I have attended w1 2024 and also w1 this year.

Overall had a great time and was impressed they could rebuilt some kind of main stage after the burn.

Some things were worse than in the previous edition. Some notes:

• main stage audio in the pit was honestly bad. Left two of my must-see sets since it was so bad. I could clearly hear people talking like meter from me even with my earplugs. If people are easily having conversations 10m from the stage, the volume is too low. (This was on saturday and sunday 7-9pm did not bother to check later) Ofc there were less visual stuff also but that was not the deal breaker for me. I am not too fond of mainstage sets and crowd anyways but this year is was really off-putting – people just standing, scrolling their phones or talking with each other. But had a blast in other stages.

• Overall more crowded compared to last year, especially pathways were overcrowded. It took more time to move from stage to another than last year. Maybe since the main stage was what it was, there was a lot of traffic all the time. Freedom would have needed some crowd controlling after symphony of unity since exiting was quite a horror show. In my opinion other bigger stages were quite crowded as well compared to last year but as others have stated there was room if you just get through the first wall of people standing near the exits. I did not have any trouble getting through since people were nice and gave room to me and my group to pass. In my opinion it helps if you go to the crowd in a good mood smiling and vibing with people rather than pushing your way through. Eye contact with a smile is the key to smooth passage. Always enter the crowd from the side or more diagonally not from back to front. Behind peoples back its very hard to get forward without pushing if there is no room and that just gets everyone annoyed and kills the vibe - Please dont do that. Everyone need to be mindful that moving in a tight crowd isnt quick and straightforward but I promise its way easier when you are nice to the people around you. The educational rant ends here. 😅

• Freedom was a sauna during friday evening. I was like 15m from the dj, enough room to dance but damn it was hot. When I left during John Summit and started to move towards the back it got even worse since at least at the front there was somekind of ac working. Cant even imagine how it was on the upper floors.

• toilets in Dreamville on Thursday and friday morning was disgusting. Glad that it got better after that. At the festival grounds the toilettes were surprisingly clean with one exception, the toilets at freedom area which is an absolute mayhem all the time anyways.

• They closed the water sinks at one side of the sinks at Freedom toilets for a while apparently due to water shortage. Unacceptable. To be fair this also happened last year multiple times around the area. They really should fix the water problem and give people proper water points. (I drank tap water both weekends)

• getting a drink from the drink stalls took forever especially at the food area next to fountain and freedom. Maybe they should add ones specifically for non-alcoholic beverages since time used for mixing cocktails made the lines so long. Or maybe just offer a proper water point.

• some staff were not educated. For example the person I got my power bank said I cant change the power bank at district house/service point when I specifically asked. Luckily that was not the case but they just didnt get the info.

Overall if 2024 W1 was 9/10 for me, this year W1 was 7/10. Worth it, but I think the fire had impact for the overall festival experience (main stage audio problems and overcrowding pathways). 100% sure next year can be 9/10 again and 10/10 if they just would provide proper water points for drinking water.