The return of Raindance back to the Drome (now known as SE1) was an event a lot of people were looking forward to. Ticket demand for this event had been immense and as I arrived at the Drome just before 9.00, a huge queue had already formed outside. The clockwork guardsman was outside parading up and down the queue and with it being a warm summers night, everyone was in high sprits ready to rave. After a short wait, the queue moved swiftly and went in through the new entrance on the side and onto the searches. Security on the night were stricter then they were before, but they seemed reasonably fair and weren’t too moody. First thing I did when I got inside, was to have a good walk around and see what the new look Drome had to offer compared to the old one. It seemed better then it was before, the whole venue seemed a lot more organised. New toilets had been fitted in (complete with swamp) and a proper cloakroom had been installed. Also there was more generally more dancefloor space created around the venue. Some people was telling me before, that the new Drome was also a lot cleaner. Well let me assure you, I left the venue in the morning with even more dirt on me then last time. But still, a little dirt never bothered me, we’re ravers remember ! Onto the hardcore room, which was in its new bigger location (the old drum n bass room) and looking well decked out. The lighting was quality (no lazer though) and the sound was pretty good. It did lack clarity at times, but I don’t think anybody was too bothered by that. The DJ was situated on a stage at the front and Hixxy was on the decks. Playing lots of his new Raverbaby material got the crowd really going and got more and more people on the dancefloor. Next up after him was Nemesis who played a fairly decent set, quite fast paced dropping tunes such as ‘The Bastard’ by DNA + Energy, got the dancefloor going. By now the temperature was really rising throughout the venue and this was a very serious aspect of the night. In fact the temperature in the venue was very high and has to have been the hottest temperature I’ve ever experienced at a rave. I know that a new ventilation system was due to be fitted into the venue for this event, but that didn’t happen in time. But still, a lot MORE cooling fans SHOULD have been brought in on the night, to help cool down the crowd. It really was dangerously hot in there and a lot of people were finding it very uncomfortable to handle such heat. Also the venue seemed too overcrowded at times. A lot of people couldn’t handle the heat on the dancefloor and as there was no big chillout space, people were just hanging around between the various rooms to try and chill out, thus causing congestion. Anyway moving on, it was now 11.00 and time for Ponder + HB on the decks. A wicked set by them with their usual breakbeat influence. In the first half, they played some of their own tunes such as ‘Ribcage’ and ‘Faces of angels’. Then upping the pace a bit towards the end, dropping a few hardcore classics such as ‘My own’ (Ham remix’ to get the dancefloor going. After them followed Energy who was excellent. Playing a banging mixture of freeform with some of his new tunes such as ‘Visions of infinity’ and other Nu Energy tunes as well, made it a top set. By the now hardcore room was at its busiest all night. The arena wasn’t rammed solid, but it was nice and busy, which was good to see and shows the move up to the bigger room was fully justified. But I’m sure that number will rise as time goes on and more hardcore ravers start coming. MC Storm was on the mic, jumping around at the front and getting everyone hyped up. Whizzkid, Odyssey, Elmo, Casper and Charlie B were all taking turns on the mic throughout the night to get the crowd going. The atmosphere throughout the night was excellent, definitely the best aspect of the night I thought. I chatted to and met so many nice people and didn’t see any attitude at all. Raindance always know how to attract the right crowd to their events. Uplift was next on the ones and twos in the hardcore room and played the set of the night in my opinion. First half playing some 4 beat / breakbeat influenced tunes such as ‘About you’ by DNA + Ham and them playing more breakbeaty stuff for the last part of the set. It was now 2.00, so I decided to venture next door to check out the old skool arena which was packed as ever and had a proper old skool buzzing atmosphere. The big green lazer in there was gyrating over the crowd and the sound system was nice and meaty. Herman was on the decks, who was top class. He didn’t rely on playing the usual crowd pleasing tunes like other DJs do and just played top quality old skool to get everyone going mad. After that, I was badly in need of some chilling out and needed some fresh air. Thankfully I managed to get a sacred place to sit down near one of the fire exits and blissfully sat there until I cooled down. I then headed off to the hard house room, a new addition at Raindance, to catch Chocci on the decks. It was reasonably busy in there and the crowd in there were really having it. I thought Chocci was excellent and was a real proper nutter dancing madly behind the decks. Banging out grinding tunes, forget Tidy Trax etc stuff, this was rough and raw NRG touching on about 160 bpm and got everyone pumped up. I then headed over to the drum n bass arch to catch Devious D. The drum n bass arch was also in a new location (old chillout arch) and was also rammed all night. It was very dark in there, but the atmosphere was quality, no attitude just proper ravers. Devious D was laying down some old skool jungle, playing wicked tunes such as ‘Pulp fiction’ by Alex Reece and ‘The Burial’ by Leviticus. Skibadee was on the mic doing a sterling job as usual and got full attention from the crowd. It was now 6.00 and about half people had already left the venue. It seemed a lot of people couldn’t bear the heat and decided to leave the venue for cooler climates a lot earlier then they were planning to. Anyway there was no way I was leaving, as Scott Brown had just stepped up in the hardcore room in front of what was a fairly small crowd. He played a good set, stating off with his usual Evolution selection, playing a mixture of old and new and then progressing into some nu style gabba, which really got me and the others stomping. Fade followed on next and to be honest there was very sparse crowd left in the hardcore room by now, so bit of a shame for Fade really. Overall it was a good night, I enjoyed it and glad that I went. But I was expecting slightly more from the night. The intense heat and overcrowding took the shine of the night and I’m sure a lot of people who were there would agree with me. The ventilation in the venue really needs to be sorted out and made a lot more bearable for the ravers. Having said that though, the atmosphere was excellent, the music was quality all night and the hardcore room fitted well into its brand new bigger home. I hope the air conditioning and overcrowding is sorted out properly (which is a must without fail) next time, so I can look forward to spending more good raving times at Raindance. Big Shouts to: Paul, Kev, Peter, HB, Ponder, Sweetstar, Andy plu raver, Madman, Charlotte, James, Chedda, Smithers, Steve, Chrissy, Luke, Justin B, Jedi, Stormtrooper, MC Casper, Velocity, Paulie, Aidan, Crazy Chris, Misdee, Billybass, Potfish, Phick, Tom U4EA, Stargazer, Lloyd. Minx, Pioneer, Mikey B, Grob le frog, Scottie, DOK, Dairymilk warrior, Rob Learner, Allan Mcgrath, Androo, Andy M, Ade, Vicky, Jay Kay, Tom Metric, Mayhem, Loony, Joe R, Astraboy, Bedroom Raver, Mike Sureal……hugs to the girls, handshakes to the boys…...right I need to find a fire exit to chill out in. Over and Out Slammin’ Sam
