We arrived on Thursday night and despite the traffic, it was pretty easy to get around. Security were sound, and they weren’t going mad quizzing people or hassling them with dogs. After setting up our tents we decided to roam the fields we’d call home for the next four days.
We stumbled upon a series of majorly cool street art:
And to my surprise, the street theme was carried out throughout the whole festival site. From decorations to benches and side bins, we couldn’t be more impressed.
NASS played a key role in reducing the use of single-use plastics from reusable cups to paper straws. You could still buy water bottles and not ALL vendors were compliant with the no-plastic rule but I’m sure it’s a work in progress.
We also discovered the Pro Park – now, for someone who doesn’t skateboard or BMX, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe that not only were these people so good but normal festival-goers were also bringing their own bikes and skateboards. I soon realised what a great hack this was for them to get around. A tip for next year maybe?
In terms of the competitions, the athletes were from ALL over the world. It was truly inspiring seeing them being so supportive of one another and competing for the championship titles. I would like to say a massive congratulations and I can’t wait to see you next year.
You can find the competition highlights at the following link.
Our team had the honour of meeting one particular athlete, an internet sensation with over 68k followers, EROC the skateboarding dog!
Check him out on Instagram at the following link.
Moving on to Friday, with weekend camping tickets sold-out, the site was literally buzzing.
Following its success from last year it was no surprise that one particular stage was bought back:
The sets featured all the best from reggae, funk, drum & bass, jungle and many other genres bringing all of our favourite ravers into the spot we call FATTY’s YARD.
On Friday night the main stage featured Maverick Sabre and Lady Leshurr.
Birmingham’s queen had people swaying left to right and bought out multiple people on stage, her set was SO interactive – I call it the Alex from Glastonbury effect.
Yes, that’s the boy himself. Speaking to TheFestivals he seemed pretty overwhelmed by the admiration he has recently received from the public. Don’t worry Alex, at least you’re getting free tickets.
Moving on, Grandmaster Flash played a tribute to multiple artists who were no longer with us, showcasing some of the best all-time hits. And Yxng Bane and Giggs blew up the atmosphere with their eclectic sets, gathering thousands of people to the main stage.
We also made it to Southbank. SASASAS, Turno and Bou are some of the biggest names in drum & bass – they were supposed to finish the night but I’d be lying if I said I remember their sets. Having been to so many festivals I should know to pace myself – instead, I woke up with the worst hangover ever.
RELATED: Interview with SASASAS (August 2018)
Our Saturday favourites were The Four Owls and Loyle Carner. And yes, we missed the Southbank acts but instead, we managed to witness the CruCast Takeover in the Hangar. It was SICK.
Sunday featured Traumatik, Notion, Kings of the Rollers, Pendulum Dj set and Tom Misch. It was crazy to think that what started as a much smaller event now included some of the biggest names in the scene.
The Sunday headliner was Cypress Hill; they’re legends and we couldn’t expect anything less, yes – many zoots were smoked. And yes, portable ashtrays were given out by ALL tobacco vendors.
SIKA Studios and Paradise Lost were an all-round vibe from Thursday to Sunday night. With artists like Fliptrix, Verb T, Dj Looney and more, they seemed like some of the most popular locations on site.
The VIP Experience
Now, if you’re wondering if the VIP experience is really worth it. I would say 100% yes, but my opinion is subjective. You get access to clean toilets, a restaurant and bar where the deposit is £1 instead of £2 and much more space within the camping area. As well as access to viewing balconies and personal Dj’s.
This obviously depends on what you’re after. Different people go to festivals for different reasons. Some people prefer a messier campsite, others would probably rather spend the extra money on drinks or whatever else helps them through the weekend. It’s not like everyone in the VIP camp goes to bed early or keeps the place immaculate, but it’s simply cleaner and less cramped.
Personally, I like the advantage of having access to real toilets and discounts on food and drinks. The restaurant and bar was basically the safe zone for whenever we needed to get back to basics or have a shit. The only downfall is being surrounded by rich kids who think they’re better than everyone else.
Overall, I don’t know about you, I’m still trying to recover. NASS was absolutely amazing. The production team did a great job. As any other year, the weather was perfect – sunburns and water bottles left, right and centre. Maybe something to do with the jaw swings but I’ll leave that for you to decide:
Thank you NASS Festival, until next year x