How did people party in the early 2000s?

This promotional clip for the documentary Up All Night explores the clubbing and nightlife culture of Australia’s major cities following the dance music boom in the 1990s. It plays as a dreamy highlights reel of the era, capturing the main hallmarks of the Australian party scene: neon strobe lights, trippy club visuals, staccato digicam recordings and music videos like Paul Mac’s dance hit ‘Just the Thing’ (feat. Peta Morris).

The filmmakers highlight the diversity of attitudes, DJs and crowd sizes during the era. The camera frequently lingers on the gear and technology behind the music, capturing the continued evolution and expansion of electronic sound. Notably, these scenes are set to trip-hop group Massive Attack’s 1991 hit ‘Unfinished Sympathy.’ Widely regarded as one of the most pioneering dance songs of all time, it signalled an innovative era of hip hop and electronic music.

Up All Night was selected for the 2005 Melbourne Underground Film Festival, an independent festival known for showcasing controversial, transgressive and avant-garde films.