IBIZA NEWS - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15th 2007
IBIZA NEWS ARCHIVE
MANUMISSION went ahead last Friday (10th) at AMNESIA, following their sudden departure a week earlier from Privilege, where they were located since arriving on the island from Manchester in 1994. Their 'new' venue is being shared with MADE IN ITALY , who were already occupying the main room. Some say the Amnesia debut was a success, others say merely OK, with the hurriedly re-arranged show pieces taking place largely around the VIP balconies. For sure the numbers were as expected for what was, after all, the busiest period of the whole summer (RADIO ONE WEEKEND), though confidence in the event actually taking place was obviously iffy, given that everyone in San An appeared to know that a contract hadn't been signed between promotion and venue by as late as 8pm on the night. It's alleged that BAR M sold as few as 10% of their normal tickets for a Manu party, though if true that could in part be because the promotion team had hit the rest of San An like a plague in the preceding three days, even PARADING IN THE WEST END for the first time in years, so sales at other locations would have been higher than normal. There's little doubt that the talents' behind MANUMISSION will soon turn the venue into a stronghold and make the very best of the elements they have to hand. Indeed, they later announced that this years' show was always intended as a touring event, though admit that they have had to go 'on tour' a bit earlier than anticipated. (And of course everyone expected such a wonderfully neat covering story, so well done on that).
HOWEVER , over at BAR M, MANUMISSION'S stronghold in SAN ANTONIO , home of their adventurous IBIZA ROCKS gigs, all is not quite so well. Despite a comment by ANDY McKAY a week ago (read below) which said that all planned band performances would go ahead as scheduled, on the unlucky 13 th of August THE STREETS gig was pulled, apparently because BAR M has had its MUSIC LICENCE STOPPED . The period of time this applies to has not, as I write, been confirmed and no reference to the incident appears to have officially been issued by Manumission.
EARLIER NEWS FOLLOWS…
BREAKING NEWS: AT 2AM ON FRIDAY THE 10 TH OF AUGUST MANUMISSION SENT THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE. ALL THE COPY BENEATH IT WAS WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY, SO PLEASE READ THE REST WITH THAT IN MIND .
"After 14 years of Manumission in Privilege (or initially KU) we have moved to Amnesia. Whilst this is not something we would have chosen to do mid season, we are delighted with the change, and feel that it is in the best interests of our customers, our staff and our party. It is widely known that we have had a turbulent history with Privilege and last Friday they took the decision to keep the venue closed. This resulted in many thousands of people who had bought tickets being turned away for no reason. Under those circumstances we acted as responsibly as we could, and by now everyone should have received a full refund from the place of purchase.
Manumission has built its name on creativity and innovation, and now all this energy will be invested in the REOPENING of MANUMISSION this Friday 10th August at Amnesia, which is sure to go down as one of the events of the decade. We are most grateful to our friends at Amnesia, and Made In Italy for their invitation to join them on Fridays. We now have a venue that is working along side us and we look forward to the future."
PREVIOUSLY WRITTEN NEWS
IS MANUMISSION OVER … FOR THE SEASON, OR IS IT ABOUT TO MAKE A SENSATIONAL MID-SEASON SWITCH FROM LONG-TIME HOME PRIVILEGE TO AMNESIA, SPACE, HEAVEN, DIVA OR TIMBUKTU ?
If the following confusing events hadn't already happened you wouldn't believe it, sort of thing…
Below these opening paragraphs you can read at some length a 'background' collection of stories from earlier in the week which relate some of the tittle-tattle tales that have been running around Ibiza. All refer in some way to the sensation of MANUMISSION'S failure to go ahead with their weekly event at PRIVILEGE last Friday night / Saturday morning ((3rd / 4th of August). The probability is that they will now, or soon, depart the official 'BIGGEST CLUB IN THE WORLD' , their home since arriving in Ibiza in the early 90's.
I have to say, it's not a happy series of tales, and unpleasant to have to write, I'm probably not very popular for doing so, unfortunately. But it's the job and, as dirty as it sometimes is, I'll do my best to objectively lay out the SUPPOSED 'FACTS' AND UNDOUBTED 'FICTION' for you to see.
