Fatboy Slim
Photo: Jill Greenberg

Hold onto your glowsticks — the breakout summer for electronic music outings is turning out to be a dud.

Following cancellations of the Mekka Tour and Creamfields Las Vegas last week, London-based promoter Cream announced Wednesday (August 8) it was axing Creamfields New York due to sluggish ticket sales.

The September 1 festival was to feature nearly 50 acts on six stages. Fatboy Slim, the Crystal Method, Orbital, Timo Maas and Darren Emerson were among the artists and DJs lined up to play the Calverton Business Park in Riverhead, Long Island.

An event spokesperson said Clear Channel (formerly SFX) advised Cream to call off Creamfields New York because ticket sales have been lower than expected. Clear Channel noted a decline in ticket sales for most summer tours and festivals (see "Concert Attendance Dips Sharply In First Half Of 2001").

"Both Cream and Clear Channel are hugely disappointed that the event is not going to take place this year," a Cream spokesperson said. "All the artists and DJs involved were looking forward to participating in such a significant event for dance and electronic music. We would like to apologize to anyone who has already purchased tickets and to anybody who was planning on doing so."

Ticket refunds are available at point of purchase.

Cream's Jim King said last week that Creamfields Las Vegas was canceled because "the land that we had been told was available for us to use in Las Vegas turned out to be unavailable" (see "Creamfields Las Vegas Canceled").

The Mekka Tour, which was to feature the Crystal Method, Paul Oakenfold and others, was postponed to next year just three days before it was to kick off, because organizers did not give themselves adequate time to plan it (see "Mekka Tour Postponed Until 2002").

A relative success in a summer of ill-fated ventures, Moby's Area:One Tour, featuring a mélange of electronic, hip-hop, pop and rock artists, came to a close on Sunday in Devore, California (click for a feature interview with Moby about the tour).

The fourth Creamfields U.K. is set for August 25 in Liverpool. Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, Carl Cox and Paul van Dyk will headline.

• Fatboy Slim
• The Crystal Method
• Orbital
• Timo Maas
• Darren Emerson

Fatboy Slim
Photo: MTV News

Fatboy Slim, the Crystal Method and Orbital will headline America's first Creamfields festivals in Long Island, New York, and Las Vegas in September.

DJs Timo Maas, Tall Paul and John Aquaviva will also perform outside of the Big Apple on September 1, while Basement Jaxx, Sandra Collins and DJ Dan will play Sin City on September 29, organizers announced Monday (May 21).

Several other top electronic acts are slated for both shows, including former Underworld DJ Darren Emerson, Stereo MC's, Uberzone, Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong, Josh Wink, Photek, Max Graham, Scott Henry, Scott Hardkiss, Scanty Sandwich and the Dub Pistols.

The Long Island festival, which will feature an outdoor main stage and several circus tent arenas hosted by influential clubs from the East Coast and the U.K., will also include DJ Feelgood, Christian Smith, DJ Dara and DJ DB. The event will run from 2 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Dave Ralph, Donald Glaude, Bad Boy Bill, Christopher Lawrence and Adam Freeland will spin at the Las Vegas festival, which will feature an outdoor main stage and six tents. That show will run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

More acts, along with ticket information, will be announced later this month, organizers said.

Leading European dance event promoters Cream staged the first Creamfields in the U.K. in 1998. Held annually since, it has become one of the biggest dance-music festivals in the world, attracting 50,000 fans last year.

This year's U.K. fest will be held August 25 at the Old Liverpool Airfield in Liverpool. Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, Paul van Dyk, Goldie, Seb Fontaine, Judge Jules and Pete Tong are among the artists scheduled to appear.

• Fatboy Slim
• The Crystal Method
• Orbital
• Timo Maas
• Basement Jaxx

Fatboy Slim, the Crystal Method and Orbital will headline America's first Creamfields festivals in Long Island, New York, and Las Vegas in September.

DJs Timo Maas, Tall Paul and John Aquaviva will also perform outside of the Big Apple on September 1, while Basement Jaxx, Sandra Collins and DJ Dan will play Sin City on September 29, organizers announced Monday (May 21).

Several other top electronic acts are slated for both shows, including former Underworld DJ Darren Emerson, Stereo MC's, Uberzone, Richie Hawtin, Pete Tong, Josh Wink, Photek, Max Graham, Scott Henry, Scott Hardkiss, Scanty Sandwich and the Dub Pistols.

The Long Island festival, which will feature an outdoor main stage and several circus tent arenas hosted by influential clubs from the East Coast and the U.K., will also include DJ Feelgood, Christian Smith, DJ Dara and DJ DB. The event will run from 2 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Dave Ralph, Donald Glaude, Bad Boy Bill, Christopher Lawrence and Adam Freeland will spin at the Las Vegas festival, which will feature an outdoor main stage and six tents. That show will run from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

More acts, along with ticket information, will be announced later this month, organizers said.

Leading European dance event promoters Cream staged the first Creamfields in the U.K. in 1998. Held annually since, it has become one of the biggest dance-music festivals in the world, attracting 50,000 fans last year.

This year's U.K. fest will be held August 25 at the Old Liverpool Airfield in Liverpool. Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, Paul van Dyk, Goldie, Seb Fontaine, Judge Jules and Pete Tong are among the artists scheduled to appear.

• Fatboy Slim
• The Crystal Method
• Orbital
• Timo Maas
• DJ Dan

Darren Emerson
Photo: Studio K7

Ex-Underworld DJ Darren Emerson's solo career continues to blossom with his second mix album for the popular Global Underground series.

Due in July, Global Underground: Singapore is a techno-heavy mix based on his New Year's Eve show last year at Singapore's Zouk club. Featured on the album — the 20th in the series — is Emerson's mix of the Laurent Garnier hit "Man With the Red Face." Nitzer Ebb's "Join in the Chant" and DJ Sneak's "Smokey Hill Street" are also among the double album's 27 tracks.

Emerson left Underworld last spring and debuted on album with Global Underground: Uruguay in May. He later produced the Ibiza-influenced "Scorchio" with Sasha. The Romford, England, DJ, who also heads Underwater Records, will tour worldwide this summer, his spokesperson said. A-list DJs from Paul Oakenfold to John Digweed have mixed albums for the acclaimed Global Underground series, which features DJs mixing albums based on previous shows they have performed around the world.

Darren Emerson tour dates, according to his publicist:

• 4/29 - San Francisco @ Pier 41
• 4/30 - San Francisco @ The Fillmore
• 5/2 - Atlanta @ Studio Central
• 5/3 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo's
• 5/4 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
• 5/5 - Kyle, TX @ Thunderhill Raceway

• Darren Emerson
• Underworld