There may have been something in the water, or the fact that it was pouring incessantly from the heavens above for three days straight, but that didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of punters enjoying Modular’s 10th Birthday celebrations as part of their NeverEverLand tour. Even if the dismal ticket sales and ironic lack of more than two alcoholic drink choices seemed like nails in the record label’s festival coffin, people took the mud in their stride and partied at the Bowl like nobody was watching – literally. Last year’s NeverEverLand was the biggest party of the millennium, with French outfit Daft Punk making sure no one forgot this sensational party, the image of them in their helmets and neon triangle stage burnt to my retina for all eternity.

Modular is classified as one of the coolest record labels in the world, so it was quite disappointing to see the turn out at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl after the Daft Punk performance of the year before. But hell who am I kidding? It meant no lineup for the toilets, even less wait for a drink and no annoying meat heads with their tops off – yay! And yes there were people dancing barefoot in the mud, but the icy chill was counteracted by punters huddling towards strangers for body heat as some of the most fantastic and cool acts lined up to play for our pleasure.

Now into double digits, Modular Records is out of its nappies and running free, commando style, around the globe. From its birth in Sydney back in 1998, Modular’s daddy Steve Pavlovic distributes his labour of love through Universal Music, who like a step mother, also co-own Modular. This cute little nuclear family has released recordings by sensational international acts like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Chromeo, New Young Pony Club and my personal fave the Softlightes. Not to mention wicked local artists like The Avalanches, Ben Lee, Wolfmother, Van She, Eskimo Joe and Muscles. The latter was a noticeable name not included on the running sheet for Modular’s NeverEverLand festival in Melbourne, as the artist and record label in question are cuirrently in discussions over their, err… relationship.

Despite this cancellation, the show did go on for the crowd that remained with Bang Gang DJs, Ladyhawke, Hercules & Love Affair, Van She, Berlin’s Whitest Boy Alive, Lost Valentinos, Tame Impala and Temper Trap. Melbourne’s own Cut Copy, fresh from gallivanting across the US and Europe earlier this year made an appearance for NeverEver:and, as did the uber-cool and sexy Klaxons, who rocked the Bowl out with their bone-crunching Atlantis to Interzone, Gravity’s Rainbow and Golden Skans.

The big time ARIA-collecting wizards of dance The Presets really made it worth getting out of bed to stand in the drizzle (OK OK, there was a bit of sunshine, maybe I’m overreacting a tad). Ripping out stellar tunes like My People, Are You The One and I Go Hard, I Go Home alongside newbies This Boy’s In Love and Talk Like That had the crowd absolutely rocking. With synchronized hand signals and chanting throughout, this somewhat intimate gig was made grand by the crowd’s reaction, testament to The Presets innate ability to literally get any party started, or in this case, wind it up on an incredibly high note.