It feels a little bit like ‘another one bites the dust’ each time I leave the house at the moment. I mean seriously, how many more times can we say goodbye? But tonight marks a pretty important closing milestone in the Ibiza clubbing calendar, and that is the night we say adios (for another season at least) to We Love… Sundays at Space.
This is the party that pretty much everyone who visits Ibiza makes a beeline for, the party people plan their holidays around, the party that is like a mini-festival every Sunday and the party that Miss W has been in attendance at every single week this year. And now it’s all come to an end…
But before Miss W starts getting all nostalgic, let’s talk about the party itself shall we?
With a huge line-up including We Love stalwarts James Zabiela and Nic Fanciulli playing back to back, deep house legend Ben Watt, master of techno ceremonies Jeff Mills and Balearic genius Alfredo, it’s no surprise that the queues outside the club were lengthy in the early hours of operation – thankfully Miss W was whisked in the side door to avoid her extra special party frock getting crumpled!
The sunset terrace, as always, was full of happy, smiling Ibiza faces (and I mean on the dance floor, not the ones hanging from the roof) and long-time residents Jonathan Ulysses and Jason Bye recieved a hugely appreciative reception as they churned out quality arms-in-the-air house music as the sun went down over the club.
The discoteca was a similar story – filling up very early to the sounds of resident David Phillips – remaining packed until the very last notes of music echoed from the booth. On the inside terraza glitter and confetti was being sprayed on the eager crowd who couldn’t have been more excitable if they tried.
For Miss W, it was hard to choose which room to spend the most time in, as all were boasting fantastic programming. In the end, it was the discoteca, where the who’s who of Ibiza clubbing were gathered behind the DJ booth to get their last dose of We Love before the season’s out.
Speaking of the who’s who of Ibiza clubbing, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Miss W seems to have developed a new crush on a Certain Boy… Bet you can’t guess who – and I’ll never tell…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: We Love had been running a ‘Fresh Blood’ competition all summer to unearth some hot new DJ talent and Mark Murphy was the well-deserved winner and was rewarded with an opening set on the new terraza. Three cheers to We Love for taking a risk on a newcomer on one of the biggest nights of the year – keep your eyes peeled for this talented DJ in the future.
THE BAD: Seeing the Certain Boy dancing extremely closely with Another Girl – it seems all the good ones are taken no matter where you live in the world these days!
THE GOSSIP: Pete Tong was spotted by the DJ booth watching DJ Hell perform his disco set and when a We Love staffer was overheard apologising for the lack of free drinks tickets on offer, the superstar DJ replied ‘I think I can afford to pay for some drinks myself.’ Hear hear… it’s a refreshing change to many of the other guests in the booth we suspect!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
27/09/08: Groove Armada Live Concert @ S’Estanyol
Only a matter of hours after we’d bade farewell to Wonderland, a special text message arrived in Miss W’s inbox declaring that the party was not yet over for Groove Armada, who would be performing a very special one-off concert at one of my favourite places on the island, S’Estanyol.
Oh well - no rest for the wicked right?
Miss W has to hand to it to the crew from The Shop, who – after successfully closing the Wonderland season at Eden – managed to pull off organising the full-scale Groove Armada live band, stage show (lasers and all) right on the beach, and managed to keep it a secret until now. Credit where credit’s due… and a round of applause is certainly due here.
From the minute I arrived, I have to admit I was über-impressed. Although we had to leave our car quite far back up the steep hill and walk down – and indication as to how many people had caught wind of the event and arrived early – from the first beat of the music carrying itself on the wind to the spectacular set up and lighting displays projected onto the rocks, you got the feeling that you were about to take part in something special.
With three overseas visitors in tow tonight, Miss W was pretty proud to be able to show her guests a glimpse of ‘The Real Ibiza’ – a secret party, heavyweight line-ups and a spectacular setting. Even the ominous rainclouds managed to stay away for the duration of the event – phew!
Of course, it was all about the music and from the minute Groove Armada took to the stage, the entire crowd got their groove on, dancing in the sand, arms in the air, girls hoisted up on shoulders, little kids bopping around (yes, this was a very chilled family affair) and a lot of singing and hugging (think: ‘Whenever I’m down, I call on you my friend’). Oh, I feel all teary and emotional just thinking about it now.
From old classics (Superstylin’ will NEVER get old) to some new songs, this was a concert that will be talked about in Ibiza for years to come. Something out of the ordinary, something unexpected and something very special indeed. In fact, this could be Miss W’s favourite event in Ibiza this summer.
But don’t quote me on that!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The music pumping from the incredible sound system both before and after the event was absolutely rave-tastic and had guests dancing on the sand for hours. Miss W asked around on the night to discover exactly which DJ was doing such a fantastic job (she couldn’t see for herself because the booth was well-hidden) and it wasn’t until the following evening that the ever-so-humble Andy Baxter admitted that he was the man responsible. Makes me look forward to his winter residencies at Pacha and Grial...
THE BAD: The event promised free paella however the guests must have been incredibly hungry as it was completely gone by the time Miss W arrived! There was a gourmet BBQ sizzling away, so we lined up for more than half an hour to order, only to discover that food tickets needed to be purchased at the bar. However when we enquired at the bar, they said we should pay at the BBQ. Needless to say, Miss W had to suffice with a liquid dinner… not the end of the world!
THE GOSSIP: Had Groove Armada’s Andy Cato (who was wearing sunglasses for the entire show) or any of our good friends from The Shop been to bed since the previous night’s extravaganza at Wonderland? Fair play to them all – they managed to pull it off to perfection if that was the case!
Oh well - no rest for the wicked right?
Miss W has to hand to it to the crew from The Shop, who – after successfully closing the Wonderland season at Eden – managed to pull off organising the full-scale Groove Armada live band, stage show (lasers and all) right on the beach, and managed to keep it a secret until now. Credit where credit’s due… and a round of applause is certainly due here.
From the minute I arrived, I have to admit I was über-impressed. Although we had to leave our car quite far back up the steep hill and walk down – and indication as to how many people had caught wind of the event and arrived early – from the first beat of the music carrying itself on the wind to the spectacular set up and lighting displays projected onto the rocks, you got the feeling that you were about to take part in something special.
With three overseas visitors in tow tonight, Miss W was pretty proud to be able to show her guests a glimpse of ‘The Real Ibiza’ – a secret party, heavyweight line-ups and a spectacular setting. Even the ominous rainclouds managed to stay away for the duration of the event – phew!
Of course, it was all about the music and from the minute Groove Armada took to the stage, the entire crowd got their groove on, dancing in the sand, arms in the air, girls hoisted up on shoulders, little kids bopping around (yes, this was a very chilled family affair) and a lot of singing and hugging (think: ‘Whenever I’m down, I call on you my friend’). Oh, I feel all teary and emotional just thinking about it now.
From old classics (Superstylin’ will NEVER get old) to some new songs, this was a concert that will be talked about in Ibiza for years to come. Something out of the ordinary, something unexpected and something very special indeed. In fact, this could be Miss W’s favourite event in Ibiza this summer.
But don’t quote me on that!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The music pumping from the incredible sound system both before and after the event was absolutely rave-tastic and had guests dancing on the sand for hours. Miss W asked around on the night to discover exactly which DJ was doing such a fantastic job (she couldn’t see for herself because the booth was well-hidden) and it wasn’t until the following evening that the ever-so-humble Andy Baxter admitted that he was the man responsible. Makes me look forward to his winter residencies at Pacha and Grial...
THE BAD: The event promised free paella however the guests must have been incredibly hungry as it was completely gone by the time Miss W arrived! There was a gourmet BBQ sizzling away, so we lined up for more than half an hour to order, only to discover that food tickets needed to be purchased at the bar. However when we enquired at the bar, they said we should pay at the BBQ. Needless to say, Miss W had to suffice with a liquid dinner… not the end of the world!
THE GOSSIP: Had Groove Armada’s Andy Cato (who was wearing sunglasses for the entire show) or any of our good friends from The Shop been to bed since the previous night’s extravaganza at Wonderland? Fair play to them all – they managed to pull it off to perfection if that was the case!
26/09/08: Wonderland Closing @ Eden
Whaddya mean Wonderland is closing? Wasn’t it only yesterday Miss W was speculating about Eden’s revamp (ummm, amazing), whether the club would pull any punters (wellllll, just a few consistent thousand week in, week out) and whether or not the night would be a success (err, no brainer really)? And here we are, celebrating the closing already…
Why is it that we celebrate a closing party anyway? Miss W thinks it should be like a mourning ceremony, given the fact we have to wait another whole eight months before we can experience it again!
