During a week in which the world turned its attention to Berlin and the celebrations there marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, a taste of Berlin came to Sydney with the latest Beck’s Berlin Session held at the Civic Hotel. After having missed out on experiencing much clubbing in Berlin during my last visit there, due to an unfortunate bout of traveller’s sickness, I was eager to find out what this reflection of the current scene in Berlin would be like.

Arriving just before 10:30PM, Simon Caldwell – a natural local choice for a night like this – is playing the opening set on the Ground Floor. Not surprisingly, with Becks sponsoring the night, all beer except for Becks has been cleared from behind the bar. The Becks touch is also evident in the red and green lighting used throughout the venue, whilst the visuals dished up by VJ Morph on the ground floor screens frequently reference Berlin.

Simon’s set amply delivers in classic Caldwell style (I can’t recall the last time I didn’t enjoy one of his sets), but I’m eager to explore what else in happening over the other floors of the Civic. After a delay in the opening of the Underground level, despite it getting crowded upstairs, I finally experience this part of the Civic for the first time and immediately love it. The wall of classic booths, the red lights and a somewhat soulful number from Nathan McClay when entering make for a loved-up vibe.

McClay’s set features a series of lush tunes, gradually building up to a crescendo. It’s hard to stay off the dance floor, and I get caught up and miss the start of Âme’s three-hour set, which started at midnight on the Ground Floor. Coming up the stairs the music feels deep, with bassy percussive beats accompanied by understated melodies. Despite it still being early, I could feel an epic-style set was to come. Catcalls cry out over the music as it picks up a notch, Âme dropping a few upbeat crowd pleasers. To have a break from the warm, muggy atmosphere of the dance floor, I head to the first floor for a while, where the CO-OP DJs are dishing up an eclectic, funky set.

Returning at about 1:45 after grabbing a bag from a friend’s car, I head down to the Underground to find it rammed, the crowd lapping up Benji Fröhlich’s nu-disco tunes. With a darker atmosphere than earlier in the night, a green laser projects over the sunken dancefloor whilst eager dancers cavort up on the stage, lost in the music, everyone united by a desire to party.

Back upstairs, Âme’s set is more serious, but the dance floor is just as packed, everyone grooving non-stop to the solid beats being dealt out by Âme. The music gets fairly hard at times, the four-four beats pumping. It’s hard to choose which floor to be on, between this and the Underground (unfortunately, there’s no time to check out the First Floor again). And all too soon, both Âme and Benji’s sets wrap up at 3:00am.

Shortly after the start of Murat Kilic’s set on the Ground Floor, with its slutty, techy tracks, I head downstairs to catch Move D. Unfortunately, especially after hearing later reports praising his live set plus his later DJ set vs. Âme, I’m getting too tired to take anything in, and decide to head on home. Whilst no revelations were delivered, it was a great night out partying, in classic Berlin style.