Strolling into fabric just after 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, I was greeted with an inspiring level of operations and flow to an event that was already 18 hours deep. Francesco Del Garda had just taken the reins of the mighty Room One, slinging through classy house cuts and a generally more stripped-back palette that came to life on that sound system.
The freedom that these lengthy showcases provide was immediately evident. Sunday afternoon, the club was filled with a mixture of those on a roll through from a morning soundtracked by Christian AB, The Ghost and Gene on Earth and those who had just arrived to strap in for the night ahead.
It’s a refreshing option to be able to dance for 12 hours without losing a night of sleep, a true perk of the capital and something which was also noticeable in the crowd. An eclectic mixture of music lovers covered all ages and styles, getting down to the deep, tech-house sound that I’ve never heard sound so alive. The experience of fabric’s sound system is highly physical. With subs placed underneath the dance floor, bass frequencies literally massage your body and the most simple, dubbed-out tracks had the place erupting.
fabric’s ecosystem had been ticking over since 11pm on Saturday, offering a festival-level experience with the likes of Rhadoo playing ambient at 10am in Room Two, and three and a half hours of Dresden in Room One. Cosy chill areas were complemented with soft lighting and a mini pizza kitchen catering for the long duration of the weekend.
Earlier in the night, Uruguayan selectors Oriana and Nicolas Lutz shared five hours in Room Two, whilst Craig Richards played his first of two sets in Room Three alongside the legendary Felix Dickinson. It’s fair to say there was plenty to explore across Craig’s choices, creating somewhat of a miniature Houghton inside the industrial walls of fabric.
Jane Fitz played a beautifully low-slung set, dropping 10-minute tech-house epics like Francois Duboi’s remix of ‘Nacho Marco’ which of course blew the roof off Room One. Hearing this kind of house music inside fabric made me think of the countless Wiggle and Night Moves parties that have happened in London and Jane’s set felt somewhat of a tribute to this decade-spanning legacy.
Moods remained fairly laid back for the afternoon with each artist given three hours to stretch into, another sweet perk of such an extended event. Rhadoo took control of the booth at 10pm and an influx of people poured into Room One after Gene on Earth and The Ghost had wrapped up their five hour b2b in Room Three, meaning it was Rhadoo or Room Two for a breather.
Still full to the brim, Room One was transfixed to the pensive sounds of his selections. Mind bending as ever, constantly blending multiple tracks and trippy tools with his deftly unique charm. It was a strongly techno-leaning strain of what I’ve heard of Rhadoo before, testing the horsepower of that mega-system.
Many tiny signs of experience were noticeable around the venue, like the large bar dedicated solely to free water, dozens of staff at every bar and toilets, welfare teams, etc. It’s a super club experience that somewhere only with the size and legacy of a club like fabric can provide. It’s fair to say the vibe was definitely celebratory. Hundreds of people dancing together, no phones in the air, plenty of space to move and relax.
Many artists were kicking around and getting inspired by the amount of legends on this crazy line-up. After finally experiencing a Sunday session in the legendary club, I understand how much value the institution has and continues to bring to London.
Since 1999, fabric has been at the heart of the capital’s throbbing club culture and this weekend’s Continuum was a beautiful celebration of their 25 year history. Craig Richards eventually returned for his second and the closing set of the weekend shortly after 1am.
After the three hours of heavy and hypnotic sounds of Rhadoo, it was clear within minutes that Craig knows this room like the back of his hand. He knew exactly what the space wanted and needed. After 25 years of his residency with the club playing just every slot imaginable, his three hour closing was an inspiring journey and a testament to the importance of resident DJs.
Comfortably sifting through deeper, atmospheric shades of house and techno alongside the occasional raucous weapon music like Marco Biagiolo’s ‘Gate 5’ track that drew the loudest roar I’d heard all day.
3:30am, Monday morning. The club is full, Craig is in control and the energy is ecstatic. As the party headed towards hour 25, it felt as if it could have comfortably ticked on for another day and night. Continuum returns with Craig and Ricardo Villalobos on Saturday 8th March 2025.
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