But it would be rude of me to let my sadness spoil the party spirirt so it was off to Eden for one last time this summer to say farewell to Pete Tong, Groove Armada, Jo Mills and co at the end of their hugely successful debut season of Wonderland.
Feeling a little bit apprehensive, I entered through the hallowed VIP entrance – something that’s become a bit of a ritual over the last three months – to the sounds of Rob Marmot filling the main room. Considering the hype this party’s received over the last few days, I was surprised to see the dance floor looking sparse, but perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that Pete and Jo were both playing a free pre-party just up the road at Kanya, where many clubbers were eagerly getting a first taste of what was to come.
My prediction soon proved to be correct as the room filled up fast – just in time for Groove Armada’s first set of the evening. That’s right folks, Andy and Tom just can’t seem to get enough of Wonderland and thus two set times were in place – once in the main room and again later in their own room, The Lovebox. Belting out the rave-esque sets Miss W has come to look forward to each Friday one last time…
Upstairs in The Looking Glass it seemed it was resident’s rules, as Jo Mills and Tomas Hedberg DJed back to back for four solid house-flavoured hours, throwing in a few new tracks of their own creation – expect to hear more on this as the year progresses.
And of course, at the end of the night, it was all down to one Mr Tong to wrap up the ceremonies to the thrill of the heaving crowd – saying sayonara to the burlesque dancers, the incredible LCD screens and globe displays, the oversized W-shaped chairs and everything else that made Wonderland the success of the season. I’m sure I heard Miss W’s mentioned in the thank you speech at least once…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The man of the hour, day, week, month and year, Pete Tong was spotted doing the rounds of each room, giving the nod to his faithful residents, much-loved guests and the behind-the scenes crew that make a good night like Wonderland come together – just the way it should be.
THE BAD: Outside at the entrance there was a striking Flamenco dancer doing her thing atop one of the oversized W chairs when sadly, one of the neighbours (yes, nightclubs do indeed have neighbours) complained about the noise of her stamping her feet. Oh come on neighbours… it was the last time this year, give the girl a break!
THE GOSSIP: The vodka was free-flowing tonight though it seemed the bar staff were not too happy about the number of drinks tickets coming across the bar, choosing to serve paying customers over the VIP invited guests. Miss W hears this even resulted in certain staff members being dismissed on the night. Come on girls, surely a measly tip or two wasn’t worth the hassle?
Why is it that we celebrate a closing party anyway? Miss W thinks it should be like a mourning ceremony, given the fact we have to wait another whole eight months before we can experience it again!
But it would be rude of me to let my sadness spoil the party spirirt so it was off to Eden for one last time this summer to say farewell to Pete Tong, Groove Armada, Jo Mills and co at the end of their hugely successful debut season of Wonderland.
Feeling a little bit apprehensive, I entered through the hallowed VIP entrance – something that’s become a bit of a ritual over the last three months – to the sounds of Rob Marmot filling the main room. Considering the hype this party’s received over the last few days, I was surprised to see the dance floor looking sparse, but perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that Pete and Jo were both playing a free pre-party just up the road at Kanya, where many clubbers were eagerly getting a first taste of what was to come.
My prediction soon proved to be correct as the room filled up fast – just in time for Groove Armada’s first set of the evening. That’s right folks, Andy and Tom just can’t seem to get enough of Wonderland and thus two set times were in place – once in the main room and again later in their own room, The Lovebox. Belting out the rave-esque sets Miss W has come to look forward to each Friday one last time…
Upstairs in The Looking Glass it seemed it was resident’s rules, as Jo Mills and Tomas Hedberg DJed back to back for four solid house-flavoured hours, throwing in a few new tracks of their own creation – expect to hear more on this as the year progresses.
And of course, at the end of the night, it was all down to one Mr Tong to wrap up the ceremonies to the thrill of the heaving crowd – saying sayonara to the burlesque dancers, the incredible LCD screens and globe displays, the oversized W-shaped chairs and everything else that made Wonderland the success of the season. I’m sure I heard Miss W’s mentioned in the thank you speech at least once…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The man of the hour, day, week, month and year, Pete Tong was spotted doing the rounds of each room, giving the nod to his faithful residents, much-loved guests and the behind-the scenes crew that make a good night like Wonderland come together – just the way it should be.
THE BAD: Outside at the entrance there was a striking Flamenco dancer doing her thing atop one of the oversized W chairs when sadly, one of the neighbours (yes, nightclubs do indeed have neighbours) complained about the noise of her stamping her feet. Oh come on neighbours… it was the last time this year, give the girl a break!
THE GOSSIP: The vodka was free-flowing tonight though it seemed the bar staff were not too happy about the number of drinks tickets coming across the bar, choosing to serve paying customers over the VIP invited guests. Miss W hears this even resulted in certain staff members being dismissed on the night. Come on girls, surely a measly tip or two wasn’t worth the hassle?
Friday, September 26, 2008
25/09/08: 2008 Ibiza DJ Awards @ Pacha
From the minute Miss W stepped a stiletto-shod toe onto the red carpet at the pre-event cocktail party at Ocean Drive tonight, she knew this was going to be no ordinary night out to say the least.
Why? Well, firstly the reason for the gathering was to celebrate the 2008 Ibiza DJ Awards, which are voted for by the public so a very important night on the Ibiza social calendar indeed. Secondly, Miss W had caught a glimpse of That Person she had previously considered a Semi-Boyfriend up until a few weeks ago so she felt the need to flick her freshly blow-dried hair a lot as she chatted to super-hot Chilean DJ Luciano on the red carpet, acting as if he was asking her on a date (despite the fact he is happily married and we all know Miss W would NEVER be a home wrecker), not simply discussing his current predilection for dropping old school house classics on the dance floor.
Well, you can’t blame a girl for wanting to look popular in front of an ex, can you?
Anyway, back to business. After grabbing one of the delicious cocktails on offer to soothe my flustered nerves, I finally managed to relax and work my way through the room. From the Mambo family through to the Pacha crew, the German techno-lords, local media magnates and the gorgeous Italian television crews, there was no shortage of schmoozing and air kissing for at least an hour. Then it was on to the main event, moving just down the road to Pacha, where the awards ceremony would be taking place.
I must say it was quite strange to walk into Pacha and be able to actually see the floor – quite a different experience to the usual Thursday nights, but it certainly made balancing a glass of wine – which was free flowing right up until the clock struck 12 – and a delicious Japanese flavoured canapé much more of an easy task than it would be on a crowded dance floor.
With a huge stage set up in the centre of the floor, Miss W picked a prime position high above the VIP area so she could get the perfect view of the action. Starting with the always amazing Pacha dancers posturing on the stage, resplendent in white wedding-esque costumes the only thing that seemed slightly (dare I say?) un-glamorous about the night was the err, interesting alien decorations and fluoro green netting swathed about the stage.
Obviously it tied in with the fact that each winner received a small statue of ‘Kryptonite’ as their award but the relevance was completely lost on me - wasn’t Kryptonite actually Superman’s weakness anyway?
Moving right along, it was time for the awards to begin and the dance floor was now completely full in time for the big announcements – hosted in English by Des Paul of MTV and Capitol Radio and in Spanish by Mariana Ribelo – whose frock seemed to have been designed to coordinate with the alien!
So with no further ado, please allow me to introduce to you, the winners: Tiesto, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Richie Hawtin, Steve Lawler, David Guetta, Adam Beyer, Sasha, Jazzanova, Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. Special awards were presented to Bill Kelly, co-founder of the Miami Music Conference, Beatport founder Jonas Tempel for their contribution to the dance music industry and as for the biggies? Song of the year went to Mark Knight and Funkagenda’s huge re-working of Laurent Garnier’s Man With The Red Face and Best Ibiza Night went to Cocoon at Amnesia, an award which Miss W thought was very well deserved given it’s huge success for yet another season.
And after the awards? Well the business of an after party is a very important one indeed and when the after party is hosted by a certain Mr & Mrs Guetta – yes, that’s David and Cathy of F*** Me I’m Famous for those who don’t know – in a place like Pacha, well, that’s another whole story indeed.
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Seeing the island's movers and shakers descend upon a venue, dressed up to the nines and with the intention of letting their hair down together after a long and busy summer. Smiles all round...
THE BAD: While the quality of sound at Pacha musically is amazing, the acoustics of the room didn’t seem to lend themselves to the presenter’s voices as it was difficult to hear them speak – though the winners certainly managed to hear their names being called so all was not lost.
THE GOSSIP: Although the event itself is clearly not a strictly Pacha event, it didn’t stop tongues wagging over the noticeable absence of any nomination for Wonderland and its residents. Surely one of the most successful new club nights on the island deserved a look in?
