Four years is an impressive feat for the Funk Club. We’ve seen a change of home ground, lawn bowls done the Funk Club way, the emergence of some fantastic local talent and countless of impressive international acts. It seems like the heads of the Funk Club were definitely in the mood to celebrate, bringing a star-studded lineup to the Rosemount Hotel on 7 December 2007 to commemorate the anniversary.

With so many stars and such little time, it was perhaps inevitable that some of the night’s performers would have to go on stage early. Accordingly, and unfortunately, this reviewer did not make it to the Rosemount in time to check out sets from the UK’s DJ Format and the Canadian hip hop group Swollen Members. By all accounts, both acts put on great shows which were well received by the Rosemount crowd and which set an upbeat party mood for the sets to come.

Fear not though, dear reader, yours truly was front and centre by the time the USA’s Z-Trip hit the outdoor stage around 10pm on what was a balmy Perth evening. Aided by dynamic visuals and the talents of a live drummer, Z-Trip immediately launched into a 90 minute pure party set that had the large crowd variously singing, dancing, screaming and laughing.

Technically speaking, Z-Trip is unquestionably an excellent DJ, but then so are many DJs across the globe. What makes Z-Trip stand out from the pack, and what has been the major factor in his immense worldwide popularity, is his almost singular ability to put together sets which blend the obscure with the well-known, the classy with the kitsch, the timeless with the notorious. It’s a fine line but Z-Trip, for the most part, manages to maintain his balance. There’s a reason why, on the bonus DVD which accompanies the acclaimed turntablism documentary Scratch, Z-Trip gives a lesson entitled ‘How to Rock a Party’.

And so it was that balmy Perth evening. Starting out with a little number from A Tribe Called Quest, Z-Trip didn’t remain in the hip hop genre for long, moving into Johnny Cash’s Ring Of Fire before firing up the crowd with DJ Kool’s Let Me Clear My Throat and Bring The Noise by Public Enemy. After pausing to have a chat with the appreciative crowd, Z-Trip continued on his eclectic ways, getting the crowd excited for the next year’s Big Day Out festival by dropping Rage Against The Machine’s Killing In The Name straight after the melodic bliss of Stevie Wonder’s Uptight (Everything’s Alright). From there, NWA, Guns N’ Roses and Oasis all got a look in, and the crowd even got to witness Z-Trip’s proficiency on the drums during a brief but energetic solo.

To help finish Z-Trip’s rocking set, Soup from Jurassic 5 entered the stage and performed a medley featuring some of Jurassic 5’s biggest hits. Jurassic 5 has always enjoyed a strong following in Perth and the crowd response to the Quality Control, Jayou, Concrete Schoolyard and What’s Golden was arguably the biggest of the entire evening.

Leaving the stage to a rousing reception after playing AC/DC’s TNT for the last tune of his main set, Z-Trip returned moments later with Soup and Prevail from Swollen Members to perform one last track. Continuing the Australian theme, Z-Trip dropped an instrumental version of Men At Work’s Land Down Under as the MCs took turns to freestyle. A fun way to finish a very fun set. If I could afford him, I’d definitely hire Z-Trip for my next house party.

It was then left to the Jungle Brothers to finish the night on the inside stage and they continued the precedent set by Z-Trip, Soup and Prevail, freestyling over DJ Format’s Last Bongo In Brighton. While it would have been nice to have Afrika Baby Bam (the ‘other’ Jungle Brother) alongside MC Mike Gee and DJ Sammy B, it seems rude to complain given the amazing lineup. In any event, Mike Gee did a fantastic job keeping up the energy amongst the crowd as the Jungle Brothers played a collection of tunes old and new from their 20 years in the business.

All in all, a fantastic way to celebrate 4 years of funking good times. If the crowds at future events are as large and supportive as the one at the 4th anniversary show, then Funk Club has many more good years ahead of it.