astraboy

After the insanity of Elation the night before, most people would be content to stay indoors and sleep. However, this was the last weekend before christmas and as this year Christmas day would fall on saturday night and that meant a rave free weekend. Personally I found that prospect quite terrifying, so to make up for it I began looking for nights I could go to. A double weekender should make up for staying in all next weekend.

As Friday night was a showcase of the underground sounds, I needed an event which showcased the mainstream side of the scene. Fortunately, Velocity caught my attention shortly after I had made that decision.

It meant a return to Club Mist up in Wisbech, but I had no problems with that at all. My first trip up there was more than worth it and even though it werent a full nights raving, I could cope with that as the music that was on offer more than compensated.

I wanted the mainstream and you dont get more commercial than Bonkers can you? Fortunately the two main men responsible for the above compliation, namely Hixxy and Sharkey, were headlining the event. the rest of the card was slightly less "namey", but I knew that Shauney C, Abeyance, Impact and event promoter Petruccio are more than capable of suppling what I was looking for.

The MC lineup was similarly impressive, with Smiley, Whizzkid and Odyssey all booked to do the business on the night. The second room was farmed out to www.niteclubbers.net crew and while Hard trance and Hard House are not really my bag, I would be sure to have a look in there to see whats going on.

After appropriating my sisters motor and pointing it North, the drive was just under two hours in length but actually felt like less. It probably helped that I knew where I was going this time. We arrived at just before 10pm which was handy as I knew the set times and I knew who I wanted to see.

The motor was ditched in a nearby carpark and we got ourselves into the place double quick. The ever safe security greeted us and after a brief search we were inside just as the clock clicked onto 10pm. Perfect.

There was only one reason I wanted to be there before 10pm and that reason had just taken to the decks. One DJ Sharkey had just stepped up for an early 10pm set.

I doubt Sharkz even knows the definition of the term "Warmup set" so it was no surprise that despite the early hour and the party crew still making their way through the door, he went for it full tilt in his own inimitable manner, namely top notch Freeform Hardcore from the word go.

It usually takes me a little wile to get going when I'm at a rave, but on this occassion I was having no problems. The music's danceablilty and the inlcusion of the Freeform's very own specialist MC, Odyssey saw me getting into the music at lightning speed.

Of course, it was helped by the eloquent tune selection. Most of it was lost on me as I was too preoccupied with dancing compared to IDing, but "Addagio", "This is Extreme", "Overdrive" and the totally wicked "No one can compete" all instantly lept out as highlights.

For the next set it was the turn of the promoters to swap disciplines. Odyssey put down the mic and Petruccio took to the decks. He was joined by MC Smiley on the mic and together they set about giving the ravers what they wanted.

In a hop over from Shark'z Freeform selection, Petruccio went for it in the vein of Popular upfront UK Hardcore and Smiley did the same in his own way on the mic. Smiley deserves a special mention here as his lyrical accompanyment to the tunes made me sit up and take notice. Most noticably the tweaks and imporvements he has made to his most well known chats. I particularly liked the ammendments to my personal favourite, the rushy "Ordinary people".

But I cant forget Petruccio amongst all this. His tune selection was just as good. I came to this party for the best in the upfront mainstream sound and this set made sure I didnt leave dissapointed. How could I with "I feel the Energy", the remix of "You take me away", "Heartbeatz" and "Died oh R.I.P" all making welcome appearences.

By this time the Venue was getting fuller and fuller. It would seem that most of the party crew in the place had had a few pints before coming on down to the rave and now that the pubs had kicked out the venue was nice and full.

Good job too, as the next DJ was due up and it was the one and only DJ Hixxy as well. If that werent enough, Storm had made a surprise appearence at the party so together with Whizzkid, they got on stage and blasted the ravers with their patented MCSquared show.

The party reached critical mass at this point and I was having a great time too. The music, the ravers, my friends around me, three of the best in the business on stage, it all came together as one. Cue lots of overenthusiastic raving.

Tune wise it was a case of back and forth in styles. Hixxy alternated between tunes which by turn were uplifting and rushy then 100% no nonsense stompers. Reeling off a couple will give you an idea of what I'm talking about, namely "Slide away", "Crazy Love", "I adore", "Eyeponer" and "turn up the music" See what I mean?

With the headliners out the way, the party progressed to the next level. Only the most up for it would stay for the last couple of DJs, but I saw very little thinning out of the crowd as Shauney C and Abeyance took to the decks. They were joined by Smiley and Odyssey on the mic and they all went for it at once creating a very pleasent 1am performance.

