"Your love will remain here forever": Space Ibiza closes in style

"This is not normal, this is really not normal."

The Discoteca erupts in a fashion that anyone who's visited Space's main room will be all too familiar with but this time it's different, this time is the last time, the final goodbye. As Carl Cox addresses the crowd, there's a bittersweet taste in the air: we're experiencing one of the most historic parties in dance music history but we're losing one of its most historic clubs, too.

"We love the music, that's why we're here, nothing more, nothing less"

DJs have seen their careers catapult to new levels through the club and just as many have been on the dancefloor when they realised that's what they wanted to one day become. To put it quite simply, Space is Ibiza and has been for a mammoth 27 years.

The lead up to this year's Space Closing Fiesta couldn't have been more feverish either. Tickets sold out in a heartbeat despite prices of up to €100, which many obviously saw as worth it for the final showdown. Just one look at the queue when we turned up at 5pm was the snapshot we needed to see just how important this night would be. 100s of people sprawled the length of the club and we knew that no one would leave disappointed.

In a nutshell, the 19 hours we spent at Space – yes, 19 hours – were simply unforgettable. Although not for the faint hearted, getting around the club was at times a lengthy expedition and meeting people wasn't easy. The adventuring became part of the experience, part of the charm. Any Ibiza veteran who's visited closing parties before will be able to tell you that they're always an epic and at times testing event but everyone knew the importance of this one.

Dancers of all generations were in attendance: young upstarts right through to the seasoned ravers, drenched in glitter and bright colours, the ones who helped contribute towards everything Ibiza is now. Along with all of them, we danced, laughed and smiled. And we shared a collective lump in the throat when it came to the end.

Here are the tracks that really did it for us at Space's final closing fiesta. Tissues at the ready, this one's emotional.

Once we arrive at the club, the car park area is just starting to fill up. We are a little confused as to why the area that's only ever open for the opening and closing parties is only a quarter full, even after the doors have been open for almost two hours. Los Suruba are outside rolling some tribal heaters but we decide to have an explore while it's still quiet. We make the short walk over to the Sunset Terrace and our questions are answered. The room which often gets the limelight stolen from its bigger, beefier Terrace counterpart is completely full.

Jonathan Ulysses is an Ibiza legend and the selector with dreadlocks all the way down his back showcases exactly why he's such a hit on the island. He plays classic after classic. 'Cafe Del Mar', 'Drop The Pressure', 'Intro'. Our pick was another belter, 'Lola's Theme' by Shapeshifters but the whole set was a beautiful send off to the club he's been part of for years. The epitome of the Ibiza sound, considering we'd been at Space for about 45 minutes, this was a good start. If you see a man with an air horn stood on top of the decks at 18:30, you know it's going to be a good fucking night.

After Ulyseses gives everyone a run through of Ibiza 101, Mark Brown comes on and keeps things going nicely with a similar prowess but with a techier flavour. We move back outside to the car park to soak up some of the sun before entering the darkness all night. The Flight Area, as it's called, is an open-air arena that has been built by Ultra and the soundsystem and visuals match the brand. Huge, bellowing Funktion Ones and retina-burning LEDS are offered up and every track that is rolled through the system is pounding. Uner and Coyu merge to play some bouncing tech-house with a heavy sprinkling of drums as the dancefloor becomes noticeably busier.

They close with 'Blue Monday' which of course always goes down well but the pairing of Javi Bora and Jose De Divina provide the heavier injection of house as the sun starts going down. Raffa FL's 'How We Do' has been an Ibiza stormer this season and when the razor-sharp synths come through the system, it's easy to see why. A new track and an old club, the perfect marriage, and fitting for tonight.

To El Salon, another open-air room and potentially one of the best smoking areas in the world. But there is more dancing than smoking on this night and although it provides a good place to take a breather from the pandemonium, it's full all night. Willie Graff plays some heavy stuff before ending on an eight-minute Billie Jean edit, proving once again that anything goes for the last dance. Tasked with the difficult job of following a classic like that, Brazilian artist Anna steps up and shows exactly why she's such hot property at the moment.

Some amazing releases via Turbo and DIYnamic have propelled her to the limelight and a recent win at last night's DJ Awards as Breakthrough DJ cements her status as one of the best. She manages to turn things decidedly darker in El Salon with punchy, weighted techno and tech-house. One of few female DJs on the line-up, she works it masterfully and stays true to her sound. 'Odd Concept' has been her biggest track this year and is worthy of inclusion on the best tracks of Space's final ever party.

