The May 24 weekend is a big one up here. It's most often the first big trip to the cottage or out camping, there are always a ton of BBQs, pool parties, if we're lucky a whole lot of sun, and typically a bunch of jams in the club district. It was the perfect textbook example of a weekend done right, so I'll detail some of my exploits for you.

There were big DnB events happening from Thursday to Sunday, leaving no time to rest. I'm getting older, and I play out myself, so I tried to keep the party-based responsibilities to a minimum this weekend... Recovery time just gets more and more brutal!

I was booked to play out in London, Ontario for a small event on the Friday, and was out super late into the morning. I spent my time until Sunday just relaxing and enjoying the amazing weather on a rooftop patio with some close friends.

Sunday night was the big one. Theory Events had put one of the sickest drum & bass line-ups together that I've seen in a while, and it was a great return to the scene for them, after a few month hiatus from throwing parties.

Theory is well-known in Toronto and across Canada for some of the biggest, best drum & bass productions in the city, and very rarely disappoint... This long-weekend bender was a prime example for their great reputation.

I got up from an afternoon nap, got cleaned up, and headed out the door around 9pm, met with a bunch of friends in a downtown hotel suite, and the pre-party was in full swing by 10. A bunch of laughs and a few bottles later we jumped into cabs and reached the club in time to hear Marcus Visionary getting the crowd going, providing an excellent selection of dancefloor friendly beats.

The club got louder, the lights got a bit more hectic, and the energy in the space was hard to ignore. The crowd was hyped up to maximum capacity for Hive's intro. It had been awhile since he'd touched down in the Megacity, and it's always worth the wait. He smashed it. I couldn't tell you what tracks he was playing because I was just raving it up like a kid. Smiles and spilling drinks abound, the night was on track for greatness.

After 90 minutes, it was time for headliner #2 to step up, and Black Sun Empire took to the booth. Now, I'll be totally honest with you, I spent the full 90 minutes of awesomely powerful music in the very front row. I know this, because Monday morning I woke to find big bruises on my hands from smacking the speakers during big tunes. Yeah, I'm that guy... I know he touched on some of their classic tunes, Driving Insane sticks out in my mind for sure, but generally the whole night of music was spectacular, and the precise reason I love what I do, and love being involved with this awesome community.

Big thanks to Theory Events, and to the whole city of Toronto, for being such a fun place to live. Weekends like this make me sure that this is my home.

 

• Hive
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• Black Sun Empire

Related Links:

• Review: Sinister Sound, Toronto
• Toronto Drum And Bass Awards
• Promoter Profile: Ritual (Toronto)
• F-One Debut Album Details
• Empire Productions Archive

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