I very nearly missed this event due to my plans being drastically changed at the last minute, but luckily Kev decided to go so I went with him and a few other USH.NET ravers. We arrived at The Pleasure Rooms at 11:15 and as soon as I got in I noticed how busy it was. We were discussing how the name of a promoter can affect the event, as this was virtually the same line up and venue as Labyrinth the week before, but considerably busier. First set was Vinylgroover and although I missed quite a lot of it the part I did see was fairly good. He did an extended set until about 12:00 and played a good selection of tunes. Next up was Vinyltrixta and he also played an extended set until about 2:00. The reason they both played extra was that as with most raves these days there were a few DJ's who didn't turn up. Hixxy and Slipmatt failed to show, which was especially bad for Slipmatt as he was supposed to play in the Old Skool arena as well. It is to be expected though as at virtually every rave I go to at least one of the booked DJ's doesn't show. This didn't matter that much though because a few of the resident Labyrinth DJ's filled in for them. Storm (the DJ not the MC) played at 2am and he was fairly good. Next up was Sy at 3:00 and his style has changed a lot in recent months. In the past he has been one of the main players of cheese but since Energy 99 he has gone a lot more trancey. He did play some wicked tunes though including his own Quosh tune "Kick it" which is probably my favourite tune at the moment. MC Storm showed up just before halfway through this set. Shout to him as I was speaking to him at a few points in the night. At one stage he had me in stitches when he was MCing. He spotted someone asleep on the car next to the stage, jumped over from the stage onto the bonnet, bounced up and down a few times to wake him up and then jumped back to the stage and carried on MCing. The poor bloke on the car had no idea what was going on. :) After Sy came Easy Ed. This was the second time I had seen him play in two weeks and I am impressed by his style. He plays a good selection of tunes in a style that is similar to Slipmatt's and he can scratch pretty good as well. It is good to see a smaller DJ making his way up through the scene and I think he is a name to watch for the future. Last set of the night was Vibes at 5:00. He had travelled all the way down from Manchester after playing Compulsion but this didn't seem to have tired him out and he still played a great set. Most of the DJs there were playing a lot more trancey so he was the one of the only ones who played a true happy cheesy set. He played a lot of his usual tunes to lift the crowd. Overall this was a very good night, as can be seen by the way I travelled all the way down from Sheffield to go there. The Pleasure Rooms might be a smaller venue but it has a really friendly atmosphere. It has a regular crowd who won't tolerate any attitude so the venue doesn't have any problems with troublemakers like the Sanctuary has with the Birkenhead. If you've never been there yet then I'd advise you to go soon. Addicted to Dance is definitely worth going to and would be supporting the roots of the scene if you did do. Dreamscape and Labyrinth's 18 hour NYE event looks really good and I would like to go but as a dedicated skelter fan I feel I have to go there. Shouts to Kev, Slammin Sam, Happy Bounce, Rich, Jo, Conrad, Cris E Manic and Emma. Slammin Vinyl anyone?
