First OST Night at ‘T Pakhuus
On September 4th, I played my first DJ set at ‘T Pakhuus, on Ostend’s east side, Oosteroever. What a great weekend it turned out to be!
https://youtu.be/ZUrEQFe9Q-Q
I arrived in Ostend early in the morning by train, locked my vinyl bag in a secure locker at the station, and walked straight to my Airbnb. The sun was shining and the streets were quieter than during summer, when the overload of tourists can start to feel heavy.
I grabbed my equipment bag and headed straight for the beach. As always, whatever the weather, I need to get close to the sea to feel the air, the space, the natural pull of nature.
I have a few habits when I arrive in Ostend: walking along the sea, of course, but also checking on the seals in their reserved spot and stopping by the Vistrap. I love seals, fantastic creatures. The Vistrap is where you can buy fresh fish, and even when I’m not buying anything, I love seeing what’s on offer.
After the Vistrap, I like to sit on the benches at Montgomerykaai, which give a clear view of the port, the fishing vessels coming and going, the pulse of the city. It’s a good spot to decide whether to stay around or head straight to Oosteroever.
https://youtu.be/6Pe3qyWfsOw
The first surprise of the day was watching the pilot vessel head out to sea, so I filmed and recorded it. Slight disappointment: it made no motor noise at all. Still, I got good footage of an impressive machine.
I stopped at the Delhaize to buy my lunch, then took the Overzetboot over to Oosteroever. A large DEME Group vessel was docked, but in an area closed to the public. To my surprise, the Visserijdok was nearly empty of fishing boats, much like early August.
So I walked to my favorite beach, the one I call Oysters Bay, to enjoy the sun and that’s when the second surprise hit. Within minutes the sky turned grey and a strong, almost violent wind picked up, so fierce that on my walk back to Visserijdok I was pelted by blowing sand.
Luckily I found shelter near the Ensor Towers, where the wind was lighter, and ate my lunch: an Italian salad followed by a fruit salad. The weather cleared again and I kept walking, scouting for sound sources, though without vessels around it was mostly a bust.
I headed back to the city and my Airbnb to drop off my equipment, then returned to the train station to collect my vinyl bag, eighty records is no light load, and brought it to ‘T Pakhuus. On the way, I ran into a friend who told me I looked good and full of energy, which, no false modesty, was a nice ego boost before a set.
My bag’s trolley broke on a previous trip, but it’s far too heavy to carry without wheels. I improvised a fix with a carabiner, using it like a makeshift latch to hold the trolley in place and it worked perfectly, letting me wheel it to the Overzetboot instead of hauling it on my shoulder.
At ‘T Pakhuus, I was glad to see they’d moved the DJ booth to a better spot with a panoramic view of the venue, a real improvement, since it lets me watch the crowd and read the room as I shape the set.
With two hours to spare before the party, I visited my friend Carlo at The Sailor, a lovely old fishermen’s bar packed with maritime memorabilia. Every time I stop there, I feel like I’ve found the deeper, older side of Ostend. Carlo was thrilled I’d finally landed a DJ date in the city, especially one where I could play exactly the way I wanted.
Ostend – Visserijdok – Field Recording
Walking back to ‘T Pakhuus, I passed the water lock just as its doors let out a series of strong noises, almost like small explosions. I always carry my Tascam DR-05XP, so I recorded two or three minutes of it.
Ostend has a way of rewarding those who love her, she gave me a spectacular sunset before the show.
And now, the best part.
About twenty or thirty minutes into my set, the owner came up to me and said, “Dimi, you’ve got your night here now, once a month.” I was crying inside, what a confidence boost. Friends came in from Ostend, Zeebrugge, and Ghent, and I was thrilled to see them. The compliments on my track selection and technique meant a lot, it’s something I work hard at, so hearing it land is always deeply satisfying.
Toward the end of the night, I invited fellow DJs to join me back-to-back on the turntables, and it was excellent. Right at the close, a trance/retro DJ from Ostend asked to play a few records, I said yes, and he impressed me with his skill and deep vinyl knowledge. He even gave me a copy of Slam’s “Positive Education” (Slam/Carl Cox remixes). Deep thanks, brother.
The rest of that weekend stayed private, time with friends, but here’s the big news:
OST is born — a monthly techno night in Ostend, at ‘T Pakhuus. Making this a success is now a priority, and I’m putting real effort into it: graphics, future guests, ideas already in motion. I think everyone’s going to love what’s coming next.
More to come on the OST dedicated section and Facebook page
Dimitri Pike / Wildtek (http://wildtek.net / wildtek.concept@gmail.com)
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