"There is way too much divide now in the scene, so many people jumping on bandwagons and thinking they are better than someone else because they like a certain type of techno than the other person, it's all nonsense. EVERYTHING comes under the umbrella of house and techno, and Tribal Sessions welcomes it all under one roof and there is good music from all the genres."
This was how Tribal main man Darius Syrossian described Sankeys' Wednesday night party when we caught up with him earlier in the summer, and with the season now done and dusted we couldn't agree more. This summer has seen the residency clock up an impressive run of 20 nights, including a Radio One Essential Mix broadcast to mark the night's 20th anniversairy, not to mention the kaleidoscope of talent to have hit the decks over the season, and last night's closing was no exception.
Joining house fanatic Syrossian on the billing was Argy, Cesar Merveille, Ernesto Ferreyra, gAs, Gianni Callipari, Greg Vickers, Michel Cleis, Sidney Charles, Valentino Kanzyani, Jozef K and if that wasn't enough to whet our appetites, (though it most certainly was), the infamous red and green Tribal posters also boasted a 'special guest', who on Tuesday it was announced was none other than Swiss-Chilean house and techno master Luciano, making for one night no one left on the island was going to to miss.
We ventured inside in time for Luciano taking charge in the Lab, an earlier slot than we expected for the piece de résistance, but in hindsight a good move from Sankeys as it meant no Luciano/Syrossian overlap, phew! The dark expanse of the Lab was the perfect backdrop for the Cadenza man's smooth brand of techno. For the first time this season, Tribal last night achieved the pinnacle for any night and filled the club to capacity, a feat you only had to look at Luciano's Lab to see. Full to the rafters, the crowds were spilling up the stairs and out into the corridors, but rather than pushing and shoving for space, this was a crowd all there for the same reason: to dance.
Moving as one, the gaggle bounced and bobbed along as Luciano took them on an educated journey through minimal tech and his more recent tech-house sound. As with any of his sets, his Latin American roots could be heard in his influences, giving his set a deliciously lively, soulful edge. Going crazy from the offset, the crowd's enthusiasm remained off the scale for the whole of Luciano's two hour stint. Highlights came thick and fast, but for me, it had to be the moment when the deep drawls of Moodymann's Shades of Jae came flooding through the speakers to an uproar from the room - that topped them all.
Finishing his residency with a deserved bang, Syrossian had the final spot playing out the legendary Basement. His set was hard, heavy and bass ridden, and we'd have expected nothing less from the Leeds legend. Spirits were at an all time high and the energy in the room was palpable as Syrossian had the crowds in the palm of his hands with non-stop house cuts. Sankeys owner David Vincent was there to see out his long running night, stage diving into the awaiting crowds before taking to the mike to thank the faithful Tribal following for their unwavering support over the summer.
WORDS | Joanna Wright PHOTOGRAPHY | Justin Gardner, Sankeys
