Ferry Corsten, Ben Hemsley and Amy Wiles – Brisbane Show

Local promoters NuBreed Events and Lemon & Lime joined forces on Sunday 11 February 2024 to bring us Ferry Corsten, Ben Hemsley and Amy Wiles, at Wonderland Brisbane.

On a steamy Sunday in late February 2024, upstairs at Wonderland Brisbane, NuBreed Events and Lemon & Lime held a party for trance lovers featuring three of Europe’s greats. Fresh from a world tour was none other than pioneering icon of trance, Ferry Corsten, from The Netherlands. With him were popular UK artists Ben Hemsley, who has become known for his diverse sound and fresh takes on classic tracks, as well as Anjunabeats rising star Amy Wiles, an already accomplished producer.

The event covered both areas on the upper floor of the venue, with local DJs Mike Redfern, Malcolm, GLDNSMK and Tony Brydon playing on the terrace overlooking the trees on Fortitude Valley’s Ann St. Warming up for Amy Wiles in the main room was Brisbane DJ and producer Jaylen. The Sleep Token – Granite remixer had many melodic delights up his sleeves, such as Changing Lanes by Joseph Ray and Les Orangers by NTO. The last track he played was Raindrops by Sainte Vie. What a spot for this enduring talent!

With decades of experience in the progressive dance music scene, Mike Redfern was a great choice to open the terrace and set the mood. He set off with solid progressive breaks, beginning with a remix of BT’s classic Mercury and Solace, featuring vocals by Jan Johnston. 20 minutes in he dropped a mix of Perfect Motion by Sunscreem. The classics kept coming, with Not Over Yet by Grace, Love in Traffic (please note: explicit lyrics), Pole Folder’s mix of Space Manoeuvres Part Three by Quivver PQM – You Are Sleeping (Luke Chable Vocal Pass) (please note: explicit lyrics), Chab – Closer To Me and a remix of Nalin & Kane – Beachball. Mike recorded his set too.

After working on remixes for Above & Beyond, Farius and Kyau & Albert, Amy Wiles debuted as a solo producer with her track Biding Time, on Anjunabeats in 2021. This year she has remixed DNA by Billy Gillies and Hannah Boleyn, and has collaborated with HANA, Leena Punks and Nourey on her Here I Am EP.

Playing before Ferry Corsten in Brisbane, Amy’s set paid homage to her trance roots, with tracks such as Marsh’s remix of Drifting Away by Lange featuring Skye, on Armada, and the Club Mix of One Last Try by Kolonie, on Black Hole Recordings. On Anjuna, Amy played Above & Beyond’s Gorge Update of Alone Tonight, and the 2008 Mat Zo Vocal Remix of Fallen Tides by Mark Pledger and Matt Hardwick, featuring Melinda Gareh, as well as Biding Time. She finished her set with a wonderful tribute to Brisbane producers Taglo & Abel, with their new one, Inside My Love, out on Armada.

Stepping up on the terrace after Mike Redfern was reliable local Malcolm, who had some classic and modern melodic and progressive house he maintained the mood with, drenched in balearic tones. Included in the set were such recent gems as the CYA Remix of Chicane’s Offshore, and Assisi by Bowsie. Fortunately, Malcolm also recorded his set, and it is available on his Mixcloud.

Ferry Corsten’s set began with vocal melodic house and dance, including his own work. He played Be Alone by Almero, followed by recent collaborations on his label Flashover Recordings, such as Fulfillment, with Marsh, and Stay Awake, with vocals by Diandra Faye. His maturity as an artist was on show with these productions, which blur the lines of trance and popular dance music, adding diversity to his set and bringing a very positive atmosphere to the dance floor, enthralling attendees. He followed with the 2022 David Guetta collaboration with Benny Benassi for an updated Satisfaction, and Fred again with Swedish House Mafia for Turn On The Lights (again). Yet, it is important to understand that while Ferry began his set with these tracks, he still had plenty of the pure trance music that many of us there were hoping he would play.

Ferry had Futuro by Giuseppe Ottaviani & Ilan Bluestone, the Victor Ruiz remix of 1998 by Aussies Binary Finary, and Higher State by Chris Schweizer, on Subculture. There was no turning back, we were in serious trance territory, yet distinctly Ferry’s style. What followed were some classics of his own, including Solstice as System F and a new one called Yes Man, his remix of Don’t Be Afraid by Moonman, then Ferry finished his set with his absolute classic Out Of The Blue.

GLDNSMK took control of the terrace after Malcolm. This stalwart of the local scene was rostered on the Lemon & Lime Mix Series in January, and you can read the feature on that set on Down Under Sound.

Ben Hemsley opened his set with a 2019 remix of another Aussie track, Skydive by Freefall (Alan Bremner & Anthony Pappa) featuring Jan Johnston, with the new take by Bluum and Paul Thomas. That was not all. He had all the new takes on UK classics and some originals too from way back when.

Ben played Lizard by Mauro Picotto, and Red Blue Purple by Marco V. Some new ones were Yoyoyo by Pegassi, and Hector by Silva City. Then it was Cosmic Gate’s Third Contact Remix of Exploration of Space, followed by blk. – Enter The Dragon. He finished off with the 2005 mix of Operation Blade (Bass In The Place), the Club Caviar mix of Blow Ya Mind and ultimately ended with Silence, the DJ Tiësto In Search of Sunrise remix.

Amy Wiles had snuck out to the terrace to have a cheeky mix of some classics while Ben was playing. She dropped Exactly by Bryan Kearney & John O’Callaghan, and Take Me Away (Into The Night) by 4 Strings. While Amy was signing autographs, Tony Brydon came on. This UK import knew just what we wanted, with my personal old school favourites, the Lost Tribe Vocal Mix of Invisible by Tilt, and Greece 2000 by Three Drives on a Vinyl. He was very happy to be there.

Since then, NuBreed Events and Lemon & Lime welcomed Paul Van Dyk and Blastoyz at Eatons Hill Hotel in March. Lemon & Lime had Sasha at The Warehouse (formerly Family Nightclub) in April as well as Dave Seaman and Quivver at La La Land. NuBreed Events had Aly & Fila and Bryan Kearney at The Triffid in June. August saw them both host Sander Van Doorn at La La Land and after Lemon & Lime had a secret rooftop party with Dee Montero in September, they both hosted John ’00’ Fleming for an open to close set at The Triffid in October.

Friday 27 December will be a big one, with Aly & Fila playing a boat party on Oasis Brisbane, followed by an after party at La La Land Brisbane.