Why? Well, firstly the reason for the gathering was to celebrate the 2008 Ibiza DJ Awards, which are voted for by the public so a very important night on the Ibiza social calendar indeed. Secondly, Miss W had caught a glimpse of That Person she had previously considered a Semi-Boyfriend up until a few weeks ago so she felt the need to flick her freshly blow-dried hair a lot as she chatted to super-hot Chilean DJ Luciano on the red carpet, acting as if he was asking her on a date (despite the fact he is happily married and we all know Miss W would NEVER be a home wrecker), not simply discussing his current predilection for dropping old school house classics on the dance floor.
Well, you can’t blame a girl for wanting to look popular in front of an ex, can you?
Anyway, back to business. After grabbing one of the delicious cocktails on offer to soothe my flustered nerves, I finally managed to relax and work my way through the room. From the Mambo family through to the Pacha crew, the German techno-lords, local media magnates and the gorgeous Italian television crews, there was no shortage of schmoozing and air kissing for at least an hour. Then it was on to the main event, moving just down the road to Pacha, where the awards ceremony would be taking place.
I must say it was quite strange to walk into Pacha and be able to actually see the floor – quite a different experience to the usual Thursday nights, but it certainly made balancing a glass of wine – which was free flowing right up until the clock struck 12 – and a delicious Japanese flavoured canapé much more of an easy task than it would be on a crowded dance floor.
With a huge stage set up in the centre of the floor, Miss W picked a prime position high above the VIP area so she could get the perfect view of the action. Starting with the always amazing Pacha dancers posturing on the stage, resplendent in white wedding-esque costumes the only thing that seemed slightly (dare I say?) un-glamorous about the night was the err, interesting alien decorations and fluoro green netting swathed about the stage.
Obviously it tied in with the fact that each winner received a small statue of ‘Kryptonite’ as their award but the relevance was completely lost on me - wasn’t Kryptonite actually Superman’s weakness anyway?
Moving right along, it was time for the awards to begin and the dance floor was now completely full in time for the big announcements – hosted in English by Des Paul of MTV and Capitol Radio and in Spanish by Mariana Ribelo – whose frock seemed to have been designed to coordinate with the alien!
So with no further ado, please allow me to introduce to you, the winners: Tiesto, David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren, Richie Hawtin, Steve Lawler, David Guetta, Adam Beyer, Sasha, Jazzanova, Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano. Special awards were presented to Bill Kelly, co-founder of the Miami Music Conference, Beatport founder Jonas Tempel for their contribution to the dance music industry and as for the biggies? Song of the year went to Mark Knight and Funkagenda’s huge re-working of Laurent Garnier’s Man With The Red Face and Best Ibiza Night went to Cocoon at Amnesia, an award which Miss W thought was very well deserved given it’s huge success for yet another season.
And after the awards? Well the business of an after party is a very important one indeed and when the after party is hosted by a certain Mr & Mrs Guetta – yes, that’s David and Cathy of F*** Me I’m Famous for those who don’t know – in a place like Pacha, well, that’s another whole story indeed.
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Seeing the island's movers and shakers descend upon a venue, dressed up to the nines and with the intention of letting their hair down together after a long and busy summer. Smiles all round...
THE BAD: While the quality of sound at Pacha musically is amazing, the acoustics of the room didn’t seem to lend themselves to the presenter’s voices as it was difficult to hear them speak – though the winners certainly managed to hear their names being called so all was not lost.
THE GOSSIP: Although the event itself is clearly not a strictly Pacha event, it didn’t stop tongues wagging over the noticeable absence of any nomination for Wonderland and its residents. Surely one of the most successful new club nights on the island deserved a look in?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
23/09/08: Laurent Garnier @ Space
As the season is winding down, you’d think that people – like Miss W for example – might be a little sick of heading to nightclubs. Again. And again. But then again, this is Ibiza and as we residents (and faithful visitors of course!) realise we have but a mere few weeks left to enjoy the super clubs – except for Pacha, which remains open all year long thankfully – so it makes us even more likely to head out each and every night for one last dose of DJs, dancing and disco extravaganzas.
Even though it feels like the Carl Cox closing was just yesterday, two weeks have actually passed and rather than let the coveted Tuesday night slot at Space remain empty, the good folk at Safehouse have taken over the club for two more weeks and tonight are presenting a very special evening with none other than Laurent Garnier.
Having witnessed the legendary DJ and producer perform at We Love… Sundays just a few weeks ago, Miss W couldn’t pass up the chance to see him one more time this summer. Arriving quite late – fashionably late of course – Miss W sadly missed out on Monsieur Garnier’s first set on the sunset terrace but was just in time to catch the second set in side the discoteca.
And what a way to end the season – a completely packed club, everyone and anyone from Ibiza, including Miss W and the White-ettes, off-duty DJs, out-of-work Manumission girls and even an Australian contingent in the form of Pacha resident DJ Sarah Main and sister Emma and their visiting troops – perhaps on hand to support Aussie drum & bass heroes Pendulum who were thrashing it out with a DJ and MC set in the inside terrace til the wee hours.
But it was the discoteca where the main action was taking place – when Laurent Garnier unleashed his classic Man With A Red Face on the dance floor, it could have been a scene from a late nineties rave documentary, with the amount of arms in the air reaching for the spectacular lasers combined with screams and whistles coming from the rapturous audience – what an atmosphere and what a way to say sayonara to Tuesday nights…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing production in the Space discoteca and the chance to witness another epic set from Laurent Garnier (make that two if you were one of those lucky enough to arrive at the club in time to catch the first set) before the season comes to a close.
THE BAD: Saying adios to Tuesday nights at Space. Sob sob!
THE GOSSIP: Rumours were flying around the island via email, text message and Chinese whispers (Ibiza style) that his dance music highness Moby would be making a very special appearance tonight, as a ‘secret’ guest. However rumours proved to be untrue… unless Moby was disguised as someone else?
Even though it feels like the Carl Cox closing was just yesterday, two weeks have actually passed and rather than let the coveted Tuesday night slot at Space remain empty, the good folk at Safehouse have taken over the club for two more weeks and tonight are presenting a very special evening with none other than Laurent Garnier.
Having witnessed the legendary DJ and producer perform at We Love… Sundays just a few weeks ago, Miss W couldn’t pass up the chance to see him one more time this summer. Arriving quite late – fashionably late of course – Miss W sadly missed out on Monsieur Garnier’s first set on the sunset terrace but was just in time to catch the second set in side the discoteca.
And what a way to end the season – a completely packed club, everyone and anyone from Ibiza, including Miss W and the White-ettes, off-duty DJs, out-of-work Manumission girls and even an Australian contingent in the form of Pacha resident DJ Sarah Main and sister Emma and their visiting troops – perhaps on hand to support Aussie drum & bass heroes Pendulum who were thrashing it out with a DJ and MC set in the inside terrace til the wee hours.
But it was the discoteca where the main action was taking place – when Laurent Garnier unleashed his classic Man With A Red Face on the dance floor, it could have been a scene from a late nineties rave documentary, with the amount of arms in the air reaching for the spectacular lasers combined with screams and whistles coming from the rapturous audience – what an atmosphere and what a way to say sayonara to Tuesday nights…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The amazing production in the Space discoteca and the chance to witness another epic set from Laurent Garnier (make that two if you were one of those lucky enough to arrive at the club in time to catch the first set) before the season comes to a close.
THE BAD: Saying adios to Tuesday nights at Space. Sob sob!
THE GOSSIP: Rumours were flying around the island via email, text message and Chinese whispers (Ibiza style) that his dance music highness Moby would be making a very special appearance tonight, as a ‘secret’ guest. However rumours proved to be untrue… unless Moby was disguised as someone else?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
18/09/08: We Love Boat Party with Ibiza Med Yachting
There’s nothing better than a day on a sailboat heading across to Formentera – that is, until you spend a day on a sailboat heading across to Formentera with the who’s who of Ibiza DJs, on board to help toast the end of the season for We Love… Sundays as part of their ten-year anniversary celebrations – which is exactly how Miss W spent the better part of this fine Thursday in Ibiza.
Setting sail from Ibiza port on the vessel La Princesa Del Mar – a 25-metre yacht managed by Ibiza Med Yachting – or the Good Ship We Love as it could have been renamed today, the guest list to this soiree was kept extremely tight at a mere 35 people and thankfully Miss W was one of those lucky enough to receive an invitation.
With gorgeous glossy brown wooden decking, comfortable and stylish navy blue mattresses aboard the top deck perfect for lazing around and sunbathing, a fully-stocked bar, gourmet buffet lunch and even a makeshift dance floor (one would expect no less from those experienced in throwing one of the world’s biggest and best parties every week), the party seemed to get started before the ship had even left the port.
