This year’s beat camp.

see images of dedbeat

Fancy a dirty weekend in April? How about hanging out with 2,500 music junkies in a 70s Pontins at the arse-end of East Anglia, with a 24-hour bar and all the fresh sounds you can digest? Mmm.

“I used to go to soul weekenders at holiday parks with my mates and have such a laugh,” says Dedbeat chief, Sam Reid. “The fact that everyone stays on site in little chalets makes it a very community-style vibe. And because there’s a finite amount of people on site, it’s really easy. We just thought let’s do this, but with cutting edge contemporary music.”.

And while the skate ramps and go-karting help, it’s the music that’s the key to Dedbeat’s small but perfectly formed success. The line-ups over the last three years have bristled with innovators across hip-hop, electro, funk and everything in between. From legends like Big Daddy Kane and Aphex Twin to Roots Manuva, Buck 65 and fresh talent coming through.

This year’s list is coming together nicely, not least because Lex and Big Dada - the hip-hop offspring of Warp and Ninja Tune – are both doing showcases, featuring the likes of Dangermouse, Ty and MF Doom. “People genuinely into electronic music are put off by that whole bling-bling attitude” says Sam. “Labels like Def Jux, Anticon, Lex, Rhyme Sayers and Big Dada are providing the alternative.”

A word of warning mind, Deadbeat is not for the po-faced. “We’re not into this pseudo intellectual crap or VIP bars with loads of people sniffing coke. That’s the absolute opposite of what we’re all about,” snorts Sam. “It’s good quality music and really good fun, not taking itself too seriously. Last year, someone drew a bell-end on one of the Egyptian’s long chins in the lobby. We knew it was going to happen, it was crying out for it.” Alastair Lee 06 February 04

confirmed line-up going to press:.
Lex Showcase (Sage Francis, Dangermouse, Prince Poetry, Tes) Big Dada showcase (Ty, Infinite Livez, Lotek Hi-Fi), Keith Tenniswood, Si Begg, Tipper, Edan, Atmosphere, Mr Dibbs, Gwen McCrae, Matthew Dear, Dabrye, Don Letts & The Dub Culture Soundsystem, Amp Fiddler, Kid 606, Knife Hand Chop, Octagon Man, Breakin’ Bread (Keb Darge), Luke Vibert, MF Doom, Horace Andy, Plaid.

Dedbeat 4, 23-25 April 04 at Pontins, Hemsby On Sea, Norfolk.

useful link: www.dedbeat.net