Dance News.

May is traditionally a slow month, and after the onslaught of the last four months, I for one welcome a bit of a reprieve! May is also the month I took over this column back in 2002, and reflecting on that time I've gotta say I've never been more impressed with a year than this year. I know I probably say that every year, but this year I've seen more acts that I thought would never come to Adelaide, and they've hit our little town and absolutely rocked! Shows like the Mini-V and Future Music Festival and even Womad have shown that Adelaide is open to better variety in its music than it's ever been!

Fri 4 May at HQ is the ever popular Grand Jam, bringing together the best of Adelaide's dnb DJs to play the best in drum and bass. The first two hours of the night will be devoted to the best of liquid as we pay tribute to labels like Signature, Hospital and Soul:R, followed by Adelaide's #1 dnb DJ Patch on 3 decks and two CD players. MPK follows up with a tribute to the mighty Pendulum set. Mark 7 follows dropping dance floor bombs and John Doe with a best of vocal drum and bass set.

Direct from Chicago USA is the unique Bryan Jones. Following in the footsteps of such luminaries as Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, DJ Sneak, Judge Jules and Felix the Housecat, Bryan Jones' tunes are in high rotation and remixes talents in high demand. Catch Bryan Jones on Sat 5 May with locals Ezee.G, Ben James, Audioporn and BOS at the Marble Bar.

Bass Element started a year ago with a bang and nasty bassline, and to celebrate their 1st birthday they're bringing over the exceptional talents of Bulletproof from New Zealand. Joining them from the east are new comers to Adelaide, Centaspike and Spherix, to bring the badness. Representing the local scene are Patch, Fiction, Filter,Mpk, Mark 7,D n Bassador and Underground. Head to Tonic on Fri 11 May for what's to be a great night of hard dnb.

This year the Hilltop Hoods have been busy re-recording their platinum selling album "the Hard Road" with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for "the Hard Road Restrung". To celebrate their launch, on Sat 12 May at the Entertainment Centre the Hoods will performing with a 31 piece orchestra in their only performance for SA in 2007, and it will be filmed for the DVD release. This launch show extravaganza will also be supported by fellow Obese label mates Muph & Plutonic, with DJs Reflux and Shep spinning tunes and Trials of Funkoars fame will be hosting the night. This concert is certain to be history in the making and a milestone event not to be missed by any lover of live music.



Julian Cram

funkyj@funkyj.com