Café Mambo's video: BBC RADIO 1 2016 Caf Mambo

While we knew it was going to be a big one, nothing could have prepared us for the day that arrived. For the Cafe Mambo team, it was foot to the pedal stuff, full on with little or no letup all day - just the way we like it! The lineup was huge with a star studded program featuring names such as Danny Howard, Mistajam, Martin Solveig, The Disciples, Dizzee Rascal, John Newman and Katy B just to mention a few. The crowds started to gather soon after lunch and there was a real buzz of anticipation in the air as the BBC 1 Radio crew put the finishing touches to the stage and completed sound checks to the live broadcast which took over the VIP area of Cafe Mambo. The hallowed Cafe Mambo DJ booth took pride of place in the center, looking out over the stage and the big crowd that had gathered to bag the best spots along the railing. It was BBC Radio 1 presenter, Danny Howard, who had the honour of opening 21 years of BBC in Ibiza when shortly after 4pm, he broadcast the famous words “We are live from Ibiza at Cafe Mambo”. Danny's effervescent energy soon had the crowd going as he served up the anthems to an audience of over 10 million listeners worldwide. Straight away we knew this was going to be special and for Cafe Mambo, a day to shine in the Mediterranean sun. As Martin Solveig took to the decks news started to filter through that a very special guest was going to make a surprise appearance. As Solveig took us through the afternoon with his popular mix of French inspired electro, he dropped both Do It Right and Intoxicated which had smiles and hands in the air all round. Next up were the London based Disciples who brought us down low with tracks such as the Format B remix of Panther and the Armand Van Helden mix of Freak Like Me. They left us with their very own track Daylight which finished a polished set for the trio. The last half hour of Danny Howard's program featured the talented KDA best known for his 2015 hit Rumble which he played early into his set, followed by One More time from Daft Punk which got the crowd moving. Just before Mistajam took over the booth, word that Craig David was going to be the surprise guest was confirmed on his Twitter account. As Mistajam dropped the base beats, Craig David took to the stage a little after 8pm to be followed by another surprise guest UK Rapper, Big Narstie. The mood and energy of the evening took a definite rise, as we were treated to a bouncing performance from Dizzee Rascal who whipped up the crowd with his massive hit Bonkers. Word was out that Mambo was the place to be in Ibiza that evening and soon the sunset strip was packed with people trying to get near the action. Before we had a chance to draw breath, the diminutive Katy B exploded onto stage. The NME award winner served up a vocal set of dubstep and R&B infused beats which clicked with the crowd before John Newman took to the stage for a special sunset acoustic set which featured Feel the Love. It was one of those special Ibiza moments with everybody joining in on the chorus, as Newman delivered a powerful performance which was a fitting end to the live stage. The rising star that is Monki took over the decks bringing us into the night with a catchy bass inspired set. Then it was the turn of producers George Kwali and Birthday boy Kideko who cranked it up another notch dropping the trendy Cosmic by Lanturn. The heat was well and truly turned up on the night when Mistajam unleashed a hour of tightly mixed Ibiza classics that brought an amazing live show to an end at 11pm. When the On Air light was finally turned off on the BBC Radio 1 Ibiza 2016 Weekender, it was a surreal feeling, as if we had been dropped from the whirlwind of a musical storm that had lasted seven hours. For the Mambo crew it was an intense ride but a very enjoyable one and such a pleasure to work alongside the BBC Radio 1 Team. We look forward to next year which will celebrate the 22nd Anniversary of the BBC Weekender in Ibiza. Now that could be a party with the potential to blow us right out of the water!!