It just seemed like yesterday the last major trance and progressive international show hit Adelaide. A couple of weeks back, we were graced with Anthony Pappa and now we were lucky enough to have Robert Nickson from the Netherlands drop in his first time ever. With credentials to his name such as managing Armin Van Buuren’s Empire label, I knew I was going to witness someone play with truly great taste in trance music.

I also thought the fact that this was being held in the main room of HQ was testament to the reviving trance scene in Adelaide. There have been a select few over the recent years who have put their blood, sweat and tears into this genre and us as the punters are starting to reap the rewards! From what I have seen, more and more people are starting to go out to trance nights and although some of the HQ main room was closed off, it still did not stop the people streaming in throughout the night. The expected number was seven hundred but personally I think there was more through the door than that. Trance is well and truly alive in Adelaide people, and only growing stronger.

As for the night, with the likes of the Echo crew in support, the production for the night was set to be of the usual high standard. As we walked in the door, we were greeted by an up tempo pace set by local trance stars Solace and Brett James playing back to back. Throwing in a twist of uplifting vocals, we were already on our way. Again I heard Solace drop the Super 8 and DJ Tab track Needs to Feel – this is really becoming a local trance classic. Trust Solace to deliver quality. The dancefloor continued driving on, building the vibe up steadily but surely and I don’t know which of the two dropped it but I loved hearing Madagascar – absolute tune! Personally, I reckon this is Art of Trance’s best recent work.

Headliner Robert Nickson came on early on in the night not long after Solace and Brett James, just after midnight. He came on strong with a nice, feel good, hit it hard and home track. I had no idea of the name of this track but I’d love to find out. I had never heard Robert Nickson play before and I am always one who is keen to hear what artists can deliver. He really won me over when I heard the all time trance hit Heaven Scent. This track always slams it on a loud, crisp system and I had not heard this for one for ages at any club night or event. It felt like I was tranced out and loving the Dutch sound. Trance has long been a huge hit in the Netherlands and it shows in most of the DJs we see from this region.

One thing that did stand out in *Robert Nickson*’s set is that he loved his solid bass. It was that deep, crisp, well rounded punching bass line that just reverberates through your body – empowering stuff. It was interesting to hear a remix of *The Prodigy*’s Smack My Bitch Up. This did however seem to be an attention getter, drawing more punters to the floor and the foundations of HQ were rocking.

Soon after this, Robert ended off his hour and a half. I have seen better sets from internationals but I have also seen much worse. Robert Nickson is something new for the Adelaide scene and he should certainly be checked out next time around.

Damage then picked up where Robert Nickson left off, hitting us with just as much as energy but with a more emotive feel. I really got into this set and would have to have been one of the best mixes I have seen Damage play for a long time. When he dropped Ferry Corsten’s Beautiful I practically ran from the top bar down to the front of the dance floor. This track surely has to be the embodiment of the modern trance scene – quite honestly the perfect track. The masses did not know where to turn or what had hit them. We had no choice but to dance hard.

The other locals such as Cetra from Trance SA, Mr S and Nathan Grech also gave solid support. Without our local talent, we would have no trance scene.