Review – David Rodigan headlines Outlook Festival Launch Party

After months of waiting impatiently for festival season to begin, finally we kicked off a summer of sunshine, smelly tents and great music at the Outlook Festival Launch Party held in Norwich at the weekend. A huge coup for the city, organisers of the regular reggae and bass nights across Norwich were given the chance to host the event, with the one-and-only David Rodigan set to headline. Put simply, the event was a huge success with a great turnout and perfectly captured the spirit of the Croatian festival with everyone in the festival and holiday mood after a day in the sunshine. Taking over one of Norwich’s newest clubs, and giving me the opportunity to check out Wonderland for the first time, it was a perfect venue for such an event, with two huge rooms dedicated to a collection of incredible local talent pitted against top UK DJs.

After seeing Rodigan live at Secret garden Party and Hideout Festival last summer, within the space of a few weeks I went from having never heard of him to a massive fan – his sets are amazing for those who haven’t seen him –  perfect for summer festivals or lazing around in the sunshine. The whole venue was buzzing with excitement as we waited for the DJ to take to the stage as crowds flooded through the doors and between the two rooms. In the second room there was plenty to keep you dancing as T>I and Tango & Ratty took over with some serious jungle/drum & bass beats and a fire-dancer.

Another DJ I was just dying to see live and have done ever since catching his remix of Rudimental (see above) is Phaeleh (pronounced Fella). He’s an incredibly talented DJ with a totally fresh sound and I love his music, which I have seen described as “cinematic electronica, but his roots are in dubstep, garage and house” – I have no idea what that means but I know I like it! His set was just magical, and all my friends who had never heard of him were all impressed – I was just over the moon to have finally seen him live and so close to home. His set was perfect right before Rodigan’s – chilled us all out right before we kicked off the dancing again for the reggae master.This is the only good picture I managed to get from the night – the others are just a touch too blurry thanks to my awful dancing. Rodigan smashed on to the stage and the whole room went wild, his set was incredible as usual – I would expect nothing less – and played all of our favourites with plenty of “Pull upppps”. I can’t describe my happiness when he cracked out My Boy Lollipop – always puts a huge smile on my face and I love it when everyone starts singing along. The crowd was filled with all ages, and everyone was singing and dancing along. I go out in Norwich quite a lot and I have to say this was the happiest and most chilled out event I have seen there yet. After such an amazing night – I just wish I was going to Outlook Festival to see the full line-up in action! I’ll definitely be looking out for further Bassjam events in Norwich. Organisers BassJam said: “Wow what a night!! Was an absolute honour having David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan bless the decks, sick sets all round too!! Big love to each and every person in the dance!!”

But we like the noise!!

Once again councils have got involved with something that should not really concern them. For one weekend a year, in a few fields in the middle of nowhere, what is really the problem? Should we all tip-toe and whisper like librarians?

This festival was amazing last year and part of the reason why was because it attacked your senses, all of them. The bass was incredible, the sights were astonishing and everything else just blew your mind. Stop putting the kibosh on our fun.

Boomtown Fair licence under review over noise levels

Noise complaints investigated

Thinking about next season’s festivals is giving me chills

I had such an amazing summer this year and before the dust has really settled from all those festivals, I am already going full speed ahead with plans for next season. The main festival my friends, boyfriend and I are hoping to get tickets for is Tomorrowland in Belgium – an electronic rave of epic proportions! The stages alone are immense and I am so excited at the prospect of being part of the crowds of thousands I witnessed on videos of the last few years at the festival. Watching this video gives me chills!

I’m also hoping that my status as Editor of This Festival Feeling will give me the freedom to claim free tickets to some of the following – WeAreFstvl, Secret Garden Party (if we don’t get tickets for Tomorrowland), Bestival, Shambala, Boomtown Fair and any others that come my way. I hope to make it to at least two on this list if nothing else!

Last year I went to Hideout Festival in Croatia which was billed as one of the biggest of the year with some of the most sought-after tickets – I’m curious to know which festival will be the same this year…

What festivals is everyone else looking to go to next year?

