“Gotta get in early, gotta beat the easter Friday eve crowd…” This approach worked – as my crew and I were able to present ourselves to the door of Hippo bar just before 30 other people arrived. Once reaching the top of the stairs, though, we saw the place was already bursting in the best of ways.

Yohan Strauss was at the helm, controlling the decks nicely with some very groovy tech-house. Whilst drink queues were kept long thanks to a great demand for fancy cocktails, the young Canberra DJ ensured everyone was at least bopping a knee with a very solid set laced with acid undertones. With the bar just about full, Gabriel Gilmour moved things along nicely, playing the freshest local productions (the Biggie remix of Shepz’s Go Away was a highlight) amongst an array of international crackers. One by Martin Eyerer and Namito picked things up, and readied the crowd for the Sydney assault from Club Junque.

After such brilliant warm-ups, it was a mystery how the visiting DJ could make an entrance. However, with the use of some whisper quiet volume and the obscure beauty that is Dolphin Smack by Josh Wink, Club Junque arrived. His set was delivered with a frenzy of action behind the mixer. Quality tunes were a must, and from Pryda to his own newest production Dubai the crowd was controlled and the dancefloor became a whirl of excitement. Club Junque moved between progressive and techno with destructive effect, especially after Nicolas Masseyeff’s Melancolie dAvril.

Luke Chable arrived to the decks and was forced to mix out of the house classic Touch Me, featuring Abigail Bailey. Huntemann was a good choice. Instantly answering the challenge thrown down, Chable continued his set with progressive goodness, full of huge highs and dark trough. The crowd only continued to swell with enjoyment.

Both visiting DJs performed to an international standard, made all the more possible by the brilliant local support. An amazing night of electronic dance music and a fantastic way to kick off an Easter bender.