For two weekends this winter, the Butlins resort in Skegness played host to Britain's answer to their very own mini-Ibiza – The Big Reunion: Twisted Circus. base.ad headed up for the second weekend of raucous celebrations and full-on debauchery to check out some scorching DJ sets from the cream of dance music.Friday night began with a bang as rampant partygoers from all corners of the UK came out to play in huge hoards. In keeping with the Twisted Circus theme, people spared no expense in their elaborate costumes and were decked out in all manner of weird and wonderful clothing, including superhero get-ups and circus animals. Many of the ladies were sporting no more than a bra and knickers and considering the weather was less than warm, with spells of drizzle consuming the grounds, everyone partied with huge smiles on their faces and a positive fun-seeking atmosphere ran throughout the first evening.
Judge Jules hit up the Judgement Sundays stage (one of six put to use over the weekend), appearing in some geeky specs and playing out to a huge and ravenous crowd with his standard floor fillers which were lapped up with hungry chops. On the stage behind him was an extravagant show consisting of hellish stunts, including a bed of metal spikes, motorbikes and evil clowns with sparking chainsaws.Lisa 'Queen of Hard Dance' Lashes was up afterwards, raising the stakes as she thrusted behind the decks in her huge red stiletto heels and provided a more intense and involved set where interaction with the crowd ensured that everyone braved it to the end and danced their derrières into oblivion whilst watching scantily clad military dancers on the huge stage flex through their perfectly choreographed routine.
The best sets of the weekend however, were saved for Saturday night. After a hard night of partying you might have thought the crowd would be less than eager, having spent all their energy on Friday. Not the case as we hit the Trinity stage to check out DJ Luck and MC Neat where there were so many re-e-winds it was like travelling back in time. Anyone that thought UK garage had bitten the bud would be forced to eat their words as the packed out room writhed with bodies very much keeping the spirit alive. Hit after hit was played out, including 'Sambuca' 'I'm Sorry' and 'Chopper' most of the lyrics of which could be seen dripping from the mouths of everyone in attendance.
Packing a more than satisfying punch with his scuzzy electro breakbeat house offerings, Slipmatt was joined by MC 3Flow on the Helter Skelter stage for an energetic set which never let up. From the opening Slipmatt and Bunter remix of Ida Corr and Fedde le Grand's 'Let me Think About it' there was a pulsating vibe, with hands raised and arms assaulting the air. Slipmatt's set was the highlight of the weekend as he banged out tune after tune of dirty rockin' beats and even chose to take it back to the old skool with a savagely appreciated cheeky play of Baby D's 'Let me be Your Fantasy'. As he wrapped up, staff in the venue found it difficult to move the eager jaw-chewers from their spots, as they refused to accept that it was all over.
Last up, it was off to the Tidy stage to catch Anne Savage as she treated us all to a commercial set of tuneage which was perfectly placed for the masses in attendance. Banging out an Erol Alkan mix of Josh Wink's 'Higher State of Consciousness', followed by Prodigy Vs Pendulum's version of 'Voodoo People' had everyone in state of euphoric shock and excitement, with a few indie chart-toppers from the likes of Strokes and Bloc Party thrown into the mix finishing off a beautifully realised set.
As the weekend drew to a close and the hoards reluctantly vacated their accommodation, it was almost impossible to imagine that the overcast surroundings of Skegness had been the setting to one of the most hedonistic and dramatic festivals of the year. Next year's party can't come around soon enough in our opinion, but we reckon it should be three days because it was all over way too quickly. 'ave it!
Words: Naomi Misquita-Rice
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