Festival Forte 2015

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  • Considering the ever-expanding market of huge festivals with dizzying lineups and numerous stages, Festival Forte's one-stage layout felt refreshingly simple. The Portuguese weekender hit its second year this summer, armed with a confident cast of DJs and live acts from across contemporary techno. Though on paper there was pretty much only one genre on offer all weekend, Forte still managed to keep the programming varied and the crowd entertained. The setting was key in making for a memorable experience, with the stage and dance floor framed by the centuries-old walls of Montemor-O-Velho Castle overlooking the Coimbra countryside. While some of the punters seemed to be travelling in from nearby tourist hub Figueria Da Foz, the vast majority were happy to fully immerse themselves in the experience and stay in the nearby campsite. I never made it as far as the site, which sat just beyond the small club that housed the pre- and after-parties (on the Wednesday and Sunday respectively), but reports spoke of a lively atmosphere, food stalls and people bringing their own sound systems. Whether it was 10 PM or 9 AM, the crowd was supremely laid-back throughout the festival. The only time the vibe threatened to spill over into something more fevered was at the end of Paul Kalkbrenner's live set on Thursday night. The next few hours dragged by a little, as Minus old guard Gaiser rode a monotonous bassline for 90 minutes, and Extrawelt turned out a safe and unremarkable set. Marcel Dettmann closed, taking things deeper through the misty dawn, but even he failed to ever catch light. Friday night's lineup promised more. Local DJ Amulador set the bar high from early, playing expressive deep techno to the scattered floor. Vatican Shadow's performance brought some real fireworks, matching tough sounds with an array of oddball dance moves onstage. Luke Slater raised the intensity further with a blistering live set as Planetary Assault Systems, while Function showed restraint before ramping up the aggression. Ben Klock, playing the same slot as Dettmann, brought much more funk and flair to the table than his Berghain colleague. EBM pioneers Front 242 shone early on Saturday night, a booking that was likely driven more by personal taste than anything else. Frustratingly, most of the audience were slow to emerge, leaving the Belgians to face a sparse floor. Their performance veered a little close to parody during its more synth-pop moments, but when they hammered home the hits—"Funkahdafi," "Commando Mix," "Welcome To Paradise"—the years fell away and provided a thumping, industrial thrill. Regis was a logical choice to follow, playing tougher than his old sparring partner, Function, had the night before. Marc Houle echoed Gaiser and channeled the spirit of his own mid-'00s minimal, which made for a fun interlude amongst the more po-faced techno on offer. Ellen Allien also brought a more diverse and playful brand of techno, while Donato Dozzy turned in the kind of killer closing set that sticks in the mind. By keeping the focus on one stage, the overall experience was more cohesive. The crowd had to be patient, so there was none of the usual watch-checking, and the DJs weren't under any pressure to hold the floor. Plus, the stunning setting, the friendly, relaxed crowd and and the on-point organisation allowed the music to really shine. The bookings, though largely centered around techno, were still diverse, and the programme spoke volumes about the team's desire to break down the tribalistic segregation that befalls so many festivals. If Festival Forte continues to commit to these principles, then next year can only be even more of a success.
RA