Understand that most of the bits and pieces are island 'gossip', probably with just a semblance of truth in other words the average daily conversational trawl in Ibiza – except that this time they're about a genuine large issue – the BIGGEST WEEKLY CLUB EVENT ON EARTH in fact).
Some warn me, as I write this update (Wednesday) that an imminent press release is threatened, to the effect MANUMISSION will announce that they WILL take place this Friday (the 10th ), but at AMNESIA. If so this could be on the terrace, sharing the venue with the already successful MADE IN ITALY , who would presumably continue to take care of the Main Room. It's difficult to believe, but let's see… If this latest in a long line of 'tales' proves true, for once, then a large number of island club people will be sporting invisible question marks over the top of their heads.
For example, would it mean the LARGEST WEEKLY CLUB EVENT ON EARTH was suddenly becoming HALF of a smaller one?
Would there be any kind of substantial stage show? This, after all - along with the non-existent, but-still-believed-to-occur 'sex show' – is a major part of the attraction for many holidaying clubbers.
How would so many Manu dancers and performers be accommodated when Amnesia itself already has a hugely impressive full time dance troupe, while MADE IN ITALY add even more performers to the night? Will there be room left for actual punters amongst such an army of scantily clad podium dancers and the like?
With the only possible area for a substantial stage in AMNESIA being the bar area near the only entrance-exit, would they construct in the centre of the room, in the style of LA TROYA nights of old? And would such a physical intrusion further reduce an already squeezed capacity to the point of economic madness?
Without a substantial stage show how would MANUMISSION differ from the halfway house that, say, JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS does so well at EDEN on a Sunday night?
In direct 'venue' competition with the MUSIC-DRIVEN likes of AMNESIA nights such as the mega-tastic COCOON (SVEN VATH), ARMADA (ARMIN VAN BUUREN, World number two DJ) and CREAM (PAUL VAN DYK, World number one DJ, plus rocketing star EDDIE HALLIWELL), how would they fare?
So AMNESIA doesn't seem likely, yet I'm being told this will be so.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE OLDER BACKGROUND TALES…
f If the following story doesn't confuse and depress your mood, well, lucky you…
On top of the remarkably negative start of season caused by the closure of major venue AMNESIA , plus the smaller, but equally important underground scene locations DC10 and the BORA BORA beach clubbing-bar, last night (Friday 3 rd of August) MANUMISSION , famously the largest weekly clubbing event at the official BIGGEST CLUB ON EARTH – PRIVILEGE – was prevented from going ahead on Friday August 3rd.
There are two conflicting stories – both relating to the build up of the incident.
ONE : On the one hand some are saying it was the apparent implementation of a suspended fine supposedly relating to the OVERRUN OF AN OPENING PARTY in a previous season.
TWO: It's not that at all, but instead to do with payment of a large fee to the Spanish equivalent of the UK 's PRS (Performing Rights Society) or similar, who collect fees for music being played at venues, bars etc. It's being said that this large bill arrived and MANUMISSION – supposedly – we being asked to contribute a disproportionately large part of the bill, in their opinion, not doubt because they attract a disproportionately large part of the weekly PRIVILEGE crowd.
BOTH stories may be fiction, both may be true.
Either way what seems clear (clear?) that, fine or bill settled, the event could presumably have gone ahead, therefore any reason for no party show last Friday would not be related to a BAN ON OPENING , at least, not of the kind that other venues have experienced in recent weeks.
owever, by virtually all accounts a spat appears to have taken place between the PRIVILEGE venue owners and the event promoter (MANUMISSION), resulting in the subsequent impasse where the doors were, it is said, locked on the event.
By some accounts this appears to have been the situation sometime before the party was due to open at midnight , though at the MANUMISSION part-owned BAR M in San Antonio , the events' pre-party carried on, punters being arranged for bus ferrying to the venue until well beyond midnight , credible witnesses claim. So clearly there was belief that all would still be resolved and the night ‘saved'. According to some sources (not necessarily accurate, but being added to the mix) a late start took place a week earlier, the party supposedly opening at 1am , due to similar strife, they suggest. Yet more IBIZA GOSSIP-MACHINE FANTASY? Probably, but who ever really knows on the island of dreams.
