Relentless Freeze Festival 2011 was fantastic. The Ramp was the stage for some epic jumping, the crowd lapping up the tricks and skills displayed in the air right before them. There’s not many places where this level of action sports can be seen by so many so close to the crowd. For a great deal of the crowd this would have been their first time seeing a snow ramp in action, most would have seen such things in video but there’s nothing quite like watching an athlete pulling some insane skills whilst you stand at the bottom of the ramp.
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The Music delivered too, at night Freeze came alive with the likes of Groove Armada, The Streets and The Joy Formidable filling the tents, building the crowds into a frenzy. If that alone was how you’d judge a festival then Freeze was hands down one of the best events this year.
This is how I was left feeling, describing Relentless Freeze as a festival is a bit ambitious. The ingredients are there but somehow it doesn’t exhibit the atmosphere you relate to a festival experience. There was a feeling that this was a very commercial event and nearly everything featured was a some form of separating you from your money.
During the day time Freeze didn’t seem to have any soul, there were people milling around but there wasn’t a party atmosphere. Granted it would be difficult to build a festival vibe on a concrete patch in the center of London. At night the place really came alive, the best time to hit it is from about 5:30 pm onward.
I’m not saying Freeze was a failure at all, it really did provide what was promised – big airs, great music and bars, cinema and trade stands. 2011 was the most successful for Relentless Freeze with all tickets sold out! I just don’t think its a festival, its a big snow sports event, which is quite a different thing.
Festivals have become a huge trend in the UK over the last couple of years, it seems there’s twice the amount every year than the one before. Having a big event with music and bars is not the same as a festival, somehow if feels the term has been watered down, bought by brands and polished for consumption. Or maybe I’m a closet crusty and yearn for muddy cliches at glasto.
If you’re looking for a great weekend in London in late October with action sports, music, great bars and food, Relentless Freeze is the place to go, just don’t expect to sleep in a tent.
Gillan Williams
