Summadayze, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

Now in its 12th year, Summadayze appears to be struggling not only with the preceding New Year’s Eve event, Sensation, but also with various other festivals competing for the crème de la crème of dance acts touring these shores. Indeed, it would appear that this groundbreaking festival is bearing the signs of fatigue, as punters are increasingly spoiled for choice with other events. It also appears that the weather is intent on being rather gloomy and cold, resembling less like a summer’s day, and more like scenes from Wuthering Heights. Certainly, last night’s fireworks display in the city had to be cancelled, due to a torrential storm, complete with lightning. Nevertheless, Krafty Kuts enlivens proceedings at the Strobe Stage, with his trademark mixture of breakbeats, Latin-house grooves and swirling synths, while spinning tracks such as Fedde Le Grand’s ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit.’

Over on the intriguingly named Sorry Grandma stage, Ian Carey spins the popular version of LMFAO’s ‘I’m In Miami Bitch,’ with the location changed slightly to accommodate the current city, in this instance, Melbourne. After playing various remixes, including the John Legend and Mstrkft collaboration ‘Heartbreaker,’ and Empire Of The Sun’s shimmering summer hit ‘Walking On A Dream,’ he mixes MGMT’s psychedelic ‘Kids’ with Ke$ha’s party anthem ‘Tik Tok,’ before he finally finishes with the booming electro refrains and pumping beats of ‘Get Shaky.’

Over on the Main Stage, 2 Many DJs hold the crowd captivated with their ingenious DJing style of hovering over several decks simultaneously, while churning out favourites such as the soaring synths of The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl.’ Wearing skinning ties and jackets, they resemble two science professors, as they play the unmistakeable acid-house grooves of S-Express’s ‘Theme From S-Express.’ However, the jubilant house remix of Madonna’s ‘Into The Groove’ falls flat with the more macho elements of the crowd, while delighting many dancing girls. The perennial favourite, Eurythmics’ ‘Sweet Dreams,’ redeems them with the boys, before the DJs churn out New Order’s ‘Blue Monday,’ and a mix of the Max Romeo reggae classic ‘I Chase The Devil’ with the frenzied rave synths of The Prodigy’s ‘Out Of Space.’ Then, it’s time for the smiling master of trance-house, Eddie Halliwell, who briskly climbs aboard his platform, waving his hands around like a man possessed, before dropping some pounding beats, shimmering synths, and the odd rave anthem such as The Prodigy’s ‘No Good (Start The Dance).’

Andee Frost vs Oohee cause a near-riot when they play some overly cheesy disco, while confronting the increasingly impatient crowd, who are here to see the scheduled Bloc Party play a DJ set. Unfortunately, there are no signs of Bloc Party, with Andee announcing a last-minute replacement in the form of Beyonce’s sister, Solange. However, after she takes to the decks, Andee announces that Solange has “lost her tracks at the airport,” and thus, she swiftly disappears, leaving the crowd decidedly confused.

However, the show, as they say, must go on, so many punters trundle off, eagerly anticipating a live blast from the past in the form of Technotronic on the Yellow stage. Unfortunately, they too, are a no-show, with nary a whisper of an explanation for their mysterious disappearance. Nevertheless, Don Diablo attempts to brighten the mood with ‘Too Cool For Amsterdam Bitch,’ which is yet another reference to ‘I’m In Miami Bitch,’ with the location being changed to ‘Amsterdam,’ before playing the blistering Prodigy track ‘Omen,’ and The Killers’ ‘Mr Brightside’. Soon after, Danny Tenaglia takes to the Main Stage, mixing a mystical trance version of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway To Heaven,’ before he declares, “Thank you, I love you! Happy New Year, Australia! First in the world!” amid blaring sirens, much to the crowd’s delight. As the ominous rumble of thunder blares through the music, lightning lights up the sky more than fireworks would, as he plays Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’ Quite fittingly, really, as the violent rainstorm is once again akin to something out of Wuthering Heights. As the beloved Carl Cox takes to the stage, he delivers a stunning mix of whirring synths, while punters flee from the pelting rain.

Overall, with cancellations from Bloc Party and Technotronic, the festival is somewhat of a disappointment. However, a spectacular lightning display and downpour is most welcome in this often drought-stricken and fire-ravaged state, making Summadayze a sort of ‘singing and dancing in the rain’ festival, to bring in 2010.