FIELD MANEUVERS: FIVE TO WATCH

Field Maneuvers hits a secret riverside location 60 minutes north of London for its fourth instalment this weekend, running from Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th September.

A meticulously programmed line-up sees the likes of Ben UFO, The Black Madonna, Kornél Kovács, Axel Bowman, Ben Sims, Pariah, Randomer and many more on deck across the weekend.

Billed as “60 hours of mayhem”, the music takes place across three stages with a capacity of just 700 people, with Dan Beaumont, Dance Tunnel Soundsystem, Mark Archer, Jerome Hill and Throwing Shade also all performing.

Ahead of the event, here’s five must see sets that DJ Mag thinks will form the highlights of Field Maneuvers 2016.

Honey Soundsystem

DJ Mag hung out with Jason Kendig and Jackie House of Honey Soundsystem in a converted Leyland Roadrunner backstage at Glastonbury for a feature in our August magazine, which unveiled the pair as fervent crate diggers keen to trace the threads between the blueprint of the music they play and new/unheard music. The result on deck is a glorious dose of kaleidoscopic-house music drawing from Hi-NRG and Italo, as well as disco-tinged, Detroit, Chicago, deep, jackin’ and downright sleazy house, and beyond. Their opening set on Block 9’s Genosys at Glastonbury was truly special, and their Field Maneuvers performance promises to be much the same.

Mike Servito

Mike Servito made a name for himself in the mid-'90s on the same Detroit scene that nurtured the likes of Matthew Dear and Ryan Elliot. An incredibly talented selector, his mixes can move between anything on the house and techno gamut, and Servito’s recently established the loyal following he’s always deserved through his residency at The Bunker in New York as well as a series of b2b sets with The Black Madonna. Both perform at Field Maneuvers this year, so don’t be surprised if the festival hosts another slice of magic from the duo.

Gene Hunt

When it comes to Chicago house, Gene Hunt’s name might not carry the same weight as the likes of Ron Hardy, Frankie Knuckles, Larry Heard or Marshall Jefferson, but the Windy City legend cut his teeth with all of them, and hasn’t taken his finger off the pulse since. On deck he offers exactly what you’d want from a Chicago veteran, and will give the Field Maneuvers’ dancefloor a full workout when he touches down this weekend.

Ryan Elliot

Ryan Elliot is the Berghain/Panorama Bar resident that’s equally as adept at playing techno in the venue’s downstairs space as he is house and disco upstairs. Known for his stripped-back approach to techno that weaves rhythms and textures without becoming self-indulgent, he can just as easily turn his hand to deep and dubby house. He also confirmed his place as a Fabric favourite earlier this year when he recorded the Farringdon venue’s ‘Fabric 88’ mix, which included music from Borrowed Identity, Lapien and Bas Mooy. Elliot’s multi-faceted ability as a DJ is perfectly suited to Field Manuevers, which has a strong techno offering with the likes of Pariah and Randomer, but with roots firmly placed in house. Whatever he spins at the weekend, he promises to be a highlight.

Jane Fitz

Jane Fitz is the mastermind behind London’s Night Moves, as well as being a regular at festivals like Freerotation and Dekmantel. She’s also a dexterous selector, able to turn her hand to a range of sounds. At Field Maneuvers this year she plays three sets, which include her annual Friday night b2b with Jade Seatle, spinning as part of Norman Behavior b2b2b with Carl Hardy and John Hanley on Saturday afternoon, and a solo acid set on Saturday night. All three promise to be unmissable.

Rob McCallum is DJ Mag’s deputy digital editor. Follow him on Twitter here.