What with the demise of Kambar and conflicting reports about Fez’s closure, it’s no secret that Cambridge’s already pretty stagnant nightlife scene looks like it’s heading for spectacular new lows. There are, though, scattered glimmers of hope in the form of nights run by students who just can’t accept the inevitability of Cindies on a Wednesday, the newest of which being the reopened King’s Bunker.

Clever, subtle advertising, word-of-mouth excitement and a hefty ticket price meant expectations were high; thankfully, the King’s Bunker put on an event that was triumphant in its variety, something the eclectic crowd clearly appreciated.

Eclecticism was certainly the defining characteristic of Genesis: from the varied interpretations of the theme (many looked like overgrown members of a children’s Nativity play whilst some couldn’t resist donning the nefarious tiger onesie) to the impressive array of bands and DJs, there was always something new to struggle for your attention. Some of these distractions did seem a little bit arbitrary, like the nature documentary footage streaming on a projector, but for the most part the Biblical theme was well-realised, with impressive trees made from cut-up pages and a brilliantly painted bunker supplementing the carnivalesque atmosphere.

An inevitable part of having so much on offer, of course, is that it will be almost impossible to maintain continuity; watching inexplicably mobile breakdancing to hip-hop after the exuberant swing of The Brass Funkeys was an enjoyable if jarring experience. The latter band were a stand-out early in the evening, whilst the DJ set from Sam Wolfson turned the Bunker into the sweaty, ecstatic cavern it seems designed to be.

The Bunker was the setting for most of Genesis’s best moments: the palpable excitement about the subterranean venue and the consistently crowd-pleasing sets made some of what was going on upstairs in the main bar seem slightly lacklustre, although the crowd in both locations was animated by an immersive energy.

Thankfully, the infuriatingly early closure enforced by College-based events was sidestepped by a fantastic afterparty at the Fountain. A clutch of the university’s best DJs capped off an exciting new venture; the entire event was an encouraging demonstration of student creativity in the face of an evaporating nightlife scene. Repressing the allure of Biblical puns, Genesis saw the King’s Bunker start with a bang that will hopefully carry over into future events.