The arena itself, which can sometimes look a bit bare, was hung with enough backdrops and decorations to fill a room twice the size. The lights, lasers and video projections were also up to standard, the crowd, were already ‘dealing with the matter’ despite the venue only having been open a short time before. First up for our ears delight, the Wildchild, causing much, much excitement among the male section of the audience, which my crew assure me it was totally due to the tearing tune s she was dropping, Shy FXs ‘Wolf’ and Andy C’s ‘Quest’ amongst others , and apparently had nothing to do with the Wild One herself (yeah, right lads!). Next up was the Mampi Swift that kept the massive reeling, absolutely no-one standing still, followed swiftly by Randall, playing a dark set to rinse out the deepest corners of the mind, no complaints from me, but perhaps would have been more appreciated by a Telepathy or Roast crowd.

A word about the MC’s - Det was just perfect. 100% every time, Skibadee and Stevie Hyper D working the crowd up into a frenzy and keeping them at boiling point all night, and Shabba D, despite surprising us all by being there, showed what a crowd pleaser he can be, definitely one to watch out for in the future. All of them proving how perfect it can be when the MC is totally in tune with his DJ.

By now it was becoming clear why Heat got it’s name, the place was steamin, the friendly up for it crowd increasing the temperature, steadily going crazy. Then to take us over the edge of insanity, up stepped Brockie with the Det alongside. On came that tune, the one you all know “We have a special treat, we have have a special treat DJ Brockie!!” the sing along massive were almost drowning out the music, a forest of hands in the air calling for that rewind , definitely a special treat as we got it not just once but twice. By now the crowd belonged to Brockie and Det, and they didn’t let them down, “Its never gonna stop, it’s never gonna Stop” and it didn’t, tune after tune keeping the pressure piled on, if you were standing still to this, then it’s probably time to check your pulse.

What an act to follow, just when you thought the atmosphere couldn’t reach any higher up stepped Shy FX with an exclusive cut, the sound of the ‘New at Ten’ theme tune reverberating around the arena. There could only be on headline: “Shy FX rinsin’ out Heat at Hastings Pier” a nice touch, definitely a producer who knows how to make a crowd feel special!! Brockie and Shy FX appearing back to back - separately enough to mess with your mind, together a head fuck of immense proportions.

The atmosphere was calmed down by the appearance of Bryan G, back to back with the Jumpin Jack Frost, much needed after the mayhem of the last two hours. Providing music for the mind, as well as the body, proving that Heat can cater for all tastes, Dark, Jump Up, there was something here to suit anyone’s mood.

The temperature again began to rinse when Zinc stepped up time for round 2, heavyweight DJ and hard hitting MC Shabba D, we didn’t say enough good things about him! With a good section of the crowd starting to flag, the sounds of the “No Diggity” remix soon revived them, I can vaguely up a storm before dropping Origin Unknown “Valley of the Shadows” Do you remember your mum telling you never to play with fireworks and matches? Well Hype obviously never listened to those warnings, the effect of that tune on the dance floor was as if a million fireworks had exploded in your face....danger!

One of those nights that you just didn’t want to end came all too soon, just tome for the last treat of the night up for Producer of the year if there’s any justice in the world, Andy C. If you haven’t already, beg, borrow or steal a copy of Origin Unknown’s “Speed of Sound” album, the man is pure genius.

If, like me, your getting tired of the big name promoters going through the motions night after night, then you should really give Heat a whirl, this was their 1st Birthday but they organise parties like they were born to it, and when they claim on the flyer to represent the new skool it’s no idle boast! The production on the night was enough to beat World Dance’s recent events (on a smaller scale Hastings Pier is not exactly Lydd) the DJ’s and MC’s totally in tune with the crowd and the music all night was a fantastic trip through all the styles of Drum n Bass, at the end of the day it’s not about big names, it’s not about fairground rides, arcade games, lasers or video screens, it’s all about the music and yourself at a Heat event soon.

by Joanee Greenway