Meet the men behind one of Glasgow's biggest dance music festivals

Orde Meikle and Dave Clarke have been working tirelessly over the past few months in preparation for the Electric Frog and Pressure Riverside Festival which takes place on May 28 and 29 at Glasgow’s iconic Riverside Museum.

The pair co-own Soma Records which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and they plan to mark the occasion with a stage at the event.

The event, which is now in its fourth year, also has a superstar DJ line-up which includes Fatboy Slim, Jackmaster, Laurent Garnier and Julio Bashmore.

And now the promoters can’t wait for the dance festival which is bound to attract revellers from all over Europe.

Dave said: “We really believe that we are putting on one of the best dance music events in the UK if not in Europe.

“The talent appearing is on a par with any festival catering for this kind of music anywhere in the world to be fair and whether you are from Glasgow or coming from further afield you will be a part of something very special.”

Orde added: “We travel far and wide, and the calibre of the guest artists at this year's Riverside is up there with them all.”

The line-up is no doubt part of attraction for ravers coming to the festival but both Dave and Orde admit they are fussy when it comes to who plays at Riverside.

Orde said: “We are quite fussy. We want DJs who have a passion for the music and who have pedigree.

“Our tastes are quite niche, shying away from more commercial sounds and styles of dance music and I think you can see that from the style of DJs on the bill especially on the Saturday - all originally coming from the underground of techno and house.

Dave added: “We wanted a balance between the two days of the festival.

“I think we have achieved that with the Sunday covering some very underground house DJs but also with Fatboy Slim who appeals to young and old alike. He has had many chart hits in his repertoire.”

French DJ Laurent Garnier will make a return to this year’s festival having played many time before in the city.

Orde said: “Laurent has been a supporter since the very start and we really wanted him to come and mark this momentous occasion with us.

“He has been playing with us in Glasgow for 25 years and he still has his finger firmly on the pulse as well as being one of the best DJs on the planet with an eclectic taste and encyclopaedic knowledge of techno and house music.”

Another big name on the bill is the man behind one of Ibiza’s biggest nights Cocoon, and that’s German award-winning DJ Sven Vath, who is a must see at the festival according to Orde.

He said: “Sven Väth is one of the best and most respected performers on the planet.

“Hands down and he is still playing mostly vinyl which in itself is now a rarity.”

Orde also recommend festival goers catch Ben Klock and Rödhad, who are the two biggest names from Berlin’s techno scene, and the originator of that infectious deep house sound Kerri Chandler is a must for revellers attending the event on the Sunday.

Although the festival is no longer in its infancy, Dave is still excited by what it offers.

He said: “We are founding members of the festival and it is dear to our hearts as well as being the biggest challenge and achievement in our long career in music.

“For the audience it's a weekend party but for us it's hard work.

“This can be massively rewarding and enjoyable in the sense of achievement in bringing one of the best events around to our hometown and giving the people of Glasgow and Scotland something of their own to be proud of - without the need to travel to other countries for the best parties.”

Orde added: “Glasgow has been a destination for culture and shopping in the past and now it in firmly on the map for Techno Tourists.

“As Dave said - the crowd and the atmosphere can't be beaten!

Day tickets for the festival start at £40 plus booking fee.

Weekend tickets cost £80 plus booking fee.

For more, visit Riverside Festival, visit http://www.riversidefestivalglasgow.com/