It’s one of the quaint idiosyncrasies of Sydney D&B that the scene is small enough to get to know people who attend regularly, there rarely being more than one option on a given night, and so, after a while, the average night turns in to something of a friendly get together. So it was On Friday night when all the usual suspects somehow made their way to Fox Studios for Concord Dawn.

The Forum is an unusual venue. For one thing, come eleven o’clock, it is the only place in the whole of the Complex that is actually open. It’s like walking through a ghost town with no indication of a rave up round the corner until the gentle beating of the drum and the faint bass booming of the floor lead you in the right general direction. You’d have been mistaken however if you were expecting a night to match the surrounds. On entering the venue it becomes clear that there’s a real rave going on, phat sound system, vibrating walls, dancers a plenty and a bar buzzing away.

Concord Dawn’s set brought out all the stops. A negligible MC muttered away but the focus was on the music with heavy, heavy b-lines fighting it out with raging drum loops. It was high energy stuff and grabbed itself at least one convert, my companion, a self-professed drum and bass wall-sitter found him self at large on the dance floor, shaking his thing with a plum.

New Zealand has a total population a little less than Sydney’s but seems to produce more than its fair share of top class DJs and producers. Concord Dawn was showcasing both talents and doing a smart job of it, pulling in a Kiwi crowd too which seemed to give the atmosphere a party edge. All in all a good night of dancing and a vein continued after Concord Dawn by JPS & Hooves who carried on the trend to ensure lots of people will have had sore legs come Saturday morning.

On a cautionary note for gentlemen who may attend this venue in the future: When using the toilets don’t, whatever you do, lean your head against the wall in front of you. There’s water running down it and you will get wet. Beyond that small sufferance this is a top venue and, like Concord Dawn’s new album, certainly worth checking out.