Any doubts of Gatecrasher's ability to pull off their transition into full-time superclubbing vanish come 10pm. The 2,000 strong crowd snaking around Sheffield's 1,300 capacity former Music Factory venue is a welcome sight for the Gatecrasher crew.
Inside the venue the most striking feature of the building is the cavernous main room. Clever use of platformed areas give the room a feeling of having several areas none of which are cut off from the hub of the action on the floor.
This layout ensures the room seems busy when warming up (unlike the multi-roomed separation of home) and allows the electric atmosphere to spread like the plague by the time Tony Humphries takes to the decks in the middle of the hall.
Decor-wise it's sleek and upmarket without being pretentious - a style that was a big hit with the majority of the twenty-something clubbers we spoke to. The second room offers a more kitsch image (including a hilarious fully mirrored dancefloor wall) to match the eclectic reggae and retro sounds on offer.
We're warmed up nicely in the hands of residents Jon Marsh and Simon Mu. Speaking to dotmusic Jon told us 'At bed I'm the warm up DJ. As a warm up DJ you're responsible for building up the mood of the crowd for whoever comes on next - Tony Humphries in the case of the launch night'.
When the club is established I'd like to play longer. I'm happy with being the warm up, I think a resident should always be on at the same time. You can't have different people warming up a club in the early evening when people are coming in. I can create an identity for the club with this time slot' adds Jon.
With the likes of Laurent Garnier, Derrick Carter and a rumoured appearance from Roger Sanchez lined up for the coming weeks there is plenty of top-draw talent to keep Jon on his toes.
Down the road at The Republic, Gatecrasher normal is peaking to the full on sound of Hi-Gate's 'Caned & Unable'. Back at bed the difference between the two flagship nights is epitomised by the tune that sends the newly initiated bed crowd over the edge - Talking Heads 'Once In A Lifetime' is dropped into the mix to a crazed reaction.
For many the best is saved until last. We wait until around 4.30am for Black Legend's 'We'll Be In Trouble' (Time) and what becomes the moment of the night.
The cheeky version of the Barry White anthem fuses the sound of crowds cheering with chunky beats and basslines. Clubbers down on the floor hearing it for the first time assume the crowd is that in the building
and start cheering in response which in turn snowballs into unified chaos.
The perfect finale to an impressive first night.
