With just one day to go and the sun expecting to shine, it’s all eyes on the billed biggest festival to storm the capital scene is years, we report of whether the paper based promotion & propulsion looks like converting into a gigantic gathering or a smaller smattering of crusaders to the cause, while touching on some eleventh hour event info & inclusions.
It was looking dodgy, unpredictable & difficult to call, the predictions looking gloomy, not least with the final run up & then countdown of days leaving many casting doubts, and that was just the weather, but with one day to go & a firm forecast of warm sunny weather, at least the sun will be shining on the Orange Nation righteous when the biggest festival theory to hit the gay clubbing scene in years becomes a reality, As One In The Park in pole position to propel London into the global circuit spotlight. And while we will be keeping our eyes on a pole sitter of a different kind, Nico Rosberg heading the F1 Monaco Grand Prix grid and thus gluing us to our Sunday sofa seat, many thousands also tuning in from around the world, as the promo strap line goes “…bringing the world to London…”, all clubbing eyes will be focused on Victoria Park rather than Casino Square, the performers & D.J.’s, rather than V8 engines, roaring into action. So, while recent reports cast a significant shadow over its success, the capacity crowd of 20,000 plus looking like a dream that simply won’t come true, the sun may yet be As One in the Park’s savour as those sitting on the festival fence may decide to embark what is, on paper an exceptional event not to be missed, the organisers certainly hoping so, especially given some of the stars hat will be less than impressed if not.
But more on that in a moment, as we promised we would bring you up to date with developments & last minute news on this gigantic gathering following our preview feature, “Fabulous Festival or Failing Flop?!”, a worthy up to speed read for much of the line-up info & more (direct link http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7722) and we can break the news on the village green, an addition masterminded only in early May, the detail pretty much under wraps until now, even the artwork unavailable before today. But we can reveal that it is set to be showtime all the way, as Madame Jo Jo’s along with Sink the Pink & the Joiners Arms bring you the best in cabaret entertainment, two sparkling shows with a cast of stars from the scene, the long list including Miss Maddison Lee, Vicky Vivacious, Miss Vanilla Lush, & Betsy Bou Bou (need we go on? you get the idea), The Supreme Fabulettes sharing one show, while The Folly Mixtures Revue are not to be missed. And while As One In the Park’s main draw & crowd is clubbing & will be clubbers, it is pleasing to see that they are offering something alternative for those that aren’t attracted to WE Party, Beyond or The Week, or even Rita Ora, Katy B & Union J, Timberlina’s bingo & the Joiners Arms transexpress adding further spice to these village green proceedings. Plus, with music in between the stage shows from the likes of Tasty Tim, Lady Lloyd & Matt Bogard, along with “Rockoke” from Sandra, Rose Garden & Miss Dusty O, it certainly looks like being a scream on the village green.
As for the rest of the advertised nine arena’s that are actually five, it’s a green light for the girls tent, while possibly amber for the Orange Nation space, as numbers and the in-festival competition from the Circuit complex that definitely sports the strongest line-up, both in terms of clubs & D.J.’s, brands WE, The Week, Matinee & Scream, and deck meisters Manuel De Diego, Pagano, Paul Heron, Ben Manson & Lydia Sanz surely too much to resist, could mean a fair amount of last minute schedule & roster re-shuffling, no doubt throwing clubbers into confusion. Then there is the Bearacuda tent, which is likely to collapse in closure, while we simply cannot see sufficient numbers swarming to what is a huge main stage space that without enough admirers in attendance will be an embarrassment to both performers & promoters alike. Add to that a VIP arena which will, at a pricey £75 entry, be Spartan of socialities, it may well see the Gigolo team transfer to the main stage as performers peel off or simply don’t show and we are sadly sitting in the doubters camp on this colossal clubbing celebration, wishing & willing that we are wrong with our assumptions & submissions. But we are always ones for flipping the proverbial coin & pushing the positive and, in this video presentation which was published earlier today (better late than never), As One In the Park is set fair to be that fabulous & fantastic festival it deserves to be.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y660Aza97ww[/youtube]
And the obsession that Britain seems to have with the weather, should in fact play into the hands of As One In The Park’s hand, the sun sure to be as strong as contributor to its success as anything else, although we doubt it will be quite tanning weather as some are saying, but at least it won’t be the mud bath that was Lovebox two years ago. Then, when the sun goes down there is the official afterparty, As One In the Dark, although the inital plan to park it in the Coronet was swiftly switched to Fire, no doubt as a result of the then lack-lustre festival ticket sales, but with WE Party Spain’s superstar resident Carlos Gallardo lined-up alongside London’s Steve Pitron & other Orange Nation stalwarts and being a Bank Holiday don’t forget, the paper prediction is worded as packed. But that’s for another post, as its the park in focus here as are those all important ticket sales, advance ones very much still available, the quickest way & to make it rally easy for you, is to click on this link, https://facebook.com/AsOneInThePark/app_433949056689325, while you can also head to http://asoneinthepark, the official website, all the remaining other information you need on line-ups, events & entertainment out through https://facebook.com/AsOneInThePark.
So that’s our eleventh hour news and take on this massive outdoor meet, we looking forward to finding out whether our predictions come true or whether the sun does actually come to the rescue of this all eyes on event, although if you are one of 1000’s heading to Victoria Park tomorrow, have a terrific time and if the temptation takes you then come tell us all about it. (DISCO MATT)
