Future Dance now into their seventh big event and their largest event to date. This was also their second time at Bagleys and was a highly anticipated night by many ravers. After walking down the familiar route to Bagleys, I could see a huge queue had already formed outside. But for a change, the venue opened up reasonably on time and the crowd were being let in swiftly. I had a fairly strict search by the security, the bouncer checked the inside of my shoes, but no genital groping like in the past. Security on the night didn’t seem to be as strict to when I last encountered them, lets hope it stays that way. First stop for me was the hardcore arena, which I’m not sure why, but everytime I come to Bagleys, the main arena seems to get smaller and smaller ! But the arena was looking well done up with drapings, backdrops scattered about, video screens, stage at the front with the tasty FD dancers and a dance platform in the middle for ravers to clamber upon. The lighting was good, strobes, roboscans and a green lazer at the front to mesmerise the ravers. But a downpoint for me was the sound levels in the arena. The sound system sounded quite distorted and lacked bassline. I remember the days when Arena 1 at Bagleys had an ear shattering crystal clear sound system. But now, I’m not sure whether it’s down to the council or the venue, but the sound levels seem to have really been turned down over the last few years and I’ll be surprised if it gets back to how it was. Anyway Menis + Dair, 2 of Australia’s finest were first on the decks. They played a mixture of old and new hardcore in their set. Dropping a few new Robbie Long + Coyote tunes as well as the very popular ‘Cold as Ice’ nu style gabba remix. A good set to get the crowd warmed up for the nights proceedings. Just after midnight and I decided to venture downstairs to the techno room. Or at least I thought it was techno, because I could barely hear the music ! This was because the sound system in the techno arena was dire to say the least. Scorpio was on the decks trying to bang it out, but sadly the sound system had no bassline whatsoever. This was causing frustration with the techno ravers trying to get into the music. There must have been a serious technical problem with the system, because thankfully it was decided that techno would be best moved to the basement arena right at the bottom. While the logistics of all that was taking place, I headed back upstairs to the hardcore arena to catch Hixxy + UFO on the decks. By now the hardcore arena was very busy and with MCs Storm and Whizzkid on the mic, the atmosphere was hitting optimum levels. Laying down a lot of Raverbaby tunes such as ‘Castles in the Sky’ and the anthemic ‘Deep Inside’ on New Infinity, Hixxy + UFO really got the crowd stomping away. The turnout on the night was good, it wasn’t rammed, but all the rooms seem to be having it and it was nice to move freely around Bagleys for a change. I would say there must have been well over 2000 ravers there on the night, which is a great achievement for an event that has been only been going on for a year and a half. Just past 1.30 and the Next Generation duo of Brisk + Ham were hitting the hardcore arena. A pretty good set by them, playing a mixture of old and new. Ham seem to be playing a lot of the older stuff like ‘Is anybody out there’ and ‘I’ve got a feeling’ by Demo. Whereas Brisk played the newer upcoming stuff like ‘Serious hardcore’. Empress Stah was on stage during the set doing her own personal show, which was enthralling to watch. Appearing on stage half naked and then proceeding to stick huge needles through her nipples and stomach. Certainly not for the squeamish, but excellent entertainment for the ravers. Its attractions like this which make raves all the more special. I then decided to take a trip down to the techno arena, which was sounding a lot better in its new location. Nice dark basement, good sound system, minimal lighting….perfect surroundings for techno :) Clarkee was on the decks and played my set of the night. Playing an Area 51 classics sets, all the old Technodrome anthems came out and got everyone really stomping. The arena was nice and busy, and everyone was going mad. Sharkey was on the mic, getting all the techno heads hyped up with his usual crazy lyrics. I reckon the techno arena should be kept down in the basement for future events, the surroundings are just right. M-Zone stepped up next slowing it down with his usual hard trance style. A top set by him, as M-Zone usually is, laying down the hypnotic beats in the trance motion. I then decided to take a breather and have a chat in the chillout room. I was hoping to see Sharkey + Marc Smith in the hardcore arena, but I ended up waffling too much and the old raver syndrome where once you sit down, you can’t get up had set it..…you know how it is :) But I did manage to gather enough mental strength to pick myself up to see the end of Taffster’s set in the techno room. Sounded like a good set playing some nice stomping gabba, with a few older Deathchant tunes stuff being thrown in. Even though I didn’t spend a lot of time in the old skool and hard house rooms, it seemed to be pretty having it in those rooms too. The atmosphere on the night was first class as it always is at FD. Good happy friendly crowd and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. As the last hour of the night dawned, I headed back into the hardcore arena to see Kaos + Energy. They played a pretty good set, with had a freeform edge to it, slipping in plenty of tunes from the Nu Energy label collective. ‘The Baptism’, ‘Visions of Infinity’ by Energy, Safe n Sound, Just Rich as well as the soon to be released Future Dance recordings ‘Blue moon’ by Kaos and Ethos, all got played during the set. The hardcore arena was still fairly busy towards the end and everyone was still having a good time. The last tune which got played was a gabba rip of the ‘Macarena’ tune, not the most innovative of tunes, but made sure everyone went home with cheesy grins :) As me and the others walked out into the dark London morning at the end, most people I talked to had a wicked time. Overall it was a top night, music was good, production and décor was quality and atmosphere was how it should be. The sound system and low sound quality was a minus point about the night, but except for that Bagleys seems to have improved since when I last went there. The Future Dance crew pulled off another great night and have deservedly built up big support for their events in a short space of time. Big shouts to: Paul, Kev, ‘The dapper don’ Chedda, Androo, Androo’s brother, HB, Sweetstar the bully, ‘The northern lightweight’ Alarm, Ponder, Paulie and all his Chelsea thugs, Crazy Chris, Aidan, Rich B, Lang-E, Part-E, Lee UHF, Martin Space, Charlotte the birthday girl, James, Billy Bass, Misdee, Andy M, Potfish, Becki, Jonathan, Marshy, SD, The magnificent Merlin, Mike Sureal, Missus Sureal, Bedroom Raver, Odie, Ted the pornstar, Laura, Jamie from Chester, Cris E Manic, The moody man Uplift, Plantie and all the Zoots crew, Snow, Padz, Phil T, Tom U4EA, Vicky, Stix, Icekold Pete, Dodgee, Jexxy, Simon Mdma, Mayhem, Myring, Bedford Caine, Neil Kearns, Madman, Velocity, Danger, Acidnik, Casper, Wildcard, Jedi, Smile-E, Mupster, Swaver, Beth, Kryogen, Little Miss Hyper Tina, Scottie, Andy Pingu, Grob le Frog, Carol, Peachy, Joe R, Astraboy, Denno, Danny, Tombola, Taffster, I-Wolf, Dave Spice, ‘The Manchester madman’ Reepa, Banksy, PurEss, Shit Happens, Nix, Phick + anyone else I’ve forgotten.....hugs to the girls, handshakes to the boys.....that’s about 90 names I had to remember off the top of my head, I need to have a lie down. Over and out
