Pumped Audio features writer Larissa Wignall made the mammoth journey to the the Isle of Pag, off the coast of Croatia, for what is now considered to be one of the best and most hedonistic festivals on the clubbing calendar. We are pleased to say she made it home in one piece and has had enough recovery time to fill us in on her adventure to Hideout 2012; Days, nights, boats, pools, and a line-up to die for. A life changing experience by all accounts………….
Me and my girlfriends departed for the beautiful Island of Pag on Thursday 28th June to embark on our mammoth journey to the sell-out event; that is Hideout Festival, in Croatia. After one car trip, three planes and a two hour bus we arrived at the bus station where the festival wristbands were collected. The environment was full of life and the tech tunes were coming alive, causing eccentric dance moves to all festival goers.
Most people stayed in Novalija town where the port, bars, restaurants and hippy market stalls were situated. Whilst the sun was setting, it had an incredible, glistening gleam over the town and that’s when people became active, eagerly awaiting to endure Hideout.
Hideout Festival was from 29th June to 1st July on Zcre Beach. There were water sports, many bars, food hot spots, thrilling rides and open air nightclubs including Papaya and Aquarius, where the pool parties and night time antics took place. Adrenaline junkies could take part in a bungee jump, day or night. I did of course, taking in the breath taking views of the festival from so many thousand feet. One experience which will never be forgotten!
No less than 16 boat parties set sail from Novalija town, from brands including Just Jack, Chibuku, Annie Mac Presents, Dirtybird, Wax On and Crosstown Rebels to name a few. And if you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket for the sell-out boats, then you could rock out at the mind-blowing pool parties set on Zcre Beach.
My group checked out the pool parties and seen the likes of Richy Ahmed and Jamie Jones for the Hot Creations Pool Party on the Saturday, followed by Nina Kraviz and Seth Troxler at the Mulletover Pool Party on the Sunday. There was a sea of people in the pools, which actually made it unclear to see any water what so ever. The ambience was alive and everyone was truly having the time of their life. I think the motto was, “Go hard or go home,” in authentic Hideout lingo!
Thursday’s Pre Party at Paypaya watched Heidi doing it for the girls, whilst dropping a remixed version of ‘What the Fuck’ and then Michael Mayer getting down and dirty until the sunrise. While in Aquarius 2, Aeroplane and Erol Alkan banged out some key generous beats on the Friday evening … or is that morning?! It was hard to tell, with the days merging into nights and vice versa.
On the Saturday seen 24 year old Maya Jane Coles play to the crowd, she has true technical ability and a panache that is unique to her. Into the early hours Jamie Jones and Loco Dice brought in the darker rhythms and had everyone wanting more. Loco Dice transported everyone back to the old school and crammed in the track ‘Rewind’ by the Awful Dodger making the bunch of multi-cultural party animals literally bubble. How can a track like that be engaged and made cool again?! Only Mr Dice can do so.
Claude Von Stroke also played on the Saturday evening and was a major highlight to the festival. He compelled everyone to come alive at Aquarius and he danced the night away with fellow acquaintance, whilst high fiving everyone at the front of the stage, triggering a commotion and electric vibes from the pumped up crowds. In true Claude Von Stroke style a bit of hip hop was thrown in for good measure and Snoop Dogg was remixed into a dark, airy track. Indescribable!
On the Sunday seen the final tide come in and Hideout Festival was coming to an close, where what we only knew was going to be a fond farewell turned into the finest night of most peoples lives, literally without no exaggeration! Papaya Nightclub had Damian Lazarus, Seth Troxler and Ricardo Villalobos doing what they all do best and that is making peoples dreams come true through their music. Emotional anticipation was running high and everyone was eager to see the final showdown of these talented souls. Everybody danced like today was their last day on earth, in the super-hot heat and enjoyed each other’s companies for the final hours of what had been an all-round, multi-talented, euphoric, beach vacation. All three sets were out of this world and fist pumping was belting full force. The three DJ’s are up there on my list of favourites and all they do is enhance with time.
Croatia is an up and coming tourist destination for the cool kids and yes, I may say it even blows Ibiza out of the water, with the open air nightclubs pushing the boundaries and even illustrating a DC10 greets Ushuaia vibe.
If you’re thinking of going to Hideout 2013, all I can say is do it! It’s a real eye opener to the world of music, cultures and Croatian Island life. For further information about Hideout Festival, check out www.hideoutfestival.com
Larissa Wignall