The man, the big dog, the king, Mr Space Ibiza. By now you already know who we're talking about. Carl Cox is Space and Space is Ibiza so the importance of this man at this club is staggering. To have not seen him in his element at this club is almost a crime but for those who haven't we'll save you the heartbreak. His first set of the evening is outside in the car park and getting in and out of there at this point is a nightmare. Everyone piles outside and of course, dressed in a crisp white linen shirt, the don doesn't disappoint.

He skilfully mixes big-room, system-shattering house that rolls and slams with intent alongside tracks that have typified his decades at the club. 'Hey Hey' by Dennis Ferrer is the first sing-a-long section of his set but that's shortly followed by Jamie Jones' breakthrough remix of 'Hungry For The Power'.

We can safely say that this might have been one of the best times we've heard this track out. Seriously. Every single person throws a fist up and chants those now famous lyrics. We've never heard that bassline sound so badboy and Carl Cox is the man who delivers it. Just as he always delivers, every time. It is a fantastic set but another very sad one. Bless you Coxy <3

Back to El Salon for a breather after the madness of the Flight Arena outside and who better to give us some much needed energy than Richie Hawtin's partner-in-crime and all round techno don John Acquaviva. The Plus 8 co-founder embraces the tactic that everyone else is employing for the night and hits out a mixture of pounders and classics.

A few nice house jams follow, particularly Dimitri From Tokyo's disco-twinged 'Sfunky' that came out via Disco Deviance. A connoisseurs choice of groover, it brings smiles around the room and even those who are slumped at the back manage to raise a hand with the rest of the crowd. But it is another, harder-edged classic that is John's highlight and a nod to the techno that's made his name. The 135bpm 'Hale Bopp' is a German classic and once he pitched it down, it morphs into a frenetic workout that wasn't completely impossible to dance to. Oh the joy to hear that track on a Space system. An undercover classic.

"Oh my god, this is going to get fucking real now".

A sentiment we couldn't have agreed with more. As we finally make our way to the Terrace, we overhear two guys on the dancefloor, literally brimming with happiness, excitement palpable and they called it just right. Roger Sanchez has just stepped up in the legendary second room and as an Ibiza hero, finding any bit of space to dance is often hard work. We are at the business end of the fiesta now. 3am and we've got about 10 hours of party left. Anyone who's been here from the start has made it nearly 10 hours and those wanting to do the whole business are at the the halfway point. No one is really flagging though as energy levels are high and the line-up of talent still to come is shockingly good.

S-Man brings the heat as expected, after a prolonged, teased-out intro the opening riff to 'You've Got The Love' bounced around the system like sharp knives zipping about. Rapturous cheers follow before he unleashes a tech-house takeover. He ends up playing 'You're Free' by Ultra Nate, an unashamedly good sing-a-long moment. It might be 3am but the night has just shifted gear. Game time.

Our last trip outside to the car park ever, a weird thought but we couldn't not go and see Alfredo play outside. A man who sums up everything that's good about the island, a man whose musical legacy has and will live always live on in Ibiza. Behind him the LED walls have been turned off and the soundsystem lowered. The maddening visuals have been replaced with some simple text:

"27 years have been brief, to remember and dream about them is forever. Being with all of you has meant everything. Thank You." (tissues time)

Poignant words at a time when Ibiza is at a real crossroads but the show must go on and Alfredo was our man. We weren't disappointed with anything until now. Arguably the only error in the programming, Alfredo shouldn't have been in an arena so big after Carl Cox. Everyone has piled back inside leaving poor Alfredo playing to a crowd of 50 people.

The sound is lowered significantly and it feels like a disservice to a man who's given Ibiza so much. Regardless of this, the die-hard fans outside really appreciated who they were watching. 'Yeke Yeke' by Mory Kante, 'Show Me Love' by Robin S and of course 'Rhythim Is Rhythim' are all played and it felt good. A bit of a shame but a lot of fun anyway. If Alfredo's smiling, so are we, and boy was he smiling.

It's time. Time for what? Time for the Discoteca. It's one of the best main rooms in the entire world and we make no apologies for that award. One of the most colossal soundsystems on the planet and this is be the last session we're allowed to have in here – lord that's depressing, but we continue.

It's Josh Wink's turn to push ravers to their limits and what a job he does. It's a who's who of DJ royalty in the booth at this point as well. Erick Morillo, Carl Craig and Eats Everything are all dancing away and though the tunes get darker and more devilish, that's exactly what we want nearly 13 hours in. A lot of the tracks are acidic and thrashing as imagined but it's Wink's closing track that really sends everyone west. What else could it be other than 'Higher State Of Consciousness', his biggest track and one that's been dropped countless times at the club.

