Hau5 is one of the most intense and successful event brands in the North East, with its focus on providing not merely a night out but an experience. The Hau5 concept strives for a full clubbing experience, a high-octane hands-in-the-air atmosphere with pyrotechnics and live instrument solos put together in the unique Hau5 formula. Organizers believe in constantly pushing the boundaries and since their very first club night in Sunderland – launched in the Autumn of 2011 – it has remained their mission statement. Hau5 has been consistently delivering a spectacular display of special effects and fireworks that harmonizes with its unique style of big-scale event production and now, the next step in the story has arrived in the form of the Hau5 Festival, Newcastle’s very first two day electronic music festival.
After the success of Hau5 as a club night in surrounding areas of the North East, founder Paul Somerville was approached by the largest nightclub in Newcastle. Much like in Sunderland, this was a venue that had seen great days but had lost favour within the city in recent years. With the venue facing possible closure, Hau5 Newcastle premiered as a “one off” event on August Bank holiday Sunday 2012. Hau5 came in with a bang, launching against one of the world’s biggest DJs in an established super club on the same night. The result was an MTV crew and cast there to film the launch, an attendance of 1300 people and explosive feedback on social media that took the North East by storm.
A few weeks passed, but by the abundant feedback and demand from the public, Hau5 had to go weekly. Hau5 launched as a weekly Saturday night on September 21st 2012, generating an exceptional level of hype from all across the region. With twitter and Facebook abuzz with Hau5 chatter, Hau5 Newcastle launched weekly with 1800 people, Somerville and his ever growing Hau5 team did not imagine the circumstances improving further than this already ideal situation. Little did they know they would experience record breaking growth of 1000 people in just seven days, up to an amazing 2800 people on week two alone, positioning Hau5 as Newcastle’s busiest event almost immediately.
On the weekend of the 20th and 21st of September 2014, Hau5 will be taking the high-octane, hands-in-the-air atmosphere that it is renowned for to Newcastle’s Metro Arena Courtyard as 20,000 people over the weekend descend on what promises to be the biggest festival event the city has ever seen and indeed, Newcastle’s very first TWO DAY electronic music event. Boasting a line-up that has been carefully curated from the very best DJs and acts that electronic music has to offer, Hau5 – the Festival will be welcoming back their show-stopping resident DJs but this time along an all-star line-up that include AN21, Chase & Status + MC Rage, Darius Syrossian, Dimitri Vangelis, DJ Sneak, DVBBS, Finnebassen, Robin Schulz (Mr Probs – Waves), Sigma, Sub Focus + MC ID, Third Party and Wyman.
Hau5 says, “This is what the last three years have boiled down to. All the good times, all the messy weekends, the pyrotechnics, the live musicians, the thousands upon thousands of people who walked into the club expecting a night out – but left with an experience they will never forget… On the weekend of 20th & 21st of September, Hau5™ Newcastle’s 2nd Birthday, 10,000+ electronic dance music lovers will descend on Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena Courtyard (Outside) with high expectations of a musical and visual spectacle, expectations that only Hau5 could match and exceed”.
Tickets for Hau5 Festival 2014 at Newcatle Metro Radio Arena are available here.
Words by Akua Ofei // Edited by Ayo Adepoju
