A new star illuminated on 8th December (Saturday) as Heineken Thirst lit up the night to more than 28,000 exhilarated festival goers at Sepang International Circuit. With an electrifying line-up of 12 leading international and local DJs performing across two arenas amid a towering 50 foot interactive art installation, there’s only one word to describe this year’s Heineken Thirst and that’s EPIC!
At the Main Stage were electronica superstars and veterans of the festival circuit Above & Beyond.
This London-based multinational trio has a huge following in Malaysia so it was no wonder that they were greeted with an earth-shattering roar when they took the stage.
Of course Malaysia’s homegrown EDM superstars Goldfish & Blink warmed up perfectly for them, effortlessly controlling the thousands of fists pumping in the air below them.
Over at the Star Arena, the beats were darker and the mood a little edgier and more experimental as Heineken Thirst demonstrated its progressive edge with the Malaysian debuts of a trio of French acts. Brodinski and Gesaffelstein, two of the scene’s hottest electro producers set the scene perfectly with individual sets of brooding techno and outdoor anthems.
Of course, to say that Justice, France’s darkwave poster boys, delivered the goods is an understatement.
Across two hours of inspired “cutting and pasting” that tripped from genre to genre, their Heineken Thirst set demonstrated exactly why they are regarded as one of the edgiest acts in the EDM community.
And let’s not forget a roll call of Heineken alumni: Mr. Nasty and GuruGuru, Phil K Lee, and Tommy Cham on the Main Stage and Nick Haydez, Jee Hoe and Hypeembeats at the Star Arena. And of course, fresh from his set at the Main Stage with Goldfish, Blink closed the night at the Star Arena with partner DJ Xu at their celebratory show as LapSap.
Spotted running around the festival grounds and in the DJs booth, Rukes was capturing all the action on and off stage at Heineken Thirst. The LA-based celebrity photographer flew in to Malaysia especially for the festival.
Towering above the futuristic design universe of Heineken Thirst was one of the most iconic international pieces of public and festival art of recent years. Already a favourite at Coachella Fest, Electric Daisy Carnival, and more, the 50 foot high “Wish” made its Asian debut at Heineken Thirst. Designed by San Francisco public art conceptualist Robert James, Wish consists of “three contemporary dandelions that are losing their seeds in the wind”.
As for Avicii, what is there to say?
One of the planet’s top dance music producer and a chart topping artist in his own right, the fresh-face Swede made a spectacular debut in Malaysia at Heineken Thirst.
Thundering through two hours of anthemic electronic, it was easy for the crowd to see why artists from Madonna to Tiësto have him on speed dial. And the crowd responded with every ounce of energy and support that they could give in return.
A final burst of fireworks reflecting off the shining form of Wish, marked the finale of Heineken Thirst.
As Avicii’s last notes sounded across the arena and the night was taken over by its true stars, the happy and exhausted festivalgoers who had spent the evening documenting their own unforgettable journey through #Thirst2012 via hundreds if not thousands of Facebook and Twitter updates.
Because whatever your thrill-seeking pleasures are, Heineken Thirst will be etched as a night that opened everyone’s world to an unforgettable and truly unique experience to talk about in months to come.
For more pictures from the event, click!
To be part of Heineken’s exciting calendar of events, stay tuned at its Facebook page or Twitter account.