Based on the posing of a handful of simplified questions ANDY MANUMISSION kindly found time to come back to me, though asked me not to report certain ‘claims' relating to what has been spread about BAR M and IBIZA ROCKS , stating that they are “A DANGEROUS COLLECTION OF FACTS AND FICTION. PLEASE DO NOT PUBLISH WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT IBIZA ROCKS, IT IS RUBBISH, ALL THIS SEASONS GIGS WILL BE IN BAR M AS PLANNED!” So with respect to that, certain suggestions made by island figures are not being repeated here. This is an environment where a storm of supposed ‘facts' is battering at everyone from all directions on an hourly basis.
For sure the MANUMISSION team must be in major flux right now, surely concentrating all energies on trying to rearrange – if and where necessary - a massively impressive and extensive summer schedule. The rumours flying off in most directions are sometimes following a thread that appears to lead from them, but may not have in reality and, like all things in Ibiza , are subject to alteration and exaggeration at every point of their relating and retelling. Anything can be true or total bollocks on this island. Keep that in mind as you read on…
It seems unlikely that the imposing of any previously suspended fine on PRIVILEGE could have be tenuously related to a different venue. The licensing regime has changed of late and is now seen to be playing a reasonably even hand across the board, implementing fines for old digressions, so it's logical Privilege – like many other places – would be hit..
Two weeks earlier, when San Antonio came under the spotlight of fear shone by the new tougher licensing approach, the live broadcast of a GALAXY RADIO'S IBIZA WEEKENDER Sunset Show, involving HED KANDI DJs, was prevented from going ahead, at BAR M . This appeared to be the first inkling that something was awry with anything related to MANUMISSION business.
It has subsequently be claimed in general street gossip (etc) that BAR M were possibly now not considered to be holding a correct license to hold live events, which obviously could include such events as their IBIZA ROCKS gigs. These are sponsored by SONY ERICSSON and are being filmed for a second series of the TV show of the same name ( IBIZA ROCKS with SONY ERICSSON' ) by CHANNEL 4 in the UK , so are very important to the image of the island.
There's a thing called a CAFÉ CONCIERTO license, which allows live activities INSIDE a venue to take place. However BAR M, though looking increasingly like an enclosed club venue at night, is still an outside terrace bar and the performance stage is therefore likely to be considered an OUTSIDE entity, on that terrace. Is that true or false? Is it a problem or not? Technicalities seem to matter greatly at the moment, in the face of the onslaught by what - on the current evidence - seems to be a new determination to ensure that the clubbing and music scene falls into line and plays it strictly by the book, with DRACONIAN ACTIONS NOW PERHAPS INTENDED TO ENSURE FEW SUCH DIGRESSIONS IN FUTURE.
Or was the BAR M GALAXY FM incident simply another incident related to settling fees for live or radio performance and nothing to do with licences to have music?
Meanwhile, KANYA, in San An, had a ban slapped on IT a few days after the GALAXY RADIO incident. This was apparently in relation to them running some events that were not considered properly licensed either, though it's unclear if this was related to current 2007 activities, or past digressions (which tend to be the theme of the current spate of banning orders). So for three days from last Monday (30 th July) to Wednesday (August 1 st ) the whole complex was closed to the public - a short sharp punishment.
Also, in nearby San Rafael (location of PRIVILEGE ) the EL AYOUN Arabic-themed restaurant and bar – a place well-favoured by the more moneyed set and bronzed-bodied, bejewelled Euro-trash – suffered a similar fate to KANYA . In recent years EL AYOUN are believed to have occasionally crossed-the-line by running some underground parties and one-off events, possibly not considered licensed? Perhaps once more this was a form of slap-back for previous misdemeanours (the recurring theme). Their ban appears to be due to last a couple of weeks, though some suggested it will last all summer, while I even heard that it's already opening again today! It's THAT KIND OF CRAZY ENVIRONMENT at present.
Given those actions/examples BAR M would understandably be apprehensive. The KELIS gig on the 23rd of July was pulled late (though Defected reported her sing two impromptu tracks for them at Pacha the following night). Then by the following week, in the build up to a gig by THE ENEMY on Tuesday the 31 st , it appears that some lobbying took place to ensure all was stable. It's claimed (in general gossip, not by anyone directly involved) that the powers-that-be were then happy for the IBIZA ROCKS gig series to go ahead, given their importance to the image of the island.
