A new millennium dawns. The Y2K scare has come and gone, and the dancefloor beckons.

Shot at various Sydney and Canberra parties around the year 2000, this edited footage captures the clubbing boom that followed the ‘90s underground rave scene. This is nightlife before lockout laws and the pandemic: electronic dance music (EDM) was flourishing, crowds were massive, and the cyber-beats were matched by Matrix-esque eyewear.

Despite the futurist bent, there’s barely a mobile phone in sight. Best mates, Chupa Chups and glow sticks are the only party essentials. Looking back at this turning point in nightlife history, the optimism is unmistakable: the internet revolution is new, the future feels expansive, and the dancefloor carries it all.

Venues featured include Shark Bar, Utopia II, Age of Love, and United parties. The footage showcases performances by electronic music artists including Gee Wiz, Crisis, Fenix, Judge Jules, Sub Zero, Jumping Jack, Pee Wee Ferris, Nik Fish, BeXta, Mark Dynamix, Chris Fresh, Ben Korbel, and Paul Holden.