Del Rio Riverside Resort at Wisemans Ferry was the happening spot for dance music fans over the weekend as legendary club king Carl Cox and an international cast of DJs moved in for Return to Rio.
The three-day celebration of sound attracted thousands of partygoers eager to sample not only the music the hospitality of the resort’s kangaroos, and of course the water park, tropical pool, crazy golf, jumping cushions and houseboats.
For 12 amazing hours on Saturday Carl Cox and good buddy Eric Powell performed an exclusive set packed with house and disco classics.
“An amazing event,” said Cox of the weekend. “It’s the closest thing to Bestival in Australia … a fun and friendly festival crowd. What a day. What a party.”
To close the marathon mobile DJ set the boys were joined on stage by Alison Limmerick, known for her 90s dance hit Where Love Lives.
Alison wasn’t the only 90s sensation to grace the stage over the weekend. Friday night was headlined by Mr C, aka the Shaman, the fella behind the songs Ebenezer Good and Move Any Mountain.
DJ Ez served as Sunday’s highlight, bringing to the stage old’school garage sounds.
Mis-Teeq’s Su-Elise Nash joined the DJ on stage for an impromptu performance, MCing over the track Why.
Other international acts to grace the festivals three stages included drum and bass pioneer LTJ Bukem and Robot Heart regular Atish. German beat purveyors Super Flu and Lee Burridge’s right hand man – YokoO of All Day I Dream.
Event promoter Ricky Cooper said he was overwhelmed by the response to this year’s event and admitted, “next year is certainly going to be fun to beat”.
