It's was my third year that I stepped in the car from Amersfoort (Netherlands) and start driving to the beautiful surrounding of Ferropolis. It has been the biggest Melt! festival so far with more than 20 000 visitors and three days of packed stages from Rock to Techno from bands to Djs.

The first year that I came Melt! was friendly small festival with its own group of music & party lovers. This was specially visible on the Sunday mornings or on the sleepless floor. The feeling that was spread was one big family where everyone was sharing everything with one another.

Every event that is growing that fast has growing pains. The challenge is with the organisations to minimize the down fall on the quest.  Did they do a good job?

MMMM difficult question. The last three years the weather was great (sometimes a little bit too hot) this year... Yes we can say that monsoon season started above Melt! This things don’t make it easier for a festival. People will go more at the same time... What is resulting is waiting line to get on the festival. If you where on the festival you want to get a dry spot... Sorry the stages where too busy! These problems are every the same very where in the world don’t blame Melt! (maybe a idea; In the Netherlands the party organization is giving away free rain jackets).

The new setup of the stages? Changes are always not nice. But the setup made the areas not entertaining. Too big for most of the acts to small for the other...

But what about the acts... ooh yeah all the acts that i have enjoyed where great. Booka Shade rocked the place!! Ellen Allien I love here (do you want to marry me?) Mr Oizo made everyone get that warm feeling back. Goldie the best drum and bass. Róisín Murphy yummy (do you want to marry me and live with me and Ellen Allien?). Lützenkirchen (3 Tage wach, best song of 2008) and I can continue..... I even enjoyed BJORK (yes I was a first timer).

In general the best day was Sunday, complete different feeling!! Also the best performance happened on  Sunday DJ Supermarkt!! They wooden floor rocked and didn’t hold the party people!! That moment the old romantic feeling of the last two Melt! Festivals came back for a short moment (why did we stop??)

One more thing, Bring back the Sleepless floor of three years ago. The new setting (specially inside, monday) is cold, grey and it feels like a illegal after party somewhere in a third country.

What I’m going to next year? I will look around for a new party with the atmosphere of a couple years ago. If i will find it? I don’t know maybe you have a good suggestion.

Mmmm or shall i go back to MELT! to check if the organisation can bring back the feeling?

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Booka Shade - Body Language [LIVE @ Melt! 2008]

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Ellen Allien [LIVE @ Melt! 2008]

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Berlin Battery Allstars [LIVE @ Melt! 2008]