After a few difficulties with the sound system, requiring a generator to be sent out to meet the boat via Zodiac – it was time for the We Love… residents to step up to the plate (or decks as the case may be) and battle the rocking of the boat in the fight to stay upright behind the makeshift DJ booth and treat guests to exclusive chill-out sets. All Miss W can say is thank goodness the DJs weren’t using vinyl as the Mediterranean was certainly putting on an impressively rocking display of her own talents!
Beginning with a funk based set courtesy of Mr Doris, followed by an impressive array of bootlegs by Jon Sa Trinxa (even Madonna was heard at one point!) and a deep house selection from Jon Howell, it was left to long-time We Lover David Phillips to finish off with an eclectic party mix that impressed the tough audience on board – must be difficult when you’re playing to a room that’s 70 per cent DJs, 15 per cent promoters, 15 per cent music lovers and 5 per cent Miss W.
As for the rest of the day? Entertaining antics (as always) from the Café Mambo crew – Alex Wolfenden, Jason Bye and Andy Baxter – plenty of sunshine meant lots of time spent diving off the boat to swim and snorkel, delicious food, great service and a good time was had by all.
The verdict? We love… We Love…!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Mooring just off Es Palmador and being treated to exclusive one hour chill-out sets from the residents of We Love… Not a bad life, eh?
THE BAD: A serious bout of seasickness caused by very rough waters saw one We Lover jump ship (not literally of course) and return to dry land before the boat had even passed Las Salinas beach while several others were seen clutching their tummies or even the side of the boat to try and hold on to their lunches!
THE GOSSIP: A few notable absences from well-known island DJs who had RSVP’d yes to the event had tongues wagging as to whether the previous night’s festivities had caused them to oversleep – Miss W suspects the early curtain call of 11am must have been painful more than one of the night creatures on board!
Setting sail from Ibiza port on the vessel La Princesa Del Mar – a 25-metre yacht managed by Ibiza Med Yachting – or the Good Ship We Love as it could have been renamed today, the guest list to this soiree was kept extremely tight at a mere 35 people and thankfully Miss W was one of those lucky enough to receive an invitation.
With gorgeous glossy brown wooden decking, comfortable and stylish navy blue mattresses aboard the top deck perfect for lazing around and sunbathing, a fully-stocked bar, gourmet buffet lunch and even a makeshift dance floor (one would expect no less from those experienced in throwing one of the world’s biggest and best parties every week), the party seemed to get started before the ship had even left the port.
After a few difficulties with the sound system, requiring a generator to be sent out to meet the boat via Zodiac – it was time for the We Love… residents to step up to the plate (or decks as the case may be) and battle the rocking of the boat in the fight to stay upright behind the makeshift DJ booth and treat guests to exclusive chill-out sets. All Miss W can say is thank goodness the DJs weren’t using vinyl as the Mediterranean was certainly putting on an impressively rocking display of her own talents!
Beginning with a funk based set courtesy of Mr Doris, followed by an impressive array of bootlegs by Jon Sa Trinxa (even Madonna was heard at one point!) and a deep house selection from Jon Howell, it was left to long-time We Lover David Phillips to finish off with an eclectic party mix that impressed the tough audience on board – must be difficult when you’re playing to a room that’s 70 per cent DJs, 15 per cent promoters, 15 per cent music lovers and 5 per cent Miss W.
As for the rest of the day? Entertaining antics (as always) from the Café Mambo crew – Alex Wolfenden, Jason Bye and Andy Baxter – plenty of sunshine meant lots of time spent diving off the boat to swim and snorkel, delicious food, great service and a good time was had by all.
The verdict? We love… We Love…!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Mooring just off Es Palmador and being treated to exclusive one hour chill-out sets from the residents of We Love… Not a bad life, eh?
THE BAD: A serious bout of seasickness caused by very rough waters saw one We Lover jump ship (not literally of course) and return to dry land before the boat had even passed Las Salinas beach while several others were seen clutching their tummies or even the side of the boat to try and hold on to their lunches!
THE GOSSIP: A few notable absences from well-known island DJs who had RSVP’d yes to the event had tongues wagging as to whether the previous night’s festivities had caused them to oversleep – Miss W suspects the early curtain call of 11am must have been painful more than one of the night creatures on board!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
17/09/08: Kumhara’s Wax Da Beach with Radio Sonica
It was a sad day when alternative sunset hangout Kumhara’s in San Antonio Bay closed its doors (well, more like it’s wooden shutters but you get my drift) for a forced two-month closure after battling with the authorities for the past year and Miss W shed a tear or two, having watched many a beautiful sunset there in her time.
Which meant it was an even happier occasion when the venue reopened for business just over a week ago – and what better way to celebrate than with a live broadcast on Radio Sonica featuring Nightmares on Wax and the Wax On crew, for the aptly named three-hour Wax Da Beach show.
Miss W is a devoted listener of DJ E.A.S.E’s (aka George Evelyn, the man behind the mighty Nightmares On Wax project) weekly radio show Wax Da Box on Ibiza Sonica (from 6pm every Thursday for those who’d like to tune in and hear it themselves) so it didn’t take much to entice her into Kumhara’s when she heard the news – throw in a couple of glasses of chilled rosé, one (or two) of the infamous Nutella crepes and some chilled-out tunes courtesy of the Wax On crew and we were in business.
For one of the first nights this season it was chilly enough to actually wear jeans and a light scarf but thankfully the weather didn’t deter a healthy crowd from forming around the area where George was doing his thing – assisted by just a few of his talented friends including Negghead, Guts and some extra special help on the mike provided by his gorgeous daughter Mali (who struggled to see over the decks it must be said, but managed to pull off the sweetest guest vocals ever heard in Ibiza.
Think trip-hop tastic, laidback melodies and smooth grooves in a hippy-esque environment, with Ibiza Sonica on hand to broadcast the entire event to everyone who couldn’t make it to the actual event and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect sunset experience. Though Miss W must admit she stayed long after the sun went down, along with the Sonica and Wax On crews and a handful of their closest friends.
Nightmares? More of a dream-like state if you ask Miss W!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: With the three-hour Wax Da Beach spectacular being broadcast live on Ibiza Sonica (and coming to you live from White Ibiza’s home page), it meant that no matter where in the world you’re based, you didn’t have to miss out on the action completely. Miss W would like to request a re-run of the show please… or a download so she can relive the moment.
THE BAD: The slightly overcast weather made the sunset moment just a little bit non descript (though thankfully the good tunes coming from DJ E.A.S>E made up for it). I guess you can’t control every single aspect of planning an event – at least it wasn’t rained out!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W hears whispers of a Wax Da Beach sequel taking place at on Friday October 3rd so keep your eyes peeled, your dial tuned to 95.2fm or stream it live from the web as it’s guaranteed to be a great wind down as the summer season comes to a close (sob sob!).
Which meant it was an even happier occasion when the venue reopened for business just over a week ago – and what better way to celebrate than with a live broadcast on Radio Sonica featuring Nightmares on Wax and the Wax On crew, for the aptly named three-hour Wax Da Beach show.
Miss W is a devoted listener of DJ E.A.S.E’s (aka George Evelyn, the man behind the mighty Nightmares On Wax project) weekly radio show Wax Da Box on Ibiza Sonica (from 6pm every Thursday for those who’d like to tune in and hear it themselves) so it didn’t take much to entice her into Kumhara’s when she heard the news – throw in a couple of glasses of chilled rosé, one (or two) of the infamous Nutella crepes and some chilled-out tunes courtesy of the Wax On crew and we were in business.
For one of the first nights this season it was chilly enough to actually wear jeans and a light scarf but thankfully the weather didn’t deter a healthy crowd from forming around the area where George was doing his thing – assisted by just a few of his talented friends including Negghead, Guts and some extra special help on the mike provided by his gorgeous daughter Mali (who struggled to see over the decks it must be said, but managed to pull off the sweetest guest vocals ever heard in Ibiza.
Think trip-hop tastic, laidback melodies and smooth grooves in a hippy-esque environment, with Ibiza Sonica on hand to broadcast the entire event to everyone who couldn’t make it to the actual event and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect sunset experience. Though Miss W must admit she stayed long after the sun went down, along with the Sonica and Wax On crews and a handful of their closest friends.
Nightmares? More of a dream-like state if you ask Miss W!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: With the three-hour Wax Da Beach spectacular being broadcast live on Ibiza Sonica (and coming to you live from White Ibiza’s home page), it meant that no matter where in the world you’re based, you didn’t have to miss out on the action completely. Miss W would like to request a re-run of the show please… or a download so she can relive the moment.