After Josh Wink, it was the turn of another island legend. The one they call Sasha. If you think the main room is busy for Wink then you don't even want to know how even more people managed to cram more in for Sasha. But they do and the set is a calculated yet masterful final bow out from the UK hero.

Some go for all-out classics and sing-a-longs but Sasha opts for a carefully considered hour that doesn't give the crowd what they want. He makes us work for it. The first three tracks are nothing more than venomous kicks and floating synths. A proper intro and one that sets the tone for the rest of the set. Here's a man who's graced that Terrace and Discoteca more than you'd care to imagine and he's staying true to his status as a pioneer, consistently pushing the limits. Seeing Eats Everything fist pump in the crowd behind the decks is a real moment, his excitement noticeable and well received by those around him.

After three or four tracks of Sasha's intro section, he finally becomes ready to unleash. 'Moon Rocks' by Enrico Sangiuliano is the one that breaks the seal and as soon as those snares come crashing in, it's no-messing. Anything on Drumcode usually bears a certain weight and this is no different. Definition of a bruiser.

As Sasha finishes we find ourselves in the dreaded 'clash' hours. Every room has something to offer, making for some tough decisions. Erick Morillo plays in the Discoteca and of course doesn't hold back. The Terrace shows off it's techier side with Kölsch, Maceo Plex and Solomun playing before Eats Everything and Yousef team up to bring forth the classics and the house specials. We are flagging a little at this point though, so we head to the Sunset Terrace as the sun is rising.

Paul Reynolds may not be your household name but he's a certified Space veteran. Tasked with the job of closing the Sunset Terrace every year, his eight-hour sets have become the stuff of legend. A hedonistic mix of club classics and tech-house keeps everyone moving but it is his last three hours when we realised the true potential of both the selector and the room. 'Starlight' by The Superman Lovers is a highlight but it was at 9.45am when we knew what we were experiencing was in fact a once in a lifetime event.

'Love Is In The Air' by John Paul Young, in a filled room, with the sun shining through. You can't really describe the energy. Every single arm is in the air, every single person is smiling and some are even crying.

Space is known for its big rooms and big systems. The world-conquering DJs and the high-profile nights but if this closing party proves anything, it was that it doesn't take a household name or a 1500-capacity room to bring energy and love. It's the unsung heroes of the island, the DJs that built the legacy from the ground up who really shine tonight. Our player of the match award doesn't go to any DJ, it goes to the Sunset Terrace, one of the most beautiful places we've ever danced.

And so it has come to this. The last ever set in the Discoteca and it is Carl Cox playing alongside his regular b2b partner Nic Fanciulli. They play from 6am to 12pm and it is a highly-charged, emotional and powerful six hours. It's a set experienced with a heavy heart. While it seems like a long time to dance, every hour evaporates quicker than it has done all evening. The minutes slip away and we know that this is it.

It's a monumental session from the pair, as well. House, tech-house and techno of the absolute highest degree is played. Anyone who saw Coxy close his Music Is Revolution night knows the sort of levels that would be brought but tonight is the last night, period.

'Love Story' by Layo & Bushwacka appears in various different forms. There's 'Yeke Yeke' by Mory Kante, which we've already heard four times in other rooms in the club at this point. There's also ´Finally´by CeCe Peniston, woven in between huge, pacey tracks with the 128bpm mark being the speed we're kept at.

Another star of the set is the bellowing ice cannons that propel into the crowd during several big moments. The combination of a whole Discoteca sit-down and ice blast (when everyone stands), all with ´Two Months Off´ by Underworld hammering in the background is a potent mix. It's a slice of Space at its absolute best.

What's most notable about the last set is not necessarily the amazing music or the beautiful way it's mixed, or even the fact that Carl Cox is stood in front of us for the last time on this stage. It is the talking on the microphone from Coxy and Space owner Pepe Rosello. Hearing the famous ´Good Morning Space´ from the king at several points is enough to give us goosebumps and stomach sickness in equal measure.

When Pepe speaks before the last track is played, it sums up how everyone in the room is feeling.

"Thank you very much, your emotions and love will remain here forever."

And with that Coxy fires up a chant of "Pepe, Pepe, Pepe" to which everyone in the room obliges.

The final song, as you can imagine, is a tear-jerker. People stand swaying, hands on head in disbelief and breathing in the last few seconds of what will be remembered as one of the greatest clubs in the world.

And that's it. Space Ibiza is no more but as far as farewell parties go, this will be remembered forever. It has provided the benchmark for how to be a successful, important and landscape-shaping club. Long may its legacy continue and long may it continue to inspire.

Funster danced for 18 hours straight, setting a new personal record. Follow him on Twitter here