After my absenteeism from any major raves since Raindance's Summer Solstice I was eagerly anticipating their much-hyped 11th birthday bash. Arriving in the queue at around 10 o clock I had a good chat with some typically friendly ravers, filling me in on how blinding FD4 was, and was also greeted with the unexpected sight of walking robots and puppets, nice touch. Having swiftly despatched my jacket in the cloak area (well its not really a room is it? and it may well be nearing Halloween but who the hell has a cloak?) I raced to the fantastic hardcore arch tucked away in the deepest corner of the Drome's nocturnal labyrinth. I'm not 100 per cent sure who was on the decks but the scheduled line up on the wall said it was Bosha, and well those line up times are never wrong, are they?! Whoever it was, mixed up an interesting selection of tunes, including some very hard Brisk-esque madness and some top evolution tunage such as "Pilgrem 2000". In fact I was pretty surprised, and very pleased, that the arch was so packed and kicking at this early hour especially as no big names had played yet. However they were about to be treated to an excellent set from possibly the next addition to the often frustrating big name DJ list, the one and only DJ Uplift. Having been tirelessly chasing after the mirage of recognition from big rave promoters for many years. Being granted a peak time slot in arguably the best arch at arguably the best rave, Addiction's (RIP) finest finally seems to have found his holy grail. His set proved that in the precarious DJ world of snakes and ladders there is no chance of him slipping back down, and im sure we'll all see a lot more of him. Highlight of his set had to be the crowd having it right off to his very own tune (as part of the E-Team) "24 hrs in Aldershot" forthcoming on Infinity Recordings. After a quick chill out session I resumed my place right at the front of the hardcore arch awaiting the arrival of DJ DNA, who played a storming set, proving he's definitely got hardcore in his genes. With the crowd, and indeed the scene, desperately in need of some fresh tunes, DNA did not disappoint spinning out an upfront selection of top quality tunes. All very banging, before veering into breakbeat territory towards the ends, the set was both innovative and exhilarating. As if that wasn't enough DNA tried to go all DMC on us with some great behind the back scratching. As the clock struck 2 it was the turn of hardcore man of the moment DJ Energy. As if single handedly taking over the scenes most exciting labels wasn't enough, this guy also makes a habit of treating the hardcore masses to some of the most exciting sets this year. This set was no exception, but then why should it have been, starting with some hard European trance, pitched up to the max, it soon progressed into harder, faster areas (just how we love it) with some typically quality unreleased nu energy tunes, before label classics such as "Take Me Up" remix and "In Deep Trouble" were dropped sending the crowd into a frenzy. However toward the end of the set the former Dream FM golden boy surprised everyone and me by dropping some of the most euphoric underplayed freeform tunes from yesteryear. Fellow freeform fanatic Sharkey's "Sound Assassins" was rightfully dusted down and put into action, a tune so beautifully melodic and well produced that it confounds me why it never gets played. The set was appropriately rounded off with another freeform classic "The Eclypse" by Germany's Robert Wagner. Once again I ventured into the Eclectic chill out arch to recharge my batteries. My hopes of grabbing a quick rest were soon scuppered as the DJ dropped the rave classic "4 AM", I looked at my watch and realised how apt the tune and decided that it was time to rave on. I journeyed back into the Hardcore Arch I was happy to see ravers favourite, Hixxy, on the decks. Now this for me was definitely set of the night, absolutely wicked. Having been previously lambasted for his slower trance based sets and production there was only one thing Hixxy could do; Play it hard, Play it fast, but most of all PLAY IT HARDCORE. It may well have been a set of classics but no one can deny it was a set of real energy and quality, and while they were anthems they weren't entirely obvious, with no shooting stars in sight. Classics from 97 such as Force and Styles excellent remix of "Don't you want me", "Come and Follow me", "Steam Train2 and my personal fave "Reach Out" by the stimulating DJ Brisk. After giving the ravers over an hour of exactly what they wanted the former Bonkers frontman finished his set in the most appraopriate way possible, with his own classic collaboration (with Sharkey), "ToyTown". With the crowd whitsling, horning and shouting the unmistakable melody, Hixxy, perhaps unintentionally, produced one of the classic rave moments. That set was mad but what followed was pure fucking insanity, and it had very little to do with music, yes you guessed it the Mark EG straitjacket show. More chicken oriental than number 47 at your local Chinese. Whatever ravers' opinions are on his musical policy, and for the record this set was bloody fast, he's worth his booking on his behind the decks antics alone. After the banana's Bonzai records man's hour of madness saw an extension of Raindance's welcome up and comings policy with DJ Sonic stepping up. While it may have started off a little girly this set got better and better sending the crowd wild oncemore. Thankfully I missed the Vibes and Livelees extra strength blue Stilton show and left as I had to be at work for 10. All in all a wicked night only slightly hindered by the couple of power cut outs and the poor EQ's in the Hardcore Arch.
