Yaldi Boomtime! @ Fitzroy Lawn Bowls Club, Melbourne (31/03/2012)

Aside from having one of the coolest names around, Yaldi Boomtime also boasts being the bearer of party times. The collective of young electronic jocks takes the same old concept of day parties and turns that time-worn tradition into something completely rad. Utilising a European vision and many a Scottish influence, Yaldi was initially fashioned as a chance for expatriates to party like they did back home in Glasgow, but with the added advantage of enjoying the Australian sunshine. With a nod to fresh, off- centre classic house, techno tracks and re-worked classics, Yaldi was set to say goodbye to summer boisterously and with arms flailing.

The weather was definitely an added bonus (as with all outdoor events) and the Fitzroy Lawn Bowls was a very quaint place to have this get- together. And that is exactly what it feels like with Yaldi Boomtime: like heading over to a mates cool pad for an awesome house party with a sweet set up, stocked bar and well versed DJ, minus any sort of pretention. But as with most events these days, people rocked up a lot later than the advertised starting time though it’s always interesting to see a place before it’s overtaken by the hordes.

Set up at the very corner of the bowls club, complete with YALDI fencing, tables, umbrellas, a marquee, a gourmet BBQ and cheap beers available from the bowls bar, Yaldi was extremely accommodating for my eyes and taste buds. Aurally, Yaldi came up trumps with DJ’s Craig Bell, Nhat Tran and Iain Mac who played sexy cool tracks that began totally chilled out and funky and moved onto more heavy beats that you could not resist dancing up a storm to.

Yaldi also had the whole after party thing down pat. With the passes to the secret after party (later revealed to be the sumptuous if not time weary, Afghan Gallery on Brunswick St) consisting of actual army figurines with painted pink helmets and Yaldi scrawled under their feet, patrons had the choice of following up the day’s event with more dancing well into the late evening, and beyond.

Even though my heart was content with what was on offer during the day, the deal was sweetened by the fact that all profits went to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. Yaldi ticked all of the boxes – it was cool, laid back with a friendly vibe and really stood up to its Scottish name – a term meaning ‘shocked excitement’. I’m certain it will catch on and I look forward to the next instalment from these self- proclaimed ‘fine young upstarts’.