Comments on: Big D ticket sale nears as Simian Mobile Disco complete line-up

By: Mike Beckett

Mike Beckett — Mon, 11 May 2009 15:50:52 +0000

As the Director of York and District Mind I just wanted to say a big thank you for having us as your nominated local chairty we do really appreciate this thank you. Please do check out our website to find out more about us and please consider joining us and becoming a member.

Mike Beckett
Director
York and District Mind
01904 647014

By: Jason Rose

Jason Rose — Fri, 08 May 2009 23:57:26 +0000

To be honest, it’s almost irrelevant who the two sets of acts are. Big D was always going to sell out so quickly because of the fantastic work done by Lester and Houlders Productions, Hollywood, and the great promotion by the entire committee. Summer Ball wasn’t as well advertised and there was less hype about the sales. Not to mention the price difference.

Both look to be fantastic events. Lemar’s a noteable name and SMD is too. “Dodgy indie band” and “washed up RnB singer” seems about right for the vast majority of popular acts in Britain (no offense to them) and just because they are inferior, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t just as popular. What’s great is to see some variation from the standard and more importantly the fact that people are looking forward to that variation!

Though there’s nothing wrong with cheese (the comparison with Ziggy’s makes me want to retch and I wouldn’t even qualify it as cheese) and I am still going to be looking forward to Fresher’s Ball if they pump me full of reformed Take That

By: anon

anon — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:39:25 +0000

great line-up. sorry to bring up the perennial question but why is a college getting consistently better acts that the university.

i mean SMD -v- Lemar!

are you kidding me Burton?

By: Isaac

Isaac — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:49:05 +0000

I can see why people might feel aggrieved by a lack of bands/cheese acts, but these acts are extremely good, and show a refreshing level of ambition on behalf of the organizers.

Moan about it afterwards if you don’t like it, but I’m fairly sure most people will have an extremely good time – I can’t imagine Lemar will be able to conjure the same atmosphere somehow…

By: Sagested

Sagested — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:46:20 +0000

Scratch Perverts have consistently re-defined ‘dance’ music over the past decade. I use the word ‘dance’, as a way of describing SP’s sparingly; although that is essentially the one thing they would like their fans to do.

Simian Mobile Disco are probably ranked in the top three electro outfits currently, and (along with Justice & MSTRKRFT) have defined electro as a genre. To have both Scratch Perverts and SMD playing in one night is outstanding; to have Utah Saints as well is an incredible feat of budgeting.

Right…

Scratch Perverts will probably not play ‘live’. It’s most likely that there will be a couple of them (the original Scratch Perverts consists of Plus One, Prime Cuts and Tony Vegas). All three may be there if the schedules are good, but they all DJ individually under a number of different names. They have been known to bring an MC along; or DJ with a well known MC, but it’s unlikely that will happen in this case.

Simian play three ways. Ordinarily they DJ using the traditional method; playing their own stuff and remixes of their stuff by other people, effectively mixing an album as a set. Secondly and most unlikely they play a lot of minimal tech / electro. This is good for music lovers, but unlikely as they will take into account the audience and therefore know their own, better known stuff will go down. Thirdly they may play ‘live’. This is the biggest spectacle, and involves them hand mixing the tracks using a combination of samplers, decks and twiddly knobs. Theyre just about to release a new album… IF they play like this at big-D it will be the single most incredible thing you have ever seen on campus.

DJ’ing and ‘live’ are pretty much synonymous, as in, the people you have paid to see will be there. They might not throw a drumstick into the crowd at the end of the show, but they will be there.

The organisers have done well for this one; Big-D is the best event on campus, if not for the acts, merely for its ambition. Please make sure the sound system is pumping. Thanks for putting the work in guys; see you at the front.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:31:13 +0000

I can’t believe anyone is complaining about the acts for Big D, if you want cheese go to ziggys. From first hand experience, Simian Mobile Disco are incredible live and I couldn’t believe it when they were announced. Also, if the music is so bad, how did the event sell out in two hours?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:50:08 +0000

Big D will be amazing and if you aren’t a fan of the headline acts there is plenty more going on and other acts to look forward to!

