BIG UP OUTLOOK FESTIVAL!!!

[belalala]

dindin talking a lot of sense, hate to say it but i left outlook with a lot more negativity than i did last year.
too many people, too little organization/resources, too many drugs (heard a girl died on friday?)

top 3 sets for me were biome in the ballroom ( ), girl unit and a tie between all the acts on the tectonic boat. addison groove set the dance off, jack sparrow's new bits sounding weighty and cyrus vs. distance sinister as always.

unbeatable location and unbeatable lineup yet again, but not sure i'll be back for 2012--think outlook just did too much with too little this year.

[FuDuzn]

Well I think we can tell Plastician enjoyed himself.

[Molzie]

Well I think we can tell Plastician enjoyed himself.

hahahahaha!!! love it

[dro524]

First time heading to a festival like this one and the one of first sets I head to was Kode9's. He opened with Archangel on what had to be the heaviest system there (besides the main stage of course), it was incredible. Saw plenty of great sets throughout the nights, my favorite had to be Martyn along with the rest of the Substance crew. Pinch and Loefah's sets at the moat were also incredible, nice to hear some house for once. For dnb it was definately the Shogun Audio sets. Alix Perez b2b Icicle was fast and heavy. The dmz sets were huge as well but it got really crowded for digital mystikz. Loefah opened with Ludacris haha. Goth-trad played a bunch of huge tunes.

The fort arena soundsystem was by far the heaviest. I thought all the soundsystems were going to be this huge but there were a few weak ones. The ballroom system wasn't as strong as I thought it should have been, I was quite disappointed when I sat through biome's set without the chest-shoving, heart-pounding bass I expected from outlook. The dungeon room sounded awful no matter where you stood. It might have been the way it was shaped, not sure if there was a way around it. The dock arena was hit or miss. Some days it was loud, other days it was weak. The dock and mainstage were both plagued with huge rocks and empty water bottles. Quite surprised I didn't twist an ankle walking through the crowd.

Accommodation could have been organized a little better. It took me about an hour and half to get through the short line for our apartment papers. I made the trip from Texas, 15 hours of flying plus another four to get to the campsite grounds. The festival was fun and had great music but I don't think I'd make the long trip back next year. It just wasn't as epic, mindblowing, and fun as it could have been to warrant another long journey.

[kay]

Generally had a good time but there were plenty of downsides. Having gone to all four Outlooks, I would rate them in the order 2010 > 2008 > 2011 > 2009. 2011 was to 2010 what 2009 was to 2008, ie it had built up a tremendous name for itself in the previous year, and ended up attracting all the wrong sorts of people. Having said that, there were also a lot of sound people there and I enjoyed making new friends.

The best parts of the festival for me were the boat parties as always. Black Box was class throughout, Tectonic was rocking nonstop and hilariously entertaining. I have to admit that I wasn't as into the music on the Hotflush boat but the company was good and the sunset was nice.

Stages-wise, it was nice that there were more stages this year but they were seriously scattered. Too much of a mission to keep going back and forth between the harbour stages and the fort. Unlike last year, you hardly ever randomly bumped into people you knew because people were all over the place. But I have to say the sheer number of people at the main stage was impressive. I was there at the start of the Rodigan set when it was still comfortable but not crowded and had my eyes glued to the stage for over an hour. I kept wandering why it was so hot right there by the dock. It wasn't till I turned to go that I noticed that there was a sea of people behind me. It was quite mindblowing. From the viewing platform, it looked like there were more people at the main stage than there were the whole of last year!

The bad thing was that even with the increased number of stages, this year there were queues to get in practically everywhere (apart from the harbour and Outside stages).

Really enjoyed all the dub acts. Of the dubstep, the sets that were most memorable were T_!, Goth-Trad/Vivek and Phaeleh. Also must say I enjoyed Dubloke's selection! The aggy crowd during Loefah and Mala/Coki really put me off, plus the constant rewinds every time Coki jumped on the decks.

The organisation could've been better (but you don't practically double the size of the festival and expect it to go smoothly) but it was probably a lot more well-run than ever before. I really did not like that the campsite got closed after 8pm (or 7pm on the night before the festival kicked off).

While it was generally enjoyable, I won't be going again next year without some very good reasons. It was too big this year and the good vibes were less present.

[Mehlovich]

I have to admit that I wasn't as into the music on the Hotflush boat but the company was good and the sunset was nice.

Scuba and Roskas sets was serious though! the sound... not so much. And the sunset looked exactly like the Outlook logo!

[kay]

I have to admit that I wasn't as into the music on the Hotflush boat but the company was good and the sunset was nice.

Scuba and Roskas sets was serious though! the sound... not so much. And the sunset looked exactly like the Outlook logo!

You're right, I think that was probably one of Roska's best sets I've heard. It was just that 4 hours of the type of music was a bit much for me. I know other people really enjoyed it though.

[Mehlovich]

I have to admit that I wasn't as into the music on the Hotflush boat but the company was good and the sunset was nice.

