Issue 62

EVENTS
More than
Grid Stage
JAKE DAVIS KHROMA COLLECTIVE
for each stage. One of the event’s founders
Will Harold emphasises the significance
of ensuring attendees have a diverse and
immersive experience. He notes, “We’ve
always tried to create different shaped
structures, different sizes for different styles
of music, and the programming is always
very much based on what we create or vice
versa.” The festival’s founders believe in
a tight synergy between stage design and
music programming.
Production designer Loz Poulton
echoes this sentiment. He emphasises the
importance of not hiding structural elements
but instead incorporating them into the
stage’s aesthetic. This approach departs
from the norm, where many festivals invest
heavily in concealing infrastructure. He
explains, “I was trying to put elements in
that were already kind of inherently goodlooking...
using materials and structures in a
way that complements the stage.”
Will adds that Junction 2 has always been
quite literal about its designs, embracing
straightforward functionality. The stages
have names like “The Bridge,” “The Woods,”
and “The Blackout,” and the festival aims to
embrace the nature-industrial juxtaposition,
showcasing trusses and the inner workings
as integral parts of the design.
Loz says the inspiration behind their
designs comes from
the materials
available and how
they can be used
effectively.
a Stage
We talk to Junction 2 co-founder
Will Harold and production designer
Loz Poulton about last year's three new stage designs
JUNCTION 2 was conceived in the summer
of 2016, as 5,000 ravers descended onto
Boston Manor Park – a West London park
offering a unique mix of vast fields, intimate
woodlands and impressive industrial
settings under the M4 flyover, where its
inimitable Bridge stage is located.
With a strict musical policy of forward
thinking electronic music, a unique location
and sound levels that were previously
unheard of in London, Junction 2 swiftly
grew to a capacity of 30,000 attendees over
two days in just five years, becoming one of
the most revered festivals on the electronic
music circuit.
This year symbolised a year of rebirth
and regrowth for the event as it presented
its boldest project yet, delivering three
new stages as part of its unwavering
commitment to delivering the best in
electronic music.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
STAGE DESIGN
Junction 2’s success can be attributed to
its dedication to creating distinct spaces
DOUG JOHN MILLER
Grid Stage
Instead of striving to replicate existing
structures, Junction 2 focuses on creating
visually appealing designs. The festival aims
to make the most of the diverse elements
of its park location including a bridge and
woodland, rather than attempting to create
something entirely new. The event’s stages
designs are an extension of the park’s
existing beauty.
CREATING THE GRID, QUAD, AND
BLACKOUT STAGES
2023 saw the introduction of three new
stages – The Grid, Quad, and Blackout
stages each with a unique character and
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