begin until 7.15pm. Dan Oh (3-4pm) kept the crowd going after Felguk’s set til Kavinsky took the stage. It was worth the wait, unfortunately a big chunk of the crowd went to other stages when they impatiently thought Kavinsky wasn’t showing.

Kavinsky is one of the more talented underrated artist I know in the electronic scene. As a french DJ he payed tribute to Justice, playing ‘Stress’ a tune I hadn’t heard in awhile. He also played his signature original tunes, ‘Testarossa’ followed by the newly appreciated ‘Nightcall.’ In preparation for the next performer Kavinsky dropped TC’s ‘Where’s My Money’ and then took us back to our Nu Disco.

Still in the Upside Down Room 12th Planet (8-9) took the stage opening with the famous Network (1976 film) quote, “So I want you to get up now, I want all of you to get up and out of your chais. I want you to get up right now and go to the window, open it and stick your head out and yell I’m as Mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” He then proceded directly into into his heavy fast-paced pounding dubstep. Fortunately, I’ve had the pleasure of watching this performer deliver his electronic attitude several times and I am always satisfied with the performance. His dubstep comes in hard, mean and fast paced. Heavily paying tribute to the roots of Drum n Bass.

The next stage we ventured into was the Queen’s Ground. The electronic band Autokratz (8.05-9.05) was playing to an emptier crowd, but their hearts were fully in it. I always respect artist who use real instruments and have unique styles and Autokratz is definitely one of them. We made sure we stayed long enough to hear them play ‘Speak in Silence’ one of our favorite original tunes.

The next stage had more to offer than just great performers. Inside sources told us prior to expect amazing visuals by Vello Virkhaus at Alice’s House. The Alice’s House “stage this year will be something never seen before.  The designer and main stage lighting director, Stephen Lieberman, has created two isometric platforms (one on each side of the stage), giving the look of something out of the video game Q*bert.”

We checked into Alice’s House just in time to catch the end of the Bingo Players (8-9pm) set. Giant blown up champagne bottles were brought on stage followed by one of our favorite duo’s Dada Life (9-10). We’ve had the pleasure of seeing, reviewing and meeting Dada Life, but I do have to say that their set at Nocturnal this year was the best set I’ve seen them perform and the hardest. We made sure to stay long enough to hear their newly appreciated tune ‘Cookies with a Smile’ before venturing to the next stage.

At The Labyrinth, Markus Schulz (9.30-11) was performing an awesome set. We tuned in for a few tracks, grabbed a couple good photos and headed to The BassRush Arena where Noisia (9.30-11) was performing a heavy Drum n Bass set.

Two Mc’s up on stage and as I sat and listened I thought to myself, the powerful Aphrodite’s Dub, DnB, style still rocks hard even with the evolutionary Dubstep is performing just next door.

We then made our way back to a much more packed Queen’s Ground stage where the Plump DJs (10.25-11.25) were rocking the scene. I was happy to hear Bangkok and surprised to hear the duo drop their remix of Deadmau5′ ‘Strobe.’ A highly original tune and their work on it is just up my alley. (I love contrasts, so when one can successfully take a smooth, soft, rhythmic tune and mash it with a heavy, dirty sound…that’s art!)

We took a quick break from the Plumps and made our way back to the Upside Down Room, where Chase & Status(11-12.30) were performing. Their style was more DnB then I had expected, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable.

Even after seeing them perform just a month earlier at HARD Summer, we made our way to the Sunken Garden in time to catch a little Skream & Benga (10-12am). Delivering nothing less than original dubstep madness we stayed until it was time to catch a behind-the-scenes moment with the Plump DJs.

[intermission]

Thanks to the beautiful and wonderful Melissa Mac, we were given the opportunity to sit in on an interview with the Plump DJs. As we waited for the people ahead of our interviewers Less Than 3, fireworks were going off above our heads. Less Than 3 is a website that tries to act as a content filter, “like the Rolling Stones.” We appreciate this, since the internet is the least filtered public resource in existence. And it plays a huge role in the electronic scene.

