A Bugged Out Weekender – Day 3 – Sunday 9th March
2014
The 3rd day of a festival is often accompanied by
the missing of my bed, the longing for a wash and is usually the day I start to
long for home. Tired and running out of money, I say to myself that I shall
take it easier on this third day knowing full well I’m in work the next day and
that I have to drive to get there. But as with the other days I soon realise
this is a different type of festival and that in turn means I feel slightly
different about the day ahead.
Awaking from my slumber as the clock hits 3pm. I have
optimistic thoughts of what we can do this afternoon before getting tucked in
to some glorious dancing once again. Again I immerse myself into the luxury of
getting a shower in the morning and freshening up. Why can’t every festival
come complete with a private chalet? And Unlike most festivals where my money
starts dwindling the closer I get to the end, I am astounded to look into my
wallet and find a handsome amount of cash. This is no doubt due to the price of
a beer being £2.30, half what you would pay at any Leeds, Reading, Download
type festivals. And there was no reason to part with my hard earned money here
by throwing it away on fair rides and overpriced beef burgers. Here at Pontin’s,
the mini golf, the go karts and the family bikes are all free.
The weather slightly gloomy but staying dry, it is time for
the chalet mini golf tournament. We grab the clubs from reception, one a
toddler’s size and one slightly larger but about as straight as a banana. Hey
it’s free, what did we expect. We make our way over to the course. And looking
ahead at hole 1, it is clear early on that this is well in need of a lick of
paint and some of the obstacles should probably have been condemned long ago.
It suddenly dawns on me that this is a mini golf course that hundreds if not
thousands of kids must come to play on every summer season. But what we find on
our way around is ramps that don’t work, holes that look like they have been
cut through by a blind man and perhaps most disturbing are the dolphins which
seem to have been mutilated and left to rot. Not the most children friendly
environment and I’m sure many a kids dreams have been haunted by the sight of
those dolphins upon a visit to Pontins. No score card was kept on the way
round, but I’m confident I won, though I’m sure this may be disputed by the
other players who all claim they won too!
After seeing the standard and maintenance levels displayed
on the golf, we decide to body swerve the go karts so that we don’t die and instead
opt to part with some of our cash by getting a clay oven pizza for £7. I can’t
stress enough how delicious this pizza was, worth every penny! Then we decide
to drink away our disturbed thoughts over those maimed dolphins in the pub next
door. Unsuccessful we then head to the chalet to plunge more alcoholic concoctions
down our throats in order to make the last night as good as the others. It
works and by the time we head out we are nicely merry ready to dance the heels
further off my Chelsea boots.
Leaving a little later than planned the first act we get in
to watch is Boddika. Upon entering the room it is obvious that this is a harder
techno than what had come the previous nights. And in all honesty I am not
convinced that the weary souls on day 3 of a festival can handle the harsher
tones being served up. I head to the bar, a mistake in itself, I time from the
minute I get my body to the bar to the time I get served. 35 minutes. It’s
utterly ludicrous service and to be fair most of the staff show their
discontent towards the crowd, rather than wear a smile on their face. Deciding
to make a point half way through being stood there, I attempt to alert a staff
member to my long wait, he decides to ignore my complaint, instead grumbling
about how the staff did not know this event was taking place before the weekend
and that they were not happy. Like it matters, it’s your job to serve drinks,
now where is my pint dickhead?
Somewhat forgivingly, eventually I get my lager, and I’m
away to the dance floor, I had heard a lot of Boddika’s set while grumbling at
the bar, and I soon realise that perhaps this was the perfect musical
accompaniment to a last night. Tired souls and tired legs would probably be
flaking out had the music been slightly less aggressive, and the thumping
techno beats certainly woke me up. A new Radioslave tune is served up called “Don’t
Stop” it isn’t released yet but it explodes through the room, look out for this
one when it comes out. Boddika ensure that no weary passengers are thinking of
an early exit this evening.
Intoxicated with the techno and booze and putting all my
energy into my ridiculous dancing technique, I miss the point Boddika finishes
and Joy Orbison starts. Embarrassingly turning to my friend to ask “What time
does Joy Orbison start mate?” “Er… he came on half an hour ago” How the fuck
did that happen. The techno was melting my brain. Sure enough we had brought
the steed out to the big disco again and sure enough everyone flocked to him to
say their farewells and let him guide them to a glorious last night. Hoisted
upon high, and pumped hard up and down to the bass, he was looking after me now
and not the other way around.
After Joy Orbison comes Carl Craig. One of the big Detroit
techno names and certainly the act I was looking forward to most on this final
evening. I am not to be disappointed, this would be a glorious release of my
inhibitions as I throw my hands in the air on numerous occasions, the energy in
the room is not tailing off one bit. The room is like a furnace and the sweat
is dripping off our faces but everyone there loves every moment, Carl plays “Blackwater”
by Octave One and sends the whole room in to euphoria. “How to play our music”
By Reece and Santonio further mesmerises the captivated disciples in the room, it’s
an incredible penultimate set.
And then as the hours were falling away we come to the last
act on a quite remarkable weekend of dance music. And entertaining us at the
very end would be Dave Clarke, a name which perfectly fits Bugged Out and its
anniversary celebrations. Picking up the energy immediately where Carl Craig
left off. There is no time to rest as the set starts off with the same
intensity as the previous acts. Everyone in attendance determined to give it
their all for the last act, the room is bouncing. Dettman’s remix of Bad
Kingdom by Moderat sends the steed sky high once again, and then All Day by
Gingy & Bordello remixed by Robert Hood finishes any ounce of control I have
left. With every beat my body is more and more lost to Dave’s control. It is a
stunning end.
As the set ends and the crowds start to disperse, I try and
find fault with this Bugged Out Weekend and I honestly struggle. It has been
one hell of a journey the last three days and inspired by some great DJ’s and
some awesome new friends on the dance floor and of course our very own party
steed, every soul walking away that night can start their journeys home the
next day with smiles on their faces. And so it’s a congratulations to the
organisers on converting me completely to this festival. I will be there next
year for sure. Perhaps it won’t be at Pontin’s Southport, as to be fair the
only criticisms would be aimed at their lacklustre staff and dodgy mini golf.
But wherever it is, I’ll be there, with the heels of my Chelsea boots fixed and
ready for another stellar weekend. Roll
on next year!
A playlist of tracks from this night can be found here http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGKdp0TfS-cqPJ7FKWYjtaE8uuRZOKCP
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