Incidentally, the current cover of the EASYJET in-flight magazine is about how IBIZA is now a ROCK ISLAND . Hmm, a couple of Rock gigs a week, mostly concentrated on a medium-sized beach bar venue, are hardly evidence to suggest, for example, that the six rooms of SPACE will from this day forward be filled with bands every night. After all, if we were to do the math that would take, say, 12 bands a night, 84 acts a week, to fill then for perhaps four hours each day ( SPACE is of course open for 22 hours, on many days now). Anyone with eyes open can clearly see that the clubs are full of clubbers, the music is electronic dance and that there aren't ENOUGH BANDS ON EARTH to fill the clubbing areas of Ibiza venues for an average week. So please, EASYJET , hold on the hype a bit; ROCK MUSIC is a welcome addition to the island, a fresh, exciting style to add to the mix, but it is clearly not TAKING OVER . As ANDY MANU added in his request not to spread inaccurate ‘facts and fiction' - DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE (which, from such an acknowledged and wonderfully adept master of spin, would be funny, if the situation wasn't so serious).
Going back to BAR M , it has been suggested that (and this assumes there ever WAS any real problem) an arrangement was agreed, giving a nod to the importance to a positive island image that the rock events bestow. Therefore THE ENEMY went ahead, and from thenceforth the rock parties will take place as scheduled. This coming week album chart topping acts HARD-FI and MIKA are both performing for example. For those not in Ibiza and unable to comprehend the scale of this summer roster, imagine that in the week of the GALAXY RADIO broadcast incident BAR M had already held two KASABIAN gigs, plus an LCD SOUNDSYSTEM one, while the ARCTIC MONKEYS arrive soon. If this was London they'd be the equivalent of BRIXTON ACADEMY . DIRTY SANCHEZ – the daredevil Jackass-a-like TV series team - went ahead last Thursday too.
Furthermore, in the build up to next weeks' important BBC RADIO ONE IBIZA WEEKENDER , the bar was having radio rock jock ZANE LOWE from the Beeb on for three of the nights.
More generally, closures of musical bars are not unknown here, nor are they all connected to the current government or licensing regime. In the past such cherished venues as SA TRINXA and KM5 have had their music stopped for perhaps a month or more at a time, after being deemed to have crossed the line. Indeed BORA BORA was closed for the final month of a season, or was it longer, three or four years ago – an action that caused its then DJ spokesman DJ GEE to go on the warpath declaring the island ‘finished' to all and sundry in a number of anti-Ibiza tirades (he's now happily working in Brazil). The island tends to readjust and accommodate, remaining exciting. However the unrelenting nature of the current onslaught is becoming a bit difficult to digest.
That said, there's hardly a shortage of parties to go to, so let's keep it in perspective.
Any possible fine on PRIVILEGE (unconfirmed) for supposed over-runs, or bill for performing music rights (supposedly dating back some years) are reported in gossip as being substantial. Figures heard a number of times (indirectly from people who claim to work in some capacity for MANUMISSION ) are now said by a more senior Manu person to be way off the mark (though they didn't say which way, the figures I've actually heard were far higher than I initially put to them, but it could be the other way).
It's further being bandied about - left, right, and centre - that the impasse between venue owner and promoter was partly related to who should be held responsible for the fine or performance fees – ie: pay for it. Such island tittle-tattle is taking place just hours after the fact and may be entirely untrue.
Also consider, that any such information is likely to have in some way been based on the claims of one, or other, of the two parties involved, so most of the increasingly frenzied spreading of information, however messed-up, could have begun as a view from one side of the argument, or other. Then factor in exaggeration and inaccuracy, addled drink and substance abused brains, re-computing and dropping the baton as they pass it on… etc and blah. So what's the point of believing anything, either before or after the incident might be resolved? Keep in mind that this is an island where 95% of people effortlessly spout endless shite. I might be one of them. I'm not, but can YOU be sure of that? Do YOU believe me?
Within hours of the alleged PRIVILEGE bust up word was already spreading that rival venues were supposedly involved in tentative discussions with various parties, regarding potential relocation of the event. I even heard the first of these ‘truths' by 5am (of the night when the MANUMISSION would have still been in full effect). Amazing!
