Festival Tips: Markus Schulz, Bingo Players, Menno de Jong

Festival Tips: Markus Schulz, Bingo Players, Menno de Jong

5 August, 2010 | 2.39AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: bingo players, dance valley, festival tips, markus schulz, menno de jong

This Saturday, August 7, Dance Valley presents its 17th edition in the Netherlands’ breathtaking Velsen Valley, presenting an incredible 23 stages featuring the world’s biggest DJs and live acts: Mark Knight, Booka Shade, Tocadisco, Armin van Buuren, Carl Cox, Cristian Varela, Umek, Sander Kleinenberg, Gui Boratto, Gregor Tresher, Reboot—and the list goes on and on (and on!).

We spoke to featured acts Markus Schulz, Bingo Players and Menno de Jong to get amped up for the event. 

Markus Schulz

Have you been to Dance Valley festival? If you have, what’s your favorite thing about it? If not, what are you looking forward to?

This will be my third. I love central European festival locations. You get an influx of people from countries north, south, east and west of their locations, and I think to have that blend when you’re dancing at a festival—to be hearing all those different languages spoken—makes for a great backdrop.  The amphitheatre aspect is so cool, too. Dance Valley, through a smart choice of location, has corrected one of the great logistical problems with festivals! If you’re dancing and some 6ft Sixer blocks your view, you just take a few steps back up the hill and you’re good to go again!


Tell us about your first festival experience.

This is really bad, but you know what—I don’t remember! I think that it was a kind of pre-festival deal, more like a rave held out somewhere remote.

Which was the first major festival you played as an artist, and what was the experience like?

I guess that would have been Trance Energy in 2006. Naturally it wasn’t as big as it is today, but it was still pretty awe-inspiring. It was the year that it really went supernova, I think, the one where everybody started talking about it as something you had to go to. I made a whole load of special Big Room edits of tracks and a bootleg of Marco V’s ‘False Light’ which really blew the place up! It was a very special event. 


What’s the strangest thing that a fan has ever given you at a festival or a gig?

Man, I’ve been given lots of things. Sadly they’re usually for me to sign and are then promptly handed back! I’ve signed phones, passports (was never quite sure if that invalidated it or not!) and, on request, the odd bit of flesh. Not strange as such but I remember someone did once give me a Phoenix Suns cap at a gig I did in Arizona. That’s my b-ball team and I was really touched by that!

Bingo Players

Have you been to Dance Valley festival? If you have, what’s your favorite thing about it? If not, what are you looking forward to?

We’ve been to Dance Valley before, not as DJs but as visitors. What we really like about Dance Valley is that it’s the Woodstock of dance festivals. It’s all about love, peace and happiness.... and good music, of course! So you can imagine we’re really looking forward to playing at the main stage.


Tell us about your first festival experience.

Our first festival as clubbers was Lowlands. It’s a very popular festival in Holland. Besides really good rock bands, there are also many dance acts. We’ll never forget the live show from Royksopp, which was amazing! Furthermore, there were really good performances by Prodigy and Audio Bullys.

Which was the first major festival you played as an artist, and what was the experience like?

The first major festival we’ve played at was Mystery Land. It was great to play at such a legendary festival in Holland. The first time we played a big festival outside of Holland was Creamfields in Australia. An unbelievable experience, because we played for such a large audience that went completely wild!


What’s the strangest thing that a fan has ever given you at a festival or a gig?

That would be a winning bingo card that somebody wanted an autograph on!

Menno De Jong

Have you been to Dance Valley festival? If you have, what’s your favorite thing about it? If not, what are you looking forward to?

I went many years ago as a clubber myself. Since then I have always had gigs so I wasn’t able to attend, that’s why I’m very happy to be able to play there this weekend. Really looking forward to the A State Of Trance stage, but also going to check out many of the great artists playing on the other stages. The festival terrain is gorgeous too, it really is like a valley.


Tell us about your first festival experience.

As a youngster the first big events I attended were Innercity and Trance Energy. It got me in touch with the music I love today. Things were different back then, though, as an artist you’re pretty spoiled with your backstage experience. I was always there when doors opened, and waited at the train station until the first train left. Cold as it was, it was also a magical time for me, discovering EDM changed my life!

Which was the first major festival you played as an artist, and what was the experience like?

The first massive festival I played was En Trance in Poland. I was very very nervous but it ended up being a great experience, and the first of many more gigs there.


What’s the strangest thing that a fan has ever given you at a festival or a gig?

A teddy bear wearing a sweater with my name on it, and a sweet message. Might not be strange, but certainly nice!

Markus Schulz Beatport Top 10

Markus Schulz on Beatport

Bingo Players on Beatport

Menno de Jong on Beatport

• (0) Comments
• (1980) Views