In a post-rave era, Brisbane’s dance music scene is searching to reclaim its authenticity. Watered down club nights and well billed yet over sponsored festivals strive to remind us of the corporate interests that wish to hijack our culture for their own ends.

That original independent spirit and community based co-operation have all since evaporated under the weight of draconian legislation, the threat of senseless violence and the inevitable exploitation of a culturally rich and beautiful scene.

Kana is emerging as a key nexus point on the evolution of Brisbane’s search for that long lost authenticity and the love of music for music’s sake.

I had heard of the Kana parties through a friend who claimed that their grass roots altruistic spirit may indeed be what I have been craving in a scene that simmers with as much potential as Brisbane’s does.

Although advertised minimally, Kana’s success is no doubt due to the word of mouth that has spread throughout the core of Brisbane’s “in the know” element.

Having no idea where the party was to be held added tremendously to my excitement in the days leading up to the event. There was something about anticipating the unknown venue, whose legitimacy was also unknown, that recreated that “underground” feel. The fact that the party was also completely free further cemented that air of counter cultural pride welling up inside me.

Calling the info line in true ‘old skool’ style directed me to the recently renovated cliff tops at Kangaroo Point, with sweeping views of the river and city scape.

The first clue that I was in the right place was the unusually large line of people outside the public toilets attached to the small complex that hosted the party itself. Without exception every single person in that line was dancing, bopping or grooving. As I approached the small complex to walk around the back into the party area I was I could hear a build up getting louder and louder, timed precisely for me to enter ground zero.

Have you ever seen that ultra cheesy yet ultra lovable movie, Groove? If so you will be familiar with that one scene when Digweed plays Heaven Scent and everything goes slow motion as the party goes nuts? Well I had walked directly into a tech-house version of that scene, set atop multimillion dollar views, amongst less clichéd party animals being observed by “norms” going about their Sunday afternoon activities, infinitely curious and confused as to what they were witnessing.

I got to the venue until about 5pm, half an hour after the start time and things were already off the hook.

What I felt most at this point was excitement at Brisbane having reached a new benchmark in entrepreneurial, community based dance music projects, like Kana. That and the fact that I haven’t truly seen a crowd going nuts like in a very long time. I couldn’t see through the crowd to see who was spinning most of the time and I don’t think that anybody really cared (no offence to the DJs). What Kana represented was bigger than individual identities or big name acts, and that was reflected in the attitudes of the crowd.

A highlight for me was the girl dancing with a puppy on her shoulder. I may be a little bias but I swear the puppy was smiling at me. Kazu Kimura was great and had the crowd of approximately 120 dancing, whistling and yelling non stop. I also loved it when the lights of the small complex automatically switched on and the crowd all cheered in unison as though the lights were powered through some use of their social and dance energies.

One thing I must commend the party goers on was the respect that was showed for the venue space. When I left in the evening the place looked no messier than one would expect a public space to look on any given day. This was a major stand out to me and once again affirms the need for independent, authentic events like Kana. Events like Kana, created with altruism (free party, using public space for the public etc) foster responsible self moderation, which in my opinion re-enforces the need for a stronger counter culture within Brisbane’s dance music scene.

Brisbane has a great community and Kana has given me another reason to enjoy it to the fullest once again.