News 24 June 2022
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Author: Oli Knight

GRM Exclusive Review: Strawberries & Creem Festival Was A Roaring Success

24 June 2022
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Strawberries & Creem has always been about giving back. Born in 2014 as four event promoters’ antidote to the increasingly stale Cambridge music scene, the festival was always grounded in the essence of leaving a legacy. Featuring the likes of iconic acts such as David Rodigan and Shy FX, the misconception of Cambridge as being an exclusively stiff upper-lipped bastion of old English culture was shattered. Finally, the Cambridge locals who preferred Skepta to Sam Smith had a festival on their doorstep providing a window of the outside world to what we commonly think of as ‘Middle England’. 

Fast forward to 8 years since its inception and Strawberries & Creem has continued to go from strength to strength. Having housed a range of emblematic talents, such as Skepta, Wiley, J Hus, and AJ Tracey (to name just a few), Strawberries & Creem is no longer an up-and-coming festival but a mainstay of the summer months. With Strawberries & Creem set to celebrate their 8th anniversary, it seemed only right to check out the festival in all its glory. 

Arriving at Cambridge North Station, I was ushered to a shuttle bus that promised to take me to Childerely Orchard – the remote, but equally picturesque setting for this year’s festival. There was a distinct aura of anticipation on the bus as we manoeuvred through obscure countryside motorways. Chatter of who people were most excited to see, what they were drinking, and where their friends were was rife; as it should be on the way to all festivals. Emerging off the motorway into a tight country lane, suddenly we turned a corner and the festival appeared out of nowhere, almost reminiscent of a mirage. 

Drawing crowds of up to 12,000 people, Strawberries & Creem finds a comfortable balance of a festival that has the power to intoxicate you with its crowds whilst also ensuring space is never too scarce. Throughout the weekend, this was one thing I would notice – despite feeling an undeniable surge of energy around you, it never slipped into the realm of being uncomfortably busy.

Saturday saw me traipsing back and forth between the three stages, ensuring I caught all of the action. The main stage, hosted by ImJustBait, boasted a sea of talent, such as Ms Banks, Kenny Allstar, and Ludacris, but it was Tion Wayne who impressed me the most. It can be easy to forget in the fast-paced, short-attention-span world we live in, but Tion has hits for days. Bringing out contemporaries such as M24 and A1xJ1, it was a set full of electric bangers; and as a result, the energy he received back from the crowd was galvanising. 

Outside of the sheer carnage that was Tion’s set, there were a number of other standout moments. Fans were treated to a surprise appearance from the one and only Nines at Ellie Prohan’s set as he came out to award the best underground rapper featured in her performance. As always, Ms Banks captivated the crowd with her impressive catalogue of bangers. Kenny Allstar played a set that can only be described as a continuous torrent of hits, demonstrating his mixing ability to acutely switch between tracks with ease. Ludacris was of course the substitute headliner and had big boots to fill being that he was replacing none other than Lil Wayne, but he rose to the challenge seemingly with ease. 

Outside of the main stage, there was a whole host of talent on display. The Renegade Roulade stage was particularly enjoyable – a packed tent saw the likes of Sub Focus and Wilkinson deliver breathtaking sets which kept people dancing all night. In addition, Dennis Ferrer played an incredible set at the Threefold Studio, whilst the Girls Can’t Dj stage (which was hosted by the one and only Henrie) demonstrated that contrary to the name, girls can in fact very much Dj. 

Overall, it was an exhilarating first day which ensured it was going to be difficult to be topped on Sunday. However, attendees were certainly not disappointed, with standout sets on Sunday from the likes of David Rodigan, Knucks, and of course NSG. Watching David Rodigan was like seeing a master at work; his ability to manipulate the crowd through his song selection, anecdotes, and peculiar dance moves ensured his set was a shutdown. Blending Reggae, Dancehall, and Drum and Bass, it was an unmissable performance.

Knucks was predictably brilliant – as one of the golden boys of UK rap at the moment, he delivered an impeccable set that demonstrated why he is one of the hottest upcoming rappers in the country.

NSG was again what you would expect, with boundless energy, engaging interaction with the crowd, and of course, a seemingly never-ending list of bangers to get through. It was a fitting end to what was a thrilling weekend of great music. 

Renegade Roulade again hosted a unique clique of electronic music DJs, with the focus once again landing heavily on the drum and bass side. DJs such as Calibre, Voltage, and Vibe Chemistry ensured that it was another raucous day for fans of that scene. Girls Can’t Dj proceeded to prove once again that girls can in fact DJ – this time it was the turn of the likes of Lil C and CVSS to play particularly memorable sets. 

Overall, Strawberries & Creem 2022 was a roaring success. The entire experience was punctuated by an eclectic lineup who performed an array of excellent sets; despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding both Lil Wayne and Tems having to drop out, as well as the less than perfect weather on Saturday, it was undoubtedly a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. Strawberries & Creem are already planning how next year is going to be even bigger and better – so if you’re annoyed you missed out this time be sure to register your interest so that as soon as tickets go on sale, you know all about it.