As any Brisbane Dub or Reggae fan will tell you, it isn’t often that we are visited by quality artists from the lazy, low end of the music spectrum.  So it was no surprise when the anticipation for the Dub Conspiracy tour hit an almost fever pitch.  Combining the cream of New Zealand’s prosperous Dub scene with their premier Drum and Bass acts, this promised to be a night to remember.

Nursing a vicious hangover, I stumbled into the Arena and choked back bile as the smells of smoke, sweat and scum hit me.  Mere seconds passed before the heat and claustrophobia had my head spinning.  It was by the grace of Jah that Kora promptly hit the stage, their soothing sounds assuring me that everything was going to be alright.  Kicking off with “Burning”, they kept up a solid set of soulful dub, occasionally finding time to lead us through some more abstract interludes.

After a quick scout around the crowded Arena for a space to call my own I was drawn back to the stage by the aptly named Cornerstone Roots.  As lighter sparks lit up like beacons to the Promised Land, the five piece rocked through a traditional reggae set, catching a fire on the dance floor.  Cornerstone Roots are without a doubt the real deal, tight musicians and passionate about the culture. It’s not hard to see why they have received acclaim from reggae luminary Rankin Joe.

A wide selection of deep dub, steppy dancehall and classic riddims in a traditional Soundsystem style came courtesy of both Sunshine Soundsystem and DLT and the Mighty Asterix, before the dance floor packed out in anticipation of headliners and tour masterminds Salmonella Dub.  A sea of excited punters surged forward as New Zealand’s premier dub act started with a thundering jam to get the crowd rolling before shifting gears into the dreamy “Push on through”.

Salmonella Dub’s unique sound has developed over the past few years.  Moving away from their previous laid back organic sound, tonight they belt out their tunes with a driving edge.  Largely new material taken from “One Drop East” and “Inside the Dubplates” they dish up a set of powerful tunes with “Bromley East Roller” stirring the fans into a frenzy, hands in the air, punching the ceiling.  “Love your ways” provided a welcomed moment to stare dazedly into the eyes of a loved one before the dub veterans brings their set to a stirring climax.

A hard act to follow perhaps?  Not so apparently. Though a good portion of the crowd flees the venue early, Fat Freddy’s Drop seem unfazed.  Taking to the stage armed with fresh dub grooves, a heart stirring horn section and soul shaking sound-scapes the seven piece deliver a set that is simultaneously laidback and powerfully infectious.  Fat Freddy’s Drop once again prove themselves essential listening for the dub minded, justifying the praise from world music heavyweights like Gilles Peterson.

Stepping things up a notch, five piece Shapeshifter take to the stage next.  Their furious live drum and bass show is a sight to behold and soon has the dance floor resembling a hurricane.  The energy that comes across from Shapeshifters live show is hard to describe, suffice to say it’s hard not to be moved by such a barrage of sound.  One must also baffle at how their drummer keeps up such a frantic pace for a whole tour without intensive physiotherapy sessions after each show.

After being thoroughly rocked to the core it was time for me to take a rest while Brisbane’s finest, the Resin Dogs changed the tempo once again.  Drawing a decent crowd, I am assured that they kept the party jumping with their usual old-school hip hop inspired antics, even taking time to indulge in some dub flavoured jams in keeping with the spirit of the night.

Back to the stage for the final act of the evening, the long awaited Concord Dawn (or at least one half of).  A better climax there could not have been, as Evan ripped through a set of blistering drum and bass, the likes of which has seen Concord Dawn reach world class status.  Dishing it up hard, fast and loud he sent the remaining loyal junglists crazy with a wall of the most intense gut rumbling bass grooves and dizzying beats ever to come from the Arena’s sound system.  Ranging from the crunching guitar riffs of “Raining Blood” to the jump around sounds of “Get Ready” to the ever so catchy “Pulp Fiction” theme Concord Dawn ensured there was not a stationary arse in the whole house.

As the punters filed out into the early morning air it was smiles all round, leaving no doubt that our Trans-Tasman neighbours are welcome in Brisbane any time they like.