When I first heard about this event I didn't think I would be able to make it as it was in the week, and midweek raves are normally unheard of. It was christmas though and I hadn't missed an Elation event before this one so I didn't want to start here. I had to work in Sheffield until 8pm so by the time I got here it was about 11:45. There was no queue when I arrived and at the door the security guard searched through the bag that I was carrying and gave me a quick pat down. I paid the £10 entry fee and went inside. The club itself was quite a small club, but it had a cosy and intimate feel to it. There was just one music room downstairs with a dancefloor and a bar at the back which also contained the cloakroom. Upstairs was a slightly smaller room which had arcade machines in and a big space for people to just chill out in. To get up there meant going up some crazy tight spiral stairs that were only wide enough for one person to go up. There was a food stall upstairs which sold drinks, biscuits, chocolate, and even things like pot noodles and cornflakes. I wish most raves had that kind of food selection there. :) I dropped off my coat in the cloakroom and went onto the dancefloor for the end of Uplift's set. He played a breakbeat style tune but then dropped in Hixxy's "No Alternative" ripoff so I went for a quick wander. After him came Elation resident Vyper for a set of hard trance. The tunes he played had some dark and powerful riffs in and I enjoyed this set a lot. It must have been good because it inspired Phick and even Ponder to have a go on the mic. :) Next came Energy with a set of his trademark freeform. He played a few older classics like "See the Stars" and "Take me up" as well as some newer tunes like "Rez Out" and also an instrumental mix of the classic"Sound Assassin". The following set was promoter HB. I only caught a few parts of his set, the most memorable part of which was a special one off christmas hardcore tune including parts from Shakin Stevens, jingle bells and Wham. Bossak! :) After HB came his fellow promoter Ponder for a set of hard trance and NRG. I've always thought that Ponder is one of the most talented up and coming DJs around and his set included dark atmospheric tunes and plenty of his own scratching. Next up was Cris E Manic but she also played the "No Alternative" rip so I once again went for a wander and a chat with a few people. I caught her last couple of tunes which were alright, and then came Sy with MC Storm for the last set of the night. I used to be a massive Sy and Storm fan and over the last few months I've really started getting back into their sets again. Sy has got back into the habit of playing newer stuff again, and here he dropped in quite a few tunes I'd never heard before, which I assume are forthcoming Quosh releases. He also played the new "Power of love" remix and "Turn up the music" which he finished off with. The only tune he played that I didn't like was one which ripped off "Bird of prey" by Fatboy Slim, but apart from that I really enjoyed this set. This event had less people here than at previous Elation events, with about 150 turning up on the night. This was pretty good for a Thursday night though and as it was a small club it never seemed empty. It had the friendly hardcore atmosphere that Elation events always have and the dancefloor was fairly full at the end for Sy's set. There were a few nice touches from the Elation promoters like handing out free CDs of the christmas tune HB played, and giving christmas cards out to all the ravers there. Plenty of new tunes were played here and the event gave the chance to see some good up and coming DJs as well as big hitters like Sy and Energy. Sy, Ponder and Vyper all played very good sets but for me the set of the night came from Energy who played a great freeform set. Keep an eye out for the next Elation event in 2002 as they're always worth going to. Shouts go out to Smithers, Erica, James, Charlie Kitten, Ponder, HB, Tom u4ea, Uplift, Cris E Manic, Lukozade, Tony Resonance, Potfish, Phick, Lloyd, Sweetstar, Ade, Dusty Vixen, Caine, Mayhem, Wildcard, MC Whizzkid, MC Storm and Energy. :)
