Collegium Spring Break Island Part Two – Day 1

The festival with the sexiest location and the unsexiest name launched chapter two yesterday, once again on Zrce Beach. A rammed (and this time, substantially more female-heavy) boat party was followed by a pool party courtesy of Plastik Funk. As before though, the heat increased when the temperature dropped – from 1am at Papaya last night as Plastik Funk took to the main stage of Papaya. This was arguably the most sophisticated set DT has seen at Spring Break Island so far. As it should’ve : German pair Plastik Funk have a long list of remixes as well as accolades from EDM High Command –  the likes of Chuckie, Laidback Luke and Tommy Trash. Up in the lights and strobes however, their sound was far from one-dimensional. A house-party like blur of driving tech house peppered with crowd pleasing EDM hits had both the mostly mainland-European-student crowd fist pumping and the slightly more discerning, late 20s Croatian set up in the VIP nodding approvingly over bottles and basslines. Later Mike Candys once again took over in an array of laser-gloves and smiley faces.

There may be some crossover in line-ups but Spring Break Island Part Two already feels like a different beast to its prequel two weeks ago. To start with, the press are here. There must’ve been about 9 photographers, videographer and lost bloggers wandering around Papaya backstage last night. The official numbers haven’t yet been released but it feels busier too – DT would guess by up to about a third. 

The crowd themselves are if anything more international -and there’s a better ratio too. Possibly the most fascinating thing we’ve seen in Croatia so far is the attitude to the podium dancers. Performing at Novalja’s Cocomo, and Papaya pool and main parties every night, this group of 5 or so individuals perform in hour long shifts, between which they jump into the crowd and are mostly left alone, hoody’s over sparkling bikinis, beer in one hand, intermittent high 5s from the occasional clubber. How this will go down at Hideout is anyone’s guess….

Photos from Day 1