Another set which stayed firmly in the popular UK Upfront genre, what set it apart was inclusion of lots of my favourite tunes. These two seem to favour the rushier, euphoric tune selection and I werent complaining at all. Particular when their set contained "I adore", "Star Tonight", another welcome airing of "Eyeopener" (Especially when Odyssey dropped "Chemical to the brain" over it), the maddest tune of the moment "Crackwhore" and the tune that sent a thundering rush down my spine, the upfront remix of "Injected with a poison"

Before I knew it, it was last set time. These short nights always go too quickly, but I didnt mind too much as it was another top DJ who was taking us till the end, namely DJ Impact. Smiley and Whizzkid were on peak form for all the mic work necessary and the ravers on the dancefloor were well up for more of the same.

In the event it werent exactly the same as Impact tweaked the theme of the night with his own personal interpretation of "Upfront Hardcore". Personal interpretation it may be, but it was no less dancable and enjoyable than the rest of the night, quite the opposite in fact with Impact doing the business in the simplest way possible, playing loads of my favourite tunes.

"Run Away", "Deep Down", "My Dreams", a VERY nice mix of "Pink Champagne" and best of all the rush fest that is "Chemical Love" all made for a set which was VERY Dancable, VERY enjoyable and the perfect end to the evening, especially with Smiley in Whizzkid in a league of their own on the mic. Whizzkid batently having lots of fun while he was up there, beatboxing his "Electrik" chat while "24-7" was being played and caining his "Thundercats ravers" lyric were notable highlights. Oh and giving Santa a hug too.

However, while most nights would have closed, this one had yet more surprises. about 5 "Last" tunes gave the game away and when the assembled ravers were informed of a half hour extension to the party, it was open season all over again. Petruccio and Odyssey took over for this period and finished off the night for those with the stamina to go beyond the published finish time.

Once again it was only the biggest tunes to deliver the coup de grace and I was loving every minute of it. Especially with the high standard set with anthems such as "Takin me higher", "Ultimate High", "Round in my head baby" and "Through the Darkness" finishing off the night.

Things I liked:

Venue - The safest club in the UK? Well, if you can show me another venue where the bar manager dresses in fluffy boots, the security are not only ultra safe but are seen smiling, dancing and blowing rave horns during the night and the owner of the place personally comes up to you and asks if you're having a good night then I'll change my mind. Till then, Club Mist takes the title.

Production and decor - Three lasers within the place, a fully plumbed in and rave capable lighting rig including lots of UV, supercharged smoke machine and a giant inflatable waving santa on stage. For a 3am finish this was something special. I also like the way the event was prominantly namechecked and the giant winter snowflakes were cool too.

Atmosphere - Top party atmosphere in the place. Whilst the number of people dressed as ravers were outnumbered by people dressed as they would on a normal night out, the atmosphere was just as good as any rave you can mention. Everybody, including the performing artists and venue staff was having a good time.

The Extension - Illegal rave in place! about 5 "last" tunes then an impromtu half hour extension meant it was near on 4am before we left. The promoters in the place took control in this time and rocked the place till kicking out time. Respect.

Free Stuff - Walked out with two CDs, an FBI promo and a pair of nailclippers! All thanks to people handing them out on the night. Nice one.

Surprise MCs in the place - Sharkz and Storm getting on the mic when they werent expected to. Does it get any better than that? Hell, Storm werent even supposed to be there according to the flyer I got. Bloody mic blaggers eh? :wink:

Oh and Whizzkid was Excellent. Apparantly. :wink: :wink:

Things I liked less -

Answer me this, why is it always so bloody cold in Wisbech when you leave at 4am?

Last party before Christmas and I wouldnt have chosen to be anywhere else. Top music from start to finish, terrific atmosphere in the place and smiling up for it ravers dancing till the final tune. You cant ask for very much more than that on a night out can you?

I particularly liked the way everybody who was left at the end of the night was more than happy to stay on for the extension for no other reason than they didnt want to stop partying. This on top of all the other aspects of this night out made me more than happy that I had ignored my complaining body, got myself in the motor and up to where the party was going off.

If nothing else it made me realise that Club Mist is going to be a regular haunt for me from now on. The combination of attitude free partying, plush surroundings, kick **** sound system, sublime music and the right staff work ethos creates something really quite special in that tin box in Wisbech. Velocity is a prime example of what they can come up with when the right promoters come along. I'll see you at the next one.
astraboy.

Shouts to: Kaylene (x!) Mad Vic, Rob Overlode, IIHTIDII, Bubble, Mantra, Jutt, Xtra-C, Andrew, Briggsy (thanks for the cracker mate), Hixxy, Sharkey, Abeyance, Shauney C, Impact (nice to see you again mate), Smiley, Whizzkid, Storm, Odyssey & Petruccio (Nice work lads and thanks for sorting us out) The Bar staff, Security, Rob the venue owner and his missus. You're all the safest people in the world.

mj

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