After months of events being rescheduled, cancelled and somewhat underwhelming, festival season really seemed like it was over before it got started.
The saving grace of the season was a final weekend that for me consisted of One Out Festival followed by Defected (25-26 September) . The two events couldn’t have been more different and sandwiching my attendance together created a monumental weekend.
The inaugural year of One Out festival went off without a hitch. A two-stage set-up was accompanied by a host of fairground rides. It was a perfect site with no sound restriction nestled amongst lush green landscapes. Having both indoor and outdoor environments the two stages were clearly well designed with plenty of high-end lighting, tech and world-class sound. `
As it turned from day to night and darkness descended on Apps Court Farm in Surrey, the crowd was friendly with the vibe super focussed on the music and the setting. Was great to be part of a little slice of history, and will be interesting to see what’s to come from the team at One Out Festival.
Day 2, can sometimes be a struggle but the thought of heading to Defected was enough to get me out of bed bright and early. It definitely helped that the weather showed up, and arriving at Drumsheds, the grounds were transformed from its typical day rave set up.
A Defected bus was the first stop, the spot where Sophie Ellis Bextor delivered a memorable performance featuring her hit “Murder on the Dance floor”. You could enjoy a more typical experience in the warehouse hall or head to the outdoor set-up that featured a trailing runway blessed by Glitterbox’s unforgettable dancers. The evening ended came to a close following 3 standout performances, Eats Everything, followed by Sam Divine and finally Basement Jaxx.
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Heading to an event in its infancy followed by a globally established labels offer was a refreshing opportunity to savour the journey it’s possible to go on with festivals. It is as exciting to get in there at the start of their journey and watch them grow as it is to celebrate their success when they keep coming back stronger with every edition.
