As a devout Eelke Kleijn fan and avid devourer of his DAYS like NIGHTS show, I knew that the Morning After 10th Anniversary day/night celebration would be something special, with him crowning the headline slot. Having seen him perform countless times between New York and Melbourne over the years, there was no doubt in my mind that the music would deliver, especially with so many other talented selectors of the progressive house scene both from overseas and locally on the lineup.
Photo Credit: Bridget Doyle I Louis Sisk
And as I walked through the doors of Howler, friends in tow, I felt the celebratory energy radiating through the entrance. Upon entering the Garden Bar, oversized Morning After birthday balloons floated above the dancefloor. In this space, there were few distractions from the sound. As we delved deeper into the venue and made our way to the back room, we were greeted with lasers and a psychedelic glowing DJ booth as a homage to the doof scene so synonymous with the Morning After brand. Across Howler’s two sprawling rooms, the sound system pumped out thick, rolling bass that could be felt just as much as it could be heard.
Everywhere I looked, there were familiar faces. I spotted both Kasey Taylor and GMJ on the dancefloor, who were both taking time to enjoy the atmosphere before gracing the decks themselves later in the day. Friends embraced after months apart, and fans everywhere I looked had permanent smiles affixed to their faces. It was an older crowd that felt genuinely invested in every record played. At one point, Morning After founder Andrew ‘Cookie’ Cooke was surprised behind the decks with sparklers and a birthday cake, a fitting tribute to the man who has spent the past decade helping shape Melbourne’s progressive underground.
Recounting his favourite moment from the night and what he loves most about his events, Cookie said, “Having all those closest to me and up on stage at the end of my set with multiple cakes was pretty special…I just love the friendships and the people who attend and the artists that play…. that’s my favourite highlight, the people.”
The atmosphere in Howler reminded me of a bush doof that had somehow found its way into the middle of Melbourne’s inner north. Arms reached skyward as hypnotic grooves rolled through the room, strangers danced together like old friends, and there was an unmistakable sense that everyone present understood exactly why they were there.
Having attended Balance Croatia back in August, I couldn’t help but notice how many of the same people on the dancefloor and behind the decks had escaped Melbourne’s winter for the sunny Croatian coastline, as I had done. It spoke volumes of the strength of Australia’s progressive scene. GMJ & Matter, Kasey Taylor and Mike Rish all joined the Morning After celebrations, and each had performed in Croatia too.
“Our local talent here is pound for pound up there with any region in the world, so it’s awesome; those guys often play the best sets and music,” said Cookie when asked about the importance of spotlighting homegrown heroes alongside international acts.
When Eelke Kleijn stepped up, the energy lifted another level. Rather than launching straight into the bigger, melody-driven indie dance records that have become synonymous with his recent productions, he leaned into the progressive theme of the evening. Patient, hypnotic and full of tension, his set built steadily before opening into the emotional, driving sound that has defined the latest chapter of his career.
Speaking with Electronic Groove after his performance, Kleijn described it as one of the standouts of his Australian and New Zealand tour.
“I thought it was a really good one,” he said. “Seeing as the vibe of the night was quite progressive, I wanted to play in the spirit of the night. I started with a bunch of progressive records and gradually built towards my sound without ever going too far out there. The feedback from the crowd was amazing. The sound system was pumping, there was so much bass, and overall it was definitely one of my favourite shows of the tour.”
Watching him read the room reminded me why he has remained one of progressive house’s most respected selectors. His sound has continued to evolve across genres over the years, but his ability to connect with a dancefloor remains unchanged.
In an era where running independent events has never been more challenging, reaching 10 years is no small achievement. Morning After has done far more than survive. It has cultivated a loyal community, consistently delivered world-class artists and helped shape the sound of progressive house in Australia.
“To turn playing and collecting music from the age of 18 and just enjoying that aspect with friends into something that has become a full-time job, I feel very blessed and very fortunate,” said Cookie. “I love what I do, so it’s amazing to be still hanging in after 10 years and celebrating.”
If this anniversary celebration was any indication, the next decade looks just as promising for Cookie and his crew. With Interstellar Groove coming up and Guy J’s open-to-close return already on the horizon for early 2027, Morning After continues to prove why it remains one of Australia’s most important promoters for lovers of melodic and progressive electronic music.
