Reviewed: Snowbombing 2018 – ‘Snow Place Like Mayrhofen’

Cancel your next ski trip and book Snowbombing instead. Make your excuses because this one is hands
(“Hans”) down the best trip to the mountains, I’ve ever had. If you’re the kind of person that likes your holidays action-packed, music-heavy and adrenaline-fuelled then I’m guessing you’re already a Snowbombing regular. For those who’ve never been, it’s endearingly ridiculous, unbridled fun that has to be witnessed.

Now there’s stamina involved here, it’s a mountainous marathon not a sprint – Although you will certainly find some lads sprinting through the Jaegermeister-fuelled week. We’ve got Apres-ski followed by Apres-Apres ski…And then just like that suddenly it seems to be time to get back up the mountain again.

If you’re looking for that more traditional Apres-ski vibe, then as soon as you roll off the lift you reach the ice bar – which falls somewhere in between a school disco and the tail end of a wedding party. Tops off, Jaegerbombs, DJs spinning ‘Pump Up The Jam’. You get it. For those with more discerning taste, Snowbombing offers up a huge amount of stages on and off the mountain considering it’s size.

For the daytime delights – I ditched my goggles for sunnies and enjoyed the 17 degree sun on my face (seriously, it’s so late in the season I have an actual tan) whilst I cruised down the mountains to the sound of Mixmag’s own resident trouble maker Funster delivering up lunchtime Disco House jams like Eli Escobar ‘Happiness pt. 2’, Peggy Gou’s ‘Itgehane’ and even some classic Kerri with ‘Rain’.

Idris Elba and Doorly tore up the snow park stage, pumping out lively party-starting numbers whilst people in fancy dress face-planted in the halfpipe. The snow park also witnessed heaps of action including the pond challenge (where snowboarders attempt to skim a pond at the base of the run) – complete with one naked stag.

A side note on the topic of nakedness, all of the spas are naked. I found that out the hard way.

As for evening activities, it’s safe to say I arrived on the slopes a little later each day the festival went on. How do you get that bit right? Liam Gallagher was a great choice, skulking around the stage in his signature rain mac and tambourine, playing new tunes like ‘Wall Of Glass’ mixed with a whole host of Oasis classics to the delighted crowd at the beautiful forest stage, which is nestled against the backdrop of the mountains.

It’s compulsory to pop into Smirnoff’s annual Arctic Disco igloo rave at least once, this year hosted the likes of Eats Everything, Barely Legal and Waze & Odyssey.

Snowbombing staple, London’s Anna Wall was fresh off the back of her Boiler Room debut and graced the stage multiple times across the festival. Flexing her musical muscles as she stood in for Alan Fitzpatrick’s 4am slot on the Monday night, returning to the mountain stage on the Thursday to set the vibes on the slopes, with a perfect hangover remedy deep house set before gracing the decks once more to warm up for the Jackin’ House badass Heidi at the Bruck’N Stadl.

The Bruck’N Stadl was actually my home away from home this year, showcasing everyone from Cassy, Jackmaster, Skream, Jasper James and Jeremy Underground to Eclair Fifi, Heidi and Honey Dijon, who’s set was a pure masterclass in how to work a crowd. Energetic and choppy, with peak-time jackin’ fire all the way and Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder accapellas thrown in to just solidify her brilliance.

The racket club was also a riot, boasting high production values (all of the lights and VJing) and an impressive lineup every night. Highlights included DJ EZ, Ibizan Terrazza Tech House party ANTS with Andrea Oliva and crew, Snowbombing regulars Eats Everything and Skream, Ozzie wonderkid Mall Grab and the now Ninja Tune Bicep boys, who rolled out their impressive live show.

As always, SB is packed with last-minute secret sets and appearances, something that goes down a storm. This year, Snowbombers were treated to the likes of Big Narstie doing a cable-car rave and (my definitive highlight) popping in to the local butcher’s shop Hans de Butcher for a secret Peggy Gou b2b Artwork set (Artwork makes this an annual event with local SB hero Hans) – complete with Hans’s own theme tunes in the form of accordion versions of Julio Bashmore’s ‘Au Seve’ and Duck Sauce’s Barbara Streisand. Meaty bangers on bangers here as expected from these two, feat. the likes of KH ‘Question’. Raucous fun with sausages thrown in.

If you like beer, breathtaking mountain views, snow sports, fancy dress and a whole lot of music this one’s a no-brainer. Thanks for having me Snowbombing, looking forward to joining in the fun again next year for the 20th edition!

Danke!