Pandemonium - Andromeda IV - Hummingbird 29/01/93 - Review

After a half hour 'treasure hunt' around Birmingham City Centre and being caught in a one way system we finally found the Hummingbird Centre and parked the car.  The Pandemonium all nighter was originally to be at The Institute but disaster struck in the form of an electrical fire less than 24 hours before starting time but it was obvious that word had got about to inform people of the late change of venue when we saw the queue outside.

We were both search on entry but I had to turn out my pockets,  I must look more shady than I thought, all was well and we walked in through the large entrance hall into the main room.  Inside the Rave was already well underway, Ratty was on the decks pumping out some serious hardcore.

A walk around discovered  a food and drinks bar, merchandise stall selling everything from Rave tapes to Vicks inhalers, crucial Ravers Gear!

Three was a cloak room but it did seem to get full early in the night probably die to the excellent turn out.  There was an excellent large chill out room, very cool temperature and matching the music.  The dance floor in the main arena was full but not to the extent that you couldn't move, everyone I spoke to said that they were  having a great time, someone I spoke to compared it to Shelly's in Stoke (can't be bad).

There were on stage attraction throughout the night, dancers, jugglers and a Chinese dragon.  One guy came on roller skates, he looked a lot better than I could ever describe on paper, if you were in the crowd he looked like he was floating across the stage - the excellent.  The lights and graphic laser were excellent, both me and Paul noticed the way the event had been set out to give that underground feel, reminding us of old illegal rave, you certainly couldn't tell the venue had been changed so late and full marks must got to Pandemonium for that.

Overall I had a really good night, especially when MC Natz turned up (unscheduled) and stormed the stage to prove himself as one of the top Lyrical MC's in the rave scene.  The atmosphere could have been a little more friendly but apart from that nothing else could be faulted.  The promoter really did do well to organise the new venue with such little time, a lot of organisers would have just cancelled.  Pandemonium events are a must for all hardcore mad heads out for a bollocks of a night, hats, whistles, whatever you want goes - the business!