[divider]PSYKO PUNKZ[/divider]
With Headhunterz’ recent move away from his traditional hardstyle roots, duo Psyko Punkz are your best bet to scratch your hardstyle itch at FreakNight 2014. Dutch duo Sven Sieperda and Wietse Amersfoort are a huge draw across the Atlantic and their reach is growing with each performance. Releasing their debut EP Bassboom in 2010 after a series of singles from 2008-2009, Psyko Punkz have since birthed a following known as ‘Psyko Soldiers’ who love the way the duo live and breath the Hardstyle mentality. Their tracks Psyko Foundation and Bassboom were key to their quick rise to prominence and now they have the ability to help other artists do the same. They created their own label this year, Shadow Mask Music. This can only be good for the dance music community, since they will likely sign artists who bring a similar level of intensity and energy. They’ll give you your hardstyle fix and undoubtedly be one of the most energetic performances of FreakNight 2014.
[divider]PLANET OF THE DRUMS[/divider]
Combining forces for the greater good of Drum & Bass, Planet of the Drums is an act that we are counting down the days to see at FreakNight 2014. Quartet AK1200 (Dave Minner), DJ Dara (Darragh Guilfoyle), Dieselboy (Damian Higgins), and MC Messinian (James Fiorella) are all veteran mainstays of DnB and have countless mixes and performances under their belts. Going on their 15th year of existence, Planet of the Drums has a goal that, if analyzed over the course of their partnership, seems to have been reached.
“We feel that it is our calling to not only promote quality drum and bass Stateside, but also help provide a voice for our scene as well. Our music has languished in small back rooms on undersized sound rigs for far too long. We are taking a firm stand— ’enough is enough.’ ”–Planet of the Drums’ Facebook
Drum & Bass, while not garnering the current popularity of dubstep or other similar genres, has certainly seen a massive growth over the last decade-plus. This is, of course, partially due to the ‘EDM Boom’ which has gripped North America, but there’s no discounting the influence of acts like Planet of the Drums. Their combined experience and talent is the definition of ‘Super Group’ and is only overshadowed by their unfathomable technical ability. Drum & Bass fans will be at the bass stage early for their set, but Planet of the Drums is an act that would do any festival’s main stage justice.
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