Collegium Island Spring Break Two Day Three

The third and final day of the second installment of Spring Break Island Two. Still bleary from the impromptu backstage antics of the night before DT was struggling to get their head round those stats when we were shunted onto another boat party. This time, Collegium had prepared. We were introduced to their head of social media, Zoran. In London, heads of social media tend to be wiry guys with skinny jeans and skinny coffees. Here, our man was about 7 feet tall, wearing black leather shoes and budgie smugglers. That is all. Our introduction went down with our man grabbing DT’s shoulder with a hand the size of a small home county and stating “Photographer?” before frogmarching us to the front of the boat. 

Girls. A group of Novalja’s most nubile were camped on the deck in fluorescent bikinis and ‘Ultra Europe’ stickers.

It was going to be a good day.

Up in the booth, proceedings were led by MC Shakey. There was an abundance of champagne spraying, of dance floor manoeuvres. DT found whiskey and an air horn. MC Shakey singled out the only black male on the boat and proclaimed him Kanye West in a fairly formal ceremony. It ended at 3. The transport to the beach party had gone. DT and MC Shakey bought cans from a newsstand and hopped on the bus. Much was discussed on 50 Cent. Arriving at the beach party The Freemasons were playing to the busiest pool we’ve seen yet. The Slovenian presenter from the night before  was present. Today she was giving a live update from a podium, dancer carrying on as normal behind her. MC Shakey took DT aside and explained that last night he’d laid groundwork, he was in. Nick Sheldon turned up in the vip, gave a nod to the presenter and explained to me that last night he’d laid the groundwork, he was in. One of Nicks entourage handed DT a vodka redbull and explained that he’d laid the groundwork, he was in. The Freemasons finished their set and lined up an entire tequila bottle of shots. The Slovenian presenter left in a hurry.

Collegium Spring Break Island Two was busier, hotter and better programmed than it’s already commendable prequel. The crowd were both more international and had a far more equal guy/girl ratio, and the entire operation felt tight. The Zrce clubs are now fully refurbed and finished, the sound systems are louder than they were both the previous year and the previous week and there’s been a string of reassuringly tech-house-tinged workouts on the mainstage over the last few days. We’re going to miss Sping Break Island – in all its podium-dancing, student-fist-pumping, EDM-laced-with-tech-house weirdness.

Its been a good two weeks in Novalja. We’re now off to Zagreb to meet with local promoters & DJs and find out a bit more about Croatia’s own native scene. We’ll be back to Novalja in a week for Croatia’s most-hyped – Hideout Festival. 

Today’s random conversation:  From the Boat Party

A Slovenian private shopper to Russians living in Slovenia. There are a lot of Russians in Slovenia, apparently. Further, going shopping on Sunday is a thing in Russia, but not so in Slovenia. Consequently for private shoppers, much time is taken up ferrying Russians to Vienna on day trips. Snakeskin remains in vogue. ‘Russians in London’ is a one of Slovenia’s most popular reality shows.