A Bugged Out Weekender - Saturday March 8th 2014 - DAY 2

A Bugged Out Weekend – Day 2 – Saturday 8^th March

It is when I awake on Day 2, I realise what a glorious situation we had found ourselves in at this festival. No scrambling around in a small tent, with the almost impossible task of brushing teeth with a water bottle while hung over to buggery. Here I arise at 11am, from an actual bed, with an actual pillow and perhaps somewhat fortunately no banging headache. A little groggy I delve right into the shower the chalet provides. The shower room light flickering away like a bad horror movie, I am undeterred and absorb myself into the luxury set out before me. I suddenly realise the gods have smiled down at me, I am clean and I feel fresh and best of all, no hangover!

After awaking my chalet mates and telling them of the good news. We set out to find the pub on site, The Queen Victoria. Today is FA Cup Quarter Final Day and I am a big Everton fan and we are playing Arsenal for a chance to go to Wembley. I have bought a scratch card from the shop and won £3 (It Cost me £2) and feel this is a good omen, victory is all but certain. Upon finding the pub, we are met with a blank screen, and most people are still sat down having their breakfast. It’s a little early and kick off isn’t for half an hour. So we order our pints and decide to wait. It is here we first realise that perhaps not everyone was feeling as fresh as ourselves, with our party mascot “The Steed” in tow. We realise that carrying around a horse this early was not the best tonic for the people who had over immersed themselves into the substances the night before.

@PartySteed

I’m not sure I know who to blame for the next 90 minutes of my life. But a lot of people are in the firing line. First off, the blame lies with Pontins. Firstly for putting on the wrong game for the first ten minutes, secondly for there being no sound to accompany the first half and thirdly because the expert channel hopper who eventually found the right game, did so at the moment Arsenal scored! I also have to mention that I blame Arsenal for being better than us on the day and Everton for letting me down again in a quarter final. We lost 4-1. There was now only one thing to do to get over the result, and that was go to the pool party.

I was told of a pool party earlier in the week, excitedly I packed my Bermuda shorts ready for a picturesque dance next to some scantily clad ladies in bikini’s, drinking and splashing about while 2 Bears played old school Ibiza style dance music to accompany the setting. It turns out that in my head I had hopped on a plane and gone to Ibiza Rocks instead. Upon entering the pool area, I soon realise this was not what I had envisaged. 2 Bears are playing but the music feels almost secondary as no one in the pool is paying any attention to them and instead most are throwing the rather large inflatables at each other for entertainment instead. That being said I strip to my bermuda’s and decide to take on the croc run. A giant inflatable assault course shaped as a crocodile. Kid’s stuff I snigger as I stand at the side waiting for my go. And as my first foot bounces off the crocodile I fall helplessly sideways into the pool. How embarrassing. Inevitably I do what everyone else has decided to do at this “pool party” and that is having a go at throwing the ridiculously oversized pool inflatables up into the air, before getting out, drying off and leaving.

Pool party

The second night of acts were upon us. And tonight after the success of the steeds outings to the pub and pool earlier, we decide why not take our horse with us to the big disco as well. Though inevitably going through the vigorous search process with a toy horse under your arm, certainly warranted some unwanted attention from the big burly bouncers.

Ten walls are on in room 1, which will be our first act of the night after opting to drink a lot more in the chalet this evening rather than take our chances with the bar service. I feel that this would have been better served in the early hours though rather than the 10pm time slot it was given. A huddle of girls taking selfie’s at the very front rather than listening to the music told the story of a crowd not really knowing what they were supposed to be doing. Then comes the irresistible synth tune “Gotham”. The crowd instantly more onside and paying attention, this song is one of the big house anthems at the moment and really is the highlight.

Ten Walls

We now make the move into the more preferred room 2. There is just something about this room that seems to make it a better atmosphere, the bar decked with the slogan “It’s just a big disco” and “Viva Acid House” this you feel is where the party people and the music lovers have come to let loose this weekend, and we are not disappointed when Kerri Chandler pops up next. A behemoth of the house scene, Chandler hurls us all into madness. It is tune after tune of explosive house anthem and I can’t stop my dancing feet. Personal favourite Chic "I Want Your Love" destroys all my inhibitions and forces me into a frenzy of shape making. Many ask how I dance in my Chelsea boots, well as long as brilliant DJ’s like Kerri are playing, those winklepickers will be moving fine. He ends with MK's "burning" and it is an immaculate finale, everyone throwing themselves to the vibe.

