What went wrong at Benicassim?
The whole weekend was just a delight. In comparison, Reading last year was horrifically packed (almost claustrophobic, even), uncomfortable and disappointing. An hour walk to the stage is never fun. Pukkelpop was cheaper, had a better line up, had no sound level issues (the quietness of Reading's dance stage last year was a joke), and as I say, no queues or squashes due to good planning.
It didn't start well. The travelling to get there was a bit of a pain (time rather than anything else, it's included in the ticket price), and we arrived to pouring rain, my bedding getting wet in the dark. It didn't take long to get settled though, and the rain soon cleared up (incidentally, the only rain of the weekend). It was superbly organised; any extra muddy bits were quickly boarded over and I didn't see a single person fall or get muddy. We left and headed straight for the dance tent (pre festival party) and I ended up having one of the funniest and generally excellent nights of my life.
When it kicked off, it felt full and there was an exciting atmosphere, but it was never cramped. Most venues were full but there was always room to get in (the only exception I saw being besnard lakes, which was completely rammed). For an idea of size it was about the same as reading.
We always gravitated and met at the special beer tent, (never ANY queues as I mentioned, due to brilliant ticket system) where cheerful cherry beer drinking became an institution. We'd recharge before splitting and heading off to the great variety of bands.
Here was the line-up: http://www.last.fm/event/92533
Liars were the best band there for me, so unpredictable and intense. Battles impressed, as did Digitalism. Lo Fi fnk were great fun. The DJs made the weekend for me, though. I've never danced so much.
Bad points: poor food, solitary cash machine, no cider. The fact it finishes! That's genuinely all I can think of.
I liked the mix of belgians/dutch/germans etc.
Next year? Definitely.