They were here all right. The raptured ones. The True Believers. They dance, arms extended, their faces alive with happiness and they float, seemingly on a cloud, their feet slowly tracing the arcs of a dance while they balance two drinks, sunglasses and a phone all at the same time. They arrive wearing self-printed tour t-shirts. And they’ve always got a story about the last time they saw this one, how amazing it was and how lucky they are to see him again. For this was no ordinary DJ.

After reacquainting myself with the Greenwood Hotel over New Year, it was time to revisit this Sydney dance music icon outside of a major public holiday – and if there ever needed to be a reason to be out in the sun on a Saturday afternoon, then perhaps progressive legend John Digweed was it. Headlining his Bedrock 2012 tour, on offer was a promised 4-hour sunset set with another three rooms of sound, plus the Greenwood’s courtyard decked out for the occasion. Could it really get any better than this?

We turned up for the tail end of DJ Butch’s set where, it seemed, sound issues were still being ironed out from early in the day. And no wonder – the stage set up for Seth Troxler a month and a bit earlier had seemingly sprouted roots and grown an extra set of lights and speakers over Sydney’s no-show summer, which would have copped a battering in the thunderstorm just passed.

But as Robbie Lowe took to the decks, a cheer arose and the mostly older (and devoted) crowd happily took in the sunshine and the sound which, by now, was crystal clear and cranking. We slipped into the very minimal-sounding chapel on our way to the more cracking Musik Matters bar, where Ryan Simpson was causing some serious toe-tapping while we lined up for a celebratory drink.

Two beers later and it was onto the S.A.S.H. room where Yokoo was spinning a very elegant number ahead of Ben Korbel, so we hung around for while overhearing Robbie getting down to serious business outside. It was nearing 7pm, and as Ben fumbled with his laptop cables we could see positions being taken outside which had, by now, become a small sea of fans. The sight of Digweed’s roadie setting up his gear convinced us to get moving and before long, we were right in the heart of the garden.

Digweed is often described as a DJ’s DJ – whatever that means – which in this instance you could say is someone who’s technically perfect. While Robbie began to fade out he’d already, sneakily, been laying down his groundwork, working in sequences and tracks barely audible, ready to let loose. As he took to a stage lit up brilliantly with distorted Bedrock logos and visuals courtesy of Morph, he was in his element and the crowd loved having him back. The next hour saw all three other rooms virtually empty while the Master built his music outside and the crowd took breaks to stretch their legs and warm up their feet – seemingly in shifts – ever faithful for the magic yet to happen.

And happen it did. One of the defining moments of a night at the Greenwood during its Sounds on Sunday heyday was the sight of solitary dancers lost in the mix – their moves deliberate, swift and light, their faces serene and graceful – and as the sun set Digweed turned it up, weaving melodies and basslines over a sound system well capable of handling them, teasing in classic riffs over newer breaks and programmed segues. Arms raised, drinks spilled and waves of applause erupted from the crowd. Here was a DJ on fire, with music so beautiful and euphoric it left you gasping. Many of those around me said they’d not heard Digweed play this well in years, and I’d have to agree.

When a DJ of Digweed’s calibre tours, they always know they’ll have fans in the crowd around them. There’ll always be True Believers out there, happy to listen and even more happy to dance, cheer and make new memories. And as this crowd – as we – got lost in this music I wondered how I must have looked when I did the same, with a big smile on my face and my drink mysteriously finished. What an incredible night. We were all True Believers now.