Live Report: Extrema Outdoor Belgium

Enormous Belgian dance event continues to impress...

Extrema Outdoor Belgium feels less like a festival and more like one big massive family outing to the woods; only instead of underwhelming games of badminton with your dad and lukewarm sausage and mash next to the arcade, there are giant handmade wooden speaker horns, 12 hour sets at the Gypsy Village, sunsets at the beautifully crafted Aperol Spritz arena, intense fireworks shows that dance into the music of the closing sets each night and no-holds-barred programming of arguably the best in techno and house from the last decade.

Director, Ugur explains that one of the most important things for him is that every member of his team promotes the family ethos and are friendly and passionate. He describes brainstorming meets over weekends at woodland cabins, where the group laugh and relax while dreaming up themes and creative outlook for their next edition. He never needs to book the ‘mystery guests’ who play at the after parties each year, it’s never hard to convince friends who headline to help keep the party going after hours.

As the sun melts into lake Kelchterhoef, punctuated by the dark and deep techno stylings of local club and stage host, Forty Five's Ugur Yurt, the tone is set for the festival's first evening. The bittersweet sounds of Prince’s vocals pierce through Antwerp native Roma’s house selection in the neighbouring arena and it doesn’t feel right not to pour out in tribute. Later, Kolsch plays a closing set at the same stage – the Cafeina main stage – which you are almost able to see in front of you; the melodic warmth brings it to life against the backdrop of the colossal clock. Matador winds up Forty Five with hefty basslines and huge drops, excited revellers leave with anticipation of the weekend to come.

Be Svendsen drops Middle Eastern melismatic vocals into his twisted and eclectic set on the sands of the Feestgedruis stage as the festival-goers begin to pour onto site on Saturday afternoon. Buzz of Kolsch’s surprise set as ‘mystery guest’ at the campsite after party echoes around both sides of the lake. Turkish DJ and friend of Extrema, Sis sets up for his mammoth 12 hour set at the Gypsy Village, playing everything from disco to acid house as part of his marathon. Dynamic duo Adriatique pull a massive crowd for Circoloco’s curation followed by Seth Troxler’s opening; another moment of remembrance for Prince as the intro of ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ flies crisply out of the magnificent wooden horn speakers.

Later, Circoloco will host Black Coffee, who is joined on stage by several officials of the South African embassy in Belgium – fans and special guests who couldn’t miss the opportunity to dance deck-side to his infectious performance. The clean and minimal tribal percussion ticks underneath soulful melodies and vocals, he plays unlikely selections from Depeche Mode’s ‘Personal Jesus’ to Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’. The party is truly brought by internationally renowned party starters, elrow at their beach side arena boasting giant inflatable elephants, stilted performers and their signature confetti cannons, some of their guests include dance music heroes, Groove Armada and climbing DJ talent and Hot Creations signing Patrick Topping who closes playfully:

“I’m really happy to be playing for Elrow because it’s such a fun party to play for and it seems like they’ve really blown up now. I actually played an Elrow party up in Newcastle that I put on so I’ve done that, I’ve actually played for them loads – I’ve played for them in Amsterdam, New York, Extrema, Ibiza – so I do really feel like I’m getting to be part of the family. That stage is the windiest stage, so there wasn’t that big a crowd but then it filled up and it was really good.”

Extrema and Belgium hold a special place in Patrick’s heart, as it’s the first big festival he performed at the start of his DJ’ing career, “It’s actually the first big festival I’ve played because it’s my 3rd year in a row here, so three years ago when I did it that was my first time being booked to play a big festival. So it always feels a bit special, I remember that day, it was still one of my favourite days I’ve ever had – I always enjoy coming back. It looks different because of the way they do the production and design is arty. It’s not just big top tents, they’re doing something different. When you’re inside the festival you never see plain railings, they’ve always got stuff on them and decorated – little touches like that set it apart. It’s funny, probably after the UK and US it’s probably my 3rd biggest territory – I’d never been to Belgium before but now I come all the time. It’s always good the crowd are always up for it.”

The night is then closed by a trio of heavyweights across the site, Nina Kraviz, Maceo Plex and Art Department.

Belgian’s own Amelie Lens plays out to Sunday afternoon spectators from underneath the main stage’s clock face, her selection is dark and unforgiving and reminiscent of Nina last night. Today, ANTS bring their colony to Belgium with vibrant sets from Swiss, Andrea Oliva and Eats Everything.

2016 marks Andrea’s third consecutive year at Extrema and still has high praise for the festival and its memorable atmosphere, “Having all the stages around that little lake is pretty special – the location is just perfect! They managed to add something interesting to every stage. Personally I loved the big wooden speakers on the Hot Creations stage, but of course it was also amazing to see the whole ANTS stage production in Belgium.”

Last at Extrema in 2013, Eats Everything returned to the sixth edition of the festival and played a remarkable set on the ANTS stage, “The production is wicked here – where I was playing was so windy right on the beach, but I reckon if it was sunny it would be amazing!”

Blawan, as always, wins the prize for hardest techno. Jeff Mills hammers the Roland TR 909 – a stipulation of booking him; you need to source the machine, which was discounted after the 80s – playing with his audience by changing tempo and stopping completely to bated breaths and eager cheers. The sky lights up with explosions as the firework display tangles into Jeff’s final track, his pauses are filled with the sounds of Nic Fanciulli on the ANTS stage next door, his closing tune being, rather fittingly for the beach standing masses, ‘Castles In The Sand’.

From the personalised merch and bottles of Grey Goose vodka that each of the DJs receive on arrival to the affectionate bear hugs between artists and festival heads backstage, it is clear to see that Extrema is a labour of love, a brand that strives to promote a sense of family in its quirky, warm community. It’s not just the incredible line up, but the the internationally sourced food vendors, the hours of man power and time dreaming up the creative production concepts, the raucous and beautifully dressed parades, clusters of performer groups that march the site bringing smiles to people’s faces – this is what the family has dreamed up together.

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