Mud, sweat, and sweet beats. That about sums up my experience at this year’s LUSH Music Festival.
If you aren’t familiar with LUSH, this is the event’s third year in the making. This time it featured seven indoor and outdoor concert stages, with over 42 acts ranging from hip hop to electronic and indie at Bangkok’s famous Dalat Rot Fai market in Chatuchak. Oh yeah, and a sizeable chunk of proceeds is promised to charity. Ambitious, to say the last.
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I came to LUSH for the electronic music, which didn’t disappoint, but what left the biggest impression was the sick venue. I had never been to Dalat Rot Fai before, but was familiar through word-of-mouth. It’s known for stands selling vintage and retro-ware, but most of the commotion at LUSH actually took place at the warehouse here. From basement to roof-top, this venue was such a welcome change from the clean, crisp neon clubs that are ubiquitous in Bangkok. Despite a lack of solid air filtration, the warehouse was a maze with winding staircases and fucked-up walls. This is the kind of hotspot you might see in Berlin or Barcelona, cool but not trying to be. I’d love to see more parties here in the future.
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As for the festivities itself, it should come as no surprise that I stuck to the rooftop where the house beats sparked up. I arrived as DJ Co2an began to bang it out and his crowd was, to say the least, an absolute jungle. The ground was slippery after fresh rain, but that didn’t stop partygoers from splashing around and going ape-shit crazy in the mud. By the stage, there was Glenfiddich flying through the air like it was Singha water.
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The police shut down Lush at 2am, around an hour early. I was lucky, sneaking out pretty fast with a few friends. I hear getting a cab afterwards was something of a nightmare.
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That night I peeled off my clothes at the doorway and it actually looked like I had been kidnapped by a wildebeest. We’re talking shirt soaked in sweat, my own and that of others, filthy jeans and my favorite suede boots becoming victim (may they rest in peace). Nonetheless, it was a great night out in Bangkok and I’m looking forward to next year’s event!
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