Last one. For Sunday there were a number of options, but I knew there was only one place to be. Even the promise of an illegal rave in Barking(with 20 sound systems no less) was not enough to dissuade me from going to the South Coast and to Elektrik. Only been there once before, but I came away seriously impressed. With the legendary South coast atmosphere in the place, coupled with a heavyweight lineup and equally heathly lineup, it was the best fun I've out of a 2am finish for a long time. I wanted more so even though i was knackered from the previous two raves, there was no way in hell I was going to miss the opportunity of acheiving a grandslam of the top three places in the country to rave. Luckily, the one thing I didn't have to arrange was getting back there. Quite frankly, I had done enough driving for one weekend, so I made a few calls. In the end, Ravegirl came up trumps and arrangements were made to meet in return for petrol money. About and hour later we were heading Elektrik-wards. I was really looking forward to this party, Even though I had seen Sy and Smiley not 24 hours earlier, the prospect of Gammer finishing off my weekend was particularly arresting, not to mention the prospect of the second arena, complete with DJ lineup of its own. Soon after, we arrived at the venue. Finding a space near the entrance, we sorted out the motor, then made our way inside. Soon after, security told me about the no-hoody dress code, so I returned mine to the car and after paying a very reasonable 8 quid on the door, we were in. Going up the stairs and into the venue, the familiar two room layout greeted us. With the main room at the other end of the place and the second room off to the right, both of them decked out with all the production and decor you expect from the promotors. But the night hadn't really got going and more to the point it didn't until three DJ's by the name of Dave M, Cypher and Delyte in the main room rose to the occasion and played out a tune I'd not heard for a long time. "Forever Autumn" is a special tune for me and as such I was straight on the dancefloor with a number of others, dancing to the music and singing along to the vocals. Thereafter, it was a non stop stompathon for me till the end of the night. This was helped in no small way by the rest of the DJ's selection, with "Hardcore underground" and "Shooting Star" concluding the rest of their set. Next up was a trip to the second arena. Outburst and Sykee were playing to a sizeable and appreciative crowd when I arrived and it was only polite to join them then. I remember the last time I was in this small room and the atmosphere was far bigger than the walls that contained it. This was no exception as I got near the front and danced away to the tunes the DJ was supplying. with "Elysium", "Sensory Vision", "Time to fly" and the remix of "Timebomb" all making an appearence, it was an entertaining set, but with the impromptu (yet welcome) appearence of the one and only MC Knight making a good set better. As soon as their set was over though, it was back into the main arena, for the second helping of Sy within 24 hours. Lovely. By this time I was well on the way and had absoloutely no problem with getting amongst the rest of the heads on the dancefloor and going for it. Even better, Smiley was backing him up all the way on the mic for a double headed, double 24 hour set. The crowd eagerly put their dancing shoes on as Sy got to work, it was a very different environment to HH the night before and as such Sy did not push the envelope as much as he could. No, he was there to entertain and this guy used his previous to get the job done in a seriously polished fashion. With all the tunes that you'd expect from a good, solid pumped up Quosh set and no complaints whatsoever from me ( I was pissed and loving it at this point), Sy made the Electrik crowd dance with "Look at all the ravers", "Hold me forever", "Neckbreaker", "Rock ya Hardcore" and "Slide away" all getting dropped. However this was only one half of the performance during this set, cos by this time Smiley had been joined by Casper on the mic. The two of them went b2b for the rest of the set and did themselves proud while they were there, not least by the fact that Casper was performing with an arm in plaster! Injured yet refusing to compromise you're artistic output? gets my respect. After the rave had been Quoshed, it was the turn of the home grown talent to do the same. In stepped the Geos crew an up went the volume. Having seen these guys play out before and gone away impressed, I knew I was in for a good time. What I was not prepared for was the amount of tequila I had drunk and how it was affecting me. Things were going a bit wibbly wobbly, but the poles in the middle of the dancefloor made good hand holds, to stay vertical on. One theing that alcohol didnt cloud my judgement on, was how good a job the Geos crew were doing. Playing an upfront euphoric selection and including "Eyeopener", "Power and the glory", "the AWESOME remix of "Bodyslam" and "You had it all", the boys from the south coast got me dancing, thats for sure. I was getting drunker by the minute, but all I could do was keep going. Doubly so for the final set of the night, the one and only Gammer had turned up and was just what I was looking for to finish off my weekend. I have grown to trust Gammer when he's on the decks. No matter what direction he goes down on a particular night (and believe me, he's foxed me a couple of times), he always comes up with the goods. This time was no different with a tune selection which was as blinding as it was varied. Gammer, alongside the return of Smiley and Casper returning on the mic made it all the more better. However, the start of the show was the numeorus tangents the future of the Hardcore scene made during his set. One minute it was all vocal and euphoric with "I adore" and "Getting better" being played, the next it was time to expend some serious energy as "Turn up the music" and "Free your mind" were dropped. As the set progressed, it went all upfront with "Come with me" and "Extreme", the next it went dark as can be with "State of emergency" going in the CDJ. Lastly, the final tune of the night was the only one it could be with the new remix of "Timebomb" finishing off my weekend in the best way possible. I left the dancefloor totally wrecked, seriously tired, completely pissed and soaked in my own sweat. Fantastic. Things I liked: Atmosphere - The main reason I go down to the south coast, the atmosphere at the raves is top class. This one was no exception. Lineup - For a Sunday night rave, the lineup was more than adequate, world class, mixed with up and comings, not to mention the sounds of the future, and that was just in the main arena. Room two had all the raw talent you could handle too. Decor - UV, UV, Uv everywhere, with lots of cool backdrops to react to it. As well as that a nice and powerful green laser, right where it should be, in the middle, above the DJ. Security - These guys were nice and friendly with no attitude whatsoever. The previous night I was told to fuck off, but at elektrik I was called "Sir" and it weren't even suffixed with "you're making a scene" Cashback - helps drunken bums get even drunker. Fantastic. Things I liked less: 2am finish - I didnt want the night to end, I didn't want the damn weekend to end, especially not this early. What a way to finish off a night and a weekend. In terms of atmosphere, it was definitely saving the best till last. Nothing but the best ravers in the land which creats something I've yet to find off the South Coast. Must be something to do with the water off the channel or something. I know I cant get enough of it, thats for sure. Another bank holiday rave weekender finsihes at Elektrik and I wouldnt have it any other way. Its a pity there is not one for a while, but it wouldnt be the same without the summer air outside and an exhausted feeling in my bones, so I'm willing to wait till the next bank holiday weekend till I can go. I'll see you there.