By Saturday afternoon the DOGS OF DISINFORMATION were running around San An claiming that a deal with another venue had already been clinched, that MANUMISSION was going into AMNESIA , possibly sharing or replacing the successful MADE IN ITALY, on Fridays, the night after CREAM . Or else it ‘definitely' on Wednesdays, a night before CREAM . Or again it was 100% on Sundays, instead of the popular ESPUMA FOAM PARTY and ROBBIE RIVERA'S ‘JUICY IBIZA '… and so on. In fact it was being ‘confirmed' as going ahead on every night of the week, except Thursday or Monday, as being a ‘definite' at some point in time.
And of course it's not true, because others say ‘they're in SPACE, confirmed' (again with every night, other than Sunday and Tuesday, mentioned).
Even HEAVEN IBIZA has been put forward as ‘100%, they're doing two parties in there.' And so it goes on and on… Like I said earlier - FUNNY IF IT WEREN'T SO SERIOUS .
MANUMISSION at SPACE? Got to be unlikely, since only Monday nights appear to be free ( MAD MONDAY'S!) and that would prove a squeeze between WE LOVE , which ends at 6am Monday morning, and the equally huge CARL COX , which begins at 8pm Tuesday evening. And anyway, aren't there still a couple of smaller events already squeezed into the venue on Tuesday mornings? Probably! Will so much going on at the PLAYA D'EN BOSSA venue these days surely SPACE fatigue will set in if another huge party descended upon it.
But PLAYA D'EN BOSSA isn't entirely out of the question. I personally wouldn't be surprised if they announced that DIVA is going to reopen and that MANUMISSION will party there on ANY , perhaps EVERY, night of the week, perhaps under a semi-Manu guise like SLEAZEVILLE , so as not to taint the main name by associating it with a venue of less-than-vast scale – which for many is the selling point. Indeed if they were to take this unusual step the venue would most likely be happy to be renamed MANUMISSION or SLEAZEVILLE for the duration. Which would be quite funny, given that most tourists arrive on the island expecting to find a venue called MANUMISSION , being often unaware that it is an EVENT rather than an actual physical PLACE . So, a temporary DIVA move WOULDN'T surprise me at all!
Again though, a sensible betting man would put the dosh on a return to PRIVILEGE , if not this coming Friday, then the one after.
As ANDY has said, IBIZA ROCKS will go ahead as scheduled at BAR M . Given that he is part owner of the venue he really must know the facts, so take that as said and done.
However, a movement of MANUMISSION from PRIVILEGE (and don't discount peace breaking out, even if all ‘street word' suggests that it definitely won't – we're in Ibiza remember) would affect the major promotions already in any potential venue. They would thus have a serious say in the matter relating to any potential movement by any element, or offshoot, of the MANUMISSION juggernaut into their domain.
Indeed CREAM promptly wished to be quoted as saying “WE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DEFEND OUR PARTY” when asked what might happen if MANUMISSION were indeed to arrange a switch into AMNESIA.
When MANUMISSION switched from Monday to Friday last summer, into June, it came far too late for rival promotions to alter long-perfected plans and DJ bookings. However, it resulted in a night swap for quite a few promoters THIS season, smaller fish who wished to get out of the MANUMONSTERS way. Imagine the venue-swapping frenzy that might ensue next summer if they were to actually move and become something like HOME OF MANUMISSION! (Actually, after the tussles of the 2004 season they own their own name, so no need for word-change).
On the weekend after RADIO ONE descends, there is the arrival in PRIVILEGE of two special appearances of TIESTO - the World's number one DJ. The first occurs on the night after MANUMISSION should take place on the Friday (the 18 th ), with the second two nights later (the 20 th ). TIESTO is thought to have not previously considered PRIVILEGE to be an option for a regular night, because MANUMISSION has always been so dominant there. Yet would the DJ likes of he alter such opinion if Manu moved elsewhere? That's just fantasy thinking, but typical of the sort of reassessing that might go on in the near future.
In the previous stand-off between promoter and owner, just over a year ago, MANUMISSION swapped from their famous MONDAY night slot, over to FRIDAYS after 12 seasons. It's no secret that MANU openly dispatched information to all island ears to the effect that they did this, in part, because it allowed them to fully control the door and take a vastly improved share (they said ALL ) of the door takings from their event. This, they claimed at the time, secured their long-term future as an event, plus allowed longer-term event planning (currently not being borne out, but all will settle). Presumably the club itself were left to rely on the not inconsequential bar takings from the night.
