It’s all about the dub, and Annie. Mostly Annie.

It only dawned on me last night, while overlooking the dance pit at Koko for Annie Mac Presents, that clubbing has changed. It’s changed a lot. The bass is heavier, the tunes are darker and harder and it’s…  slow?

What surprises me is the way the crowds have adapted to the change so easily and quickly. While my background is based around places like The End (which I’m sad to say is no more), the 4am mongy blips and meows don’t seem as important to what dance music is these days. It’s not better, or worse, it’s just different.

It’s all about Dubstep. And I’ve got to say, I f**king love it. My introduction was a while back, in a pokey, dark, grimey club called Plastic People. It felt dirty and underground, it felt like nothing I’d felt (and believe me, you feel it). I wasn’t aware back then that I was witnessing something that would become so special, not just to me, but to the entire dance culture. There are key influences in this realm and no-one, even electro or trance kings and queens that we’ve all known and loved for so long can argue that what people like Skream and Benga do is so fresh and amazing, it’s like nothing that has ever been. They’ve become ambassadors for the dark brand of bass driven music , so has the lovely Annie Mac.

Her night, Annie Mac Presents is a touring club event that she has clearly put a great deal of effort into. Starting around 4 years ago, in a room tucked away in Fabric, opening with greats such as Mylo and Justice, this was always going to be big. Since then, the nights have proved to be constantly progressive and understanding of what clubbers are and what clubbers want. It’s got a complete disregard to the snobbery often found in the music business and has a total focus on interesting and brilliant music. It’s helped genre’s such as Dubstep move into the mainstream world.

While I do love the fact that Dubstep was once fairly dirty and underground, I’ve been debating with myself over whether I’m happy it’s now so open and I have finally come to a decision. It’s great that it’s now mainstream, because it’s far to special to keep hidden away.

So, take the overly succesful, hand picked lineups and events Annie manages, add in the thank you for helping new and progressive music (like dubstep) become widespread and you’ve already got someone who is pretty special to the scene. But there’s more.

This, rather delightful 31 year old Irish lass has become such an important part of the scene that she has just switched places with the legendary Pete Tong to take prime time broadcast space on BBC Radio 1. This is big for dance music. In no way am I saying that Pete Tong is no longer important, he very much still is. I’m also not implying that Annie Mac is better or worse. What it does mean is that dance music is now going to be looked at in a different light, we’ll learn more about what dance music is and indeed what it could become. This is down to Annie Mac’s open concept of music and her attitude towards trying different things. Her BBC Radio1 show The Mash Up is now officially starting the weekend.

Annie has opened the doors and cast away childish classifications and attitudes, which would have once stopped youngsters, like Skream and Rusko, from getting involved and bumping shoulders with the likes Fake Blood, Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, etc, etc. It mixes up the charts. Crashes pop hits, and leaves an open invite on the table begging for contribution.

So, Annie Mac, Thank you. Not only for the event last night, but for everything you’ve clearly worked so hard to do. I see good things ahead. Very good, heavy, bassy things.

Anni Mac Presents 2xcd compilation is out on the 24th of October, I’ll be snatching up my copy when I can. In the mean time tune in to Annie Mac’s Mash Up, Friday nights on BBC Radio1 from 7pm. If you can get along to one of her events, ‘Annie Mac Presents’ I suggest you do so, you wont be disappointed. Here’s a little taste.