As we draw a close to 2017 we take a closer look into the top Ibiza parties this year. Ibiza is considered one of the world’s most important electronic music platforms.
For a promoter, aspiring DJ or even a clubber this is considered the holy grail of clubland. I have not only lived on the island, returned regularly over many years, been a resident DJ and also joined the legions of clubbers in each of these clubs..
If you’re an event promoter wan
ting to learn how to do it properly, then look no further than Ibiza. With so many great nights going on every night of the week, it’s often difficult for brands to stand out from their competition and gain a firm foot-holding within such a saturated market. It is even more difficult to promote your presence if you’re relatively new on the scene or aiming to provide a new night and hopeful refreshing approach … how on earth do you get noticed above the clubland giants and those that have dominated for years?
First and foremost, you’ve got to be bold! You have to get the music right (programming), and be prepared to throw the kitchen sink at production… everything matters. Just consider filling even half of one of the superclubs like Privilege where the capacity is 10,000 people. This goes to show you’ve really got to be on your game to make a mark, otherwise you’ll be blown out of the balearic water.
Every season there are certain nights that really leave their mark on t
he white isle. I’m now going to rundown the newcomers that smashed it this summer and help highlight exactly what they did right …
RESISTANCE
Tuesdays at Privilege
The legendary Sasha & Digweed returned in force to roll back the years in fine style. They headlined a solid 6-date placement at Privilege and seriously rewrote the book on musical precision. This was the first time the high-profile pairing have held a residency together since the glory days of Twilo in New York at the turn of the millennium. The musical theme of RESISTANCE was distinct and vibrant presenting DJs back to back, with the likes of Nicole Moudaber, Paco Osuna, Dubfire, Technasia, Chus & Ceballos and Anja Schneider joining the fun.
Most importantly, this night wasn’t just about the heavy-hitting lineups. Before they even got to the white isle they were known for sensational production, having teamed up with the legendary Arcadia (and their gigantic spider) at last year’s Ultra Music Festival.
Just look at what they did in Privilege!
Labyrinth
Fridays at Pacha
When Hot Since 82 announced his Labyrinth nights at Pacha, there were a lot of raised eyebrows. Did such a massive DJ have anything to gain by throwing a weekly party at Pacha – a club that can make or break careers?
In his formative years, Hot Since 82, AKA Daley Padley was actually my resident DJ back in the UK way before anyone had heard of him, so I’m always delighted to see him smashing it on the world stage and gaining the global recognition his dedication deserves. Despite the global recognition and his extensive audience following his label Knee Deep In Sound, Daley was clearly very nervous about his new event when I saw him at IMS (International Music Summit) just before his opening night. The good news was he really didn’t need to worry because Labyrinth fast became one of the best nights on the island and further implanted the brand as an ongoing feature.
Inspired by the mystical and slightly nuts vibe of the original Labyrinth movies, Daley created a platform for non-stop fun every Friday. Musically, he took it upon himself to book each and every DJ he felt had personally rocked his world in Ibiza from when he used to go there throughout his youth. It was amazing to witness the likes of classic curators Danny Tenaglia, Derrick Carter and David Morales return back to Pacha on top billing. He clearly did this for the love of House music … and that really shone through and brought in a full house weekly.
Pure Carl Cox
When the proverbial monster meets the mountain …what a difficult job Carl Cox had on his hands to try and follow on from the absolute institution he created over two defining decades at Space. When it wa announced that it was to be no more, one of the first things that sprung to mind was … “where’s Carl Cox gonna go now?”
Clubland waited with baited breath. Well in true Carl Cox form he returned to reclaim his crown as the king of the island and promptly picked Privilege, only originally intending to dip his toe in for two exclusive dates. He went down such a storm that the waves he created returned an award at the end of the season and it would be a massive surprise if he doesn’t return with an even bigger fixture next summer.
What Carl Cox has always managed to do brilliantly is throw parties for the masses whilst still retaining an element of ‘underground’ credibility. I can vouch for this firsthand, having hosted rooms for him at Space back in the day. The move to an even bigger space at Privilege could have tempted him to scale up the production and really go to town. Instead, both Carl and his ingenious team actually did the complete opposite and stripped everything back to basics. Judging by the reviews and feedback online from the clubbing community, this was a great decision. He gained an even greater kudos for cutting back on the usual VIP areas to allow for more dancing space. Thanks to Carl Cox, the clubbers to reclaimed the Privilege dance floor this summer, and we might just have seen the beginning of a new era for the club.
Glitterbox
Fridays @ Hi Ibiza
This was one of those times where the stars just align. A concept like Glitterbox was absolutely crying out for a lavish and top-quality venue to present their digital disco wares and along came Hi Ibiza. This was a match made in heaven! Combining the disco chic of yesteryear with the top-level production of today, Glitterbox nailed it for the more discerning punter. In its premier year Hi Ibiza provided a home for an array of industry heavyweights and iconic artists such as Masters At Work, Roger Sanchez, David Morales, Todd Terry and more. With an enviable line-up and procession of performers, this shone head and shoulders above the rest. Great fun, but backed up with the highest of quality. Expect Glitterbox to go from strength to strength as not only the disco-fuelled lovechild of Defected, but also one of Ibiza’s most distinct and inviting nights.
Defected
Sundays @ Eden
This was an interesting one. Eden has had its fair share of problems in recent years and that sort of historic can often bury a brand well under the rubble of disdain and bad memory, but as leading house imprint Defected’s Simon Dunmore noted at the beginning of the season “Eden is a sleeping giant.” This still seemed a risk for a clubbing champion like Defected who have created some of Ibiza’s most respected nights over many long years, but this move paid off big style. After having a much-needed revamp and musical retune, the club turned out to become the ideal host for the ‘good-times’ house that Dunmore and the Defected family is all about.
Wild Life @ DC10
In the ever-changing landscape of Ibiza we all know that at the start of any season we should expect the unexpected. A couple of years ago you would have got long odds that Disclosure of all people would be hosting their very own night at one of the world’s coolest yet uniquely underground clubs, DC10. Even after last year’s surprise appearance at Circoloco, this was still seriously big news when it was announced… social media went absolutely crazy.
With so many doubters, the Disclosure boys deserve the masses of credit they have been awarded for pulling this one off. Their musical policy was fun yet credible, accessible yet aimed at driving the knowledgeable crowd into an unprecedented pinnacle. The likes of DJ Harvey, Horse Meat Disco, Groove Armada, Joris Voorn, Annie Mac, Tiga and Bicep all turned out to provide the soundtrack that worked for even the most ardent of clubbers.
This list outlines the perfect examples for any promoter to study. For me it clearly shows that musical credibility and good old-fashioned hard work always pay off and a decent party is exactly that.
