I went to Raindance hoping they had listened to the ravers and given us what was needed... the other Raindances this year have been a little bit lacking (still good parties but not as good as they could and should of been!) I think it was because the promoters were too confident as the Raindances @ the drome/se1 in 2000/2001 were so legendary, they didn’t feel like they had to try so hard.... But when I walked into the venue I was over the moon to see the pathetic sound system from last time had been replaced with 2 huge walls of speakers either side of the decks! they were proper loud, really bassy and sounded well good, especially up the front! People have said they thought the system was shit!??! Yes it could have been better, but that’s out of order, obviously the clearer and louder sound is the better, but these speakers were not too bad at all, and I'm sure everyone will not only have heard worse but be used to worse!!! :) Also FINALLY Raindance had sorted out the minimal MC policy in the hardcore arena and - surprise surprise! - the rave was ROCKING much much earlier than before! so as I walked in I was greeted by Spenno accompanying 2sCompany and they did a nice starting set with a fair bit of break beat... massive respect to 2s Company they are constantly bettering themselves and this was a wicked set, and I’m not even a big breakbeat fan! Ponder and HB played a wikid set, including a brilliant breaks tune... Most breakbeat 'hardcore' is lacking something in my opinion, and definitely seems to have no relevance to the scene, but certain tunes are exceptional and deserve as much exposure as possible!!! SY as usual stepped up to the decks and effortlessly smashed the place apart, consistently top of his game proper loving it up there, with loads of b2b scratching with Storm, who was also on fire!! the atmosphere in the arena was unbeatable at this point and next up was Seduction who also ripped it up and kept the vibes as live as SY!! I was well impressed with MC Rude i saw him and thought who the f**k is this! he was well good and his style fitted the arena size perfectly, as did wotsee who was also smashing it up! Legend, and was well glad to see him rinsing the mic even tho he wasnt on the flyer! bonus! Unfortunately I didn’t see uplifts set, but I forgot to give him and Cris.e.manic a shout for playing such a phat upfront set at Tasty last weekend, so I'll do it now. The raw elements sound is the heaviest to come out of London perhaps ever! Big yourselves up raw elements! Kev energy was on fire also, and played a superb set, Energy can do no wrong in my eyes at the moment - proper tough, fast, banging, energetic, uplifting hardcore!!! Whizzkid was doing a blinding job on the mic as always and had turned up after the Storm had to go!! Whizzkid has got some seriously fresh lyrics at the moment I love it!! It's a shame the hardcore has to be in that middle room every time as it gets a bit warm in there, but at the end of the day its not called hardcore for nothing !! Raindance has always been renowned for having the best vibe throughout the venue, some mixed arena raves might as well be 3 seperate raves, but guaranteed you will natter to some proper nutters at Raindance and everyone is in the best mood always! There's just something special about the Raindance vibe but I just can't put my finger on it but all the Raindance ravers will know what I'm on about ! Anyway this was far and away the best Raindance this year, everyone who went was buzzing off the extra effort Raindance had put in, if only they had put this much effort in February, Raindance would be as busy as it was in 2001 by now. But what a night one I wont forget! I'm chuffed that the problems they were giving themselves appear to have been ironed out because Raindance is such a good night! If you were disheartened with Raindance before like I was, they appear to well and truly back to their potential as the proper Rave Festival! Big up the Raindance crew and goes out to everyone who knows me!
