Much reading and research leading up to this event lead me to believe that I’d better prepare myself to witness one of the most impressive DJ/Producers in the world; with an efficacious ability to create a sound that is responded to by a hoard of indebted fans. Mostly, I was looking forward to seeing how a DJ who has his roots well grounded in urban Bristol culture can ‘create his own sound’, bringing ‘cutting edge and coveted sounds from around the globe’. As far as I was concerned, these were some seriously extravagant promises, and I was looking to RONI SIZE to deliver.

Arriving at Heat at 11:00pm, I was graced with the sounds of FDEL vs ARMEE, and was so pleasantly surprised to arrive at Heat and hear breaks, of all genres! Not just any breaks either, incidentally happening to be the highest rating hour of the night for me. Track selection was exemplary, scratching was killer and overall set deserves an A+ for being funky and oh-so-cool. The lyric dropped around 11:30pm, “calling all dancers” enticed quite a few to the dance-floor, while they could still appreciate the room to move! Definitely looking forward to hearing some more of their work, as I am sure many in attendance would reiterate.

After such a stellar performance, I couldn’t help but feel that the live set by THE RESONANCE between 12:00am-1:00am left a lot to be desired. While I recognise the potential for a live interpretation of soulful lyric over an amazing deep ‘n dark bass-line, I felt that the performance seemed flat and out of synch. I did however, notice a number of followers in the fast-filling crowd who seemed to be more than enthusiastic about the production, and recognise that a following of this size is not established without reason. Fortunately, MK1 vs RINTEL ft. MC J RIPPA and XSESSIV certainly picked things up and set the mood for the headlining act during their one hour set between 1:00am and 2:00am.

After missing MK1’s set at Heat on 23/04/05 I finally got to witness what all the fuss is about. Dropping Zinc ft. Dynamite – Creeper, the entire club was whipped into a frenzy, with MC J RIPPA encouraging everyone to “jump, jump!”. These boys did an amazing job of getting our hearts racing and our temperatures rising in a climactic lead up to the headlining act. The pinnacle of the set was the release of Pendulum – Slam from the decks, with the intensity of the situation apparent as the dance-floor was practically impenetrable to anyone wanting to move to the front. The mood was infectious as those in attendance lapped up each moment of this compelling set, enjoying it for what it was, without preoccupation with what 2:00am was to bring.

When RONI SIZE and DYNAMITE MC stepped up, the Heat drum n’ bass crew seemingly bordered on spontaneous combustion – the atmosphere was electric! Perth certainly advertised that they were more than ready for some classic, full style, Bristol jump-up tunes. However, a major altercation occurred not once but twice during the first 30 minutes of Roni’s set, causing the music to cut out. It appeared as though some onstage mixing equipment was to blame, as the second time the problem occurred, this equipment was promptly replaced (much to the credit of the Trafik/Heat crew and the sound engineer). Drawing on a number of tracks from his latest album (Return to V), Roni played Out of breath – ft. Rahzel and No More – ft. Beverley Knight & Dynamite MC much to the crowd’s delight. Midway through the act, he cranked out the lovely lyrics of OB1 – Nothing But Time, followed directly by a remix of The Fugees – Ready or Not, then his very own It’s a Jazz Thing.

Aside from a few tracks which really got the crew worked up, it seems that the general consensus both during and after this performance was that the only redeeming grace (for what was generally a disappointing and sloppy set), was the MC-ing of Dynamite. While it appears that Roni Size had trouble meeting the reputation that preceeded him, Dynamite MC showed Perth what serious stage presence, ability to amp up the crowd, and – remarkably, knowing when to shut up and let the DJ do his thing, is all about. The deep, driving lyrics “Lemme see ya shake in ya boots, come back to the old school, back to your roots” (Mr L – Back to Your Roots) blasted through Heat’s upgraded sound-system around about 3:40am, the world exclusive as announced by Dynamite MC of Swan Cake – Twisted Individual was an awesome track, and he finished his set with the first track on his latest album, Bump n Grind – ft. Sweet Pea.

FRANTIK vs RUFKUT vs ARMEE and MC TENACITY were welcomed with open arms when they began their set, and worked everyone to the bone until the close of the club. It has to be said that the temperature in the venue (particularly on the dance-floor) got a bit unbearable at times, and with it being so packed, it was hard to escape the dance-floor, let alone the club for some fresh air! Overall the atmosphere in Heat was amazing, the organisation was very well thought out (based on feedback from the massive attendance at Shy Fx a few weeks earlier) and the Trafik/Heat crew/staff did an amazing job, as always.