Bugged Out Weekender 2016: Laughing in the face of seriousness

At 4am we realise that we only have a few hours of dancing left so we make our way to Reds, everyone's favourite stinky carpet wonderland, to see what Joy Orbison and Gerd Janson can conjure up. One thing that's worth mentioning is that everyone is absolutely smashed now. Butlins seems to bring it out in people but this isn't as reserved as you'd expect for a January weekend: people are fucking having it and the b2b session is just the soundtrack we need. Tracks from Soundstream, KiNK, Alan Braxe and Denis Sulta showcase the pair's skills, with Joy O on particular form.

Anyone who's been to Bugged Out knows it's a game of two halves. You have the main arena and then the afterparties and we're really not sure which we prefer. On the one hand some of the world's best DJs are playing all night across three easily accessible stages but the flipside at the chalet means you can get your joggers on, invite your mates and carry on 'til your eyes hurt.

For some weird reason it's guilt-free as well. Everyone onsite is doing the same, people are smoking, cracking balloons and howling at the photo of John they've just taken, the one where his eyes are sneaking off in different directions. A hearty session at Butlins is always the one and after a few hours sleep and a visit to Papa Johns, it's time for round two.

DJ Koze and Novelist are two of the first sets at Reds on Saturday and both bring party vibes like no other. Koze is more thumping than expected, but as energetic and playful behind the decks as ever, dancing flamboyantly with a big grin before Big Nov takes the stage. Our forthcoming cover star announces it's his 19th birthday in seven days then bounces round the stage while Grandmixxer drops grime bombs.

Armand Van Helden joining Skream, Jackmaster and Eats Everything for a Bigger Than Jesus showcase in Centre Stage is exciting and every DJ brings their A-games.

Armand plays every notable 90s house track, making everyone smile ear-to-ear. It sounds cliché, but the potent mix of good gurners and confetti during 'You Don't Know Me' is absolutely incredible. It's a bit cheesy but it's fucking Butlins and that's exactly what we want.

When they all come together for the b2b spectacular, Armand appears to be a calming influence and the boys are all very well behaved. The mixing is tight, the bangers explosive and the stadium-sized act lives up to all expectations. Come 6am we're all ready for some more chalet action.

But wait, what about the organised crack-on provided by Bugged Out and Butlins? How can we forget Art's House, Artwork's afterhours session in Bar Rosso or "Yate's on a Saturday night" as one person says in the queue.

Yes, Artwork is once again a strong contender, if not the only appropriate recipient of this year's Star Player award. Every year at Bugged Out, he offers up his services as the ultimate utility man. Someone who will literally play any set offered and 9 times out of 10 he'll absolutely cane it.

Every night at Rosso he heads into his living room DJ booth to bash out disco, house and every classic in between, all with a luminous smile on his face. He is the spirit of Bugged Out in human form, a DJ who receives great joy by giving it to other people.

On the Sunday night he's one of the first selectors to play in Reds and we count 36 people there at the start of his set. Now, we know a lot of DJs that would be disheartened and deflated by having a near-empty room for their main set of the weekend, but not our boy Arthur. He started playing Musical Chairs with the ravers and even managed to get a conga line to weave its way round the entire room.