As the storm from Fresh Island 2016 settles it’s time to reflect on the experience. The first thing you notice when driving through the windy coastal roads to the Island of Pag, is just how beautiful Croatia really is. The beach paradise is everything you want in a festival: sun, style, world-class artists and a whole lot of fun. Pool partying on Zrce beach is unlike anything you could have imagined ever attending… it’s like a scene from Dr Dre’s pool party in Straight Outta Compton. Picture this, Shorebitch DJ’s dropping Drake and Popcaan’s hit Controlla meanwhile you have two girls whining in the pool with one lucky guy behind them appearing to conduct their every move.

Grime Karaoke hosted by Julie Adenuga with Sian Anderson on the decks, oh and not forgetting Big Narstie keeping it real eating his sandwich. Here at Kalypso Club everyone got their chance to grab the mic and perform all the best in grime to a high-energy bubble soaked crowd. Stakes were high as Julie stated anyone to butcher a track risked being exiled from the grime community for life. The grime feel of day one carried on with Logan Sama providing one of the top performances of the festival with lots of grime heads making their way to see him at Kalypso Club. Wiz Kahlifa, one of the larger artists came through with a sick set Papaya Club donning inflatable spliffs for everybody to pass around and enjoy.

The Faded Wave boat party kicked day 2 off with a bang. Although the saying goes “the calm before the storm” there was certainly no calm on this boat. Once the boat hit the open waters first up was DJ Melody Kane who brought instant fire to the decks with Mr P on the mic getting the crowd hyped rocking a fresh two piece! Next up were Jam Masters and Shorty Bless who kept the boat rocking right into the storm.

As the storm made its way to Zrce Beach, Do Gibson & Illvibe were closing up their set at the Complex Stage at Aquarious club. Next thing we knew, the heavens opened up and this sent the audience wild as they partied in the pouring rain. DJ Premier was next up and which prompted a change in plan leading the crowd indoors. Once up DJ Premier certainly lived up to his name and delivered a mix of his own classic sample based hip hop and rap tracks, which had all the old heads buzzing. Statik Selektah stepped up and kept the old school hip-hop vibes going till sunrise.

The Big Dawg Tim Westwood put his name on day three as he hosted one of the hottest pool parties of the festival. Day two was massive but with Tim Westwood at the helm at Papaya Club, any sleep or tiredness vanished as he got everybody’s energy levels up. Westwood made a second appearance when he was on the ones and two for the headline act Chris Brown. Unfortunately as well as Tim Westwood, the storm also made a second appearance and gale force winds closed down the purpose built Beach Takeover Stage for health and safety reasons. Chris browns performance was moved to the Aquarius Club where we were treated to a more intimate set. Brown’s high-energy mix of dancing and singing had the girls in the audience wooing and left with the crowd wanting more. London based Applebum closed up the festival with a celebration of hip-hop and r&b.

Fresh is the word to describe the feelings and highs that every aspect of this festival encompasses. This is displayed by the energy throughout every performance, every track and every well-put together outfit.

Words: LXN