RUDIM3NTAL @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 14/2/2025
When UK D&B outfit Rudimental posted a video on their socials earlier this month of them flapping about in green jumpsuits in a green room announcing “Australia tour prep is underway”, it was enough for me to dust off my dancing shoes and check them out at Hindley Street music hall for mine and my friend’s annual “Galentine’s Day” celebration. What we didn’t realise until just before the show was that although main players DJ Locksmith, Kesi Dryden and Piers Agget were gracing the stage to spin some of their most popular and high energy tracks, the show is a DJ set so there are no live instrumentals or guest musicians for this run of Australian shows.
Nonetheless, Adelaide showed up for it with the venue well are truly packed as bodies filling the dancefloor, platforms and balconies bopped and grooved for the entire two hour set that was a continuous flow of predominantly hefty D&B tracks that kept everyone moving, with crowd favourites such as Alibi and Waiting All Night mixed in, bringing up the mood and evoking a jovial chorus in the audience. The crowd was a diverse bunch, punters young and old- a testament to the reach of Rudimental’s music despite the less conventional genre, they have managed to create a unique sound that appeals to the masses and the serious ravers alike, and this show was nothing short of a serious rave. It was reminiscent of D&B Fridays at the old HQ, unrelentless flashing lights and colours and a constant heavy beat, offering a fully immersive sensory experience. It was a good atmosphere, and everyone was having a happy time, I think I made about ten new friends during the set.
Interaction with the crowd from the group was minimal and the trio spent the set furiously mixing their tracks behind the large desk, DJ Locksmith MCing sporadically to amp the crowd up, excitedly he announces the trumpet solo in catchy banger Feel the Love. Closing with These Days the crowd sang passionately, and all hugged each other while dancing out the final track. While a lot of people I spoke to there were a touch disappointed about the absence of a live band and instrumentals, the crowd brought the energy for this and created a great atmosphere that made for a great party with an ever better DJ set.
Live Review By Bec Scheucher