When I heard one of Canberra’s youngest talents was heading overseas I knew I had to be there for his send off. At the tender young age of 19 and already an Academy resident, Bricksta has undoubtedly been responsible for a solid shuffle during one of your nights out. He has definitely been responsible for several of mine. Bricksta is set to indulge in the European nightlife while also hooking up with a few producers in London Canberra’s music scene will no doubt miss the vigour and youth of one of our favourites, but never fear, Bricksta will return soon enough – older, better, faster and stronger, no doubt.

I peeked into the friendly, familiar Transit Bar to see Celebrity Sextape on the decks and a few people in the place. After an hour and the place was swamped. It was as though people had sprouted from the pool tables, walked through the walls, used the sewer system or, perhaps, even used the door. The place was pumping with Transit’s eclectic crowd. Sadly, Staky had to pull out of her set due to illness (*damn you Canberra cold!) but in the end that was A-Okay, cos DJs Hazan and Princi got a nicely extended set. Hazan vs. Princi brought some funky tunes, bolstered with trumpets and saxophones. The beats were fun and lifted, and the DJ stage was visually engaging; decked out like a very stylish washing line in preparation for Canberra’s Owl vs. Pig clothing giveaway. Hazan and Princi equally shared the decks, track for track, each funky, house beat flowing seamlessly into each other. While it was only clothes being given away, but you’d be forgiven for thinking there were camera accessories up for grabs. Photographers were out in force and decked out with their pro gear. As the official drink of Heartbeat, the $5 Sangria flowed, with glasses littering surfaces. People danced and drank and danced. Naught felt the bitter Canberra cold in Transit’s warm embrace and the vibe was as upbeat as the tunes.

As the clock struck twelve, the man of the night took the stage so smoothly we nearly didn’t notice it. Bricksta bouncing with the renowned gusto and energy of the young gun he is, dropped a remix of Art vs. Science’s newbie Magic Fountain before bursting into an oldie with Fatboy Slim’s remix of Brimful of Asha and Justice’s DVNO to follow. Inspired by the cool, street and very wearable Owl Vs Pig tees the DJs were all sporting, punters clamoured to the stage to get their freebies. Bricksta’s captivating beats made sure they did not stray. This farewell really did feel like one, with mates hopping up on stage, arms around shoulders jumping to the beat and singing any lyrics they knew. Bricksta gave out a stack of cassette mix tapes, and I kicked myself that I missed out. It was a rad idea for sure though I was not sure if everyone would have the means to play them. It made me wonder where my walkman was!

The dancefloor at the front of the stage grew, as tables and chairs begun to encroach more and more on punter dance space. Bricksta stepped up the builds and drops, daring the crowd to compete with his boundless energy. We touched on the electro side of things a few times, with the BPM as high as my heartbeat. Bricksta stayed fun and mainstream with some Duck Sauce, displaying some local pride with tracks from The Aston Shuffle. To my dismay the Sangria ran out halfway through his set though the fun beats didn’t let my spirits droop for long. After his two hour set Bricksta, handed the decks over to Deckhead before slumping over a nearby table, obviously exhausted from his onstage antics. It made me feel a little less decrepit to realise he was just as human as the rest of us. Meanwhile, Deckhead, Heartbeat’s resident Sydney based DJ, opened up with a mash up of Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust and Mylo’s Drop The Pressure . He kept the crowd steady with some Digitalism and big, sweaty tunes to close.