From the interview we learned that the duo has been working together for some 10 years now and has a primary focus of innovation in the scene. They mostly use Logic to produce and a little of Ableton. I believe they told us that they come from a Pop music background, which was funny to hear because Pop music itself, despite it’s catchiness…is not what I would at all describe the Plumps as. They described the UK music scene as being ‘monopolized,’ which made a lot of sense, with the strong influence of BBC and the clubs themselves, i.e. Fabric. So it was a great move for them to start up Grand Hotel and have a place to innovate and create a family of artist sharing the same ideals. Personally I want to add that the two were very humble and had a great sense of humor. They were also very generous in sharing their time, thank you again.

[back to the show]

Now back at The Labyrinth we watched the ending act for this stage, Ferry Corsten (12.30-2am). I myself am not a HUGE fan, but I don’t dislike this artist. So hearing him perform was a great experience, but I was glad to be able to switch over to the Upside Down Room ‘s last act Green Velvet (12.30-2am), who also performed only a month or so prior at HARD Summer 2010. Less crowded, but still a good show.

Of course though, I had to end my night at the Sunken Garden stage with the deadly dubsteppin’ mad Caspa (12.30-2am). I already knew what to expect, having seen him perform just earlier at HARD Summer, but I was happy to feel the heavy vibrating bass as we made our way into the early am. For the curious, he ended his set with his remix of Swedish House Mafia’s ‘One (Your Name) ft. Pharrell.’

In Conclusion, the festival was a HUGE success. I saw a couple people being helped by paramedics, but I feel that the energy and vibes are much better with the new 18+ restriction. As always, the only real con with festivals is the conflict of set times with performers, I listed each performer’s set time and stage when mentioning them so that you could get a feel of the festival process.

The festival process: When there is 50 DJs and six stages it is highly likely that one is forced to pick and choose who to see or to run around like made men/women. That being said, the only artist I really regret not checking into, that performed while I was there, was Steve Angello, according to many he provided an outstanding performance. And I really regret not making it in time for Bird P and Hudson Mohawke after hearing Plump DJs positively mentioning his name during our interview.

Insomniac Website

Nocturnal Website

Get a MAP of the event [ Here ]

The Labyrinth

Ferry Corsten: 1230-2am
ATB: 11-1230am
Markus Schulz: 930-11pm
Simon Patterson: 8-930pm
Menno De Jong: 630-8pm
Felix Krocher: 530-630pm
Joaquin Gallahn: 430-530pm
Tritonal: 3-330pm

Alice’s House

Eddie Halliwell: 1-2am
Steve Angello: 11-1am
D Ramirez: 10-11pm
Dada Life: 9-10pm
Bingo Players: 8-9pm
Donald Glaude: 7-8pm
TocaDisco: 6-7pm
Treasure Fingers: 430-6pm
Jason Blakemore: 3-430pm

Queen’s Ground

Pretty Lights: 1-2am
Rabbit Live: 1135-1245am
Plump DJs: 1025-1125pm
DJ Dan: 915-1015pm
AutoKratz: 805-905pm
Uberzone: 645-755pm
Dusty Kid: 525-640pm
Trent Cantrelle: 4-520pm
Freddy Be: 3-4pm

Sunken Garden

Caspa: 12-2am
Skream & Benga: 10-12am
Plastician: 9-10pm
Ikonika: 6-8pm
Deco: 4-6pm
Kether: 3-4pm

Upside Down Room

Green Velvet: 1230-2am
Chase & Status: 11-1230am
JFK of MSTRKRFT: 10-11pm
LA Riots: 9-10pm
12th Planet: 8-9pm
Kavinsky: 7-8pm
Felguk: 6-7pm
Hudson MoHawke: 5-6pm
Bird Peterson: 4-5pm
Dan Oh: 3-4pm

Bass Rush Arena

Loadstar Feat. Xample: 1230-2am
AK1200: 11-1230am
NOISIA: 930-11pm
Sigma: 8-930pm
Hive: 630-8pm
Fury: 5-630pm
Mystical Influence: 330-5pm
Hazen: 3-330pm

*Linked names in the Set Times above will take you directly to tracks and former post from the artist we have already featured on our site. You will find many great tracks for listening & downloading. Enjoy

Many artist attending the show are great fans, supporters, boppers and artist we have already had the fortune of covering on our website (and will always promote again). A couple artist we’ve already had the fortune of press access to prior events and the rest are artist we LOVE and cannot wait to cover!