THE BAD: The slightly overcast weather made the sunset moment just a little bit non descript (though thankfully the good tunes coming from DJ E.A.S>E made up for it). I guess you can’t control every single aspect of planning an event – at least it wasn’t rained out!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W hears whispers of a Wax Da Beach sequel taking place at on Friday October 3rd so keep your eyes peeled, your dial tuned to 95.2fm or stream it live from the web as it’s guaranteed to be a great wind down as the summer season comes to a close (sob sob!).
Saturday, September 13, 2008
12/09/08: Manumission Closing Party
I know, I know, I know. Miss W has a slight obsession with Manumission and a tendency to go on and on about them whenever occasion allows. Well, please bear with me one last time as I wax lyrical about the final occasion for Ibiza’s favourite performance artists, as tonight marks the farewell for 2008 – and if you listen to the rumours on the island, it could well be the farewell forever – of Manumission.
Rather than listen to rumours, Miss W thought it was best she got into the spirit of things herself and had one last dance at Amnesia on a Friday (for this summer at least), one last chance to witness the shows… and let’s not forget, once last chance to mingle upstairs in the exclusive VIP area with the who’s who of Ibiza society – otherwise known as friends of Manumission.
While the action for most people took place on the stages on the famous Amnesia terrace (I must admit, I don’t really see the point of the main room being open – why go in here when the shows are in the terrace?), for Miss W, the action happens on the raised balcony looking down on the shows. Practically every single bar and restaurant owner – plus their staff members, friends and invited guests) in Ibiza had turned out to show their support of one of the original and best parties on the island. Add to that a host of island characters, DJs, party promoters, club owners, dancers, ex-Manumission staff and you’ve got a melting pot of islanders set to create a party atmosphere more like a New Year’s Eve party than a closing!
Thankfully, the balcony affords full view of the shows and Miss W got her final fix of the Coney Island Review – for the record, may I say that Baby Pin Up and her interesting interpretation of flying the flags most definitely steals the show (no less shocking-yet-impressive the more times you see it) , Mike and Claire still reign as island style icons and that the ever smiling long-standing Manumission girl Giulia’s glossy red smile will be firmly imprinted on many a clubber’s brain after they’ve left the venue tonight, having been tossed a gift from her hands out of the Manumission dress-up box, whether it be a wig, feather boa or mask. And yes, given the chance I would still don the obligatory corset, sky-high stilettos and add a feather to my hair to run away and join the Manumission circus if I could.
Guess that gives me motivation to start that detox, diet and exercise regime I’ve been contemplating soon right? Well, once we’ve passed the rest of the closings that is – this week is only just the beginning of the end…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: What can I say? Mike, Claire, Johnny Golden, and the Coney Island Review - Manuel Albarran, Polly Fey, Elise Caluwaerts and not forgetting the unique and spectacular Baby Pin Up – thank you all for a wonderful season and we’re looking forward to see happens next!
THE BAD: In the past, the Manumission closing party has practically caused a roadblock in San Rafael (including at previous home Privilege) but tonight Miss W had no problem finding a parking space in the Amnesia car park. While some may say this is a good thing, Miss W worries that it spells a decline in the numbers attending the closing parties – surely not a good sign?
THE GOSSIP: Was this SERIOUSLY the last Manumission party ever? Say it isn’t so? The island is awash with gossip about the future of the party – from a world tour to moving clubs to branching out into film, there’s no firm answer from anyone in the Manumission camp as to whether they will continue next summer – you can trust Miss W to keep you posted on this particular topic over the next few months and give you the news as and when it comes to hand.
Rather than listen to rumours, Miss W thought it was best she got into the spirit of things herself and had one last dance at Amnesia on a Friday (for this summer at least), one last chance to witness the shows… and let’s not forget, once last chance to mingle upstairs in the exclusive VIP area with the who’s who of Ibiza society – otherwise known as friends of Manumission.
While the action for most people took place on the stages on the famous Amnesia terrace (I must admit, I don’t really see the point of the main room being open – why go in here when the shows are in the terrace?), for Miss W, the action happens on the raised balcony looking down on the shows. Practically every single bar and restaurant owner – plus their staff members, friends and invited guests) in Ibiza had turned out to show their support of one of the original and best parties on the island. Add to that a host of island characters, DJs, party promoters, club owners, dancers, ex-Manumission staff and you’ve got a melting pot of islanders set to create a party atmosphere more like a New Year’s Eve party than a closing!
Thankfully, the balcony affords full view of the shows and Miss W got her final fix of the Coney Island Review – for the record, may I say that Baby Pin Up and her interesting interpretation of flying the flags most definitely steals the show (no less shocking-yet-impressive the more times you see it) , Mike and Claire still reign as island style icons and that the ever smiling long-standing Manumission girl Giulia’s glossy red smile will be firmly imprinted on many a clubber’s brain after they’ve left the venue tonight, having been tossed a gift from her hands out of the Manumission dress-up box, whether it be a wig, feather boa or mask. And yes, given the chance I would still don the obligatory corset, sky-high stilettos and add a feather to my hair to run away and join the Manumission circus if I could.
Guess that gives me motivation to start that detox, diet and exercise regime I’ve been contemplating soon right? Well, once we’ve passed the rest of the closings that is – this week is only just the beginning of the end…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: What can I say? Mike, Claire, Johnny Golden, and the Coney Island Review - Manuel Albarran, Polly Fey, Elise Caluwaerts and not forgetting the unique and spectacular Baby Pin Up – thank you all for a wonderful season and we’re looking forward to see happens next!
THE BAD: In the past, the Manumission closing party has practically caused a roadblock in San Rafael (including at previous home Privilege) but tonight Miss W had no problem finding a parking space in the Amnesia car park. While some may say this is a good thing, Miss W worries that it spells a decline in the numbers attending the closing parties – surely not a good sign?
THE GOSSIP: Was this SERIOUSLY the last Manumission party ever? Say it isn’t so? The island is awash with gossip about the future of the party – from a world tour to moving clubs to branching out into film, there’s no firm answer from anyone in the Manumission camp as to whether they will continue next summer – you can trust Miss W to keep you posted on this particular topic over the next few months and give you the news as and when it comes to hand.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
10/09/08: Beach Azuli @ S’Estanyol
This summer Miss W has come to look forward to the monthly ‘secret’ Azuli parties on the beach – guaranteed to deliver good music, a host of beautiful guests and above all, the opportunity to dance on the sand, beneath the sparkling Ibiza sunshine, something that has become somewhat of a rarity these days thanks to the ever-changing laws and noise restrictions on the island.
So when September rolled around, one of the first things on my mind was what, when, where and who? What date would it happen, when would I find out, where would it be held and who would be the guest DJs? Add in another who – who would be attending?
Well, today I got the answers I’d been looking for when at 12pm I was notified by text message that Beach Azuli would indeed be happening today at one of my favourite places, the gorgeous cove of S’Estanyol. With special guest DJs David Piccioni, Rob Marmot, Antz, Oliver Lang and Ian Blevins – island DJs (all very easy on the eye if Miss W may say so herself) happy to donate their time to a good cause, supporting the Danny Torres Foundation – the charity that profits from today’s event will go to. Awww bless…
As per usual, Azuli didn’t fail to impress me – in a week of uncertain weather, it was blue skies and high temperatures aplenty, with the sunbeds on the beach booked out just minutes after the party started and the jugs of sangria being refilled faster than you can say ‘salud’ as is the custom in Spain! Add to that a combination of Balearic classics and disco party favourites, a sandy dance floor that filled up the minute the sun went down, super cool guests including James Blunt (who was only too happy to make a more than generous donation to charity), local DJs and plenty of clued-up residents and you’ve got yourself a foolproof recipe for a fabulous Ibiza beach party.
Will there be another? Miss W hears that there will be an extra instalment in the Beach Azuli sessions at the end of September – stay tuned for a full report!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Azuli boss David Piccioni proved that people in Ibiza really do have a heart and party for pleasure, not profit by donating all profits from the event to ASPANADIF, an association for parents with disabled children from Ibiza and Formentera. Three cheers to David and let’s hope more DJs and promoters of his calibre follow suit.
THE BAD: Although the Azuli party is by invitation and word of mouth only, guests were asked to make a ‘suggested’ 20€ donation to the charity. Miss W was surprised to hear that many island residents only donated their loose change – or worse still, promised to come back and donate ‘later’ with the idea that ‘paying’ to get into an event was something they shouldn’t have to do. You know who you are – and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
THE GOSSIP: Tongues were wagging all over the island when Beach Azuli DIDN’T happen on the first Wednesday of the month as it has for the previous three months. Was it due to the fact their previous venue has been temporarily closed due to an incident involving a very Swish London nightclub threw a party on the premises? Or was moving it to the second week it a clever ploy to keep authorities off the scent of what has become a very successful day-meets-night party?
