Genosys day party at Glastonbury review: Dance music gets the ultimate celebration

Having already established itself as the epicentre of Glastonbury’s nightlife, this year saw the dance music aficionados at Block9 turn their attention to the daytime with the introduction of a bumper day party held across both their Genosys stage and the famed NYC Downlow. 

Things kicked off at 2pm with a set from bonafide veteran Don Letts who lulled the crowd into proceedings with his eclectic mix of floorfillers. Letts quickly drew a crowd of enthusiastic festival goers to Genosys, a towering concrete and glass behemoth which was designed by Block 9 co-founders Stephen Gallagher and Gideon Berger to celebrate the birth of analogue electronic music. 

The Radio 6 DJ was followed by a rousing set from Hot Chip who, as always, never fail to deliver on their promise of sparkling feel good tunes which evoke the sounds of yesteryear whilst still managing to sound effortlessly fresh. Meanwhile, in the festival’s notorious purpose built gay club NYC Downlow, Melle Brown warmed the crowd up with a two-hour set which aimed to commemorate 30 years of the Classic Music Company. As one of the festival’s most sought after nightlife destinations, the Downlow day party served as an extra opportunity to step through the bathhouse-cum-meatpacking warehouse’s iconic meat curtains. Brown’s moody sonic vibe was the perfect soundtrack to the Downlow’s mesmerising hypnotic vibe which manages to transport the crowd into a sweaty temporary alternative reality no matter who is on decks.

Melle’s glimmering grooves were succeeded by a set from an unsung hero of British house music, Luke Solomon who helped keep energy levels high, whilst back on Genosys the crowd was treated to 90 minutes of pure ecstasy from Fatboy Slim. Beneath the scorching summer sunshine, the heaving mass of starry eyed party goers two stepped to their heart’s content to the UK dance legend’s familiar beats before Canadian princess of house Jayda G took the reins for a typically effervescent set of meaty stompers.

The jewel in the crown came in the form of a surprise set from Jamie xx who ramped things up a notch for the party’s final 90 minutes. The reigning It Boy of the UK party scene delivered a toe-tapping mix of slick smash hits intercut with underground gems.

Back in the Downlow, Chicago icon Derrick Carter proved once again why his reputation as one of house music’s founding fathers is well earned. Carter’s transcendent blend of old-school disco, new wave, soul and jazz engulfed Worthy Farm’s palace of hedonism, serving as a perfect reminder why this singular space was once dubbed the world’s best nightclub by nightlife bible Resident Advisor.

Programmed by Gallagher and Berger, Block9’s day party was a testament to the duo’s commitment to honouring both the culture and history of dance music, elevating the moods of anyone lucky enough to attend this dreamy ode to the dancefloors that raised us.