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WRITTEN BY SHANE PRICE
What a weekend it was, this was my 4th time returning to the holy grounds anD my expectations were high.
To myself, the build up for this Tomorrowland was so weird, we were gifted an amazing line up but the only talk were around the closing acts, are Swedish House Mafia playing? The list goes on.
Im going to come out and say that this was the best Tomorrowland I have ever been too, the feeling there was amazing, the stage was very well thought through and the Tomorrowland crew though about all the little things they could.
But this year didn’t come without controversy, on a group I am a member off there seemed to be a lot of negative posts coming out which really had myself thinking. Yes there were pickpockets there, as has been reported at every big festival, Coachella being one of the last to be noted on a high scale. Yes there was a pepper spray attack but again this was all to do with these teams creating havoc and panic to steal phones easier. Then people have the audacity to say that Tomorrowland to do more. They make the festival cashless so you don’t have to carry a wallet, money or cards, I’ve never lost a phone there or been pickpocketed once, why, because I thought ahead, had pockets with zips, a bum bag and stayed vigilant. I also have a feeling a lot of the reports of people being pick pocketed were people who simply lost their phones.
Here at Behind The Decks we do NOT condone taking drugs but if people take that decision on themselves we want them to do it in a safe way, which seem to also be a massive contributing factor to some of the negative things the were portrayed this year. It was ending up becoming embarrassing to wear an Aussie flag by day 3 with some of the most absolute dumb shit the Aussies were doing then complaining about getting caught, we witnessed people doing lines off a phone on multiple occasions, being so out of their minds they weren’t able to talk and person after person getting taken to the medical tent. We are all adults and it seems that a lot of people went back to acting like children then blaming their problems on anyone but them selves. The Australians then wonder why the undercover presence is so high around us, unfortunately its the lad culture and everyone had to out do each other, a massive reason why the festival scene in Australia is dead in the water at the moment.
I have had my spill and just wanted to cover some of the things that really got to me, but onto the positives.
I have three absolute stand out set for myself this year, 2 being MainStage sets and one not.
THE CHAINSMOKERS
First was The Chainsmokers, This set absolutely blew me away, I have previously only seen them in Budapest at the Sziget Festival which really had me interested . I never thought people who created the song “Closer” would put out such a trap filled, head banging set. They definitely know how to run a set with the song choices and introduction of them singing. The only thing that really got to me is that the backing tracks while they were singing were to loud and just made it seem like they were lip syncing. After watching it back on youtube though the set sounds completely different and it could have just been the speakers where I was standing. The feeling in the crowd was intense and we had an amazing time.
THE BEST SET OF THE WEEKEND, the GOAT, the main man, MFing ARMIN VAN BUUREN.
It is a massive shame that Armin didn’t close the Saturday night but boy Oh boy did he make the most out of his set, the sun had gone down, the crowd was happy and it was all a mixture for an amazing set. Over the years I had never really got into Armin vibes but in the last year or two I have and I can not praise the man more. He knows how to play to a crowd, he knows how to get the place absolutely bumping and I can not wait for his 5 year anniversary set at Untold in a weeks time. Thank you so much Armin, you deserve all of the accolades that come your way.
THROW UP FOR THE AUSSIES - ALISON WONDERLAND
Its been well known that Alison Wonderland has been killing the EDM stages around the world but since her move to play mainly her own music in her sets, the mood is different and the crowd is alive. I talked to some Americans on the way out of Tomorrowland this year and they said that this was their favourite set of the weekend which really shows her reach. Her trap beats, to the amount of raw fucking emotion she puts into her sets and her songs pumps everyone onto the highest level. I didn’t want to leave, it was simple, I just saw Armin blow the hell out of main and she threw down the craziest set, really, really stepping it up for the Australians!
Over all, This was the best rave weekend of my life. Afterwards i’ve been sick, coughing up things all the colours of the rainbow, runny nose and the sorest throat known to man but it was all worth it. This year also comes as a massive learning curve to festival goers. Just because you see police arresting someone doesn’t mean its bad, they are there for a reason and by saying “all cops are dogs” just makes you look like an idiot. If people just took a step back to realise where they are and the magnitude of this festival they wouldn’t complain about things they were.
Unfortunately a man lost his life on the hill this year and 2 people are still in ICU after weekend one, please, please be safe. We rave as a family and we look after people as a family. My thoughts go out to this man's family at this terrible time and I will always hold this close to me that we aren’t invincible and that terrible terrible things can happen in the blink of an eye.
10/10 for my own experience
With acts, the “Tomorrowland feel” and just a good weekend with mates, having a few frothies, a shit load of laughs and making friends from around the world i'll never forget.
See you again next year Tomorrowland, off to Untold now.
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