Felguk put on an amazing show in the club atmosphere of the Avalon, opening for Grum earlier this year and I’ve heard from many they destroyed EDC.

On my personal list: Plump DJs, Chase & Status and Kavinsky are the main artist that we have NOT had the pleasure and opportunity of seeing perform yet and cannot WAIT to enjoy!

Aside from the hot content that we have had the pleasure of releasing, Boppernation.com has been leaning more towards a heavy focus on the ‘scene‘ itself by developing articles consisting of interviews and reviews of shows and albums. This has been the hottest, most unique part of our website  and it has helped to separate us from being just another ‘internet’ music blog.

Among the many artist listed, I myself will admit my love for DUB and am quite thankful that I already got to see Caspa, Skream & Benga earlier this year, because their time slots conflict with a lot of the other artist I am excited to see! (But for those of you who are into the Dubstep scene, these people are DUBSTEP! So their acts are NOT too be missed!

Inside sources have told me that the Labyrinth Stage is going to be filled with visuals that are out of this world. For those who fell in love with Etienne De Crecy’s Cube, Daft Punk’s Pyramid and recently Deadmau5′s stage & L.E.D. mask debuted at EDC, be ready to see a stage that will remind people of the video game Q*bert! ( We will be sure to get pictures of this madness)!!!!

Anyways, I hate to leave any names out, so let me rant a bit more:

I’ve heard Pretty Lights puts on an amazing show, as does Rabit. I’ve always been very curious to see NOISIA and Steve Angello, who rightfully so already has a great reputation so we honor this and deliver you the respect you deserve!

Anyways, Expect a FULL report from Wolf as well as a great deal of photos from our latest Photographer, Kozzik. Maybe I’ll sneak in an interview or two, pray that I have a great time and stay professional! As being involved in more Insomniac events would be amazing, EDC, Audiotistic, etc etc. Afterall, these people know how to do it right and were the first to remove the teeny boppers and put the 18+ cap! *Thank GAWD and be SAFE!

Insomniac puts on a lot of great shows and we gotta give them a good impression, so Boppers give them love!

What more can I say, another set of banging tunes from autoKratz. Always delivering the kind of music that gets the crowd in a state of heavy dancing.Delivering a free EP as of today, April 28th [download here].

And all you crazy Londoners come out to KOKO may 1st and join in the celebration of autoKratz KICK to the Camden Crawl!

myspace / facebook / twitter

Three separate artist, three smashing tunes and one extra BOOM! Enjoy the Sunday. I specifically chose artist that we’ve already featured and will feature again (such as Religion & autoKratz and I also chose artist that we would love to do a full feature on, Asia Lakay and Flak Attack. What do ya’ll think? Use them comment boxes, or don’t.

*Bonus

Asia Lakay | AutoKratz | Flak Attack | Religion

Deathface, introduced by Steve Pross to Thee Nation.

Featuring two songs, a remix and an original, from the Italian hammer of Drum n Bass! Splintering the musical wood, its echoes reverberate! AutoKratz- ‘Stay the Same’  is dipped in gasoline and ignited into a fiery remix by Deathface. A hidden surprise in the track is the calm spots that takes place allowing one to barely catch their breath before returning back to the thunder of the track! Their original tune, ‘Theme to Deathface’ sounds like a great opener song with the drums slowly building up as the bass comes in..Be prepared to be thrown against the walls once the synths kick! I highly recommend checking out the artist’s myspace for more works and make sure to be on the look out for MORE Deathface!

myspace: Deathface