Heidi continues the party on stage and it’s halfway through her set when I first realise the attention our friend the Steed is receiving, wave after wave of girls coming to give him a kiss and party revellers taking him above their shoulders and pumping him up high, he is their party mascot for the evening and it adds to the occasion. Murmurs of a Mixmag party now start to surface around the room. This party would take place in one of the chalets we were all staying in, and as Jackmaster takes to the stage, we ask him if he is playing, he is and even he now takes the steed and hoists him into the air. This was going to be a special night!

Jackmaster

An intense build up at the start of Jackmaster’s set really increases the energy around the room. Everyone ready for the moment the beat drops and then the madness begins. Incredible party tunes from a DJ who really knows what songs to spin to get everyone dancing like crazy. There was an incredible feeling between crowd and stage as the other acts, as well as host Heidi danced away together and raised their drinks, saluting this magnificent set from the Glaswegian. Fast becoming song of the weekend Todd Terje’s “Delorean Dynamite” thrust us into a frenzy and the only downside to this set was the fact that it ended.

But all was not lost, we had been told of chalet 951. And at 6am we were on a mission to find the Mixmag Chalet party, after a couple of wrong turns, we had done it. Only to have the door well and truly shut “I’m sorry, there is already far too many people in here” Our heads down and our eyes like puppy dogs, we were about to turn away in disappointment, when in a flash the door swings open. A god of a man in a yellow basketball shirt bellows and screams “There is still plenty of room in here” we charge through the door and into the party. It is crammed, hot and sweaty but we were in.

Jackmaster had made his way over too, already stood behind the decks in this tiny room. A tequila bar stood where was once a chalet kitchen and drinks were free. Everyone in attendance revelling that they were one of about 60 people who would get to witness this special set. The door was now locked and everyone inside told “No one gets in and No one leaves” No one is bothered and a  big cheer erupts as Jackmaster explodes into “Delorean Dynamite” once again. And to truly emphasize how small this party was, it was in this moment that someone leant on a plug socket and mistakenly turned the power off. For a couple of minutes, the party was halted. “Put another £1 in the meter” was the cry showing no humour was lost. The party is soon on again, with some glorious moments, Jackmaster plays Prince’s Controversy and Purple Rain back to back for the real hands in the air moment with everyone singing along.

Jackmaster @ Mixmag Chalet Party

It is around 8:30am when the party starts to wind down, but not before Jackmaster cries the eternal words of “Tops Off” no one argues and suddenly everyone is waving their shirts above their heads wildly as we dance to the last couple of tunes. As we all leave that miniature chalet, it’s a feeling of utter euphoria. What a night this had been.  The football result long forgotten, a heel now breaking on my Chelsea boot from excessive dancing but in our hearts a love for life and moments etched forever in our memories.  It was a night that those in attendance will not forget in a hurry, this was the night we could say we were there.

A playlist featuring some of the songs from this night can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_PzTxqJEDw&index=2&list=PLJGKdp0TfS-fW5uuGGIOUglRkYeoW2GzA

A Bugged Out Weekender - Friday March 7th 2014 - DAY 1

A Bugged Out Weekend March 7th DAY 1 – FRIDAY NIGHT
I have often drove between Southport And Liverpool in my life, and on occasion this takes you down the coast road, past the old Pontins in Ainsdale, a place that from the outside, you could quite easily mistake for some prisoner of war camp that has been left to ruin. All fenced off and about as appealing for a family holiday as a rotten fruit bowl. It came as somewhat of a surprise to me when I was told that this year a reputable promoter had chosen this location to be responsible for  the festival marking their 20th anniversary .
 This was Bugged Out Weekender 2014.

This festival was boasting a rather impressive line-up, which included a whole host of reputable DJ’s and i had managed to blag a weekend ticket with accommodation in one of Pontin’s fine family chalets which I would share with 3 friends and 1 Steed (We'll come to the steed later) Despite the location being dubious, I was packed and excited for an enjoyable weekend of drinks, dancing and electronic music. So we bundled ourselves into my ever trustworthy car Betty, and headed out on the 20 minute short journey from my home in Ormskirk to the weekends biggest party.

Upon arrival about 6:30pm, we drive through the main gates of the Pontins complex, there is already a decent crowd gathering outside the main building which was housing the festival itself. After a rather strange half arsed search of the vehicle by some security men, which included opening my boot full of suitcases and declaring “I have nothing to declare sir”, we were on our way into the main building feeling fairly smug that we were  going to skip the big queue that had formed outside already, we were going straight to the press office to pick up our chalet keys. Its times like this you can feel high and mighty , almost pompous at how grand we were compared to everyone else, we are humbled back down to earth quick enough when handed our bed sheets for the weekend in a bag. We shall not be receiving too much in the way of VIP treatment here!

