Nightlife
Originally published on Thursday, 6th September 2012
Reporting From the Frontline Outlook Festival, Pula Croatia 2012
It’s been slim on the ground for festivals this summer at UJ HQ. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was a bit of festival fatigue, but when the invite came in for Outlook in Pula, Croatia, it was a no brainer. We were in. We’ve heard a lot about this one – sunshine, boat parties, fortress raving, dungeons and moats – and even though we didn’t get the sunshine (all we heard all weekend was ‘this is the first time it’s rained in three months, actually a year’; great) we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We’ll definitely be back, next time for a longer stay. Viva!
In A Sentence:
They Say: Europe’s leading bass and soundsystem festival in Croatia.
We Say: Great music (don’t let 'bass and soundsystem' scare you - we heard everything from Beasties to Paul Simon dropped here) in a fortress by the sea, with a side of boat parties.
The Town: Pula
You have to put your thinking cap on when choosing how you want to get here. Via Venice? Ljubljana? Fly into Zagreb? Private transfer via the motorway or mini plane into Pula? Whatever mode you choose, from the moment you drive into Pula – the weathered streets and ampitheatres, atmospheric squares, beautiful regal homes in need of a little tlc, and a port bursting with sailboats and yachts – and you’ll forget all about how you got there. The fortress and seaside location of the festival is truly stand out; you can see why founder Noah Ball thought this would be a good spot for raving. Make sure you give yourself some time to check out some local specialties, too. We loved our trip to the Trapan vineyard: contemporary cellars with amazing wines and a great spot for a home cooked lunch. Just make sure to come hungry: three courses with wine at midday is a fabulous yet filling order!
The Hotel: Park Plaza Histria, Pula
We’re not usually ones for hotel chains, but in this instance it was just what the doctor ordered. After the chaos of the festival – 15,000 people will do that – it was heaven to come back to 400-thread count, room service and slippers. We loved the location (these really were rooms with a view) and the poolside sun loungers over the Adriatic offered a great space to recover from the revelling.
The Party:
We were seriously impressed at how organised this festival was; there were so many different elements. Hang out at the Main and Harbour stages for concerts by the sea. Head up to the fortress, and that’s when the fun really begins: moats, dungeons, micro-bars built into the wall, and smaller tents with amazing beats. UJ fave? The boat parties. Get your name on a list (seemingly tricky, check the website to see who/what/when), join a day or night party, get onboard and rock out. We would go back just for that!
The Dress Code:
This is definitely an urban festival, so ditch those boho wares and start again. If you want to be down with the kids, pack New Era hats (when in Rome) and leather anything (jackets, dresses, shorts). You can’t wear sandals on the site, so make sure you bring trainers. We hear it’s very dusty when the sun comes out, so scarves are a must too. And everyone seemed to be tagging with stickers – we were covered in them – so if you have something you want to promote, bring stickers and get involved.
Highlights:
The Urban Nerds boat party. We loved it! The music, the MCs, the crowd. Add that to the drama of Marcus Nasty (resident DJ) missing the boat only to arrive mid-cruise by police escort, and we had all the elements of an amazing evening. Getting on stage with True Tiger and P-Money was pretty special, too. UJ groupies!
Top Tip:
Beg, borrow or make new friends fast to get a gold pass. Being able to get around the crowds and into the areas higher up was a real bonus. Avoiding the queues is always nice, and like at anything, hanging at the artist/VIP bar always leads to interesting conversation. (And in this case Jägermeister, ugh, which has somehow slipped into our drinking repertoire.) Also, you can only use tokens for currency, and there are only two token tents, so bring cash, and buy tokens aplenty; drinks are dangerously reasonable. Stay away from the camping area unless you want to find yourself surrounded by kids and their two litres.
www.outlookfestival.com
UJ flew from LHR to Zagreb with Croatia Air. Rooms at the Park Plaza Histria Pula from €95.
Special thanks to Mission PR, Eva, Katy, Ollie, Chloe, Rosie, GT, True Tiger, Bruno @ Travo,Urban Nerds, Noah and the rest of the Outlook family.
Sound good? Then get yourself on a plane and hit Dimensions this weekend! In the same location, this is the house music version of Outlook – and with only 5,000 people (not 15,000) we think this is going to be an intimate party not to be missed.
www.dimensionsfestival.com
