Fantazia - Showtime - 27/01/07 - Review 7

Its kinda rare that I get out for a bounce these days as money is tight and I don't know much folks that are into dance music of any type anymore. I'd seen Fantazia advertised for months and had even joined the forum just for the banter when I'd heard at the last minute there was a bus running from Fife.

Quality 1 Ticket purchased, forum t-shirt bought and I was ready to go. I was a bit apprehensive about going back to Glasgow for another night out as I've has as many bad as good nights there and normally it ends up costing me a fortune but the reports from the last one was positive and the line up for this one was too good to miss so off I went..

Met with a few folks at a local pub, who were already hyper and jumped on a bus for a mental journey to Braehead. Not really knowing what to expect we got dropped off at the queue about 7.30pm which tail backed way out of the entrance. We joined the queue and bought a lanyard (great idea by the way!) after about 20 mins we were at the front of the queue, a quick pat down and then a sniff by the dogs and I was in, jacket into cloakroom and a smile on my face. Had heard you had to buy drinks tokens for all drinks so topped up with them, had 2 quick beers and into the main arena.

I was well excited by this point and was straight down the front, bounced about for an hour to Stu Allan who was bashin some classics then went to the house room for the forum meet, the tunes up there were really good and met some people, sorry was a bit spangled and smelt like a tramp so I forgot a lot of the names but here goes, Elaine, Errol, Booney, Stuart, James, Paul, Kilwinkie raver and loads more, I could hear some bangin tunes in the main arena so went back downstairs and Altern-8 were playing a serious old-skool set it was awesome, then Q-tex whose dancers were absolutely stunning!, N-joy, then a surprise Dj slot, and Mallorca Lee comes bouncing onto the stage, complete with fantazia t-shirt, what an awesome set he played, I mashed my knee up against the railings from banging it so hard. Some old stuff, some U-S stuff some warp bros stuff some public domain stuff and some remix's (that's one set I gotta get!).

Then time for Bass Generator, pounding set by the big man. Went a wee bit blurry for a while and found myself in the seats at the back of the arena then saw ultrasonic, not seen them for about 2 years, still as good as ever some old tunes some new, was a good stomp, then went back up to the house room or the balcony and kept a hold of the railing, at this point I got a bit scared to go down the stairs as they were very slippy, stood there and gurned for a bit when Lenny D was on bumped into Garry-Lee then Kateybaby came up and started bleathering then Craig (badboy) came and had a natter. Saw the start of Chill FM but was a bit disappointed with their set so stood outside for a bit until they played strobelight which must have been a remix, didn't like that.

Went to the HTID tent to see Smurf largin it then it was time to go, my legs couldn't take any more, think it was about 3.30 I went to find the bus. The bus journey was eventful as the bus driver got lost on the way back as the M8 was shut and Jason wouldn't stop talking (dude you can talk forever about nothing) and one of the Glenrothes crew was sick on the bus. Made it to bed about 6.45am and crashed till Monday. It was awesome!

Good points
The dancers, the women (we need a container load imported to Fife please!) The lasers, made the night The people The organisation of the whole event was fantastic well done Fantazia Police and event staff were cool (seen a lot worse elsewhere)

Highlights
Stu Allan
Mallorca-Lee
Bass Generator
Lazers

Bad points
Not much (even for me to whinge about)
The deadly stairs in the main arena, could do with a banister & making one set up only and one set down only?
Bottles on the floor of the main arena, maybe some bins at the sides of the dance floor would be good?
Drink prices were a bit much, 3 tokens for a tenner was a bit steep
The Police did not metal detect anyone I saw, maybe could do with airport style metal detectors like what they have at the raves down south? Just a safety thing really.

Thanks to:

Renato for the bus, Craig for telling me about the bus, The rest of the folks on the Fife bus (quality banter!) Fantazia & Colours for being brave enough to do the event. All the ravers who attended it was a fantastic night (my bones still hurt!).

Respect to the forum crew for actually getting me to get off my ass and enjoy a proper night out again.

Roll on the next one!

Andy, The Lone Raver