Could it be that THIS is partly at the root of the problem? After all, regardless of crowd numbers, if an owner can make more money from a much smaller event, is there such an incentive to hang onto a golden goose that has apparently ceased laying quite such valuable eggs? Rival events at the venue might even begin to breathe on other nights of the week. On the other hand before MANUMISSION arrived at KU / PRIVILEGE the place was largely unused for some seasons, albeit to do with a roof collapse.
FURTHER STORIES ARE CIRCULATING – from various people involved with the venue – that suggest PRIVILEGE might one year fairly soon be redeveloped into a part hotel, part two floor venue. This STORY tells of SEVEN LAS VEGAS investors involved, one of whom is a HOLLYWOOD FILM STAR . Add that string to your information bow and see what wonky tune will emanate. Bets on the location for the filming of OCEAN'S 15 are already being taken at THE TOTE-AL-BOLLOX.
Or will all be resolved and next Friday MANUMISSION return triumphant to the PRIVILEGE fold? Currently that seems unlikely. But tomorrow is another day…
THERE IS OTHER NEWS, BEYOND MANUMISSION – THOUGH MUCH OF IT SEEMS TO BE NEGATIVE AT PRESENT, WITH THE ISLAND SUFFERING A SERIES OF PROBLEMS
RADIO ONE IBIZA WEEKEND – next week - is also under a shadow. They were apparently asked to move the daytime broadcast events from the planned CAFÉ MAMBO (and some elements at BAR M - oops, MANUMISSION again). These bars have been used for certain activities for much of the past decade, but the authorities wish them to put it on at SA PUNTA , the headland near to the Hawaii hotel at the corner of San An Bay, which has been used successfully for the event once before.
MAMBO is now apparently deemed unsuitable, due to the building of the new promenade. It's said that this public thoroughfare would become blocked by crowds. Also, the new sightlines, now presumably obscured by the high wooden deck terrace platform, mean it isn't quite the place it was for a large beach crowd to gather and watch the star radio guys.
The BBC types are then believed to have said there's no budget to cover a suggested 10,000 euro cost of a SA PUNTA stage set up (which, if true, would seem laughable given the largess of their many previous ventures onto the island. For context, it's less than the two-hour fee charged by a large number of the international gigging DJ's who descend on the island daily, for RADIO ONE WEEK ).
On the other hand, in a chat with BBC RADIO ONE DJ JUDGE JULES – who will be performing his popular live show from whichever venue is ultimately chosen - he said that at least part of the planned weekend broadcast programming WAS going ahead at MAMBO after all. Other key island club people say MAMBO will be the base after all, and the reality? Let's wait until the day and believe whatever we see huh!
Even if all goes according to previous plan, the resistance to a SA PUNTA move by the RADIO ONE people is a bit confusing, since the location worked well previously, three of four years ago. The punters appeared to enjoy the freedom of being able to bring their own drink from the supermarket too. With the BBC a publicly funded broadcaster, holding their base Ibiza parties on virgin territory, away from any formal bar location would appear to be a logical choice. However with a number of RADIO ONE PETE TONG ESSENTIAL SELECTION shows already coming live and direct from MAMBO each summer they appear to believe that closeness to such an important clubbing-connected bar is their ideal.
Related to all this mess, it's also now being widely claimed that the BBC station have already said that their 2008 IBIZA WEEKENDER WILL NOT TAKE PLACE . Then again, they said this once before, very loudly, but quickly backtracked and crept back on the quiet (on a different weekend following GALAXY jumping into their vacated slot within days). Will that happen again, or will they really disappear?
MY HEAD HURTS!
The temporary three-day KANYA closure affected two of their night parties – FERGIE'S EXCENTRIC event on the Monday, plus the new fortnightly METROPOLIS on the Wednesday (the islands' only DRUM & BASS and OLD SKOOL happening). The latter was to feature a DJ set by PENDULUM. The party and appearance DID GO AHEAD , but in the FUNKY ROOM at EDEN , during GARLAND 's night at that more major club venue.
