Music is a central part of life for people around the UK and provides an emotive soundtrack to our existence. Listening to your favourite music at home or in the car are good examples of this but checking out the coolest music festivals each year is perhaps the most satisfying option. There is just nothing like heading to a music festival with a bunch of friends to check out your favourite artists in person.
Music also acts as the soundtrack for many of the most popular UK sports and helps to create an exciting atmosphere for watching fans. Darts is a case in point and uses walk-on music that is unique to each player as games are about to start. You will see this all across the sport — from league darts matches in the PDC to clashes in the yearly majors.
Many of these pieces of walk-on music will be familiar to regular festival goers, as they are also well-known festival hits. Below are some of the biggest festival tunes that darts players walk on to:
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes – Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen is one of the world’s most successful darts players. With multiple PDC World Championships to his name, this Dutch maestro is already regarded as one of the greatest in darts history. His walk-on music is Seven Nation Army by US rockers The White Stripes and this certainly stands out as a massive hit festival goers will recognise.
This is not only a tune you will hear blasting out of stereos at the best independent music festivals but also one that is regularly chanted by watching crowds, as acts are about to come on-stage. When The White Stripes were active of course, it was also a song you would hear them playing at the many festivals they were booked at.
Mr Brightside by The Killers – Nathan Aspinall
UK player Nathan Aspinall has already enjoyed great success in his career and currently rides high in the world rankings. He chooses to walk out to a very popular festival hit and this is Mr Brightside by Las Vegas hipsters The Killers.
As with Seven Nation Army, this is a song which you will find playing as you wander around many a festival site or are stood waiting for a band to come on-stage. As the band is still active in terms of playing live shows, this massive banger still forms a key part of their set-list and is one fans love to sing along to. This means that if you have caught them at a festival recently or in the past, you will have probably heard them belting it out.
Titanium by David Guetta – Stephen Bunting
UK player Stephen Bunting is the current Masters champion and is also a former BDO Masters World Champion. His walk-on song is not only a well-known festival tune but shows that it is not just rock or indie music which can be heard at these sorts of events now.
Titanium from French DJ/producer David Guetta is a club classic and is one that is sure to get everyone dancing. It is also a track which is a regular at dance music festivals around the country, such as Creamfields. You will likely hear it at non-dance music festivals which may include discos or dance music stages too. If you have ever attended one of the many festivals Guetta himself has graced in the past, it is a track which will be more than familiar.
Wonderwall by Oasis – Gabriel Clemens
The ‘German Giant’ Gabriel Clemens might not be one of the most well-known darts players, but the song he walks out to is one that everyone has heard. Oasis was one of the biggest bands to come out of the UK in the 20th century and they were a regular on the festival circuit at their peak. In addition, they also put on huge events of their own, such as the record-breaking Knebworth concerts in 1996, that were almost like mini festivals.
Wonderwall was a huge tune for their them and one that they would regularly include in their sets for festival goers to enjoy. Even today, you might hear Noel Gallagher slip it into a High-Flying Birds festival set or people singing along to it as they hang out with friends at festival sites.
Top festival hits help darts connect with fans
Well-known festival hits that players walk out to not only help make darts more exciting to watch but also make it easier for players to connect with fans. This is because familiar tracks such as those listed above help to draw people in and give them something to bond with players over. If you are a festival regular, then it is likely the tracks shown above are ones you know very well.
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