Creamfields 2008 gets under way

By Kev Geoghegan
Newsbeat music reporter at Creamfields

Creamfields veteran Paul van Dyk is one of the headliners

Thousands of fans have arrived for the start of the first day of Creamfields at Daresbury in Cheshire.

The dance music festival, which is celebrating its 10th birthday, has moved from one to two days to cope with demand for tickets and for the first time, clubbers will be able to set up camp at the site.

On Saturday, Pendulum, The Gossip and Fatboy Slim will play the main stage, with worldclass DJs including Eric Prydz, Felix da Housecat and Paul van Dyk playing across the other nine stages.

Van Dyk has played every year since the first event near Winchester in 1998. He introduced his biggest hit record, For An Angel, at that date.

He said: "I remember I played at something like four in the afternoon... it was great actually - it was really good.

"I was so excited about it and I think that came across and people started to really enjoy the track.

"I think I've been to all 10 years of Creamfields so it's kind of a coming home... and you can really feel the passion of the promoters for the festival."

Rock headliners

On Sunday night, Kasabian will become the first rock band to headline the traditionally dance-oriented event.

Tracks like Processed Beats and LSF, from their debut album, have given them a crossover appeal for clubbers in a similar way that Australian newcomers Pendlum have straddled the rock/dance genres.

Kasabian are the first rock band to top the bill at Creamfields

Kasabian singer Tom Meighan said: "I think it's quite groundbreaking, in rock and roll terms, for us to do this."

Guitarist Serge Pizzorno added: "It'll be nice because people who might not neccesarily go to Creamfields will come and see us and check out some other music that they might not normally check out."

The Ibiza Rocks brand has helped push rock artists to the centre of the European summer clubbing scene, wirth bands like The Enemy, The Pigeon Detectives and Razorlight playing gigs over the past few years.

Festival boss and the founder of Cream, James Barton has defended puttting a guitar band at the top of his bill.

He said: "Well, I know Tom and Serge and they describe themselves as a classic rock and roll band, but I listen to their music and I hear stuff I can dance to.

"Tastes are changing all the time and they are a huge band."

The weather has been fairly mixed over the past week, but sunshine is predicted for today with more sunshine and some showers on Sunday.