From now on the events should revert to KANYA , following the issuing of a licence on August 2 nd . FERGIE returned on Monday 6 th with SLAM as his guests. Meanwhile METROPOLIS, which was rammed from start to finish by TOPLESS sweaty men and SCANTILY CLAD perspiring women at its opening party, with KANYA becoming a total sauna for most of the night, will return following the one-off enforced diversion to EDEN 'S FUNKY ROOM . Leading scene DJs like GOLDIE and GROOVERIDER are lined up, plus ALTERN 8, NICKY BLACKMARKET and ANDY C. The DIRTY ROTTEN DJ's were employed at the first event to open up with OLD SKOOL , but they are now not needed since the crowd proved to want D&B from the very off.
There's a new DRUM & BASS event in CAFÉ PARADIS in San an on Sundays now too, from 2am until 6am closure. DJ B.CEE (owner of SPEARHEAD RECORDS ) is running (and playing at) the sessions and entrance is free.
On Sunday 19 th of August another DRUM & BASS event descends upon Ibiza Town for a one-off special. It's the mammoth HOSPITALITY , which arrives at HEAVEN IBIZA from its London Heaven namesake, from midnight until 6am . The first party offers ANDY C, HIGH CONTRAST, LONDON ELEKTRICITY, MATRIX, CYANTIFIC, S.P.Y, MC WREC, SP:MC and MC RUTHLESS.
The saying that BAD THINGS HAPPEN IN THREES is not holding steady in Ibiza, with the number of negative happenings already far past the triple figure, and indeed many have extension points, just to add further anguish.
STRIKE ONE : First there was the closure of the THREE CLUBBING VENUES – AMNESIA, BORA BORA and DC10.
STRIKE TWO: Then there was the AIRPORT BOMB SCARE , which was caused by THREE TELEPHONE CALL WARNINGS to various newspapers, the final of which – to DARIO DE MALLORCA - led to the blowing up of an empty suitcase, plus lots of negative publicity worldwide. That furore was hardly dampened by the unrelated – but simultaneous - attempt to blow up Glasgow airport on the same afternoon.
STRIKE THREE: Then came the sinking of a FUEL TANKER in TALAMANCA bay, near IBIZA TOWN , leaking from which subsequently caused the closure of the sea and much of the sand areas at THREE OF THE ISLANDS' MOST POPULAR BEACHES – TALAMANCA , FIGUERETAS and PLAYA D'EN BOSSA – the ones serving the major Ibiza Town tourist centres. Later S'ESTANYOL, CALA LLONGA , plus SANTA EULALIA beaches were affected to a lesser degree of seriousness. BLACK CRUDE OIL seeped from the sunken oil tanker DON PEDRO after it collided with a small rocky offshore isle with 200 TONNES of fuel and gas oil on board. 25 TONNES hit TALAMANCA. Miles of protective sea barriers were put in place to keep the worst at bay, but some got through. Divers eventually sealed the cracks in the ship and the general clean-up took eight days to complete. The sea is now clear, though the effects of the oil are still being removed from the beach sand in some areas.
STRIKE MANY MORE: Then there were further incidents – as detailed above and below… dohh!
As suggested above, DIVA – the venue that was SOMNY / KISS – was closed for the season in early July, just four weeks and four days after its June LAUNCH PARTY . The story is that they believe they opened far too soon after the new owners took control of the venue in May, just a month before it opened for business. In that short time they are rumored to have invested something like a million euros in revamping the rather attractive place.
The DIVA strategy was said to involve attracting a number of powerful promotion brands ready for next year, with this summer seen as a testing experimental season. However, subsequently they felt they were losing too much day-to-day dosh without actually establishing a positive image for the place in the minds of the people. They are currently known to be actively seeking partnerships with established UK club scene powers, believing such connections and their management expertise could be essential to building the DIVA brand.
The current joint owners of DIVA include the EDEN people from San Antonio , who now feel they have too much on their plate what with running that successful venue this summer. Further input of energy is needed for restructuring the PLAYA D'EN BOSSA venue and establishing it in that particular scene, an area known to be heavily influenced by the Italian bars scene. It's a pity that such a potentially exciting ‘new' venue was lost so early for 2007.
