Armed with my ticket, I got priority entry and avoided the stationery main queue. Well that line deceived me when I drove past before parking. As it was raining I kept my jacket on, not realising ticket holders would not have wait. I later found myself in a MEGA mass of bodies around the cloakroom.

Around 40 minutes later I finally handed my jacket in.
Next time I will leave my jacket in the car like I usually do.

Venue is a bit like Dr Who’s Tardis
A small and discreet on the outside but very cavernous inside comprising 3 large arenas (Old Skool, Electric, Jungle) and a smaller room for the club classics which I later found out included garage.

Raindance is an institution on the rave scene and this event was packed.
There were young and old alike.

Veteran ravers who were there back in the day, some were in their fifties, parents with their teenage kids, raggas, lager lovers, posers, student types, social worker types, you name it people from every social and ethnic background.

Some were even wearing white gloves probably to show off that
they were there when they were in the in thing during the illegal tent days.

I sampled all four rooms.
The largest one, the Electric room played mainly banging house.
Also the tattooists, poster and illegal rave videos were on sale there.
That room had the most seats and later on there were equal numbers on the dancefloor as well as chillin’ out in the lounging areas.

Impressive back drops and lightings were a feature in all the rooms.
In the old school room, behind the dj stand, videos from the original Raindance raves held in a giant circus tent on a field in Barking, was played on a large screen.
That gave everyone a feel of what it was like in those days in the early 90s when there was no such things as all night raves. Clubs had to close by 3.30am

The club classic room was rather small I assumed it would play garage
but when I passed through it was playing commercial house.

I spent well over an hour in the jungle room, and took in the Blackmarket Showcase..

I was in the scene before it got really big and then left it for garage when it took off and was ‘discovered’ by the ragga crowd and certain ruff neck elements.

I had not been in to a jungle rave for years now and wanted to find out if I could still get into it, or whether my tastes had changed.

After 15 minutes or so the music was moving me instead of the other way round, and took me on a journey into sound as I began to buzz under the unique influence of the music and atmosphere.

I was rocking and hyper like everyone else, jumping, hands in the air, cheering, whistling.I even picked up the dance steps without even realising it.

It was like I had never left the scene and knew which records
were hot and ‘in’, just like the regulars.Even though I had never heard some of the records
before, when you are under the vibe you can ‘feel’ and ‘know’ like everyone else.

The Blackmarket boys did the biz, the jungle mcs were bubbling as well.
Wicked room full of action!!

I headed to the electric room and took in a drink sat down and relaxed for ten minutes and then did my stretching routine. With my body recharged I was up as the pumping sounds were keeping my head nodding.

There were large beach balls being kicked about and people bouncing around on space hoppers! Yes it was a party vibe. I dodged them as I used to large floor to perfect my latest dance moves and steps.

Yours truly drew a few whistles and cheers as I glided across the floor.

I entered the old school arena and got down and was havin’ in like everyone else. That was the most packed room. One bird who was on one of the platforms along the walls, saw me dancing and called me to join her. I took up her offer and made use of the extra space.

We chatted a bit and I asked her if she went to the Raindance illegal tent raves, which were being played on the large screens. She remarked she was still a baby then but liked the music.

I told her I was not into the scene then but I glad I am now.
The thing about the old school room, alot of the crowd there were in their teens and were too young to be around then.

It goes to show that ‘old school’ is perhaps the wrong term. It is not ‘out of date music’, or a nostalgic celebration of a so called golden age of illegal raves and the music of that period.

It is definitely a category or type in its own right enjoyed by oldies and youngsters.
This point was made by the Rat Pack crew who rocked the room after 4 am.

The funky dred RatPack mc (sorry, I did not catch his name), said old school wont last forever,
and they will be bringing out some new material made in the old school format.
I loved it in that room as well, rocking, cheering and whistling to the piano riffs and samples, as the mc kept the crowd bubbling.

There were a few garage girls in there as well.
What gave away their musical preferences, was the 2 step garage moves
they were doing as they danced to the old school.

They were havin’ it, largin’ in, and getting down alright.

Long live old school, I’ve finally jumped on the train and I wont be coming off!

After a little more stretching chilling I made my ways to the bogs through the long corridors which were now lined with tired revelers sitting on the floor.

Some ladies were in the mens loos which tends to happen
as the women’s tend to get packed out.

One of the security men politely turfed one out after reminding her she was in the gents.
I told him that we did not mind but he said rules were rules.

I finally heard what I am really into UK Underground Garage.
One of the blokes behind the decks with the dj tapped me on the shoulder
and it turned out to be a mate I went to school with. Small world.

He told me that his mate was playing, but that he djs on a pirate radio station
Shine FM 87.5 on Saturday nights.

I enjoyed it in there even thought the room was a bit small for my liking
however it allowed a more intimate funky atmosphere to develop..

Time was getting on and I spent the final 45 minutes
of the night in the main electric room.

I was on my feet into the pumping sounds.
Then for the last 20 minutes they dropped more garage!
I was larging it as the music kept me hyper.

I was still on my feet after the final record was played and lights were on.
There were loads of people crashed out in the chill out areas.

I was hyper all night without the need for substances
and I am sure among those resting were those who dabbled.

Point to note one does not have to take stuff to enjoy
themselves or last all night and not everyone at raves do.

Night over and I’m looking forward to the next Raindance.
My only moan about the night was the lack of proper air condition in the venue.

Also why don't they go back to holding it in tents on a field as we saw in the videos?

I enjoyed myself and met some friendly and interesting people, even though I did not go to pull.

Everyone was under the vibe.
I suppose it was a bit like the ‘old days’ when the ‘old school’ was first on the scene.

Well done Raindance

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this review then please do back to
Solomon Malcom, London, England and Carl Brown, Ipswich, England.