SUNSHINE, BEATS, AND BASS!!! Yes…you guessed it, Future Music Festival 2008. This GenerationQ music reviewer joined the masses of people in the annual Future Music Festival 2008 pilgrimage from Flinders Street Station to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in search of great dance music significance. A journey to the sacred Sidney Myer Music Bowl on a mid-30s day in Melbourne, I could tell this was going to be one HOT, STEAMY, EXCITING day! Not only from the burning sun, but also from the amazing line up of international and local DJs that were scheduled to play.

We arrived at the gates at 2pm and the grounds were already full of people eager to party it up in the sun. Herds of fluro as far as the eye could see - short shorts, bikini tops and no tops were everywhere to be seen, with everyone enjoying themselves. On arrival we received the Jam-packed line up … You name it Future had it … House, Progressive, House, Indie/Electro, Trance, Breaks, Drum n’ Bass, Techno!

I made my way down to the main stage, where I would spend the most of the day. Friends were lucky enough to find a shady spot on the hill to chill and take in some of Eddie Halliwell's set. It had been awhile since I had last heard Eddie play and even though I hadn't really heard much of his new stuff, I was immediately drawn in by his energetic beats that got the crowd warmed up.

Roger Sanchez came on at 5pm, and by this stage the grass area was filling up with the majority of people making their way to the main stage to settle in for the rest of the day. I was pleasantly surprised with Sanchez, even though his sound is usually a little too young crowd - housey for me, he was playing to the crowd and the crowd wanted anthems! One of his classic anthem tracks was Underworld’s ‘Born Slippy’, a favourite of mine. His style went down amazing with the crowd, but I had wished he could have played a little more current music.

Herds of fluro as far as the eye could see - short shorts, bikini tops and no tops were everywhere to be seen..

Eventually the Time had arrived. The act that everyone had been waiting for…. We waited for what seemed like a 30-minute intermission while The Chemical Brothers set up for their fantastic stage show. I hadn't seen them live since the Big Day Out many years ago, so I was well excited.

Just before 8.30pm, the lights went out and the huge stage lit up – a massive roar from the crowd as they took the main stage. Everyone went absolutely CRAZY (me being one of them!). The infamous UK due started with 'Galvanise' and they put on such a great live show. The sound and in-synch light show was incredible with the freakishly giant clown faces and rave dancers illuminated on the large screens throughout their entire set. They played all of the favourites - 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl', 'Get Yourself High', 'Out of Control’, ‘Believe’ and ‘Saturate’. I felt the only one missing was the ‘Salmon Song’! As great as The Chemical Brothers set was, I was disappointed at the abrupt ending and lack of build up for the encore but still… A GREAT WAY TO END A GREAT DAY!

I take my Fluro hat, shirt, shorts and any other fluro piece off to Future Entertainment and the entire crew, awesome job!! You turned on some great music, amazing weather, and friendly crowd.

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