Junction 2 festival announces location, line up and dates for London 2023
Returning to their original home, the inimitable Boston Manor Park, this year’s edition is set to be the boldest Junction 2 yet, as the team gather their energy from recent years to present a revitalised Junction 2. This event plans to go beyond what has come before it. With new stage designs, updated location and a vision for its long future.
Having confirmed a host of familiar favourites alongside new members of the Junction 2 family, this year will see a renewed focus on alliances, with DJs delivering spellbinding back to back sets. The pairings have all been chosen to allow the artists to fully express themselves, creating a truly unique experience, both in the booth and on the dancefloor.
Split over two days, Junction 2 has announced 23 acts from across the electronic spectrum. Friday will see Underworld, Ben UFO b2b Helena Hauff, Daphni b2b Hunee, Dixon, DJ Stingray 313 b2b Objekt, Elkka b2b Sofia Kourtesis, Jeff Mills, KT, Mall Grab b2b Skin on Skin, Midland, Mona Yim, Or:la, Otik, Storm Mollison. Saturday will witness Adam Beyer, Cirez D, Asch Pintura, Astra Club (Carlita B2B DJ Tennis), Charlotte de Witte, Dax J, Enzo Siragusa b2b Dyed Soundorom, Fjaak, Gene On Earth b2b The Ghost, Hessle Audio Trio, Kessie, Margaret Dygas b2b Sonja Moonear, Nina Kraviz, Praslesh (Raresh b2b Praslea), Sama’ Abdulhadi alongside music partners FUSE and ION.
Junction 2 will take place on July 21st and 22nd this year and will finally bring back the Junction 2 family after three postponed festivals. Tickets are available on Tuesday 17th January at 12pm and can be purchased with a £20 deposit as part of a payment plan scheme, providing the perfect opportunity to spread the cost out over the coming months.
Jeff Gray, Promoter at Junction 2 says “Junction 2’s return to Boston Manor Park after four long years is going to make for the most significant moment in the events history. A long-awaited opportunity to get back to our spiritual home and once again experience what is still the best festival site in the Capital. In terms of lineup we are delighted with how it’s taken shape; some massive debuts combined with many fresh new names and some huge new stage designs, it truly feels like a year of rebirth and regrowth for the festival.”
On Friday 21st, Underworld make their long-awaited return to London and their first performance in their home city in four years. Armed with new material alongside the timeless classics released across a near 40 year long career, the influence of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith on electronic music cannot be understated. This exclusive and very special set will be one of the highlights across the weekend. They will be joined by the original Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills, for his long awaited Junction 2 debut. Utilising four decks alongside his trusty 909, Jeff will no doubt take the Junction 2 faithful to places they have never been to before.
Alongside these two titans, J2 have a collection of DJs known for their bold, risk-taking choices behind the decks and dedication to their sound, with many playing back-to-back. These include Helena Hauff and Ben UFO, playing their first B2B for many years; house and disco masters Daphni and Hunee, whose synergy behind the decks is a joy to behold; highly respected technical wizard Objekt, who joins forces with Detroit electro legend DJ Stingray 313, Elkka teams up with Sofia Kourtesis, whilst Mall Grab and Skin on Skin go head to head, bringing with them some of the hardest hitting techno slammers of the day.
Aside from these duos, the bill also features a range of artists holding the fort on their own, including Innervisions head-honcho Dixon, bringing his signature style of house with him. Newcomers include Midland, who is constantly cementing his integral status within UK club culture; Or:la, whose star has not stopped rising since her phenomenal Boiler Room debut back in 2017; producer wunderkind Otik; purveyor of heart-tugging house, plus Mona Yim, KT and Storm Mollison, all of which are hotly tipped for a bumper 2023.
Junction 2’s Saturday will partner with London’s FUSE and exhibit a streamlined display of artists, with particular focus on the realms of techno, minimal and tech-house.
Adam Beyer returns to Junction 2 once again, this time, however, it’s a bit different, as the Drumcode boss goes toe-to-toe with fellow Swede Eric Prydz, under his techno moniker Cirez D. The pair have played together many times across the world before, however this UK festival exclusive is the very first time they have ever done so in the Capital. Expect unadulterated techno carnage and an unforgettable musical experience from two of the best to ever do it.
Charlotte de Witte and Nina Kraviz will also be joining J2, two incredible artists that continue to perform at the highest level. Both in different parts of their career but are equally regarded as leading female tastemakers.
Building on these techno mainstays, this year will also play host to Dax J, a master of the craft in all aspects of his artistry, with near unparalleled commitment to the hardest-hitting techno out there; Sama’ Abdulhadi, who continues to define and redefine the genre through her use of real-world samples and unique productions; Astra Club, the inspired pairing of Carlita and DJ Tennis, who continue to push their hypnotic brand of house to great effect, and German duo FJAAK, who have achieved world-renowned status through their prolific output and online presence.
Further to this, J2 are delighted to be partnering with seminal UK label Hessle Audio. Alongside label heads Ben UFO, Pearson Sound and Pangaea will be an array of DJs known for their forward-thinking attitude to DJing and production, specially curated by the trio themselves, to be announced soon.
Continuing the theme of musical collaboration, FUSE arrive at Junction 2 for their first ever festival stage in their home city. Firstly, FUSE boss Enzo Siragusa, a true tastemaker when it comes to low-slung, bass-heavy tech house, goes B2B with Dyed Soundorom, one of minimal’s most prominent and respected DJs. J2 are also over the moon to have Sonja Moonear and Margaret Dygas, two of the form’s finest selectors, for what’s sure to be a spellbinding display of deftly assembled cuts. Alongside them are the formidable duo that is Raresh and Praslea, performing as Praslesh, plus the deep digging personalities The Ghost B2B Gene on Earth. Aside from these B2B pairings are Leeds-based Kessie, who brings her eclectic, bass-focused sound to Boston Manor Park for the first time.
Overall, this is Junction 2’s most forward-thinking and varied line-up yet, perfectly suited to today’s open-minded and ever-changing scene. Returning to home soil once again, this really feels like it’s going to be something special – join us for an unparalleled two day celebration of underground sonics and the very best electronic music the scene has to offer.
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