So when September rolled around, one of the first things on my mind was what, when, where and who? What date would it happen, when would I find out, where would it be held and who would be the guest DJs? Add in another who – who would be attending?
Well, today I got the answers I’d been looking for when at 12pm I was notified by text message that Beach Azuli would indeed be happening today at one of my favourite places, the gorgeous cove of S’Estanyol. With special guest DJs David Piccioni, Rob Marmot, Antz, Oliver Lang and Ian Blevins – island DJs (all very easy on the eye if Miss W may say so herself) happy to donate their time to a good cause, supporting the Danny Torres Foundation – the charity that profits from today’s event will go to. Awww bless…
As per usual, Azuli didn’t fail to impress me – in a week of uncertain weather, it was blue skies and high temperatures aplenty, with the sunbeds on the beach booked out just minutes after the party started and the jugs of sangria being refilled faster than you can say ‘salud’ as is the custom in Spain! Add to that a combination of Balearic classics and disco party favourites, a sandy dance floor that filled up the minute the sun went down, super cool guests including James Blunt (who was only too happy to make a more than generous donation to charity), local DJs and plenty of clued-up residents and you’ve got yourself a foolproof recipe for a fabulous Ibiza beach party.
Will there be another? Miss W hears that there will be an extra instalment in the Beach Azuli sessions at the end of September – stay tuned for a full report!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Azuli boss David Piccioni proved that people in Ibiza really do have a heart and party for pleasure, not profit by donating all profits from the event to ASPANADIF, an association for parents with disabled children from Ibiza and Formentera. Three cheers to David and let’s hope more DJs and promoters of his calibre follow suit.
THE BAD: Although the Azuli party is by invitation and word of mouth only, guests were asked to make a ‘suggested’ 20€ donation to the charity. Miss W was surprised to hear that many island residents only donated their loose change – or worse still, promised to come back and donate ‘later’ with the idea that ‘paying’ to get into an event was something they shouldn’t have to do. You know who you are – and you should be ashamed of yourselves.
THE GOSSIP: Tongues were wagging all over the island when Beach Azuli DIDN’T happen on the first Wednesday of the month as it has for the previous three months. Was it due to the fact their previous venue has been temporarily closed due to an incident involving a very Swish London nightclub threw a party on the premises? Or was moving it to the second week it a clever ploy to keep authorities off the scent of what has become a very successful day-meets-night party?
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
09/09/08: Carl Cox Closing Party
Here we go, here we go, here we gooooo... That’s the tune Miss W had on her lips tonight, as we headed towards Space to bid farewell to Carl Cox & Friends, who were wrapping up their incredibly successful ninth season on the island and at Space. To quote Dorothy in the Wizard Of Oz, ‘People come and go so quickly around here, don’t they?’
With the briefest of all club nights, at a mere 10 weeks long, it’s no wonder that crowds flock to this popular night – you’ve gotta get in there quick! Though it may be the shortest season, in terms of line-ups, as I’ve said before, it’s definitely one of Ibiza’s finest. From underground techno heroes and breakbeat wizards to drum and bass über-stars and acid house pioneers, the night is one for party lovers and enthusiasts alike.
Miss W falls somewhere between the two categories, so wasn’t about to miss the final show. Carl Cox & Friends is notorious for long queues and generally the wait to even enter the hallowed doors of Space can take up to an hour (generally this is put down to low ticket prices before midnight, a move the promoters should be congratulated on) but thankfully Miss W knows how to wink her way to the front of the queue, so catching the tail end of Carl Cox’s sunset terrace set wasn’t a problem!
The it was into the dark discoteca, where Loco Dice – one of the DJs on the island that Miss W thinks would be a very good Potential Boyfriend, if only she could actually met him face to face – was playing his trademark bouncy techno, carnival style music that could make even the most stubborn dance-hater (not that there are any in Ibiza) get a wiggle on. And he’s just so darn good looking, how could anyone not want to be up close to the DJ booth!
Bushwacka! entertained with an eclectic tech/house set on the indoor terraza, including a remix of Bille Jean that sent the crowds into a frenzy. Production wise, the white face painted Space stilt walkers did their thing, sending the crowd into hysterics, a giant white sheet was flung over the entire terrace like a parachute then swept off to a roar of approval, the stunning Space dancers did their thing one last time with extra gusto and the spectacular laser show was more dazzling than Tiffany & Co diamond ring.
Miss W thinks a very big round of applause must go to the Filthy Gorgeous crew, who hosted the jam-packed El Salon room and a standing ovation to Mr Doris who played to a very crowded Premier Etage for over seven hours – wow!
With friends like these… it’s no wonder this finale was such a success.
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The enthusiasm and energy of the big man himself hasn’t waned after all these years, which is nice to see in an industry that can sometimes seem a little jaded. What a nice guy indeed…
THE BAD: What? You mean it’s over so soon? Miss W can’t help but think that if Carl and his buddies extended their season, Ibiza’s September tourism numbers might get more of a boost. If the government is encouraging longer seasons, then surely the clubs hosting the nights should give the promoters a bit of a friendly nudge in the right direction too?
THE GOSSIP: German techno legend Sven Vath was spotted in the DJ booth, high fiving Carl Cox for a few minutes as guest Loco Dice finished his set, but didn’t hang around to watch any of the other acts. Perhaps he was just tired after the previous night’s Cocoon party?
With the briefest of all club nights, at a mere 10 weeks long, it’s no wonder that crowds flock to this popular night – you’ve gotta get in there quick! Though it may be the shortest season, in terms of line-ups, as I’ve said before, it’s definitely one of Ibiza’s finest. From underground techno heroes and breakbeat wizards to drum and bass über-stars and acid house pioneers, the night is one for party lovers and enthusiasts alike.
Miss W falls somewhere between the two categories, so wasn’t about to miss the final show. Carl Cox & Friends is notorious for long queues and generally the wait to even enter the hallowed doors of Space can take up to an hour (generally this is put down to low ticket prices before midnight, a move the promoters should be congratulated on) but thankfully Miss W knows how to wink her way to the front of the queue, so catching the tail end of Carl Cox’s sunset terrace set wasn’t a problem!
The it was into the dark discoteca, where Loco Dice – one of the DJs on the island that Miss W thinks would be a very good Potential Boyfriend, if only she could actually met him face to face – was playing his trademark bouncy techno, carnival style music that could make even the most stubborn dance-hater (not that there are any in Ibiza) get a wiggle on. And he’s just so darn good looking, how could anyone not want to be up close to the DJ booth!
Bushwacka! entertained with an eclectic tech/house set on the indoor terraza, including a remix of Bille Jean that sent the crowds into a frenzy. Production wise, the white face painted Space stilt walkers did their thing, sending the crowd into hysterics, a giant white sheet was flung over the entire terrace like a parachute then swept off to a roar of approval, the stunning Space dancers did their thing one last time with extra gusto and the spectacular laser show was more dazzling than Tiffany & Co diamond ring.
Miss W thinks a very big round of applause must go to the Filthy Gorgeous crew, who hosted the jam-packed El Salon room and a standing ovation to Mr Doris who played to a very crowded Premier Etage for over seven hours – wow!
With friends like these… it’s no wonder this finale was such a success.
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: The enthusiasm and energy of the big man himself hasn’t waned after all these years, which is nice to see in an industry that can sometimes seem a little jaded. What a nice guy indeed…
THE BAD: What? You mean it’s over so soon? Miss W can’t help but think that if Carl and his buddies extended their season, Ibiza’s September tourism numbers might get more of a boost. If the government is encouraging longer seasons, then surely the clubs hosting the nights should give the promoters a bit of a friendly nudge in the right direction too?
THE GOSSIP: German techno legend Sven Vath was spotted in the DJ booth, high fiving Carl Cox for a few minutes as guest Loco Dice finished his set, but didn’t hang around to watch any of the other acts. Perhaps he was just tired after the previous night’s Cocoon party?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
08/09/08: DC10 – the actual farewell?
Dc10 is not traditionally the kind of place Miss W chooses to get her groove on – well ok, there is the odd occasion when I am tempted, but as a general rule it’s not my first port of call on a Monday afternoon. But the word on the street this week is that due to their many struggles with the local authorities, today will officially be the last ever Circo Loco party in Ibiza. So really, the closing party to end all closing parties, before the closing parties have even begun! If you follow my drift…
So I figured it was now or never!
