\Xobe’s Extrema Outdoor Belgium (XO Belgium 2016) music festival raged for the sixth year this past May 13 -15 in Houthalen, Belgium. Though the festival is quite new, the experience was as good as any long running major fest. The underground sounds fit like a glove in to the outdoor setting for the day and early night. Another highlight were the after-parties that occurred in a large tent set right in the campgrounds, nestled in the woods.
During after-hours, the small camping area, which was both efficient and affordable, gave the feel of a warehouse party worthy of any Berlin scene (although it ended significantly earlier). Though some complained it was a crowded, which it was, the after-party tent was as lit as any party I have been to in to in recent memory.
Friday and Saturday zipped by as major players in the electronic scene like Kolsch, Matador, Recondite, Tale of Us and Maceoplex played their hearts out for the international crowd. Blawan provided some great hard-style sounds as the sun was setting on Saturday night and on Sunday; fortunately, the sun was out for a flawless finish to a great weekend. I will say that the lack of paper schedules to pass out for festival attendees was an annoyance for me, everyone’s phone dies as these things and a paper schedule is an absolute must for campers.
Other notable great performances came from the ever-present Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler, who are two festival favorites and some of the most consistent artists out there. Pan-Pot played within their range and set a tone worthy of any performance of 2016. Musically, I was most impressed by Ode Maen going back to back with DJ Massar. They set some perfect daytime vibes for the last day and the combination of the techno and the fact that we were on a beach was perfect.
Another perfect fit for a daytime slot were the juking sounds of Eats Everything; always good to see a former DirtyBird Records player getting respect from the techno heads overseas. Jeff Mills finished the weekend perfectly with some sounds that reminded me of a slightly updated version of what was being played back in early early days of the Detroit scene.
The overall setup of Extrema Outdoor is excellent, you can catch tunes while watching the sun sets over a lake, check-out amazing characters in costumes strolling around the festival ground, and even go for a swim if the weather is permitting. Grills were also provided (yes, festival-goers across seas can be trusted with fire) and people were cooking out regularly. I think next year a fire in the would be a perfect addition for some late night fun.
At Extrema Outdoor 2016 I met people from all walks of life and enjoyed conversations about both music and the Belgian culture. With the expanding lineup, I see this fest gaining some massive amount of traction on the scene in the next few years, so make your Extrema Outdoor 2017 plans early!
Looking back, the ease of fest (lines, toilets, showers) was excellent and the lack of walking from place to place is awesome. It’s clear that after attending this year, XO has some great things in store for future years to come. My most major complaint (and, one of my only complaints, to say the least) is that the final DJ at the after-hours party played soft sunrise music when the crowd obviously wanted to techno. On the other hand, it must be noted that the Belgian people are some the friendliest in the world. Furthermore, many of them truly know their techno, which seems few and far between back home in the states.
Finally, shout-out to the guy who I chatted with who showed up to the fest 2 weeks after breaking his pelvis; now that’s real dedication. If you’re reading this, see you next year, as I’m truly looking forward to returning to Extrema Outdoor in 2017!
Photos by Nachtschaduw, UNKNWN., SOLOVOV.be, STYN.be, Anton Slegers Photography, Jasper & http://