So inthemix is 6. What better way to celebrate that with a smashing great big party? Oh, and just for good measure, why not have it in the biggest nighclub in Sydney, a place which has figured so significantly in our collective clubbing experience over the last 6 years.

The first thing one couldn’t help but notice was the jawdropping length of the queue. We’re talking early days Sublime, past IMAX kind of long. I heard later that some loyal ITMers queued for an hour and a half. But there was not a trace of bad blood inside, just a heaving mess of trashy inthemix devotees, celebrating the 6 year journey of inthemix. Not that we need an excuse…

It’s difficult not to notice what good shape Home is in these days – the facelift (and cash injection) has done wonders in removing the faded, slightly shabby feel of recent years. It’s also sounding amazing, thanks to a JBL Vertec line array system that would service a small suburb. The new terrace layout works like a dream, with none of the awful bottlenecks of yesteryear. Although sitting on chairs where the DJ booth use to be is quite a surreal experience.

The atmosphere on the upper level was celebratory to say the least, all misty-eyed nostalgia, drunken reminiscing and assorted revelry. The soundtrack was a nostalgic trip through the last 6 years, with even DJ Drey swapping the keyboard for the wheels of steel.

Headline birthday guest Hyper didn’t disappoint, throwing down a set of rocky, guitar-laden breaks. The man truly is a master of his craft, even if his current tastes don’t particular set my world on fire. The real highlight of the night was Bass Kleph, who proved again that we have an absolute profusion of talent right under our noses. It must be nice after years of hard slog, to have one of the biggest remixes of recent years to your name AND be playing to crowds of thousands of people who truly appreciate your work.

Closing duties went to those incorrigible Funktrust brats, who played precisely what we all wanted to hear at 5am. Anthems. No More Conversations took the cake so to speak, sending the crowd into a singalong frenzy.

It was a damn good night, and a fitting birthday celebration for the incredible community that inthemix has become. So happy birthday ITM, congrats to Drey and Libby and the rest of the team, and who knows, maybe by the time ITM’s 10th birthday rolls around it will be time to upsize the celebrations.. Hordern anyone?