Sporting my very special red new boots to protect my freshly pedicured toes from the perils of the dirty dusty DC10 car park, I arrived fairly late (9pm) by the looks of the way the party was going. While there were no queues outside, there were certainly enough hunky looking doorman on hand to ensure the hottie quota for the evening was reached before even heading inside, where the hordes of people crowding the bars and overheating the dance floor was enough to make me think the amount of clubbers per square metre could surely rival Privilege on a Monday night!
Was it magic? Or was it madness? That was the question on my lips as I made my way through the club and I have to say that the answer lies somewhere in between.
Think hundreds of stylish Italian girls dancing alongside younger English clubbers, resplendent in their fancy dress attempts. Think tall, muscly tattooed über-men rubbing shoulders (though Miss W would like to take this opportunity to say shirts off in a club is so not cool, no matter how hot it gets on the dance floor) with local business owners, yummy mummies (minus bubs of course) and those retired-clubbers who thought their DC10 days were long gone, all hoping for one last chance to relive the magic that made this party one of a kind, not just in Ibiza but in the world.
While I’m all for getting involved on the dance floor, when a club is as crowded of this (with no VIP area to seek solace in – everyone is as one here) I was pretty happy to run into my Very Well Connected Friend who invited me into the inner sanctum of DC10, otherwise known as behind the DJ booth! And not a moment too soon – I mean, what’s the point of dancing if no one can see your shoes?
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: That the island’s true party spirit lives on, even if it’s with baited breath that each week could be their last chance to party on a Monday in the now-legendary hangar on the side of the road towards Las Salinas.
THE BAD: There’s busy, there’s rammed and then there’s the DC10 terrace dance floor. Enough said.
THE GOSSIP: Is it or isn’t it closing? Was this or wasn’t this the last party? Would the police close the event down halfway through the night? Only time will tell – keep your eyes peeled out by the airport next Monday and find out for yourself!
So I figured it was now or never!
Sporting my very special red new boots to protect my freshly pedicured toes from the perils of the dirty dusty DC10 car park, I arrived fairly late (9pm) by the looks of the way the party was going. While there were no queues outside, there were certainly enough hunky looking doorman on hand to ensure the hottie quota for the evening was reached before even heading inside, where the hordes of people crowding the bars and overheating the dance floor was enough to make me think the amount of clubbers per square metre could surely rival Privilege on a Monday night!
Was it magic? Or was it madness? That was the question on my lips as I made my way through the club and I have to say that the answer lies somewhere in between.
Think hundreds of stylish Italian girls dancing alongside younger English clubbers, resplendent in their fancy dress attempts. Think tall, muscly tattooed über-men rubbing shoulders (though Miss W would like to take this opportunity to say shirts off in a club is so not cool, no matter how hot it gets on the dance floor) with local business owners, yummy mummies (minus bubs of course) and those retired-clubbers who thought their DC10 days were long gone, all hoping for one last chance to relive the magic that made this party one of a kind, not just in Ibiza but in the world.
While I’m all for getting involved on the dance floor, when a club is as crowded of this (with no VIP area to seek solace in – everyone is as one here) I was pretty happy to run into my Very Well Connected Friend who invited me into the inner sanctum of DC10, otherwise known as behind the DJ booth! And not a moment too soon – I mean, what’s the point of dancing if no one can see your shoes?
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: That the island’s true party spirit lives on, even if it’s with baited breath that each week could be their last chance to party on a Monday in the now-legendary hangar on the side of the road towards Las Salinas.
THE BAD: There’s busy, there’s rammed and then there’s the DC10 terrace dance floor. Enough said.
THE GOSSIP: Is it or isn’t it closing? Was this or wasn’t this the last party? Would the police close the event down halfway through the night? Only time will tell – keep your eyes peeled out by the airport next Monday and find out for yourself!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
06/09/08: Pirates Of the Caribizan Boat Party
Another day, another boat party. We must be in Ibiza indeed…
The invites for today’s Pirates Of The CarIbizan boat party begin by telling the tale of UK party promoters Puscha’s now legendary Shipwrecked cruise back in 2004, when three party ships were sailed down the river Thames in the typical OTT Pushca fashion, in search of a mythical lost party island. Legend – well, some cleverly worded PR material anyway - has it that one of the boats along with its crew and passengers was lost at sea and rumoured to have made its way to Ibiza.
Of course, it would be rude not to join in the search to recover those lost at sea – put on in Ibiza in conjunction with professional party pirates, Los Piratas and their very special sailing yacht - and so Miss W accepted the invite with gusto and began practicing her very best ‘ahoy me hearties’ the night before. Though to be honest, I’ve always fancied myself as more of a Keira Knightley-type character than a Johnny Depp-esque pirate…
Though the 1pm kick-off time was actually quite civilised, Miss W struggled to get to the port of Ibiza Town in time to board, almost missing the boat, quite literally! After what felt like a very long night at Pete Tong’s Wonderland the previous evening, making the right fashion choices for a day on the water proved a little difficult, resulting in the need for a quick shopping excursion in Ibiza for some added inspiration! Eye patches have never really been my thing, however I’ve always wanted an excuse to buy myself one of those Alexander McQueen silk skull and crossbones scarves so after a quick stop off at trendy boutique Mayurka, I was ready to set sail.
With plenty of recognisable Ibiza faces on board, along with a host of fresh faces who were clearly part of the Pushca crew, it was clear from the minute the boat left the harbour that this was indeed a party search and rescue mission. With funky house-favoured music being the order of the day and plenty of icy cold drinks (thankfully not rum or port in true pirate style!) served up, the deck became a dance floor in less than an hour, proving that these two promoters really know what they’re doing when it comes to putting on a party.
While Miss W didn’t spy any Orlando Bloom lookalikes on board, there were still plenty of the obligatory eye patches and bandannas on the boys to keep the pirate theme alive, while the girls opted to steer clear of the swashbuckles and stick with the tried and tested bikini top and shorts/skirt combination. Personally, I preferred to fashion my new skull scarf into a makeshift top.
After all, if you’ve got a McQueen, flaunt it!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Getting the chance to be out on open waters without feeling the stress of having to return to the office or get to the next party/dinner/event and the like in a hurry. September in Ibiza means we can actually breathe a sigh of relief as the pressure eases off and the party season slows down – for two weeks at least, before the closing parties arrive!
THE BAD: It seemed like the party was promoted at the proverbial 11th hour, with a flurry of emails, texts, MySpace bulletins and Facebook messages arriving in various islanders’ inboxes right up until a few hours before the scheduled departure time of 1pm Saturday – while the party itself went on to (thankfully) be a success, the slight air-of-desperation created by all the PR-ing just before setting sail didn’t do much to encourage people to join the party.
THE GOSSIP: Miss W had to wonder about the combination of Los Piratas (who declare ‘we love to make a mess’ on their website) and Pushca (who pride themselves on style and glamour) – one underground Ibiza institution and the other a well-established UK brand. While it didn’t seem to fit on the outside, once on the boat it just went to show that even the strangest of pairings work on this island!
The invites for today’s Pirates Of The CarIbizan boat party begin by telling the tale of UK party promoters Puscha’s now legendary Shipwrecked cruise back in 2004, when three party ships were sailed down the river Thames in the typical OTT Pushca fashion, in search of a mythical lost party island. Legend – well, some cleverly worded PR material anyway - has it that one of the boats along with its crew and passengers was lost at sea and rumoured to have made its way to Ibiza.
Of course, it would be rude not to join in the search to recover those lost at sea – put on in Ibiza in conjunction with professional party pirates, Los Piratas and their very special sailing yacht - and so Miss W accepted the invite with gusto and began practicing her very best ‘ahoy me hearties’ the night before. Though to be honest, I’ve always fancied myself as more of a Keira Knightley-type character than a Johnny Depp-esque pirate…
Though the 1pm kick-off time was actually quite civilised, Miss W struggled to get to the port of Ibiza Town in time to board, almost missing the boat, quite literally! After what felt like a very long night at Pete Tong’s Wonderland the previous evening, making the right fashion choices for a day on the water proved a little difficult, resulting in the need for a quick shopping excursion in Ibiza for some added inspiration! Eye patches have never really been my thing, however I’ve always wanted an excuse to buy myself one of those Alexander McQueen silk skull and crossbones scarves so after a quick stop off at trendy boutique Mayurka, I was ready to set sail.
With plenty of recognisable Ibiza faces on board, along with a host of fresh faces who were clearly part of the Pushca crew, it was clear from the minute the boat left the harbour that this was indeed a party search and rescue mission. With funky house-favoured music being the order of the day and plenty of icy cold drinks (thankfully not rum or port in true pirate style!) served up, the deck became a dance floor in less than an hour, proving that these two promoters really know what they’re doing when it comes to putting on a party.