Scuba and Roskas sets was serious though! the sound... not so much. And the sunset looked exactly like the Outlook logo!

You're right, I think that was probably one of Roska's best sets I've heard. It was just that 4 hours of the type of music was a bit much for me. I know other people really enjoyed it though.

yeah, it was very techy/housey.

big ups to the guy in the jamaica t shirt who jumped on the boat as it was sailing - what a move!

[PinUp]

Favourite acts people?

no-one in particular but it was nice to see all the daytime soundclashes by the docks, soundsystems were badman = Mungos Hifi vs Firehouse was and Swamp81 vs Hessle was a laugh!

Swamp v Hessle was sick! can't believe there wasn't more people down there, the shade and the sea breeze was sooo nice! I apologise if i was skanking too hard and annoyed anyone though, i was wearing a yellow stink like sock t shirt.

[Mehlovich]

Favourite acts people?

no-one in particular but it was nice to see all the daytime soundclashes by the docks, soundsystems were badman = Mungos Hifi vs Firehouse was and Swamp81 vs Hessle was a laugh!

Swamp v Hessle was sick! can't believe there wasn't more people down there, the shade and the sea breeze was sooo nice! I apologise if i was skanking too hard and annoyed anyone though, i was wearing a yellow stink like sock t shirt.

I saw you and your friend down there! you were all over the place skankin but thats what the music is for really

[kay]

Favourite acts people?

no-one in particular but it was nice to see all the daytime soundclashes by the docks, soundsystems were badman = Mungos Hifi vs Firehouse was and Swamp81 vs Hessle was a laugh!

Swamp v Hessle was sick! can't believe there wasn't more people down there, the shade and the sea breeze was sooo nice! I apologise if i was skanking too hard and annoyed anyone though, i was wearing a yellow stink like sock t shirt.

I think it's you on the left side of this picture? Didn't manage to snap a shot of you skanking away!

[dj_rasheed]

Definitely the best festival in the world ! It was an honor playing there !!

Big up the Outlook crew !!

[Mexter]

The best parts of the festival for me were the boat parties as always. Black Box was class throughout, Tectonic was rocking nonstop and hilariously entertaining.

While it was generally enjoyable, I won't be going again next year without some very good reasons. It was too big this year and the good vibes were less present.

i wish i met you on that black box or tectonic boat.. both boats were so amazing! so much good vibes! the crowd was so intimate..

on the festivla itself i also said i wouldnt be going next year, also because i heard a rumour about raising the capacity too 20000 ppl.. but outlook just confirmed they are gonna keep it the same size.. so on the road home i was nearly crying i allready had to leave and we made the decision that we are definitaly going back next year..
yes there is a big amount of ppl and yes there are loads of douchebags, but i only met friendly people, i got to know some ppl from on this forum, i met a whole slovenian crew, whom i met every day again, cause we went to same stages.. people from last year who all came back.. u are all amazing!
the festival has quit a similar athmosphere like last year if u hang around in the fort.. most people stay down at the main stages, so vibes are really big at dungeon, ballroom and mungo's..

outlook, see u next year, i cant liiiiiveee without you!

[rliquid]

My body is absolutely drained, guess thats what happens when you drink constantly for 5 days with no sleep and 60 hours of traveling!

So many highlights. The DMZ stage on Friday was so so big. Loefah playing I Luv U and dropping Levitated, oh my gosh. Mala dropping Alica, Return II Space and Mountain Dread March. I have never seen an atmosphere like when Goblin got dropped for the 3rd time! I swear every Coki tune got pulled 2-3 times haha. I spoke to Mala in the ballroom later that night, such a humble guy. I randomly started having a bit of United / City banter with a guy in crowd at the dock stage, it only turned out to be alextheswede! Nice guy, sorry about my mate being a prick, karma hit him back on Saturday night though (read below).

Distance opening with his remix of Changes on the tectonic boat was something else, he only played about 16 bars before it was mixed out but what I heard was next level, only Distance can bring more fire to a Mala tune.

Did anyone hear about a guy shitting on the hotel floor after the Skream/Plastician booze cruise? That was my mate. He came back absolutely fucked, couldn't stand up and passed out about 2 minutes after. I went to check on him and there was a mound of shit on the floor and bed, with shit trailing right to the toilet. Fucking disgusting. He slept in shit covered bedsheets too.

Also, anyone see Skreams set on the main stage? No offence to the guy but that is the most embarrassing shambles of a DJ set I have ever seen. I don't care about track selection, as what he plays isn't my kind of thing. It's the fact that he was so smashed all he did was play a tune, reload it 5 times, rinse loads of special effects and then let it finish with a 30 second gap of no music. I mean, what the fuck? I don't expect him to be anywhere near the level of Friction etc but he wasn't even mixing one tune into another. Skream, big up for the music and what you've done for the scene, but take a page out of Shy FX's book, he absolutely smashed it.

EDIT: What was the second tune in Kromestars set? Sounded like a new Aliens banger.

