In the generous spirit of the festive season, Melbournians were given a munificent post Christmas musical gift by the Kings of Disco on Boxing Day. Shove over Santa Claus – Joey Negro and Dimitri from Paris are usurping your gift giving throne and showing the reindeer one hell of a good time! And they can go without the milk and cookies.

Hosted at what is fast becoming one of my most favored locations, Shed 14 @ the Docklands, this Kings of Disco event was a long awaited one. Although Dimitri from Paris had graced our shores the previous year, the last time I saw this swanky Parisian was way back in 1999, at Respect is Burning. A decade down the track and here we are yet again re-living and enjoying his blissful house tunes alongside our famed Yarra River. Melodic reminiscing doesn’t get much better than this.

With a vastly different Shed set up from my last escapade at the venue, the impressive room was brimming with energy, as everyone was shaking away the Christmas buffet of the day before. Despite not being in the Belvedere VIP ‘lounge’ that was smack bang in the middle of the venue, complete with glowing bar and couches, the remaining area was still great for dancing, with the main DJ stage sparkling at the head of the room. The beauty of events like Kings of Disco is that organizers have the sense not to over-sell an event, avoiding the life-through-a-sardine-can philosophy some other organisers seem to constantly inflict on patrons.

With an upbeat and blithe crowd, all in attendance were in the mood for some good ol’ house music. Not in the business of disappointing punters, the line up of DJs on hand to assist the Kings of Disco pumped up the crowd from the outside in. At the al fresco water side decks, came the sounds of Agey, We’re Not From Paris (an ironic choice of name that didn’t go unnoticed), Danny De Souza, Mark Pellegrini and many more.

Meanwhile, the sounds were also hotting up on the inside, with the insane talents of James Belias, Simon Digby + Apap, plus Franky D and Steve Douglas rocking out on the decks, warming up turntables for the Playboy himself, Dimitri From Paris. When it comes to genuine house music with spirit lifting vocals, this is the man to see. Sexy and exuberant tracks that brought everyone to the dance floor with their infectious fun. With ample room to groove, drinks in hand, friends in the surrounds, and the masterful Dimitri in his debonair suit mixing up the decks before you, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a sunny Saturday in Melbourne.

And with the industrious Joey Negro to close out the act for the evening, all of our house music cravings were catered for. Old school classics mixed up with some newer tracks and all round great rhythms.

And, I could have sworn I saw a jolly old fat man in a red suit, carving up the corner of the dance floor to these musical geniuses of house. All I want for Christmas next year is the Kings of Disco back in Melbourne.