An evening filled with musical mastery, mayhem and moshpits. Luna Park really came alive on the magical night of New Years Eve, with a spectacular line-up making it the party to attend in Sydney for the final hours of 2006. It started like any other night at Luna Park, with gates opening at 6pm and a friendly crowd slowly building over the next two hours to the 6,000 capacity; a sold out night. The Ferris Wheel, Dodgem Cars, Pirate Ship, Rollercoaster and many other rides were in full rotation, with crowds scampering to queue up quickly before the lines got too long.

I started off the night by heading to one of the seven bars ready for service. With reasonable drink prices and a good selection the bars stayed very busy for the entire evening. At 7pm, the first acts of the night began their shows. One of the two main areas that housed these performances was the Crystal Palace, which is an opulent venue with a huge dance area and an overhanging balcony. The most notable performances in this room were to come from the Ministry of Sound wonder boy Mark Dynamix, as well as one of Australia’s biggest sensations this year, Sneaky Sound System.

Sneaky Sound System really outdid themselves, with a stellar performance that included all their major hits and enough showmanship to rival some of the world’s biggest stars. Connie danced all round the stage, then climbed onto a 2 metre high speaker boom so that everyone in the crowd could see her perform. Security was challenged – especially when a moshpit began to develop – with people pushing up against the small stage and groping at the performers. Mark Dynamix also played to the packed out room, starting with a few well received German tracks, followed by his usual set of daring, yet popular electro. Whilst the crowd did dissipate a little after Sneaky’s performance, Mark still always manages to draw the numbers, with a video crew evening filming his performance for an upcoming TV show to be announced.

On the other side of the park in the massive Big Top there was a very yummy visual display awaiting all that entered, with two very cool massive blank canvas ‘faces’ projected with colours and expressions depending on the music played. Craig Obey was the first headliner in, with a rather different set from his usual take on things, however he still managed to incite plenty of people to scream ‘choooooooooooon!’ when one of their favourite tracks were played. Craig even played, scratched and remixed live Sneaky Sound System’s ‘I Love It’, which was received with very mixed (yet impressed) reactions. Another absolute monster effort in the Big Top came from The Presets, with the 3,000 capacity room almost filling to the rafters (even those in the VIP section decided to join in on the crowd surfing down below). There was absolute fun and hysteria on the floor, with the crowd looking more like a Big Day Out audience than a NYE at Luna Park. The Presets played all their, now famous, hits, like ‘Down Down Down’, ‘Girl And The Sea’ and ‘Are You The One?’.

Out on the boardwalk, it was never boring, with sideshows, Brazilian street performers and the sound of many different cultures spun by the rotating DJs. African drums were played, as well as an impromptu performance by a Scottish marching band, which ensured everyone was kept jovial and in high spirits throughout the course of the night. The view of the fireworks was one of the best in Sydney, with everyone in the park clambering for the perfect vantage point just before midnight. It is unfortunate that there was not a formal countdown in place, with everyone crying out their own “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” as the clock hit midnight. I had the perfect view of the fireworks, where the bridge appeared in a sea of radiant light and the buildings all around the city shot up sparks and bright fireworks. Everyone “oohed” and “ahhed” at the sight.

After the fireworks, it was time for the man. The main man. The incredible man. The man that calls Australia home all through the summer season. Who is this man? None other than the DJ godfather himself, Carl Cox! Carl played his first set of the Sydney summer, with a record bag full of surprises that ensured every member of the crowd danced and squirmed in anticipation to see what he would pull out next. All in all, this was one of the best NYE celebrations I have experienced in a long time, with Luna Park really stepping it up a notch this year compared with their past efforts. All of the performers, security and bar staff were accommodating and should be congratulated for their patience and overall friendly demeanour throughout the entire night. Well done Luna Park, and Happy 2007 Sydney!