Digital Society presents DS9 Anniversary review

Image: Digital Society

When the clubbing leaders of UK trance scene, Digital Society, released the details of the ninth birthday celebrations in Leeds, it caused a mass euphoric uproar amongst fans across the country.

With some of the biggest DJs from around the globe as well as a variety of trance sub-genres on offer, there was no hesitation as fans put tickets on their credit cards and planned their lengthy car journeys from different corners of the UK. This event was going to be something special. 

Returning to O2 Academy Leeds for yet another year of musically induced bliss, we were greeted in the main room by the piercing light from a number of mesmerising laser beams soaring through a haze of superficial smoke, where you could see the silhouettes of hundreds of trance lovers already jumping in unison to the sounds of fresh trance talent Luke Bond.

His set wouldn’t have been complete without his explosive progressive hit ‘On Fire’ (listen above), perfectly placed to close a remarkable opening performance with the audience all warmed up and ready to take it to the next level. 

The spectacle that took place later on in the evening was completely unexpected. Super8 and Tab, although both established artists within the genre, they still remain relatively unknown to some. This was about to change. They bounced onto the stage and dived straight into their mixture of gritty, distorted bass synth lines, combined with waves of atmospheric high-end frequencies. They had the audience hypnotised by their dynamism and emotion.

They pulled on every heart string in the room, bringing strangers closer to share a feeling of love, passion and a sense of togetherness. They showed their appreciation to their adopted family Above and Beyond and the iconic label Anjunabeats by playing their version of ‘Little Something’ (below), provoking a tingling sensation strong enough to produce goosebumps on the skin of even the most unfeeling characters.

Towards the end of the set, arms were starting to ache from being held in an upright position for so long. Still effortlessly breathing in the euphoric vibrations created by a truly talented duo, this set was the perfect example of how music can be used as a tool for therapy; how it can whittle away the worries of any human being by immersing them in the glorious sound of progressive trance. 

It was now the turn of three of the biggest trance heavyweights to take to the stage. The academy was packed to the brim with just about enough room to move as we awaited the arrival of global superstar Gareth Emery. Despite a slightly rocky start, recognisable hits such as ‘Sanctuary’ and ‘U’ (below) worked with the uplifting elements of the set to regain the audience’s faith in his ability to produce a feel good atmosphere amongst the smoke infused space. 

The atmosphere turned to the dark side as uncompromising trance front-runner John O’Callaghan lived up to his stellar reputation by providing seamless mixes between tech trance symphonies and techno influenced works of art, with hints of that luscious, euphoric tone fans have become accustomed to. He is consistently at the top of his game, and for those who were able to keep up with the pace, they enjoyed every second of what he had to offer.

Towards the end of any usual club night, you would expect proceedings to start winding down as everyone prepares to make their way back home to rest their aching muscles. But Digital Society had other ideas when piecing together the running order, and so did the Full On Fluoro master Paul Oakenfold.

Busting out some of the filthiest psy-trance imaginable, Oakenfold cemented his status even further as one of the greats within his field, with a jaw dropping set that came completely out of the blue. You could see every fist punch through the thick air and you could feel the vibrations of feet hitting the floor. He was relentless and didn't give the audience a second to stop and catch a breath.

Drawing to a close, thousands of people descended out of the O2 Academy onto the drizzly streets of Leeds, trying to come to terms with what they had just witnessed, replaying every image from the night over and over in their minds.

Digital Society should be very proud of what they have achieved, and of what they have been able to give to their loyal followers. What will be interesting to see is how they plan to top this incredible night with their 10th birthday festivities, but for now, the crowd can hold the memories created close to their heart whilst they await the next installment.      

Read our interview with Gareth Emery

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