"Don't you know who i am?"

We enter the Chalet, room number 299, our home for the next 3 days. Its basic but convenient enough,  close to the main building, easy staggering distance back home after the nights festivities. We all agree, this would be for the best. Aside from an almost unbearable strobe effect coming from the toilet light, and a realisation that the pitiful excuses for hangers would be hanging no jackets ever again, we could hardly grumble at our new abode. Pleasantly surprised, we get pre drinks out the way and head to the main building for our first taste of the entertainment laid on for us.

It is here we realise what a thorough search involves. The security are cutting no corners here and invade our wallets, cig packets, coat pockets and any crevice we have upon our persons searching for the obvious disco biscuits the many clientele will be trying to smuggle in this weekend to accompany their night. This was to be a regular theme of the weekend for any smoker who would attend this festival and often hefty lines are formed outside the main doors. Some of us being searched 8 times an evening by the same security guard who continually asks what I plan to do with the plectrums I have in my jeans pocket. By the end of the week however most are done with gentle banter as we start to recognise each other. “You have touched me more this weekend than my girlfriend has” being a popular awkward moment killer. The security do a stellar job but it has to be said they are probably fighting a losing battle. And over the weekend it is obvious that many punters have been clever enough to get their supply in anyway.

We head to room 2 where you can count the number of people in attendance on one hand and then to room one, where there is not a soul in sight. We soon find out why, the party had started, but in room 3. In here we find Nadia Ksaiba, who plays a belter of a set and starts the evening off very nicely with digitally magnificent sounding electro, followed by LDMS (Liverpool Dance Music Society) in all honesty, its no thrills from the lads here, but it’s decent enough to get the room going.

Perhaps inevitably Friday night really hots up when we go and see Kolsch in room 2. An Outstanding set which I just could not help throwing shapes to from start to finish. From here the night continues to grow and suddenly I realise I am enjoying myself far more than I thought I would be for a festival here at Pontin’s. And despite the ridiculously poor bar service, which was unfortunately a staple of the entire weekend, the drinks flow and the night gets better and better.

Into room 1, Todd Terje is about to make his appearance. This is one I have been particularly looking forward to, it starts a little slowly, and I am nervous that perhaps this one could be a little overhyped in my mind, but with the irresistible new tune in tow “Delorean Dynamite” the set ignites. A fantastic long ensemble of another new track “Spiral”, followed closely by the heavenly bounce of “Inspector Norse” in the end this is a set that leaves no one disappointed. And I struggled to rid my mind of the beat to Eurodans well into the next day.

Erol Alkan draws the crowd into room 2 again, and unfortunately for me the set feels a little bit flat to begin and really fails to get me going up until the last half an hour. That being said, the half an hour were he picks it up, is outstanding, my particular highlight being “A Hold On Love” which certainly made me nostalgic for my old Ibiza dance CD’s.

Following Erol is Andrew Weatherall back to back with Daniel Avery, two DJ’s who separately i have seen blow me away within the last year. However this B2B session doesn’t do it for me. It feels distorted and was lacking anthem for 3am in the morning and feeling like the night was slipping away from us. It is in this moment my friend makes a suggestion about going to see Dixon instead for an hour in Room 1 and returning to catch the end of Weatherall/Avery instead.

This suggestion proved to be more than profitable. Dixon has been ranked as the number 1 DJ in the world. However I have never been overly keen, and much to my own stupidity and ignorance, had very rarely given him the opportunity to prove to me why this reputation exists. Five minutes into his extraordinary set, I saw the error in my ways and the value of having friends who steer you in the right direction. The whole room exploded into delicious dancing chaos. The smoke filled the room to the point of blindness, as the lights flashed the only colours before your eyes. This made the whole set a monster of the senses. And most of the tunes served up were the perfect tonic for anyone flagging in the early hours. Dixon expertly inspired tired souls into giving their all right to the end.

Dixon had stolen the show. Pontins had miraculously hosted an unforgettable night and Bugged Out weekend had kicked off with a very loud bang! Forgivingly with our chalet close to the main building, the drunken stumble back home could be enjoyed with the favourable memories of a cracking night. Day 2 surely could not top this opener? Or could it?

Playlist for anyone wanting to check out any artists mentioned above https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJGKdp0TfS-cysoSfLkUPWFdUWb2zlspe