Music Zoot reports

OUTLOOK FESTIVAL 2011, CROATIA

In an apocalyptic paradise of creativity, bass lines and good people, an impressively large line-up of DJs, MCs and pure rastafarians took to the nine stages around Fort Punta Christo in Pula, Croatia, to recreate what has rapidly grown to become Europe”s biggest bass music and soundsystem culture festival…

Text and Photography by Lucy Mclean

The main campsite, Camp Puntizela, is equipped not only with real toilets and showers, unlike your usual UK “festival in a field”, but it also boasts it”s own stunning coastline onto the Adriatic Sea and, despite the inevitable debris and destruction that takes its toll during a 4-day festival – for which Outlook has since officially apologised, blaming the lack of organisation this year on the campsite”s part – it still proved to be a warm and welcoming, if not a little bit gypsy, outdoor homestead for all in attendance.

There was an enduring soundtrack of reggae and dub played day and night across the camp, with notable homage paid to Barrington Levy in his absence (having cancelled a few weeks earlier), playing either from a nearby campervan hand-stacked with their own miniature soundsystems, or from a simple mp3 boombox balanced on a rickety wooden jetty amongst a group of bikini-clad ravers, as everyone’s outlook turns to the sunset for some momentary relaxation and group sessioning to prepare for the evening”s upcoming events…

The fort itself was a maze of crumbling Croatian architecture, contemporary festival artwork and dust-filled madness. All Outlookers were advised to cover their mouths with scarves or dust masks to avoid the otherwise inevitable dust inhalation and bad coughs, as well as being banned from their flipflops throughout the fort due to uneven loose ground making it difficult terrain for even the best of Havaianas.

During this years event, the crowd luckily had their dishevelled, dusty rave clothes washed down by a much appreciated and cooling thunderstorm on the Saturday evening, just before the legendary Skream took to the stage to perform a memorable set with long-time friend and MC, Sgt Pokes, to let rip classic Skream bangers as well as his new track, “Where You Should Be”, an alternative remix of “Don”t Go” by Awesome 3 and a powerful rendition of “Killing In The Name Of” by Rage Against the Machine.

On the main stage “Harbour Arena” we saw the likes of Congo Natty, Irration Steppas, Gentlemans Dub Club, Benga, and the timeless Pharoahe Monche who performed such hip-hop classics as “Simon Says” and “Oh No“.

Meanwhile, on the various Fort stages there were more niche line-ups to suit every musical taste; for example the continuous reggae and dancehall sounds emerging from the impressively loud Mungo”s Hi Fi Soundsystem arena where on the final night Jah Shaka played a 6 hour set well into the early hours of the morning; a selection of heavy dub acts such as Goli & Ashburner, Transit Mafia and Krums & Lojik appearing on the small “Dungeon” stage in the dark and sweaty depths of the fort; popular and lively remixes from the busy, circular “Ballroom” arena; uplifting D&B from the one and only “Moat” stage, which saw the likes of S.P.Y., Benny Page, Loefah and Kenny Ken take to the decks; not to mention the multifaceted “Outside the Fort” area and the breezy “Dock Stage” which saw all kinds of acts combine to create a great open-air atmosphere at all hours of day and night.

Mungo's HiFi Soundsystem

'The Moat'

Mungo's HiFi Stage

Adding to the already huge line-up are the boat parties which really make Outlook stand out from the norm. These large tour boats set off each day at alternating times, with a fully stocked bar and a fully motivated crew, allowing ravers to get up close and personal with their favourite acts for an unforgettable 6 hour journey around the bay; just think of the “if you were stuck on a desert island with one act from Outlook…” dream scenario, then pick your boat party and live it!

'Shogun Audio' Boat Party

We were lucky enough to get aboard the Foreign Beggars boat on day 3 of Outlook 2011 and I could not have been more blown away by the whole experience. Not only did the line-up feature Beggars” friends and fellow legends, Flux Pavillion, as well as renowned beatboxer Reeps One, but Croatia decided to host its very own electrical storm for the evening providing an impressive display of natural strobes whilst we cruised around the bay being best online casino shaken by some of the heaviest basslines in Pula…

Words just can”t describe.

Foreign Beggars – Still Gettin” It (ft Skrillex)

By day four, the beach may have transformed into a “morning after” scene from an apocalypse movie with bodies scattered and strewn across rocks, amongst litter and broken down tents, but in my eyes the site still screamed communal spirit in the way that one and all gathered to sunbathe and recuperate together in an environment that was both beautiful and tropical, seeing 37 degree average daily temperatures.

Whilst stepping over the sleeping ravers on beached lilos you can only laugh at the laid-back lifestyle of this Croatian festival. Then, you reach the floating inflatable assault courses, pedalos, motor boats and parasailing offers which are sure to entice you off your hammock by late afternoon. Not to mention the food tents with an impressive standard of munch from burrito bars, chicken grills and pizza places, as well as the mid-campsite “Basketball Stage” which played music from 12pm daily, and one afternoon held a popular 3 hour professional breakdance battle, proving that there really is something for everyone at all times of the day, throughout all stages of recuperation or raving!

The experience of Outlook 2011 has been one that will not only drag me back to the warm shores of Fort Punta Christo next year but will also entice me to Croatia”s growing list of other electro and dub music festivals, including the well received Soundwave and Hideout Festivals. Travelling by “suicide bus” (from Outgoing.co.uk) may have seemed a risky and deliberating decision at first but I hold no regrets in what turned out to be an amazing journey from Manchester-Croatia, collaborating with a whole hoard of like-minded festival-goers on a 36 hour trip which not only built the pre-festival hype but built friendships and memories which would last throughout the week of the festival and beyond…