Reliving my HUGE festival summer as the official videos are released

Hideout Festival 2013 on the Island of Pag, Croatia, was the biggest week of my year. I partied around-the-clock for seven days straight with my boyfriend and amazing friends from home and university. I even made some new friends while out there that have since become my raving buddies. It was a huge week and so much fun. I watched the sun rise and set every single day, I danced on stages, sand, in pools and the sea, on buses and boats and anywhere else I could find. I made incredible memories and can be sure I’ll never forget them. It’s amazing to see the final video, but to be honest this is a very tame version of the Hideout I experienced. However, I can’t deny that when I hear that beat and bass kick in, it’s like being back on Zcre Beach! If only I was, instead of in chilly old England!

Boomtown Fair 2013, in Winchester, was officially the craziest weekend of my life. I saw so much while I was there than my brain felt like it was melting and my eyes couldn’t take in any more. The festival was vast, the stages huge and the music was incredible. I loved every second, again went with fantastic old friends and made some new ones there. It was such a peaceful place and yet so intense and mind-boggling. The theatre acts and side-shows were my favourite because they were always what you least expected and transported you into crazy new worlds. I still don’t believe, and can’t explain half the things I saw there. It was like falling down the rabbit hole.

Memories of Boomtown Fair 2013

While having a bit of a wardrobe clear out on Sunday morning, I came across a backpack we used to carry stuff round the festival at Boomtown Fair, in Winchester, back in August. Inside the backpack was still a few bits and pieces, including the card of a photographer who snapped myself and Mark while dancing in the Lion’s Den stage over the weekend. The photograph was snapped by a photographer who was working for Wuwo Magazine and brings back a lot of memories on what was a particularly fun day! On this day, I was wearing a Topshop dress and glasses.

Part 2: A busy summer touring round as many festivals as possible – Secret Garden Party and Boomtown Fair

After a few weeks break, I was anxious for my next fix of freedom, music, and a lot of amazing entertainment – all washed down with lashings of smelly portaloos and sleeping in a field. It was time to pack up the car again as we headed to Secret Garden Party in Huntingdon, just a short drive from where I live, and just me and the boyfriend again.

The tickets were a Christmas present from my other half and I was expecting big things – this was the festival I was most looking forward to over the course of the summer. And boy, did this one deliver in more ways than I ever imagined! It was a magical place centred around a beautiful lake for swimming, and the weather was amazing so perfect for this, with entertainment that varied from live music all day, swing dancing, puppet making and crafts, literature talks and comedians, and even pig racing!

And there were huge art installations and constructions throughout the festival which included the huge sad-looking fox in an Indian headdress…

 My homemade flower fairy costume…

Watching Bastille play live – one of the best sets of the entire summer!

John Newman was amazing as ever…

Especially when we managed to meet the man himself!

 The paintfight was an incredible sight…

 Faithless live was fantastic!

 Every stage was buzzing and packed and we were thrilled when we stumbled across a secret performance by Chase and Status and Nero!

 Finally, the pirate ship – an incredible stage construction in the middle of the lake that was the centre for a huge fireworks display – the best I have ever seen – and was burnt down on the second to last night!

This festival was beyond imagining, unfortunately because of personal reasons I found I couldn’t enjoy it quite as much as I would have liked, but it was amazing and worth every penny. I can’t wait to go back to this one again – not next year, but perhaps the year after.

Two weeks after, we were joined by a group of mates and headed to Boomtown Fair – a huge reggae and ska festival in Winchester and one that I was also really looking forward to. It was the only festival where I paid no attention to who was playing and just went where the group guided me. It was amazing and there are so many sights I still cannot explain – so much theatre and weirdness! Unfortunately, because I had my phone stolen I was unable to take as many pics as I would have liked.. but here are some I stole from a friend as well as the few I captured.

The Lion’s Den – amazing stage!

A very bizarre wrestling ring stage that we came across..

An amazing lightning show..

The Arcadia blew my mind…

  checking out the fairground rides at sunset…

 The gang enjoying some reggae in the afternoon…

Chilling out in the beautiful sunshine before heading off to see another amazing reggae band..

Such an amazing experience this festival – would recommend it highly and definitely plan on going back!