I shouldnt have gone to this rave. I was meant to have been winding down for the weekend. After a rave on friday night, I had gone to School Disco, the meeting place for Lauren's birthday party. Come 2am it was close to kicking out time. I left early to beat the rush.

This left me at a loss of what to do. It was 2am so there was no way to get home and I had to find something to keep me occupied till 6 at the least.

I knew that Club Republic was still going strong down at the SEOne and I also knew my name was on the door. It seemed the easiest choýce, coupled with the fact the music I loved was well represented with the 'Hardcore republic' room being hosted by HTID and Freeformation.

At least it would have been the easiest option, had London not ground to a half two hours ago. Trains? finished ages ago, same for the tubes. Taxis were just too expensive and I would have given my right arm for a number 9 bus, but none came.

With time ticking and alcohol clouding my judgement, I did the only thing I could. I ran. Hammersmith to London Bridge in about an hour, Its probably for the best that I cant remember much about the journey.

Arriving at the SEOne, more than a little puffed out, but happy to be there, I went inside. After a brief search from security and a word with the promotor, I was in.

Getting inside I was, once more, on familiar ground. I made the correct assumption and headed for the Red Arena. Once inside it took just 3 seconds to realise I was home.

I was home becuase I have spent so much tme in this arena I am wondering if I should pay council tax or not. I was home becuase upon entry, CLSM was on the decks and he was going for it as only he can. Most importantly though, I was surrounded by the faces I see in the crowd every week. Some of them were laughing at me for still beýng completely plastered, which, lets face it, I deserved, but it was a Hardcore crowd, dancing to Hardcore music in a Hardcore arena. Happy days.

Best of all, CLSM was working through his set and Odyssey was going for it on with equal effort on the mic. The crowd, for their efforts, were loving every minute of it.

I was there for the closing 20 minutes of Mr. Doe's set, but if you think he had used up all of the tricks up his sleeve, then think again. First up was a top notch remix of the classic 'Timebomb'. I love this tune and was more than happy to see it return.

So was the DJ on all accounts, especially wýth him singing along to he vocals as the tune progressed, but this was nothing compared to the weirdness he had in store.

For some reason, 'World in Union' was the next tune. Dont ask me why, I was too busy laughing at what Jon was getting up to on stage.

Moving round in front of the decks and unravelling about 5 metres of paper, he then proceeded to give it the human autocue, encouraging the ravers to join in with the lyrics which were written on the paper.

After that, he STILL havent finished. Using the closing moments of his set to drop 'Only your Love' and my personal favourite 'Wicked MC', he finished off the remainder of his set while Chit Chat go on the mic to compliment the music.

The whole thing was weird, funny, entertaining and very, very, dancable. Why this man doesn't get more bookings is beyond me.

Next up was an essential componant to any rave lineup, Darren Styles stepped up to replace CLSM while Whizzkid and Odyssey joined him on the mic. All three of them making it clear why they are that good at what they do.

The Ravers on the dancefloor were in agreement, with the numbers not slacking off in the least, they all got on it as one, while the DJ cained the tunes he is best know for such as 'Feel so real', 'Cutting Deep', 'Slide Away' and finishing wýth 'You're my Angel'.

For the final set of the night, there was another highly anticipated DJ in store. We'd had the biggest names and the weirdness, it was time to see what the future of the Hardcore scene had in store for us.

DJ Gammer too to the decks alongside Odyssey, finishing another trademark marathon mic mission. Even though he was on last, there were plenty of ravers more than happy to stay the distance and see what the DJ and MC had in store fo them. I was amongst that number.

Keeping it innovative and non conformist, Gammer kept the party crew on its toes by never staying with one particular genre for long. Starting off with a vocal intro, he quickly got the party crew dancing with an early rendition of 'kick your legs in the air', backed up by Odyssey with his 'Chemical to the brain' chat.

Thereafter, alongside another appearence from MC whizzkid, Gammer didnt let up. Switch after Switch produced rush after rush and provoked the best question a raver can ask while on the dancefloor; 'Whats he going to play next?'

From the Old Skool of 'kick your legs in the air', to the upfront of 'Higher love'. From there he moved into the Evolution sound with 'Turn up the music' and 'Elysium'.

Thereafter, he teased the ravers by returning to the upfront wýth 'Rock ya softly' but that was just a feint for yet another genre hop to an awesome breakbeat track whých I cant name for the life of me cos I was too busy stomping my guts out.

Finally, he shifted into the ever popular bouncy selection wýth the Hardcore remix of 'D.E.V.I.L' being the most notable of the bunch. Not even the lack of a final tune detracted from another great set.

Things I liked:

Music - Yes, I turned up late, but in the final three hours of the rave I got CLSM, Styles and Gammer for my troubles. Some raves have less variety throughout a nine hour night, much less the closing three hours.

Production - Some had a few words to say about the extensive lightýng rig suspended above the DJ stand, saying it was too bright. I quite liked it though. A clear effort had been made and its far better to be dazzled by white lights than strobes.

Musical variety - Thýs was one of the main reasons I regretted turning up so late. the rest of the rave was as you'd expect, with Hard Dance in the main arena and Trance back in the Jenkins Lane room, but Psytrance just next door in the blue arch? I really liked the idea of Psytrance and Hardcore in the same rave.

Atmosphere - Even though this was an event with a brand new Hardcore arena, the people still tuned up. One of the busier arenas on the night and as for the atmosphere, well I just didnt want it to end when 6am came and the music stopped.

The Promoter - For letting me in when he had every right to tell me to piss off. Thank you.

Things I liked less:

Sound - This was weird. KSS have set up in that arena in the past with good results. I was less impressed on this ocassion. Too much bass and virtually no midrange or tops. Its a shame really as good sound IS possible in the red arch.

Mic level - Another sound gripe, but the mic was especially loud, clipping the speakers until the MC had finisihed doing his thing.

Public transport - My legs were more efficent. There is somethýng very wrong with that.

Some say the harder you work or something, the more you appreciate it. I could have gone home or spent the rest of the nýght on a park bench ofter my original plans had finished.

However, despite being drunk and thinking a brisk jog through central London at 2am was a good idea, I knew it was a means to an end.

It was doubly satisfying once I had arrived, to be thoroughly entertained for the few hours I was in Club Republic. It definitely says something good about the quality of the Hardcore when I spent all my time in that arena, even when I wanted to have a dance in the psy trance room. The music was too good to leave for more than 5 minutes.

When you go to a rave when the only other option is avoiding wandering the streets for four hours, yet come away after its finished with a big smile on your face, then something has to have gone right.

If nothing else, I will be going back to the next one so I can arrive at the START of the night to appreciate the full spectrum of its diversity, both in the Hardcore and Psytrance Arenas. I'll see you there.

Shouts to: Kas, Sykee, Chit Chat, Moron, Wobblyegg, Dan_J, Lisa, Lee UHF, Stix, Martin, Sammy P, BuzzB, Gillian, Gareth, Jordi, Obie, Niki, Mini Smithers, Bean, Mayhem, Skampy, Ravegirl, Sharkey, CLSM, Styles, Gammer, Odyssey, Whizzkid, and anyone else who I forgot.

- Astraboy (astraboy@ush.net)