[agoJ]

It was ace, but I agree with those saying it wasn't as good as last year. Dindin is right about the more impersonal feel of it, and I thought the beach was way over-crowded and there were a lot more dickheads there this year. It was also difficult to find anyone without missioning for miles. They've added to the scale and impressiveness of it but have had to sacrifice some of the intimate atmosphere as a result.

Saying that, musically again, it was superb. Highlights for me:

Hessle boat. SERIOUS vibes throughout. Dolphins n' shit. Ridiculous tunes getting dropped everywhere. Ben finishing with two (or three?) rewinds on 'Thunder Bay' was a highlight.

Here's a video my mate took of Untold dropping 'Bax', not greatest sound quality but you can see the dolphins (and me in my fedora to the right of the decks): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfIFlGEmyvY

Scuba, Martyn, George FitzGerald and Addison on the last night were all superb, my favourite night for music. Scuba's 90 minutes was a journey. Loads of Boddika, Jon Convex, Bashmore, Scuba and Martyn being dropped down there, exactly what I wanted to hear. Martyn dropping Broken Heart remix at Outlook always makes me immensely happy.

Other great sets: Rodigan, Lil Silva, Loefah and Oneman (although I was way too drunk to enjoy it properly), Hidden Orchestra, Phaeleh on the beach, and whoever from here was playing up at The Clearing on the Friday and dropped Rain and Hyph Mngo. Wish I could put Brackles in here as apparently he was ace but we had a key drama with the apartment and I had to leave early.

[PinUp]

Favourite acts people?

no-one in particular but it was nice to see all the daytime soundclashes by the docks, soundsystems were badman = Mungos Hifi vs Firehouse was and Swamp81 vs Hessle was a laugh!

Swamp v Hessle was sick! can't believe there wasn't more people down there, the shade and the sea breeze was sooo nice! I apologise if i was skanking too hard and annoyed anyone though, i was wearing a yellow stink like sock t shirt.

I think it's you on the left side of this picture? Didn't manage to snap a shot of you skanking away!

Yeah that's me! The shade cover in that little bit was so nice, I couldnt really skank out at the beach or ballcourt without feeling like I was gonna pass out due to the heat!

[chico_red]

this is my favourite comment on the Outlook wall so far:

Oh, Croatia Croatia; You were the best time of my life. Waking up hungover, fought my headache with a dive. Still hearing the reflections of that bass when I'm asleep. Basspressure & the rollin' drums were O-SO-FUCKIN DEEP! Met the safest people I will always tend to miss. To Outlook Festival 2011: You deserve my dreams, my love and my kiss.

Describes it perfectly for me!

[agoJ]

Couple of funny stories I heard:

Manager on the Booze Cruise boat had to get on the decks at one point cos Plastician was lying in a pool of his own vomit and Skream was asleep somewhere.

Some glue with blue hair got double-teamed on top of the inflatable pyramid on the Wednesday or Thursday (search for the Facebook group).

[AJP UK]

It lacked the same vibe and intimacy of last year, so nowhere near as good.
Saw most of the artists I wanted, missed a few however - and was also good to speak to artists and meeting other heads in the crowds who knew.
The Black Box stand was quality.

Not surprisingly there's now too many of these flat-peak wearing hipsters who were parading around in groups like sheep like it was a big fashion show to show off their OBEY hats. Seeing Razor Rekta kill it in the ballroom just before Biome (who also killed it) I remember Redlight - Source 16 being dropped and I must've kicked some gravel or whatever unintentionally on some kid just standing there, not moving, with some drunken bird, who then proceeded to kick it back at me. Absolute waste.

I'm not one for negativity normally, but Outlook's turned into a fashion show and a place to go cos it's cool and cos you've got a shit load of money to spend on drugs and listen to 'cool' bass music. It was a pleasure to return to Pula, such a beautiful place - shame people couldn't see that what with the rubbish everywhere and people taking shits in showers and on the floors. If the capacity is raised then I wouldn't advise.

[say_whut]

Highlights for me:

Ikonika - only caught last 20ish minutes and I really, really hope the set gets released or something. There was something so dark and sinister about the whole thing.
Kode9 - straight professionalism, nothing else
DMZ night - first DMZ experience, aw shit. Seeing all the artists on stage was pretty incredible too
DMZ boat - the night I got TOO fucked, but still enjoyable. Hijaks set was fucked up though, he played a lot of Skream tunes too :/ but VIVEK and Pokes were hilarious
Pearson Sound & Addison Groove on the final night. Pearson Sounds set was so tight and probably my all round favourite. I want to hear it again.

As for the entire experience... I was not ready. Camping in such extreme heat for a Scotsman like myself was not good. The site was poorly chosen too, I thought. Fuck all toilets or showers. This IS a festival, right?! One cash machine and the passport ques were ridiculous, I'm glad I got mine early. Transport wise, never again. Fuck spending a total of 57 hours getting home. NEVER AGAIN. I'm contemplating going next year but only if the site is larger and is suited to a festival.