BLOC 2010: Salt-n-Pepa

The festival experience has come a long way in the last decade. The assumption that three days of music in a muddy field constitutes a festival have long gone and the likes of All Tomorrow's Parties have opened the doors for more civilised (although the term is used loosely) affair in the comfort of your own chalet, with no teenagers celebrating their GCSE results in sight.

Although until recently this was limited to just guitar music, a new crop of festivals have emerged in recent years for ravers to descend on holiday camps and watch exciting electronic music without the purchase of wellies. As well as Bangface Weekend there is BLOC, showcasing a true tour de force of what is exciting about dance music in 2010, in the surroundings of Butlins Minehead, over six stages.

To merely point out the highlights would do little justice on what is an incredibly strong line up. There's the current flavour of the month in 22-year-old Glaswegian Joy Orbison, whose single Hyph Myngo was awarded 2009 single of the year in several end of year polls and promises some wonderful things in the coming months. There's also cult favourites Autechre, dupstep genius Flying Lotus, kings of grime Boy Better Know and the highly tipped Rustie.

Cult London clubnights Disco Bloodbath, Mulletover and FWD will all also be showcasing their favourites, the latter featuring former Mercury winner Ms Dynamite, Roska and Zinc.

From the old skool there's the genius addition of Salt-n-Pepa (their first UK gig this century), Grandmaster Flash, Model 500 and Beastie Boys long time collaborator Mixmaster Mike.

All this and that's without mentioning minimal goddess Ellen Allien, grime star-turned-pop superstar Wiley, italo disco loveliness from Lindstr�m and Roots Manuva showcasing tracks from his upcoming new long-player.

Add to that a 24 hour pub, swimming pools and a beach across the road and you can expect some sore heads on the way home come Monday morning.

BLOC 2010 takes place from 12th to 14th March at Butlins Minehead. Tickets and further information can be found on the BLOC site.

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