I, for one, am over the moon that we aren’t having some dodgy indie band or washed up RnB singer and that we are having a really good set of electronica performers!

Simian Mobile Disco are going to be amazing!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:52:05 +0000

That’s not how you tell whether someone is a fan of a genre or not! Listening to them, they are good and my kind of thing but they sound like a lot of local artists of that type do but with better sound quality. They’re pretty good but I really haven’t heard of them.

By: A

Thu, 07 May 2009 11:28:01 +0000

‘I don’t think I’ve even ever heard the name “scratch perverts” in my entire life before this and I’m a fan of that kind of music.’

Clearly then you aren’t…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:07:42 +0000

I bought my ticket at half 2. Thought tickets went on sale at 12?

By: Something Good 2009

Something Good 2009 — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:47:56 +0000

… a sell out in under an hour!
Seems that plenty of people like the Big D line up and all the rest that the organisers have put on to make the Wonderland one massive end of year party. Mad Hats off to the organisers and Derwent. Can’t wait!

By: Samuel Houlders

Samuel Houlders — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:00:30 +0000

Just to echo Mr Lester’s comments, video production does not come cheap. I mean sure, we didn’t need that massive buffet, and with hindsight, the huge gazebo filled with copious amounts of alcohol and chocolate fondue sets was a bit over the top too, but hey!

All in the name of charity.

Samuel Houlders
Lester and Houlders Productions
Hollywood, USA

By: Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:01:04 +0000

“I don’t think I’ve even ever heard the name “scratch perverts” in my entire life before this and I’m a fan of that kind of music.”

I nearly displaced my wig in shock and disgust!

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:20:22 +0000

Can we buy tickets for people in other unis?

By: Anony

Anony — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:47:53 +0000

Pendulum weren’t fantastic but at least I’d heard of them… The acts are such a bit let-down after the amazing people we’d been promised! I don’t think I’ve even ever heard the name “scratch perverts” in my entire life before this and I’m a fan of that kind of music. Last year’s line-up was better.

But I’m sure it’ll be great and the good thing about BigD is that there’s the whole other edge to it as well as the bands (or non-live non-bands, depending) and I’m sure my candy floss will taste very nice!

By: Anon 2

Anon 2 — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:21:44 +0000

Pendulum did a DJ set last year, and as far as I know, nobody threw their rattles out of the pram about that. I think people should have faith that Miss Younger and her committee will do an amazing job. I mean, if that much effort goes into a video publicising the event, imagine what the ACTUAL event will be like.

Keep up the good work, Derwent.

By: James

James — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:14:30 +0000

I don’t think it’s complaining “Anon”, I just think the main acts seem to reflect a rather narrow spectrum of genres, though the Scratch Perverts should offer something for those of us who aren’t into electronica.

It’s a good job Woodstock exists really!

By: Oliver Lester

Oliver Lester — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:14:52 +0000

Videos like that don’t come cheap, anonymous. Once the catering, light technicians, camera crew, make-up artists, actors and of course, professional directors such as Sam Houlders and I have been paid, that leaves about 50 pence for the actual event.

Oliver Lester
Lester and Houlders Productions
Hollywood, USA

By: Fan of Summer Ball

Fan of Summer Ball — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:37:24 +0000

Anon (3.30pm) – It is a shame people didn’t follow your advice when it came to the attempt to move summerball on to campus. A group/individual working exceptionally hard to put on a ‘magical’ event was met with a disgusting level of criticism and personal attacks.

This isn’t meant as a dig on Big D or its organisers but I hope those of you on the Big D committee / Derwent College JCRC who were so vocal against Burton’s proposal to move summerball will realise what is like to have criticism coming at you. It really is frustrating when you put so much well-intentioned effort in to a project and people can do nothing but be negative.

I wish the BigD Committee the best of luck and I am sure it will be an amazing event.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:12:21 +0000

Could the Big D organisers confirm whether these will be live performances or DJ sets from band members? What am I paying my £20 for?