“Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of KillRockStar Entertainment, BigDog and the entire crew, we would like to welcome you back onboard Flight643, non-stop service from house to trance! Our flight time will be approximately eight hours. We will be flying at an altitude of 10,000 feet. At this time, make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position and make sure your seat belt is correctly fastened. Also, we advise you that as of this moment, any electronic equipment must be turned off.
“Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight. Thank you.”

Trance has well and truly made a comeback in Melbourne. These days, we’re spoiled for choice, with great international DJs visiting our shores regularly and making the long haul flights time and time again. One such DJ is the Netherland’s Richard Durand. Much-loved in Australia by the trance fraternity, he has returned again to grace us with his presence – and along the way, also promote his new CD on Black Hole Recordings, In Search Of Sunrise 8 – South Africa. This brand has built a strong reputation with previous editions by Tiesto and so it made sense that fellow Dutchman Durand would take over the reigns. Joining him on this tour was also Swedish up and comer in the trance scene, Jonas Stenberg.

Before the big event, many local trance fans headed first to KissFM’s studio / Pizza café for a pizza and a glimpse of Richard Durand and Jonas Stenberg. As guests on local trance hero, 405 Recordings’ James Brooke’s show Elements this was a special treat! This pre party definitely built the vibe for the night ahead for those attending, and also endeared us to Durand and Stenberg as they both made a conscious effort to mingle and chat.

The Palace Theater is one of my favourite venues so I was suitably impressed to see this event being held here. It’s such a great space. Joining the two internationals on the main stage were local trance hero’s Trent McDermott and MaRLo, both DJs who have come a long way of late and seem to be getting better and better. The vibe was brilliant as the crowd got into the night from the moment they walked in the door. The local line-up in the “Mile High Club” level was suitably strong as well, with Aaron Camz, Dean Stewart, Daniel Koch, Alison Spong and more pounding out the trance tunes to a small but loyal group.

Richard Durand played before Jonas Stenberg, keeping in style with his ISOS album. Much to some people’s dismay, the sound did stray at times away from trance and more into the more mainstream sounds like his Sensation White set last year. It was bangin’ though and kept the crowd well and truly dancing. Playing The Fall was very well received by the crowd, though he toned back on the mash-ups he was renowned for at Melbourne’s Trance Energy previously. Richard Durand sure knows how to work a crowd! Much to my enjoyment, he slipped in some older classic tunes that such as the 1998 & The Spastik v Lethal Industry mash up. This was great stuff! Overall, he had decent track selection and really worked the crowd. However, there was some less than tight mixing that was a let down.

Jonas Stenberg has been leaving his musical imprint upon trance since his first release in 2008, launching himself into stardom amongst the producer/DJ big-guns of the scene. Therefore, it was only fitting that this Swedish talent supported Richard Durand for the nationwide In Search of Sunrise tour. As Durand concluded his set, Stenberg approached the decks to take us on a techy, energetic ride to finish off the night. Jonas wasted no time as he slammed out his notorious productions, one after another, to provoke a massive response from the dance floor. We were treated to delightful reworks of Marco V’s Simulated, Everything But the Girl’s Missing, The Killers When We Were Young and Dennis Ferrer’s Hey Hey. These were interspersed with Stenberg’s original creations such as Timeline, Enhancer, Mayan Sun and his track with Dave Schiemann The Drop. Jonas’ mixing was seamless, and the set was well-structured with excellent progression from track to track. As we approached 5am, it was time for the magic to end as the MC announced that it was all over; we cheered and applauded for the Swede to play one more, and we got a final encore track that left us punching the air and dancing wildly.

All in all, it was a great fun night with solid people, wicked tunes and plenty of dancing opportunities. I did feel really sorry for Marlo who played a great set as well though with five people on the dance floor and about fifty people standing at the back just watching. Thanks to KillRockStar and BigDog for a fantastic night! I can’t wait until the next Palace-trance-party!