Review: MADE 2017, Birmingham
Not even the mixed up summer weather could keep the crowds away from MADE this year.
With a packed out crowd and a line up worthy of any four-day festival, Birmingham’s premier music event banged again this year.
With over 80 acts split across eight stages, Pete Jordan and his team really did cover all the bases in regards to musical taste, ensuring everyone in attendance had something to dance the day away to.
With headline acts such as Goldie, Chase and Status and one of the true godfathers of grime, the main man Giggs, it was always bound to be a mad one.
A solid 12-hour event, MADE combined all the key factors that produce an excellent all day festival; a fantastically diverse line-up, excellent food and drinks supplies, room to chill when you needed a break and of course, a super sick after party.
If you made it in early you would have been lucky enough to catch local lad Dapz On the Map shell down the stage with some old school classics, as well as some of his fresh new work. Performing in his own backyard, the energy was electric in the air as the young Brummie treated his hometown fans to a special performance, one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Performing killer tracks such as his new piece Mini Valet, and a crowd pleaser in I swear, Dapz OTM knackered the crowd out with his youthful energy and hometown connection. Speaking to him as he left the stage, Dapz was buzzing off the energy of the crowd and bigged them up straight away.
“I definitely felt the energy. Performing with one of my closest friends on the decks, with one of the biggest crowds I’ve played in front of, on my home turf. I felt it.”
The Birmingham-based event certainly created an energy in the air that could be felt from miles around, speaking to one of the events home town hero’s, Jaykae was feeling the vibes on his way to the venue.
“I could hear the bass from my house on my way down. It sounded lively and I knew it would be. I’ve been waiting for this for six months so I’m ready for it.”
Whether you were at the front of the stage mashing away in the mix of flying drinks and sweaty skankers, or you made your way to the back for some room to cut shapes nicely, you would have heard the unforgettable lyrics of one of Birmingham’s finest, bar for bar.
Keeping the crowd busy dropping fresh new tracks, as well as some of his old school anthems, Jaykae even treated the crowd to a new Skepta produced tune that’s dropping soon.
As you can imagine, the crowd went absolutely berserk as the fresh beat dropped. It was a true display of class and stage composure from there on out. Jaykae demonstrated exactly why his hometown crowd adore him the way they do, and that it’s only onwards from here for the 26-year-old.
“I’ve got a new track produced by Skepta dropping on Friday and it’s on with my solo work from there. I’m going to be recording and touring through 2018 and I can’t wait for it!”
As well as some of the young trendsetters warming the crowd up early on, MADE 2017 also hosted some old school urban legends too, who definitely weren’t playing around. A man so comfortable behind the decks you almost forget what his legs look like, Goldie helped keep the crowd pumped with a showstopper of a performance, delivering a set not to be missed, and one that narrowly avoided the late coming rain that peppered the crowd from there on out.
SEE ALSO: Goldie given mural ahead of festival
Easily filling out the main stage, Goldie caused queues across the event, and rightly so as he mixed together some of the best reggae, rap and urban classics with his trademark energy all the way through his set.
Hopefully those lucky enough to be in attendance would have decided to nourish themselves on some delicious street food before Goldie’s set. As the long-time legend of the airwaves set about working the crowd from the start of his set, all the way through to the energetic end. Making waves in the industry still to this day, Goldie demonstrated exactly why he’s selling out headline shows alongside some of the other greats in the game.
Speaking of greats, the almighty Giggs announced to the Birmingham crowd exactly why he’s heralded as one of the godfathers of the scene, bringing unrivalled energy from the moment he stepped foot on the stage.
Working off the energy of the crowd Giggs shelled down his set with his traditional gritty bars and hard core, dirty bass filled rhythms. Performing a selection of his new tunes off the instant classic Landlord album, fans were treated to the very best of Giggs new repertoire.
Tracks like Whipping Excursion and Lock Doh really showed why Giggs has amassed such a cult following over the last few years, and the energy from the crowd was replicated by the man himself on stage. Consistently wheeling tracks to the pleasure of the crowd.
Another crazy all day line-up was complimented by a huge evening affair taking place just down the road from the MADE main stages. The official after party promised a heavy night of dirty beats from the likes of hometown spinner Hannah wants, and national heroes, Kurupt FM as well as another set from Goldie himself.
If you had the energy to power on through to the end it was a fantastic way to see out the night, and welcome in the hazy Saturday morning skies.
By James Stride
