After a cracking summer of festival fun, things are beginning to wind down for the season — but not before one last party.
Waterworks, which made a big splash on the London festival scene when it landed last summer, returns with another stellar selection of DJs, promising a range of styles and sounds, and some tantalising back-to-back team-ups.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Is Waterworks Festival 2022 still going ahead?
Yes. The festival does fall within the national period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, but as the Cabinet Office has confirmed, “there is no obligation to cancel or postpone events and sporting fixtures, or close entertainment venues” during this time.
Waterworks organisers published a lengthy statement on the festival’s website saying that they had been asked by Hounslow Council to consider cancelling or postponing the event, but “with the event already 10 days into the build, over 500 people booked in to work across the event and 80+ artists travelling from across Europe to play the event, the task of postponing to rearrange for a later date, especially for an outdoor event, this year is unfortunately an impossible one”.
Organisers added that if they did cancel the 2022 edition of the festival at such short notice, the magnitude of the costs already spent “would mean immediate placement of the company into administration”.
They continued: “Finally, it is our belief that in scenarios such as the one we collectively face as a country right now it is all the more important for people to come together and feel the support of the communities to which they belong and certainly from the messages we have been receiving since yesterday our audience agrees with this.”
You can read the full statement here.
When and where is Waterworks festival?
The event is taking place within the wooded area of Gunnersbury Park in west London, kicking off at midday and finishing by 10.30pm.
Who’s on the line-up? And what are the set times?
The line-up is a varied one, rooted in electronic music but exploring many of its branches, from the classic genres — techno, house, disco, drum’n’bass and the like — to the more experimental side of things.
The music is spread across seven stages, each of which are worth exploring on the day. Here’s who’s playing on each one, with set times (which are subject to change — head here on the day to make sure).
Water Tower
- 12:00-13.30 — Dave Harvey b2b Ellie Stokes
- 13.30-14.30 — Shy One
- 14.30-16.30 — Dr Banana b2b Evan Baggs
- 16.30-18.30 — Bradley Zero
- 18.30-20.30 — Palms Trax
- 20.30-21.30 — Optimo (Espacio)
Orbit
- 12:00-13.30 — Big Dyke Energy
- 13.30-14.30 — Michelle Manetti
- 14.30-16.30 — Hannah Holland b2b Josh Caffe
- 16.30-18.30 — Or:la b2b Amaliah
- 18.30-20.30 — Midland b2b Saoirse
- 20.30-21.30 — Job Jobse
Pressure
- 12.00-13.00 — Toshiki Ohta
- 13.00-14.00 — Kiara Scuro
- 14.00-15.00 — TVSI b2b Ehua
- 15.00-16.00 — DJ Perception
- 16.00-17.30 — Peach
- 17.30-19.00 — Djrum
- 19.00-20.30 — Anz
- 20.30-22.30 — Ben UFO b2b Call Super
Cedar
- 12.00-13.30 — Bobby. b2b Mariiin
- 13.30-14.30 — Club Fitness
- 14.30-15.30 — Schatrax (Live)
- 15.30-17.30 — The Ghost
- 17.30-19.00 — Laurine
- 19.00-21.00 — Craig Richards
- 21.00-22.30 — Calibre
Siren
- 12.00-13.00 — Ell Murphy b2b ohmydais
- 13.00-14.00 — Ahadadream b2b Shannen SP
- 14.00-15.00 — Aba Shanti-I
- 15.00-16.00 — Darwin
- 16.00-17.00 — dBridge pres Black Electric (Live)
- 17.00-18.00 — Kessler
- 18.00-19.00 — Yung Singh
- 19.00-20.00 — DJ Storm ft. Stamina MC
- 20.00-21.00 — Krust (Live)
- 21.00-22.30 — Digital Mystikz ft. SGT Pokes
Hi Hat
- 12.00-13.00 — Works of Intent
- 13.00-14.00 — Sayang
- 14.00-15.00 — Manni Dee
- 15.00-17.00 — Bambounou b2b GiGi FM
- 17.00-18.30 — Yazzus b2b LCY
- 18.30-20.00 — SPFDJ
- 20.00-22.00 — Batu b2b Skee Mask
Commune
- 12.00-13.30 — Kmya b2b Phoebe Valentine
- 13.30-14.30 — Angel D’lite b2b Tan
- 14.30-16.00 — Kyrwald & Farrer
- 16.00-17.00 — Manami
- 17.00-18.30 — Adam Pits b2b LUXE
- 18.30-20.00 — Sybil b2b Jay Duncan
- 20.00-22.00 — Jane Fitz b2b Spekki Webu
How to get tickets for Waterworks
There are a few different types of tickets left for Saturday. Entry before 12pm is £49.50; before 1pm is £55.50; before 2pm is £62.50; before 4pm is £65.50. You can save money by buying as a group of four and all turning up together, working out at £47 each for turning up before 2pm, and £49 before 4pm.
Head here to buy yours.
What about the after party?
If a 10.30pm finish feels like far too much of an early night, head back into London for the official after party at Corsica Studios. The Elephant and Castle club will be hosting many of the same names from Waterworks — Peach, The Ghost, Yazzus and more — from 11pm until 6am the next morning. Tickets start at £10 and can be bought here.
