In celebration of one of the most in demand parties over the last year, Ultra took to The Metro for their 1st birthday. My first Ultra experience and my Metro experience all in the same night, after hearing so much about both I had high expectations. After making my way up the Metro stairs past some most unfriendly security guards asking for my ID (for god knows what reason), we were greeted with fairy bread from the Josh And Friends Team.

With an array of arcade games for free use in the foyer, I couldn’t go past a quick game of “Dance Dance Revolution” before running in to catch the end of S-Dee’s set. A hard edged blend of hardstyle before the onslaught of happy hardcore from Duckie and Sims. With tracks like “Fly Away” and Duckie’s signature “Bang 9” the crowd was well and truly in party mode.

The production was first class in the main room, the lasers… Out of this world and the sound was exceptional. With every track the lighting complimented it and took the ravers to another level. On the stage MC Whisky and MC Riddle were hosting the main room. Both totally in-tune with each other, they made it seem so easy and completely natural. 

The stand out set for me was Alladin and Midian’s “Ultimate Old Skool” set. The crowd was in sing along mode, and with Whiskey and Riddle amping up the vibe it was a special trip down memory lane. A surprise they chose to have an old-skool set at the peak of the party, but a welcomed one.

A quick check on the 18 plus room was worth the hunt, with Tempa blasting out hard trance to a packed bar at the Metro. People dancing on stage and the mezzanine, and as he dropped Run DMC’s “It’s Tricky” into the anthem for 2005 “Tricky Tricky” everyone went bonkers. Technically a great mix, another up and comer to watch out for.

Back in the main room Whiskey and Riddle presented a first birthday cake to the promoters of Ultra and the crowd screamed out “Happy Birthday”, a lot of little touches made my night special and this being one of them, along with the free games, welcoming committee with fairy bread and the friendly vibe that filled the entire Metro.

Matrix and Tom-E came out dressed in white with masquerade masks and the floor went crazy. They ripped up their hard style and hard trance set with so much energy, and passion. Back in the second room another hard trance master took to the decks, DJ Shadower, and for the few minutes I caught of him he was brilliant. A loyal bunch of ravers were stomping away down the front and the atmosphere was electric.

The last set of the night, Josh Van Aalst and Suae, left us all wanting more. The 3am close time was a little disappointing, but you can’t change a venue’s licence. All in all a fantastic party from everyone involved. The production, the DJs, the MCs, everything was out in full form. A fun atmosphere and a friendly crowd, everyone showing Ultra a happy birthday, although a few pushy security guards dragged the beginning of the night down, but by 3am I was convinced Ultra devotee.