While Miss W didn’t spy any Orlando Bloom lookalikes on board, there were still plenty of the obligatory eye patches and bandannas on the boys to keep the pirate theme alive, while the girls opted to steer clear of the swashbuckles and stick with the tried and tested bikini top and shorts/skirt combination. Personally, I preferred to fashion my new skull scarf into a makeshift top.
After all, if you’ve got a McQueen, flaunt it!
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: Getting the chance to be out on open waters without feeling the stress of having to return to the office or get to the next party/dinner/event and the like in a hurry. September in Ibiza means we can actually breathe a sigh of relief as the pressure eases off and the party season slows down – for two weeks at least, before the closing parties arrive!
THE BAD: It seemed like the party was promoted at the proverbial 11th hour, with a flurry of emails, texts, MySpace bulletins and Facebook messages arriving in various islanders’ inboxes right up until a few hours before the scheduled departure time of 1pm Saturday – while the party itself went on to (thankfully) be a success, the slight air-of-desperation created by all the PR-ing just before setting sail didn’t do much to encourage people to join the party.
THE GOSSIP: Miss W had to wonder about the combination of Los Piratas (who declare ‘we love to make a mess’ on their website) and Pushca (who pride themselves on style and glamour) – one underground Ibiza institution and the other a well-established UK brand. While it didn’t seem to fit on the outside, once on the boat it just went to show that even the strangest of pairings work on this island!
Monday, September 1, 2008
01/09/08: Are tattoos the latest Ibiza fashion accessory?
You know, Miss W considers people watching part of her job – as long as she resists the urge to stare of course – and as today marks the official start of autumn, I thought I would have a look around to check out what we had in store fashion-wise for the changing of the season.
Though I must admit, here in Ibiza it is still definitely feeling like summer is in full swing, with temperatures soaring at over 31 degrees each day, the beach still being one of our prime daily destinations and party-wear still consisting of nothing more than a little frock!
So as I began to meander up and down Vara De Rey, traipsing along Isador Macabich and snaking my way through the old town’s plethora of fashion shops, I couldn’t help but notice the stylish people on parade as much as the changing window displays of the stores – September has arrived and with it, the usual bunch of clued-up, fashion-conscious and ultra-cool holiday makers.
The one thing that caught my eye however – considering that there is still a considerable amount of tanned flesh on display given the steamy weather – is that everyone who’s anyone on this island (and even those who aren’t!) seem to be sporting some very amazing tattoos. From beautifully scripted words, in Spanish, Italian, English and even Latin, showing off the multi-cultural nature of our beautiful island’s inhabitants to gorgeously kitsch pictures of cats, fairies and butterflies and amazing dragons, coats of arms and the most incredibly detailed portrait work, I couldn’t help but wonder when did tattoos become the latest must-have fashion accessory? Did Miss W miss the Vogue bulletin declaring it so, or am I just hanging out in the wrong places?
After asking around (and purchasing the latest edition of UK Vogue, who even included an article on supermodel’s tattoos), it became clear that the trend is indeed in full swing, with Ibiza being the epicentre of cool when it comes to showing off your latest holiday souvenir. The only problem is, after you’ve gotten your very own, you need to wait at least seven days before swimming in the sea, going in the sun or showing it off in public, in order to avoid it getting bumped around, dirty or infected, making it pretty difficult to make the most of the Ibiza style if you ask me.
Which leaves Miss W to put off getting her very own tattoo for at least another month or maybe even another season – it’s not really your typical impulse buy after all! Plus I couldn’t bear to miss a day of swimming in the gorgeous Med waters when we’re blessed with a climate like this!
Stay tuned for further Autumn fashion updates as the weather slowly starts to change later this month…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: In Ibiza’s very open-minded environment, tattoos are not only accepted but encouraged – just take a closer look at your bank manager, shop keeper, doorman, neighbour. Thankfully on the island, personal preferences such as body art won’t stop you from getting the right job, getting into the right party or making friends with the right people. In fact, it’s a great conversation starter if you ask me!
THE BAD: Girls with too many tattoos – call me old-fashioned but I think it’s sexy to have just a few select pieces, or one statement piece that can be shown off sexily with the right outfit. Sleeve tattoos just don’t seem to have the same striking effect on a woman as they do a hunky man!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W happened to be having a drink in a very low-key yet über-cool establishment last week when she overheard a conversation between Neil Ahern of Inkadelic – Ibiza’s tattoo artist de jour – and a friend. While I’m not normally one for repeating gossip (ahem!) this titbit was just a little too good to keep to myself. It seems none other than Ms Dannii Minogue, who was in town for a bit of a break from her busy schedule last week, went to Inkadelic with the hopes of getting her very own piece of body art. What she didn’t count on however, was that Neil – the creator and designer of many a custom piece of artwork - doesn’t accept walk-ins and prefers to work on his own designs, not small, stock-standard pieces such as Japanese symbols. So much was her surprise when he refused her request, that she reminded him of who she was. Neil’s response? ‘Look sweetheart, I’ve refused Kate and Naomi in the past – who do you think you are?’ It’s good to see some integrity in his profession!
Though I must admit, here in Ibiza it is still definitely feeling like summer is in full swing, with temperatures soaring at over 31 degrees each day, the beach still being one of our prime daily destinations and party-wear still consisting of nothing more than a little frock!
So as I began to meander up and down Vara De Rey, traipsing along Isador Macabich and snaking my way through the old town’s plethora of fashion shops, I couldn’t help but notice the stylish people on parade as much as the changing window displays of the stores – September has arrived and with it, the usual bunch of clued-up, fashion-conscious and ultra-cool holiday makers.
The one thing that caught my eye however – considering that there is still a considerable amount of tanned flesh on display given the steamy weather – is that everyone who’s anyone on this island (and even those who aren’t!) seem to be sporting some very amazing tattoos. From beautifully scripted words, in Spanish, Italian, English and even Latin, showing off the multi-cultural nature of our beautiful island’s inhabitants to gorgeously kitsch pictures of cats, fairies and butterflies and amazing dragons, coats of arms and the most incredibly detailed portrait work, I couldn’t help but wonder when did tattoos become the latest must-have fashion accessory? Did Miss W miss the Vogue bulletin declaring it so, or am I just hanging out in the wrong places?
After asking around (and purchasing the latest edition of UK Vogue, who even included an article on supermodel’s tattoos), it became clear that the trend is indeed in full swing, with Ibiza being the epicentre of cool when it comes to showing off your latest holiday souvenir. The only problem is, after you’ve gotten your very own, you need to wait at least seven days before swimming in the sea, going in the sun or showing it off in public, in order to avoid it getting bumped around, dirty or infected, making it pretty difficult to make the most of the Ibiza style if you ask me.
Which leaves Miss W to put off getting her very own tattoo for at least another month or maybe even another season – it’s not really your typical impulse buy after all! Plus I couldn’t bear to miss a day of swimming in the gorgeous Med waters when we’re blessed with a climate like this!
Stay tuned for further Autumn fashion updates as the weather slowly starts to change later this month…
THE LOWDOWN
THE GOOD: In Ibiza’s very open-minded environment, tattoos are not only accepted but encouraged – just take a closer look at your bank manager, shop keeper, doorman, neighbour. Thankfully on the island, personal preferences such as body art won’t stop you from getting the right job, getting into the right party or making friends with the right people. In fact, it’s a great conversation starter if you ask me!
THE BAD: Girls with too many tattoos – call me old-fashioned but I think it’s sexy to have just a few select pieces, or one statement piece that can be shown off sexily with the right outfit. Sleeve tattoos just don’t seem to have the same striking effect on a woman as they do a hunky man!
THE GOSSIP: Miss W happened to be having a drink in a very low-key yet über-cool establishment last week when she overheard a conversation between Neil Ahern of Inkadelic – Ibiza’s tattoo artist de jour – and a friend. While I’m not normally one for repeating gossip (ahem!) this titbit was just a little too good to keep to myself. It seems none other than Ms Dannii Minogue, who was in town for a bit of a break from her busy schedule last week, went to Inkadelic with the hopes of getting her very own piece of body art. What she didn’t count on however, was that Neil – the creator and designer of many a custom piece of artwork - doesn’t accept walk-ins and prefers to work on his own designs, not small, stock-standard pieces such as Japanese symbols. So much was her surprise when he refused her request, that she reminded him of who she was. Neil’s response? ‘Look sweetheart, I’ve refused Kate and Naomi in the past – who do you think you are?’ It’s good to see some integrity in his profession!
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