An unforgettable ZoukOut 2022: Mini fires, sinking tents, heavy rain, and thumping beats
Zoukout 2022, the annual beach rave, returned to Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island on December 2 and 3. With the theme The Futuristic City of Dreams, the dance music festival boasted a stellar line-up and a throng of indefatigable music lovers back to party.
Photograph: Izza Sofia
Back in 2019, ZoukOut announced that it would be taking a little break. Then Covid-19 came and did its thing, turning the break into a three-year hiatus. But boy, it didn’t disappoint when it returned last weekend.
We had high hopes for the festival’s comeback this year. This was the first time that nightclub Zouk partnered with event promoters AEG Presents, the producers of Coachella. They expected up to 30,000 revellers over the two nights, promising a "journey that transcends time into a future of make-believe."
The fantasy began right off the bat with the awesome beach fashion. Sand and sweat notwithstanding, the crowd tapped their sartorial savvy and showed up in bikinis, tank tops, shorts, fishnets and Coachella-esque face gems. Of course, shirtless guys walking around like they were the main character were aplenty.
Photograph: Izza Sofia
Crowds were busy getting hammered at the drop off point of Siloso Beach before entering the festival grounds. We joined the snaking queue at the general admission area, got past the tight security checks, and after 20 minutes, were finally in. The festival ground had roving dancers, art installations, all-important portable loos, a standalone Heineken play