After ten years away from the main stages of the world, Basement Jaxx are bringing back their legendary euphoric energy-filled live experience with a headline show at South Facing Festival, on Saturday, 23rd August.
While many of their electronic contemporaries have looked to technology to make their gigs a compelling experience, Basement Jaxx have always embraced a maximalist approach, combining a dizzying and ever-growing array of singers, MCs, musicians and eventually whole troupes of dancers to turn any stage into a life-affirming cavorting carnival of music.
“After a few years DJing round the globe, it’ll be great to return to the live stage and the Live Show Experience” enthused Basement Jaxx’s Felix Buxton. “To connect to people with life affirming energy and give people a great time.”
Starting in 1994 with a series of underground EPs on their own Atlantic Jaxx label and now famous parties held in venues across a pre-gentrified South London, Felix and Simon Ratcliffe’s distinctive combination of house and garage with punk attitude, global influences and unforgettable tunes quickly developed a cult following that led to their 1999 first album ‘Remedy; with its breakthrough hits ‘Red Alert’, ‘Rendez Vu’ and Jump & Shout. 2001’s follow-up ‘Rooty’ was even bigger and louder: ‘Where’s Your Head At’ provided an evergreen anthem that still crosses all generations and genres.
Right from the start Felix and Simon’s live experience was a showstopper that grew into a spectacular festival experience leading to headline slots at Glastonbury: first on The Other Stage, then by 2005, the same year they won the Grammy for best electronic album, Coachella, the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage and Hyde Park.
“It’s great our hits are still very much alive with younger generations,” says Felix, “so we connect across the age range – and it’ll be great to pop in a couple of bangers from our forthcoming album too”
The last 10 years have seen Basement Jaxx remain festival favourites, but headlining behind the decks rather than at the front of the stage – but the time is now right to bring back the full eye-popping technicolour experience. As Felix puts it: “It feels like 2025 is the beginning of a new era for many and I think that’s probably true for Basement Jaxx too”
