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Re: Boiler Room - 2nd August 2025 - Burgess Park London
Well, the Boiler Rooms did not disappoint.
Other acts during the day were a variety of hard dance, Dub, and mixed up R&B, Grime and Techno classics infused with big beats and hard bass.
I knew that a typical UW set would not fit in with this crowd so hoped that they'd step up and tailor the setlist to fit the crowd and the event. The main stage had remained empty all day with all other 'main stage' acts performing from a square mini stage, somewhat reminiscent of the megadog boxing ring stages, with a 360 view. Yukimatsu was impressive in parts, dropping lots of lesser known Prodigy tracks.
We were at the very front of the crowd barrier early on and met some Facebook (Underworld Drift) people. They handed out (selectively) wristbands that got some folk on stage behind Rick and Karl but we obviously didn't make the cut ! 2 'senior citizens' (50s / 60s) mustn't be their demographic.
This had to be the time that UW stepped away from the formulaic product that has sadly become the norm (and has stopped me from going to every gig in Manchester as a result) - I had pinned my hopes on this one being more freeform, more dance and more inventive with the intros, outs and unconventional track starts.
Wow - Rick and Karl got my memo, the black and orange post-it note that said "BRING THE DANCE".
AND THEY DID
88 minutes of pure dance bangers, some great intro's - King of Snake stands out as something different, with only Rez missing from a stellar set. I think the crowd was bouncing as I could feel it, I didn't really see as I was transfixed by the pair, and the thumping bass lines.
This was all recorded by 4 cameras, 1 centrally above Rick in Wide Angle, one static to left of stage, one roving on stage and one moving up and down the crowd. Boiler Room have loads of video content so this set should end up on their site - this will be great to watch back.
Most people there will have only known "Larger Larger Larger" and will have a different take on this band now, I'd suggest that Underworld schooled Boiler Room in how to headline a dance festival - they brought a very different UW set with what felt like 2 or 3 new or very different tracks.
They both hugged several time, when Rick was doing his thing, Karl had a hand on his shoulder as though to say, "This is the Dance - that's what they want !"
I never though I'd see a set like this from the Boys - thank you
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