Last Saturday, Jean-Drapeau Park pulsated to the beat of British club sounds during a themed evening organized by Realm Records. If you’re not yet familiar with this record label, it was founded in 2018 by English duo Gorgon City, who headlined this OFF-Piknic event, accompanied by Linska, Riordan, and Dennis Ferrer. Although Ferrer is not affiliated with Realm, but rather with Defected Records, his presence added a touch of legend to this already exciting evening.
To kick off the event, Linska delivered a set rooted in dark and driving tech house/techno. Her thick, rumbling textures evoked the golden age of British house in the 1990s, while drawing on the electro-house of the 2010s, a formative period of her adolescence. Sample choices such as Gorillaz’s Dare transported us to a decidedly British universe—a sound imprint that would mark the entire evening. Linska’s infectious energy behind the turntables, under the bright July sun, contrasted nicely with the nocturnal tones of her music. The sustained rhythm of her set drew festival-goers to the modular wooden dance floor set up in front of the stage. In the final minutes of her set, Bad Boy, her best-known track with melodic techno sounds, clearly announced that this promising artist of the new generation is only just getting started.
The baton was passed to Riordan, a DJ from Sussex, England. The first half of his set explored a more traditional vein of house music, carried by melodic build-ups and a more airy structure. Quickly, the energy level rose a notch: a high-energy vibe took hold, characterized by a catchy groove and softer hi-hats, less compressed than those typical of techno. The opening of the set, marked by MC-style energy samples, reaffirmed the British identity of the clubs, which was omnipresent that evening. Linska’s deep, timbred basslines are transformed here into more melodic and rhythmic textures under Riordan’s hand. As new festival-goers arrived on site, they seemed to be quickly drawn in by the DJ’s infectious groove. Halfway through, Riordan brought the energy to a peak, leading the audience to a moment of intense collective tension, released in a euphoric drop that literally lifted the crowd off their feet. The second half of his set navigated between darker tracks, reminiscent of Linska’s vibe, and more energetic, uptempo passages, keeping the momentum at its peak.
After Riordan’s set, the arrival on stage of American veteran Dennis Ferrer marked a notable change in tone. With him, the groove took root in classic deep house, tinged with tech house elements that allowed for a seamless musical transition. From the very first minutes, some of the samples used by Ferrer plunged us into the world of European house music from the 2000s—a nostalgic nod that perfectly suited this beautiful summer day. The decision to include Dennis Ferrer in the lineup was particularly wise. With over 30 years of experience, this seasoned DJ brought a unique perspective to an evening focused primarily on the next generation. For the younger audience who came to cheer on Gorgon City, it was an opportunity to discover a pillar of the global house scene. And this experience was evident throughout his set, particularly through his references to disco, visible in his selection of tracks with funky bass lines, blending disco and electro-disco. Songs like ABBA’s Lay Your Love On Me and Diana Ross’s Upside Down resonated throughout the venue, appealing to both younger generations and older fans, who were fewer in number but just as present. At over fifty years old, Dennis Ferrer is bursting with energy. He was seen dancing from start to finish, sometimes tapping on the speakers near him, raising his arms in the air, and constantly interacting with the crowd. His charismatic stage presence added a human and festive dimension to his performance, proving that passion for electronic music knows no age.
To close this immersive evening, London duo Gorgon City took to the stage, adorned with their iconic visual featuring the Parthenon in Athens. Warmly welcomed by the audience, they began their performance gently, gradually establishing their pop-infused house sound, a more accessible and unifying signature sound. This feeling of communion was particularly evident in the recurring use of sung passages, which infused the crowd with a warm and emotional atmosphere. These vocal passages were often followed by drops with typical tech house sounds, carried by deep, roaring mid-low frequencies—that famous “rumble” that gives the track body and power. As the set progressed, the rhythm became more pronounced: the beats hit harder, the bass drove the whole thing, creating a feeling of irresistible movement, particularly palpable on tracks like 5AM at Bagley’s. Their formula was based on a masterful alternation between soft, sung tracks and more energetic, danceable sequences—a well-honed balance that kept the audience’s attention and momentum going throughout their two-hour performance.
The second half of the set took on a more contemplative energy, with several touching moments where the duo sang in unison with the crowd, creating a rare intimacy for an outdoor event. Some tracks echoed 90s house music in its most pop-oriented forms—diva house, garage house—bringing a retro and festive vibe to close the show in style. At 10 p.m. sharp, this musical journey came to an end to the enthusiastic applause of a captivated audience, who were treated to an ideal evening at Jean-Drapeau Park, filled with communion, groove, and electronic celebration.
For fans of Defected Records, one of the oldest independent record labels in the United Kingdom, take heart: Piknic Électronik programmers have planned a themed evening on October 10 featuring MVNGO, DJ Holographic, Melé, and Meduza.
