Page 47 - Zone Magazine Issue 008

event review - uk
bugged out - butlins bognor, 15th-17th jan
And so the mayhem begins, this is a very different weekend at Butlins from the last visit here for our nan's 80th birthday.
Broken in gently with a cool press briefing by Gaby from BIGBOX London & given a can or 2 of the weekend's sponsors Relentless to start things off.
This weekend lived up to all the expectations & a relentless weekend of dancing, late nights, early mornings & most of all MUSIC.
The accommodation in the Wave Hotel was first class & to be honest we did not expect anything less from they guys at Bugged Out as the whole weekend was such a well planned, well organised event.
Ouch ! So its the morning after the night before with ringing in our ears, aching feet & after returning back to the hotel at silly o'clock in the morning, with memories of top sets in Reds from Lemmy Ashton,Dusky, B.Traits & Groove Armada, while EZ, Hannah Wants & Klose One killed it in the Centre Stage, They fed the crowd copious amounts of delicious House Music whipping them up into a frenzy & leaving them wanting more even at 6.30am when the last track was played.
Portsmouth's Chris Vaux & his
Discreet party hidden next to Burger King with Stormtroopers on the door was something a bit different, but as always the music was top notch with Chris himself playing alongside Pete Callard & more.
Other bars around the camp did not disappoint each with their various sounds that is DANCE MUSIC in it's variety of genres.
Butlins Bognor is the perfect place for this kind of event with the accommodation a short walk from any of the venues, this brought people together from all over the UK, some even coming alone with one thing in mind to have a good time & to start of the year as they mean to carry on.
This morning, well early afternoon people are scarce & the sound of music can be heard for the many hotel/chalet after parties still going strong, even with hangovers & a lack of sleep the second night was easily as good as the first. Trying to shuffle in Reds with the sticky carpet was a no-no but the dancing went on well into the night with highlight sets coming from Josef K, DJ Koze, AndHim, & Cat's N Dogs each with there own style had the crowd wanting more, While the queues for Centre Stage went all the way around the Skyline Pavilion for a midnight set from Eats Everything
followed by Armand Van Helden.
A text from Gaby informing us of a
secret set from Skream was a welcome escape for the madness of the crowds & as usual he did not disappoint & even found time to blow me a kiss.
Day Three with aching bodies & ringing ears the final round, a few people have left for home and the great monday at work which will be one of the hardest monday's of the year so far for anyone that attended this weekend.
Reds treated us to Artwork, The Black Madonna & Bicep, while in Centre Stage the treats come from Julio Bashmore, Heidi & a closing set from the legendary Kerri Chandler that will live long in the memory of anyone lucky enough to witness it.
Throughout this weekend Wunderground Radio had various sets playing from a garden shed in the middle of the Skyline Pavilion with Jess Bays just one of the standout ones for us.
See you next year for most definitely the best start to the festival year by far...
Words by Tammy Braddick
Pics By Darren Braddick & Luke Dyson
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 47