Fatcat Slim and Big Walleted Boutique rip off party

Friday was a bit of a wipe-out after the Midnight Juggernauts. My ears were still ringing and alertness down to minimum. We had a tasty BBQ in the evening and I thrashed everyone at poker. Saturday was the Big Beach Boutique 4 down on Madeira Drive and the weather was perfect with warm sunshine and blue skies. Before our planned 4pm entrance I prepared a load of mp3 tunes for the after party at Paul and Sarah's.

We all met up including new friend Nick who'd flown in from Ibiza then headed for the beach party. I say beach party but it was actually a road and car park party. No drinks were allowed and a police sniffer dog to welcome us in. As we got in we still had about half a mile to walk to the stage going past various food stalls, bars, toilets etc. under the promenade arches with expensive looking branded signs.

We found a cosy spot to dance about 20 metres away from the stage whilst Danny Tenaglia DJed. He wasn't too bad although he did drop a couple of desperate old school electro tracks which either flopped or split the crowd. Towards the end of his set Fatboy Slim decided to come in stage and announce his presence with a hungry pack of reporters, TV camera crew and photographers. The crowd were a rich mix of Northerners on a weekender, some American rave graduates, who did some group singing (very strange) and hardly any locals. The beach and overhead road were completely cut off from the public and only marshals and police got the best views and elbow room.

For about about an hour or so things were ok until Layo and Bushwacka came on who started the set with a full score of Vivaldi (I think). The novelty wore off really quickly and the rest of the set couldn't really please the crowd. Nick and I decided to get some food, drink and other things so fought back through the crowds. It took about 20 minutes just to get through to the back and did not look forward to the return trip. After a few text messages the others saw sense to avoid the crushing chaos and returned our way. Although we tried heading as far back towards the stage to a stress-free position, the atmosphere and sound quality was rubbish. Fatboy Slim had arrived and started his set with the Willy Wonka intro song but continued with the same set as Wireless. Boredom, hunger and need for some decent music we headed back to Paul and Sarah's for a decent party.