Sardi started the day early but with the intense midday heat and sauna like setup created by the large dnb tent, not all that many actually witnessed the first dnb set of the day. Inside, the setup was good, decent speaker stacks, a good collection of lighting, large screen for some interesting visuals and a bar at the back – couldn’t have asked for much more. Although the heat was almost too much at times, and this may have adversely affected a few peoples experience, personally I like it hot and it wasn’t really something we haven’t experienced many times before at events in Perth.

Concept stepped up next on to the podium rolling out some more energetic cuts while most sat on the grass and watched from the back of the tent. DKay’s Its on the Way provided some dancing inspiration for those already rockin’. The temperature was almost at an unbearable point as the hottest part of the day combined with largest and most enclosed arena to provide excellent beer drinking conditions inside.

Greg Packer took control just after 2:30 and the promoters took a logical step and opened a portion on one side of the tent up to provide some fresh air toward the front of the stage. With Packer spinning some more easy afternoon vibes a few more people gathered on the dancefloor as the sea breeze was in full effect outside. MC Assassin stepped up on the mic with the Packer heading toward the harder end of dubwise sounds. Rachael Claudio jumped up for some sweet sounds in the heat but the conditions only allowed for a short stay. Packer dropped Ragga Ninja and the more familiar sounds brought some life into the dancefloor. Once again, by the end of his set Greg Packer proved to be the floor filler as the tent looked filled out for the first time on the day.

Frantik stepped next to Greg Packer confusing some who were anticipating the sounds of Pendulum up next. Shimon was in hospital and had pulled out of Sunshine People after receiving a collapsed lung in the east coast portion of the tour. This forced some last minute lineup rearrangement and gave a Sunshine People set to locals Frantik, Rintel & Cash. Frantik wasted no time in changing the tempo from what Packer had provided earlier. He brought it hard & heavy while J Rippa gave support on the mic. J Rippa was certainly fired up on the mic and was intent on encouraging those on the dancefloor to increase their exuberance. With the crew from BASE TV recording Frantik rinsed out some new flavours including When the Sun Goes Down Origin Unknown rmx, Pendulum’s Bacteria rmx which received its first rewind for the day and SBS & Drumsound’s Crossfire.

Rintel & Cash took control after about an hour and a few on the dancefloor took the opportunity for some cooler air outside the tent. They kept it flowing while dropping it down just a touch which seemed well needed due to the strength of the lineup still to come. Cash dropped the easy flowing Marcus Intalex track Temperance to much appreciation gaining a reload for the second time around. Assassin was helped out by X-sessiv on the mic providing the rhymes to match the tunes. At around 6PM Frantik got back up to help out while flight delays caused further headaches for Diamond D & co. Dubplate Killaz smashed the dancefloor giving a good feel for the bassline devastation about to occur next.

Around 6:35PM Pendulum’s production engine – Anscenic & Speed entered the stage with a swag of new material. With a ragga flavoured cut from the new album Anscenic kicked off the set and we did not have to wait long. BOOOM the bass hit in trademark style and the crowd, DJ & MC knew there was only one thing to do – Rewind that. Setting the mould with an electric atmosphere inside the tent Anscenic & Speed proceeded to rewind almost every tune they played. While this may sound over the top, at the time the atmosphere swept up all before it and both known favourites and fresh basslines deserved and received the rewinds. With J Rippa and X-sessiv on the mic the local boys did not need much more hyping and Bad Company’s Vegas & Maldini in the crowd straight from NZ, Pendulum were here to put on a show. Another Planet VIP, Pack of Wolves Rmx, Bacteria rmx all got a work out along with Krust’s monster Follow da Vision and plenty of tracks from their forthcoming Album – In the Fire. After 90 mins of bassline madness Wildchild took control following a huge ovation from the Perth crowd very appreciative of their homecoming set.

Wildchild kicked her set off with Screamer from Ram Trilogy, which also could not escape the rewind. From there she took the sound away from Pendulum’s tearout bassline onslaught with some rollers including Baron’s rmx of Compound. She moved through a solid set filled with some material from her label Wildstyle and obiliged the crowd in the second part of her set with some older favourites as the tent was finally overcome by darkness and the light show fired up. Wildchild had support from X-sessiv who was helped out by the semi retired MC Interjecta, who got out from behind the camera and on to the mic. About 10 mins after he was due to start the final spot for the night, Andy C stepped up and created a huge amount of noise on sight. Wildchild mixed through her last and made way for the executioner and his partner on the mic GQ.

GQ got r-r-r red, ready on the mic and the set we had all been waiting for finally kicked off. With such anticipation for a set the first tune was basically marked down for a rewind. The vibes inside the dnb tent when Andy C got on the decks were amazing and were probably better than I have ever experienced. So many people, so much energy and all here for one thing – drumnbass. GQ described the vibe well with two words… oh Shit! as the two very tired looking visitors were jolted back into the good times they had obviously experienced in Melbourne and Adelaide only hours earlier. Andy C & GQ were dancing almost as much as the front row while the rest of us were getting goosebumps from the electrifying vibes inside. Andy C was obviously tired but he shook it off once the crowd got into full voice and he proceeded to churn through new tunes, dubplates and classics. Dropping Future Prophecies Dreadlock, Fierce & Moving Fusion’s Nows the time amongst basslines from Dillinja, DJ Hazard and Pendulum. Andy C obliged the crowd with rewinds, like those before him, but although his count did reach something like 12 it didn’t seem out of place at the time. Into the second half of his set Mr C seemed to be in more of a groove as the cobwebs faded and his mixing quickened. He tried more mixing tricks and a few classic blends that he has made his own. Mixing through more of a musical journey he played classics like Titan, Together, Zumbar and even MC Conrad’s Golden Girl and the hardcore classic Omni Trio’s Renegade Snares. As 120 minutes passed like 10, the final tune announcement came from GQ. Finishing the night with ‘one last tune’ that sounded more like one tune mixed into five. GQ did not even have to prompt the crowd as the Perth crew let out an almighty roar of appreciation for the Executioner. The noise lasted for a while but this combined with Wildstyle’s insistence from behind the decks, we could not get another tune. When the crowd could’ve inspired another 8 encores this seemed a small let down when compared to an absolutely amazing day of drumnbass finished in the most appropriate way by the executioner himself. These DJs will be back for sure. Welcome 2005

Massive respect to Loaded Dice & Delirium for a perfect and inspiring start to 2005.