The year 2008 was sent off in sensational style at Bassendean Oval with the annual Origin NYE festival. Traditionally a pilgrimage of worldwide Drum and Bass artists to Perth over the festive season, this installment saw the roots of Hip Hop and the future style of Dubstep added to the mix.

The day got off to an unhappy start with the news that headlining Hollywood star and well credentialed rapper Mos Def was refused a visa to this country and would not be in attendance. While this was a major disappointment, the vacant main stage slot gave the rest of the lineup added time to step up.

And step up they did. DJ Nu-Mark, from Jurassic 5, was the party starter, utilising his laptop and turntable setup to rinse out some classic bangers that raised the energy levels through the sky. AC/DC mashed with Drop It Like It’s Hot, The Roots’ The Seed 2.0, Aretha Franklin, J5’s What’s Golden, and the ubiquitous Rage Against The Machine remix all sat comfortably next to each other punctuated by massive spinbacks and Nu-Mark giving some shout-outs via the mic. Over on the second stage, young Dutch trio Noisia were assaulting the eardrums with their heavy cutting beats. Moving quickly through their few lower tempo breaks productions and into their popular and blindingly fast DnB beats, they quickly had the solid Perth crowd on side.

In 1988 the album It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back was released to critical and commercial acclaim. In 2008 Public Enemy, back in this city for the first time in 10 years, performed this seminal album from start to finish before a rapt audience. Before the show started, a lone masked figure dressed head to toe in a skeleton costume stalked the stage. As the band took their place at their instruments and the first beats thumped out, Flavor Flav transformed from the skeleton into the iconic rapper we know and love, the clock around his neck set to midnight and big 2008 sunglasses on his face. Two uniformed Desert Storm army grunts, doubling as bodyguards and backup MCs, performed choreographed dance routines as revolutionary leader Chuck D was introduced. Yeeeeeahhh boyyyeeeeee! The band was tight, the Public Enemy graphics on the big screen were brash, and although Terminator X was missing, DJ Lord scratched it up admirably in his place. All the classics from the album were recreated with passion – Bring The Noise, Don’t Believe The Hype, Terminator X To The Edge Of Panic amongst others. The performance was thorough and simply stunning.

From a history lesson to an exercise in future theory, dubstep heroes Skream & Benga took to the main stage for a back-to-back DJ set of bassbin madness. Cuts from Benga’s masterpiece Diary Of An Afro Warrior and Skream’s new Watch The Ride compilation competed for sonic space as swift mixing and staunch dedication to a bass heavy sound won over hearts and minds. Hearing proper dubstep rhythms on a loud festival-sized sound system is an experience I can’t wait to re-live. Some punters had no idea what they were hearing but few struggled to lock into the groove. When Eastern Jam was dropped, the place erupted into near chaos, but it was also a timely reminder to head over to stage 2.

Chase & Status did indeed drop their tune Eastern Jam, amongst other dubstep gems Running, the incredible Saxon, and TC’s Where’s My Money. But the bulk of the set was made up of the smooth DnB that the Perth crowd endlessly lap up like Homer eating donuts. Chase & Status’ superb album More Than Alot provided lots of highlights from Take Me Away to Hurt You to the final track that we’d hear for the year, Pieces. The anthemic monster had hundreds of people singing along before 2009 exploded into consciousness with hugs, kisses, champagne, and some surprise fireworks. A nice touch.

UK DJ N-Type was working out his signature dubstep snarl to fill in some of Mos Def’s now forgotten absence as the final touches were put to the mountains of gear required to produce the wall of sound that is Pendulum live. Developing from class DnB producers/DJs to a genre-blending full live band has seen the Pendulum sound morph into what is now a full on rock show. Complete with a metal guitarist & bassist, a machine-like drummer, and synth/ztar/singer Rob Swire, along with MC Verse, blasted a tight performance that delivered in unique style. Every classic track from Pendulum is reworked to fit the format. Hold Your Colour was markedly different, their remix of The Prodigy’s Voodoo People was a stand-out, and Metallica’s Master Of Puppets vs. Slam was simply awesome. Vocalist Swire sometimes failed to hit the notes in places and portions of the hometown Perth crowd were extremely sceptical about the whole show, but the onstage power & enthusiasm was undeniable. Granite closed the set and the festival in suitably excessive fashion.

Origin NYE 08/09 consistently delivered quality festival moments at every point. Musically brilliant across seemingly disparate genres, this was a new year’s eve to remember.