Bugged Out Weekender 2015

Bugged Out Weekender

If going to Bugged Out Weekender has taught me anything, it’s that they can turn a typically British and ‘not-so-exciting’ holiday destination into a non-stop party. What began as a night in Manchester in 1994 has lead into an legendary dance event. The luxury, however, of the Butlins hotel sometimes made it hard to believe you were at a festival, but none of that mattered as the time you spent in your room was minimal compared to time we spent dancing.

Most festivals are just about an all-day live music party, which makes the three day weekender unique in making you feel as if you’re in a full-on dance/house night club. The daytime consisted of eating food and jumping in the deep end at Butlins’ swimming pool, whilst listening to the ongoing DJ set. Bugged Out’s Super Secret Special Guest was Fat Boy Slim, the classic, old school rave man. Listening to him whilst being in the super humid surroundings of an indoor pool party was somewhat surreal but definitely gives the Weekender an unusual edge over other Winter orientated part weekends.

Bugged Out is predominantly a house-centric weekend party, livening at nightfall into a range of super melodic live sets from artists like Ten Walls, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Todd Terje. We definitely owe it to the guys at Bugged Out for transforming the not-so-special Butlins holiday resort into a weekend of non-stop dancing, stunning visual displays and more strobe lights than is necessary to have in one building.

What makes the two decode old Bugged Out Weekender such a special event is its continued ability to fly the flag for a melting pot of dance and house fans from across the nation.

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The Friday Highlight

The first night we were graced with DJ Jonas Rathsman, followed by chart topping DJ Duke Dumont who although still put on a good show, seemed to drunk to make sure his mixing was on point. Next along came Todd Terje, the electronic, no-disco Norwegian who made it big with his 2012 hit ‘Inspector Norse’. Without a doubt, though, local DJ Shadow Child, who played the 4:00-5:30 was the cream of the crop on Centre Stage. Save the best ’til last, right? Despite the late set time, it didn’t stop the crowd getting into lively house set. Shadow Child entertained throughout and set a very high bar for the rest of weekend’s acts to follow.

The Saturday Highlight

Saturday saw us stick at Centre Stage for The Chemical Brothers, Ten Walls, the man who made it big at the end of last year with his single ‘Walking With Elephants’, that charted at Number 6 in the UK Singles Chart, and part of Simian Mobile Disco, before we headed to Reds to see electronic DJ Four Tet. The Chemical Brothers have had five Number 1 albums in the UK, and also won the 2000 Brit Award for Best Electronic/Dance Act. This certainly shows. It’s the first time we’ve seen the Manchester duo, and their infectious rave-style tunes made it impossible not to dance. The night didn’t stop with Four Tet, though, as we carried on to Mixmag’s afterparty until daybreak.

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Sunday Highlights

Sunday was the discovery of Bugged Out’s Super Secret Special Guest: Fatboy Slim. Slim played at the Butlins poolside, whilst onlookers frolicked in the water. A surreal experience to see one of Britain’s most prolific DJs play in the afternoon in the humid but buzzing atmosphere of the pool party. As Bugged Out 2015 drew to a close we caught Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Skream on Centre Stage. The London-born DJ Skream put on a solid set, enticing listeners with his garage-house style. The twenty-eight year old made sure Bugged Out ended on a high, and we’ll definitely back next January. The weekend is worth every penny, and with Butlins’ swanky hotel accommodation you can’t go wrong with this Winter weekender.

Tobi Stidolph

Press Manager & inSYNC Writer

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