Legendary British DJ Paul Oakenfold has reached Mount Everest’s base camp where he plans to throw the ‘highest party on earth’, performing at 5,380 metres (17,600 feet).
It is the culmination of a project called Soundtrek, in which he has walked through Nepalese villages and introducing residents to electronic dance music.
The 53-year-old, who made his name during the 90s rave scene, is set to perform a set at base camp on Tuesday morning.
Oakenfold, whose three-decade long career has included collaborations with Madonna and U2, said he had no trekking experience before he set out on the 10-day walk to Everest with a team of yaks and porters hauling the audio equipment needed for the event.
The producer trained for four months before arriving in Nepal in between a hectic schedule of late night gigs.
He told AFP: ‘We are here now doing sound checks. We are really looking forward to the show tomorrow. Everyone is really excited here.’
He added: ‘I’m not going to pretend it was easy to get here…but it has been a wonderful trek. If you could see the view I’m looking at, it is very inspiring.’
The world’s highest peak will provide a very different kind of high to Oakenfold’s usual shows, which attracted thousands of revellers.
‘The audience will probably be sitting mostly. The air is so thin here, you will run out of breath quite quickly,’ said Ranzen Jha, a Nepali DJ accompanying Oakenfold.
The gig is the first in the record producer’s SoundTrek series, aimed at drawing attention to the effects of global warming and raising money for charities.
Oakenfold is also raising funds to help survivors of Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed nearly 9,000 people and left thousands homeless, many of whom are still living in temporary shelters.
He explained: ‘I want to support in the rebuilding and to shed light on the environment…I would like to do my bit.’
However not everyone is keen on the idea, with some complaining the renowned DJ is disturbing the peace and tranquility of the Himalayas.
The head of one trekking company said the idea made him feel nauseous.
Simon Lowe, of Jagged Globe, an expeditions company, said: ‘To be honest, it makes me want to vomit — but then I go to the mountains for their beauty and tranquillity rather than for narcissistic reasons.’
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