North Coast knows how to Beach Party

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Thousands enjoying this year's beach party in Portrush County Antrim at the weekend

Revellers enjoying themselves during the Portrush Beach Party

Party people: The crowd gets going at the Beach Party

Jenni Marshall and Sarah Lamb from Newtownabbey enjoy themselves on Saturday evening

This is the way Portrush should be. It's fun, there's great music and a great atmosphere

Monday, July 02, 2007

Basement Jaxx brightened up the North Coast at the weekend with their catchy tunes and colourful entourage as the second Portrush Beach Party got under way.

Thousands of revellers descended upon the East Strand car park in the seaside town on Saturday for the massive outdoor rave, featuring acts hailing from Northern Ireland and as far away as Norway.

Earlier in the day, grey clouds hovered ominously overhead but, despite one or two showers, the sun managed to peek through.

The optimistic among the crowd came dressed for sunshine in T-shirts and shorts, dresses and bikini tops - there were even a few Hawaiian-style hula skirts.

Local DJs Col Hamilton, Chris Frieze and Marty Pelan got the party-goers warmed up before Belfast dance act Alloy Mental took to the stage.

DJ posse Scratch Perverts were next up, followed by the legendary Happy Mondays, who showcased some new material as well as playing crowd favourites Step On and Kinky Afro.

Radio One DJ Pete Tong made it just in time after a few travel delays. The world-famous DJ played Ibiza the night before and was forced to hire a private jet to get him to London in time to catch a connecting flight to Belfast.

Norway's Datarock were the penultimate act of the night and, by the time Basement Jaxx came on, the audience was truly in the party spirit.

Brixton DJs Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, the men behind Basement Jaxx, were joined on stage by a host of brightly-dressed singers, dancers and musicians performing hits such as Oh My Gosh, Romeo, Red Alert and Where's Your Head At?

Bangor girls Jenny O'Neill, Lisa McClelland and Karen Mills, described the beach party as "absolutely brilliant".

Jenny (29) said: "We didn't make it last year, but we're so glad we came this year.

"It's fantastic. We're here mainly to see Pete Tong, but all the acts are brilliant."

Casey Taggart from Coleraine, a huge fan of the Scratch Perverts, said he was enjoying every moment.

"This is the way Portrush should be. It's fun, there's great music and a great atmosphere and no trouble. Just everyone having a good time," he said.

Backstage, Felix Buxton of Basement Jaxx said he was amazed at the beautiful scenery around the coast.

And he revealed that it might inspire some new material on the next album.

"We spent some time earlier at the Giant's Causeway, which was lovely, really peaceful," he said. "Who knows, maybe we'll write a song about it. A more mellow song."

And Bez from the Happy Mondays was equally taken with the surroundings.

"This beach is lovely," he said. "We haven't seen too much of the place yet but the venue couldn't be better."