Dance Planet Emotion at Saint Petersburg Russia on 30-04-2008    ( 04.05.2008 - 14:10 GMT UTC )

    For me this festival began on Friday – this was the date of my departure from Yaroslavl. A trip was very long – more than 14 hours. There was a little mechanical crash on the railways & my train was late.


    LINE-UP: Wippenberg, First State, Bobina and Ellef de Graaf, Ronald van Gelderen, Agnelli and Nelson, Mason, Richard Durant, Simon and Shaker, Roy Gates, Roma Mio, Dj Jose, Oleg Air and Mr Martini, M@xxhouse, Tito and Oleg Lupin


    The weather in Saint Petersburg was very warm, +25* Celsius (in Yaroslavl was +10* only). The sky was without clouds. I ate something in a local fast food restaurant and then I went to airport. The airport is a very unique place where you may visit a lot of interesting people. I didn't’t know the time of check in, I went there by luck. When I have arrived there I was surprised by a big amount of cameras. I couldn't’t understand what’s happening. Did they all come for artists from Dance Planet ? The truth was another. They met the players of Bayern Leverkusen which had a game with Zenit (UEFA Cup). Footballers didn't’t communicate with reporters and with me aswell. After some time, waiting in the airport I have noticed Simon & Shaker. They were glad to see me, don’t know why. We took a picture and they went away. After them was Sander from First State and then Ronald van Gelderen. Ralph (First State) didn't’t come. I have a CD “Time Frame”, they both signed this.


    It was a very funny situation thou, because Ronald has new hairstyle now and in the airport he was without a grim. I thought that he was Ralph, he-he and he signed on First State’s album. Also I met in airport Agnelli and Nelson and then Mason. It’s wonderful that Saint Petersburg has one airport now.


    After the airport I went to the Len Expo – the place where Dance Planet was held. It was a new place for this event (“Thanks” to the government). When I came I was disappointed: there were two arenas only. Lights for the show were not that good (a lot of diodes & one laser on the stage). I had a conversation with organizers and they told me that this event must be cancelled. But they made it for the people who really like electronic dance music. There were not a lot of clubbers and on the dance floor I felt free. Fresh air was permanent on the dance floor. Two arenas were in different buildings, toilets were between them.


    When foreign Djs began to play I forgot about all minuses because the music was perfect. Wippenberg played all his famous remixes, Sander from First State also played a good own tracks and some others bombs. They really warmed up the place and the public. After them were Bobina with Elles de Graaf. I didn't’t like their performance because Elles sang three tracks only (but set was continuing 90 minutes). I wanted to listen to "Mind of the Wonderful" and "Let Me Show you My World" but they didn't’t play it. During this set and other sets I walked from one arena to another. I didn't’t wanted to miss something interesting.


    Ronald van Gelderen exploded both arenas! It was his first gig in Russia and I saw that he was getting pleasure from it. He played a lot of melodic themes and own compositions. During the set he always smiled. After him were Agnelli and Nelson. They rocked too. Their music was also melodic but more progressive. They permanently communicated with clubbers. After their set was a little performance (see the photos). The time for performance was very good because the next Dj was not a trance Dj. It was Mason. The 1st three-four tracks were energetic but after them I was a bit tired and then I went to Roy Gates. Before the set he was giving his own CDs. I got a single “The World is Spinning”. I don’t know how to describe his music because he turned the time back, he played old original melodic themes. It seemed that we all were living in 2000 year at that moment.


    The next artist for me was Richard Durand. I don’t have any word to say how it was! He played one big live mash-up. He played his own tracks only, added some samples from another compositions, played two tracks in one time. There was a lot of energy among all dancers near me. All felt his positive ambition. It was great! The music was everywhere, everybody around me felt this passion. After him I met a few friends and we all went together to Simon and Shaker. They played also very good music but I didn't’t have a power in my body to move. I listened to them drinking wine.


    Festival finished. It was another Dance Planet in another place. Atmosphere was another, people were another too. But energy was like on previous events, even better. Perhaps, it was the last event, but it wasn't’t bad, it was good. Very good.


    PLAYLISTS of the event, in the order I remember, due isn`t the official one thou.


    Wippenberg

    Super8 and Dj Tab – Needs to feel you (Wippenberg remix)
    Above and Beyond – Home (Wippenberg remix)
    Cosmic Gate – Should have known (Wippenberg remix)



    First State

    First State feat Anita Kelsey – Falling
    Simon Patterson – Smack
    First State – Sierra Nevada (ID mix)
    First State – Your own way


    Bobina + Elles de Graaf
    01. Bobina feat Elles de Graaf - Lighthouse [NEWSTATE]
    02. Adam K and Soha - Twilight [DATA]
    03. Heatbeat - Nebula [BE YOURSELF]
    04. Gareth Emery - This is that [FIVE AM]
    05. Morandi - Angels (Bobina Megadrive Vox) [UNIVERSAL MUSIC]
    06. Ali Wilson - Quiver [BE YOURSELF]
    07. Rank 1 and J Miller - And then... [BE YOURSELF]
    08. Paul Oakenfold feat One Republic - Not over (Bobina Megadrive Vox) [PERFECTO]
    09. Bobina - Invisible touch [NEWSTATE]
    10. Bobina feat Elles de Graaf - Time and tide [NEWSTATE]
    11. Sander van Doorn - Pura vida [NEWSTATE]
    12. Paul Miller - Call me Miller [DISCOVER]
    13. Bobina feat Tiff Lacey - Where did you go? [NEWSTATE]
    14. Armin van Buuren feat Elles Graaf - Sound of goodbye [ARMADA]
    15. Bobina – Russian dream
    16. Armin van Buuren – Wall of sound


    Ronald van Gelderen

    Gareth Emery - This is that
    Ernesto vs Bastian – Super Jupiter (Ronald van Gelderen remix)
    Marcel Woods – Cherry blossom (TE Mix)
    Ronald van Gelderen – This way
    Ronald van Gelderen – Cold storage
    Dj Tiesto – Urban train
    Nic Chagall – What you need
    Ronald van Gelderen – Dirty rocker
    Markus Schulz feat Departure - Cause you know (Wippenberg remix)


    Agnelli and Nelson

    John O'Callaghan feat Audrey Gallagher – Big sky (Agnelli and Nelson remix)
    Aly and Fila – Key of life
    Vincent de Moor – Fly away (Cosmic Gate remix)
    Three Drivers – Greece 2000 (Marcel Woods 2007 mix)
    Agnelli and Nelson – Hold on to nothing
    Agnelli and Nelson – Wear that dress


    Mason

    Sia – The girl you lost to cocaine (Sander van Doorn remix)
    Mason – Bermuda triangle


    Roy Gates

    Peran – We want to be free
    Perpetuous Dreamer – Sound of goodbye
    Roy Gates – The world is spinning


    Jose

    Jose – Hecitate
    Jose – Second choice


    Richard Durand

    Art Of Trance - Madagascar (Richard Durand bootleg)
    Skunk Anansie - Brazen (Weep) (Richard Durand remix)
    Veracocha – Carte blanche (Richard Durand remix)
    Dj Tiesto – Lethal industry (Richard Durand remix)
    Randy Katana — Plastic fantastic
    Snow Patrol – Chasing cars (Richard Durand bootleg)
    Theme from Love Parade
    Fragma feat Coco - Toca's Miracle (Richard Durand remix)
    U2 - Beautiful day (Pascal Feliz bootleg)
    Riff / Love Parade (samples)






































    Pictures and review made by Vladimir aka x-wonderful (TranceSound.net forum global moderator)