The second Icon Series party at Chinese Laundry saw the speakers moved outside once again with Darren Emerson and Fergie atop the bill. A number of people were unsure of how Emerson would perform, and whether Fergie could manage in a bright open setting. Regardless, tickets were purchased as the lure of an outdoor, sunshine-baked dance party is too hard to resist.

With the afternoon duties, Darren Emerson took punters through an amazing house journey. Over three hours, just about every style of house was heard, with the groove ever present. For the first two hours of the set the weather was overcast, but as the sounds started to grow larger and larger so did the amount of water falling from the heavens. By the time the rework of Born Slippy began, the title seemed to be only too literal.

For around half an hour a two-metre divide was present on the dance floor due to the downpour – it was quite the sight! Those under the roof partied harder and harder, whilst those under the umbrellas at the back tried dancing as much as possible without a fatal movement into the wet. A few nutters, however, continued to prance in the no-man’s land throughout.

By the end of his set, Darren Emerson had united both the back and front of the garden despite the rain still falling as people celebrated the awesome music together: let there be PLUR! When Fergie graced the stage it was to a very eager crowd ready to continue their journey. Starting a little heavy, he soon brought things down to a manageable level and continued with ‘whomping’, bouncing techno before raising the energy again near the end of his two hours.

The atmosphere all round was jovial; with the rain subsiding and the twilight glow of the city giving things a magic feel. Many have voiced that Fergie’s style is boring, yet a constant movement present throughout the crowd seemed to argue to the contrary; finishing with Age of Love – The Age of Love (Jam & Spoon remix) peaked excitement levels and happy faces spread like wildfire, many now in anticipation of the Cave set.

Throughout the night the garden felt full, however it wasn’t that sardine-style-full for which Laundry is renowned, but a comfortable, dancing freely with everyone around you, united-by-the-music type full.

This theme continued in the Cave, with Fergie providing – full cave, full techno, full awesome. The techno was hypnotic, rolling, and after one slight technical hiccup, things became devastating. Arms were raised, feet stomped and a generally grand time had by all. Usually in the Cave till close, the long day had taken its toll on this reviewer, as such the hectic closing stanza of Fergie’s set became the closing of a very satisfying and musically impressive day and night.