The Class of MKB

   Saturday 14th July marked the last UK show Swedish House Mafia are to perform and I don't think one person from the 60,000 strong crowd went home disappointed, maybe devastated at the loss of such an incredible and iconic trio, but certainly not disappointed.

    This took place at Milton Keynes Bowl situated an hour outside of London. Past performers include everyone from David Bowie, to Blazin' Squad, to Foo Fighters and, apparently, the first to grace there were Desmond Dekker (ska/ reggae singer) and Geno Washington (rhythm and blues) in 1979.


    The ex-clay pit turned amphitheatre was a perfect location for the last big celebration of SHM's performing days. Despite the amount of people there, you had a good view from everywhere on the grassland. Now, despite the panic I had the night before of not being able to find my  camera charger (which resulted in me making a makeshift one from a blackberry plug and camera lead) I actually only ended up taking 4 photos. I am usually keen to photograph every second of such massive events, as the 176 photos from Download shows, but I can blame this on nothing but being highly intoxicated and having way too much fun. I can, however, promise that the lighting and stage craft was just as perfect as the performers themselves.


    As the poster above shows, alongside Swedish House Mafia themselves were sets from Example, Calvin Harris, Madeon, Pete Tong, Alesso and no_id (who don't appear on the poster for some reason?). It definitely was 2012's biggest dancefloor as well, the atmosphere was unreal and the energy continued for the full 9 hours and beyond. 

    My experience involved a 6am alarm, 3 hour coach from Leeds and failed attempt to find who I'd arranged to meet when I got there! Despite the traumas everyone's phones were having due to being drained by the low signal, we all had an incredible time. I stayed with people from my coach - Danielle and Ashley (what a great name ;)!). So the beauty of this is that I didn't just have the best day experiencing SHM for the first time but I also left with friends I hope to keep in touch with for a long time :) The moment I remember most is the first play of their new song 'Don't Worry Child'. Here's a clip of it from youtube...

    I couldn't recommend seeing any of these acts more but unfortunately if you want to see the main 3 themselves, you're going to have to move fast. 


Go. Rave. Love.


Here's a collection of photo's from their twitter. (none of these images are my own)

University

   So, I've just found out my timetable for the coming year and I have to say it is a students nightmare! Tuesday's I'm in longer than Dolly Parton had time to sing about (9am - 6PM!) with two other 9am starts on top of this. But, despite my melodrama over how this is a near impossible task, I am so excited to start afresh on a course I am thrilled to be on.

    I feel like I am officially starting University. Sure, technically I've already been there a year but after a whopping THREE degree choice changes, I'm going to cross the past year off as my unofficial gap year. To some, it may seem both a waste of money and time that I'm now restarting on a new course but despite the debt and despite the heartache it's taken to get here; I wouldn't change much of the past year at all. I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason in a Butterfly Effect type way - nothing in the past can or shall be tampered with so it's forever onwards and upwards!

   So, let me introduce you to the degree: JOURNALISM BA (Hons). We've been through plan B, C, D and possibly EFG and now it's back to plan A. Why I ever moved so far down the alphabet I will never know when, actually, the right decision was staring me right in the face! But, from a philosophical point of view, without making wrong decisions you would never know when you were making a right one. Just as you wouldn't appreciate being happy if you didn't sometimes feel the complete opposite. If the past year has taught me anything, it's definitely that.

   Journalist in the making. Watch this space! xxx