One can’t quite recall the last time Brisbane was host to a DnB triple-header. Strange coincidences saw two separate promoters book junglist headliners on the same night in the two rooms of the venue formerly known as the Shamrock. Downstairs played host to New Zealand’s dynamic live outfit Shapeshifter, while upstairs featured the respected DJ tandem of Break and Fierce, direct from the UK.

We were greeted at the entrance by a particularly loathsome creature who had taken it upon himself to personally discipline the wayward junglists of Brisbane. “Single line, get your tickets out, nobody move.” This boot-camp graduate took particular pleasure in singling-out the casual dress sense of one hapless punter “Oi, I don’t wanna have to see yer underpants, pull those damn jeans up”. Those who did not comply were swiftly served their marching orders. So after I tucked my shirt in and had my shoes inspected, our militant friend graciously permitted us entry. But not before eyeballing us with a degree of suspicion usually reserved for pedophiles in kindergartens. Management really need to sort this out. Common courtesy dictates that guests should not be made to feel like criminals.

Such angst was rapidly forgotten as we trounced upstairs to witness Sektile kick off proceedings with his smooth, considered selections. Weaving between the old and the new with tracks from Amit, Breakage, Teebee, Alix Perez, Break and Klute, Sektile set the tone for the barrage of beats that would soon follow.

After some dilly-dallying in the halls of the aging pub, my contingent ventured down to the ground level of the Shamrock where NZ act Solaa played to a rapidly filling room of enthusiastic punters. Their slick funk, soul and hip hop hybrid found good response with the gathered. While tight and polished in their performance, this crew has little to distinguish themselves from other groups that charter similar territory. While their set was warmly received, it was quite clear who the vast majority of the crowd were here to see.

Aniki and Cutloose were charged with intermission duties and dispensed a highly entertaining, funky mix of party classics, bootlegs and underground favourites.Sadly, most punters appeared mildly disinterested as this duo did their thing at diminished volume. Their loss, as it’s not every night you hear Mr. Fraser drop Ghostface in a club set. Priceless.

When the deep thud of a drum kit unceremoniously interrupted this duo, the crowd knew that it was time. Frantically all in attendance jostled for prime viewing position of the second group of Kiwis to grace the stage that evening. Relaying the nature of Shapeshifter’s live show through words proves futile at best. It’s a tired cliché – but you really had to be there to have any notion of the reaction that this group can illicit from a crowd.

Enigmatic frontman P Diggs engaged the massive right from the get-go. Reaching out both figuratively and literally, his commanding persona charmed the audience as he warmly greeted all through song. Immediately it was evident that much of the crowd were card-carrying Shifter fans, as many could be seen mouthing the lyrics silently as Diggs vocalised. Being that their music is vastly more song-based than much of the genre, Shapeshifter possess a sound at which certain hardnosed DnB purists might scoff at. A pity, as the musicians behind Shapeshifter are capable of crafting tearing, raucous beats that would leave any serious junglist dancefloor reeling in it’s wake. That such peaks are littered between serene, blissed-out grooves proves key in creating a flow which neither tires, nor bores their audience.

Fronting a set that was dominated by vocal numbers, it would have been refreshing to see this crew flex a few instrumental cuts to mix things up. No doubt the vocal stylings of Diggs are formidable, but only the extended, jammed-out breakdowns allowed the players to strut on this particular evening. With Shapeshifters’s powerful set drawing to a close, we decide to make a premature exit to avoid the inevitable cattle rush of hundreds of rabid junglists migrating upstairs for a second dose of international DnB action.

Break and Fierce wasted no time in raising the temperature a few degrees for cramped venue. Unwilling to venture far from their trademark driving, linear style, they crafted an unrelenting fast paced set. Forgoing long breakdowns in favour of quick mixing, their style lacked the ebb and flow that was present in Shapeshifter’s performance. Not that it mattered any, as a rammed floor bobbed contentedly to the continuous flow of beats.

Thankfully dispensing their rewinds with a restraint uncommon for touring UK junglists, the duo only pulled back on two occasions. Quite surprisingly one of the biggest crowd responses was reserved for the dropping of Calibre’s “Mr. Maverick”. An unexpected selection, and one which drew unusually rowdy hollers from the entire floor. Hence the tune was promptly rewound to devastating effect. Each time Fierce touched the decks the old school contingent secretly hoped that Techstep pioneer would dish out some classic No-U-Turn tuneage. As I made my swift departure two hours into their set, this wish was left unfulfilled, as the Break and Fierce rollercoaster hurtled on unfailingly.

In all, a successful night on all fronts – one which brought smiles to the faces of purists and neophytes alike. It was fantastic to see a whole bunch of people that I had never see at DnB night before, seriously getting down to some proper beats. With continued traffic on the forums post-show, it looks like this one will be talked about for quite some time – at least until Teebee and Calyx roll into town next month.