Arrived at the sanctuary at about 10.30 and after quick search, no queuing because of the handy credit card, entered the main arena. Unlike the last event the stage was opposite the entrance. In my opinion the arena wasn’t as well decorated as last time. It has a much more open feel to the arena with the stage in this position, also there were some raised platforms on the dance floor. This is something i am against as it creates gaps and loss of sound behind the platforms. Karim was on playing a very hard house set, including a remix of compounded Edge 1. Not being particularly to my style i went for a wander around the arena and outside area bumping into many familiar faces. The Sanctuary was already very busy with huge queues still outside. Next up was Scott Brown playing a range of mostly his own tunes including Neckbreaker and Hardcore Hustler and also to the delight of Cris-e manic the new Raw Elements tune Echelon. After meeting up with Paul W / Zykotik, i took a trip to the bus, a new idea for this event where relatively unknown djs were playing trance whilst people sat down on the chill out bus. Paul and my mate Benz were later to play on the bus. After the 12pm meet up with a huge amount of ush ravers turning up iventured back into the main arena to see Hixxy. He has really been on form recently, his set at Ravenation was the best i had heard him do in a couple of years and this was no disappointment either playing slightly harder than normal. I also caught 10 minutes of Kevin Energy upstairs, despite playing arguably the busiest set last time, he had been put upstairs along with Sharkey. This was a let down to many freeform fans and to me as i don’t really like that upstairs room, especially not now. At one o clock came the time for the Viper and Wotsee, not being a gabba fan i took this chance to go onto the bus and see my mate Ben playing what was supposed to have been a chilled trance set but ended up with bustling hard trance! After an hours chillout came the what looked like the busiest hour for me, Sharkey upstairs, Breeze in the main arena, Paul Zykotik on the bus and me running around trying to hear all three ! I went to the front of the main arena straight away to catch a bit of Breeze who was accompanied by MC Whizzkid, who was on his usual top form. Anyone who saw either him or MC Storm on the night would realise why they get the 'top sets' as they both know how to get a whole crowd brocking and with what seemed to be the whole crowd singing along to their lyrics. I then went upstairs to see Sharkey, making a welcome return to the Sanctuary. I had not seen him since Futurevibe last august and he was still as good as ever making me realise just why he is held close to the hearts of many ravers. Surely we will see Sharkey back in the main arena at Hardcore Heaven / Slammin Vinyl? I hope so. After half an hour came a turning point in the night ,the staircase had become so slippery from spilled rinks etc. during the night that i slipped down them. Luckily it was not that many steps, but I’m sitting here with the bruises to my arm and back to prove it! I also lost a couple of drinks and it turned out some money on this fall and it certainly put a dampner on the night. I was now in too much pain to dance really and now spent the rest of the night wandering around or sitting down. This was a shame because the main arena was certainly hotting up with Sy and Storm up to their usual tricks. Also with the high ticket price, drinks prices etc. I felt like i wasn’t really getting my moneys worth and despite the fact i knew it was a good night and that i should be enjoying myself from that point on, didn’t really. After Sy was Dougal with Marley and Smiley going back to back on the mic, he showcased many of the essential platinum tunes and really got the crowd moving . After a lot of criticism last year Dougal really has proved them all wrong by going from strength to strength and becoming a favourite with the ravers once again. Darren Styles was next to step up on the decks for the last hour, now feeling very tired and achey i went and sat down at the edge of the main arena. Next thing i knew i was woken up, its 5.40! Im ashamed to say i slept through the first 40 mins of Styles, then after going back into the crowd, i left to get me flyers and sit down. I wasn’t in the mood for having it in the last 20 mins. I cannot wait though for July 5th when Hardcore Heaven visits the Fridge in London, this will give me an opportunity to go to this legendary venue for the first time and with an awesome line up across two rooms it should be good. Shouts out to: Sorcerer, Ben, Sophie, Andy, Hyper Rush (cheers for waking me up!), Grob, Wendy, Mark, Paul Zykotik, MC Jutt, Nocty, Shox, Happythoughts, Number 2301, Matsui, Desire, Cris-e manic, Benz , Caine, Kev, Girl with barbie doll whoe name i forget , Brad 35354 who is real, Doc-e , James and Charlie Kitten , Kazzer, Pir-8, Sawyerbean, Oli G, Slammin Sam, 2 blokes from newmarket who appeared at meet up, Rob Brownlee, Koochy, Gammer, Gary and northampton lot, Fishgeoffo, Kickin K and Andy, Jordon Spenno, Scott Devotion, Mayhem, Skampy, Moonlight Raver, Gurn-e , Ponder and HB, Astraboy, Davespice and anyone else who my memory forgets .
