The UK's Radio 1 Dance Parties hit Newquay on Friday the 18th August - the penultimate Dance Party of the year. Every year, the south west of England comes out in force for the free event, just like.
Following Radio One's policy decision to concentrate on a strong continuous DJ line up for the whole evening, there were no PAs on the evening.
Forecasts of rain had been over exaggerated (unlike last year's downpour at St. Ives) and as the sun was setting over Fistral Beach, the local DJ's were playing to a now massing crowd, building up to the huge noise crescendo builds as "on-air" approaches.
Radio 1 DJ Dave Pearce, the man behind The Dance Parties, explains why these events are so important. "It's important to me because it's something I brought to Radio One as an idea. I think it's good for Radio One because it gives our audience a chance to see lots of top DJ's for free.
"It's an opportunity for people who are maybe too young to get into a club to come and experience seeing a DJ live for the very first time. They've been a phenomenal success, we've had really big crowds everywhere we've gone. I like parties and these are good parties."
But even good parties have their touch-and-go moments.
With seconds to go before the 9pm-broadcast time Seb Fontaine, who is due to kick things off, still hasn't arrived.
Dave Pearce informs the crowd we are about to be live on Radio One and the awesome speakers switch to the end of Pete Tong's show.
Seb Fontaine suddenly leaps past everyone to make it to the stage just in time. The 25,000-strong crowd show their appreciation and duly go wild at the 9pm switchover.
Fontaine executes a superb warm up set for the first 45 minutes before another DJing commitment draws him away. After his departure Pearce takes the controls before Boy George (who had arrived in plenty of time) drives a hard percussive set until the end.
Just before 11pm, the rain starts to make itself known, but no-one cares.
It's been an excellent evening, and the crowd turn out and response easily explains why the Dance Party comes back stronger every year. Looking out from the Radio One Stage roof the light display reaches up into the night sky and darts across the massive crowd.
The Dance Party is one of the reasons why dance music has been so popular in recent years - both in it's specialist and mainstream guises. It's also been responsible for showcasing the cream of the world's DJing talent to all, and that's the reason why it will be back and even more successful next year.
Photography by Ben @ photo-point.co.uk