The closure of DIVA at short notice took place just two days before the MANUMISSION SLEAZEVILLE CARRY ON party was to officially launch there for the season – though they had already held a semi-secret one-off after their PRIVILEGE OPENING PARTY a few weeks earlier, which drew 600 on the Saturday morning. After the DIVA collapse a quick-fire switch to BEVERLY , the GERMAN SEX SWINGERS CLUB venue in PORT D'ES TORRES , around San Antonio Bay , took place.
The BEVERLY venue – and Saturday morning time slot – had previously ‘belonged' to former MANUMISSION and BAR M resident DJ duo the DIRTY ROTTEN DJ's whose successful DIRTY ROTTEN SLUT parties had been taking place at BEVERLY (at which the two where formerly resident DJs) prior to the clubbing season starting. Unfortunately the management became concerned at the increasingly ‘wild party antics' of a number of the newer-arriving worker crowd by June, believing that this might cause problems with the authorities, given the current climate. Future events were thus pulled. The SLEAZEVILLE crowd obviously seemed like the more sensible option… err!
SAMI AYUBI of THE LOVE ORGANISATION wrote to me about the DIVA venue, which his organization ran as LOVE last summer, but which, rather like DIVA , didn't really work out. SAMI : “Just to let you know, regarding the article on the venue now known as DIVA , that LOVE hasn't left Ibiza and will in fact be returning to a different venue on the island. LOVE is about the brand, not just bricks and mortar, and the fact that we did not come to Ibiza this year doesn't mean that it was too much for us!”
And they're not the only one. ANOTHER BLINK- AND -YOU-MISSED-IT new-old venue to quickly OPEN- AND -SHUT was the BLUE ROSE . The place was Ibiza's first American-style pole-dancing venture when it opened in the late 90's in Figuretas, however increasingly numerous and raunchy crotch-in-the-face competition in subsequent seasons led to the place, who considered their tits-and-ass wobbling to be more on the ‘artistic' side, closing down. In July it reopened as a cool underground-style clubbing-bar. Now, even faster than DIVA, it has closed again, apparently due to lack of cash flow, with options like name-changes already being considered.
Meanwhile another ex-lap dance venue; COVA SANTA , out on the Ibiza Town to San Jose road near KM5, also began hosting cool underground club events. THE BRAND NEW HEAVIES played there for WHAT'S UP! two weeks ago. The venue has a restaurant situated on the terraced hillside slope, plus an interior venue - a large cave, which is spectacularly lit up. The Sunday WHAT'S UP! event was running out on the terraces from 7pm , then from midnight until 6am moved into the cave. BUT owners AMNESIA decided to abruptly close the venue last week. It seems the electricity bill for lighting the cave alone was enormous.
As a result of the COVA SANTA closure WHAT'S UP are being moved onto the terrace at AMNESIA from next week, as part of ARMADA , the ARMIN VAN BUUREN party. ARMIN was mobbed like a pop star at KANYA pre-party appearance in KANYA this week incidentally, and plans more in coming weeks.
DJ PIPPI was for 17 years the resident DJ at PACHA , in the days when a resident played every night of the summer for seven or eight hours without break. He began there in 1984 when PACHA essentially consisted of what is now the GLOBAL ROOM . After five years away at AMNESIA with PEOPLE FROM IBIZA he's returned to his spiritual home to do each TUESDAY in the FUNKY ROOM , EL CIELO . Also he finally has his own record label, ALUMINIUM, with the first release his own DJ PIPPI PRESENTS ‘ IBIZA A TOUCH OF CLASS COCTEL no 1' Mostly his own tracks and collaborations, a double chilled, soulful treat.
DANIELLE DAVOLI the London-based Italian DJ is over on the island doing things like MAMBO sunset sets for fun with long time pal PAUL OAKENFOLD on August 8 th , during a holiday. He tells me that his classic ‘EVERYBODY EVERYBODY', from pop star days as BLACK BOX , is now re-issued with new mixes from BENNY BENASSI, WHITE HEAT and FUZZY HAIR.
AMNESIA ban finally opened its doors to the public at a minute past midnight on Thursday night – Friday morning July 5 th /6th, upon completion of its month-long ban. This coincided with a CREAM party, which thus became the OPENING EVENT of 2007. Thus ended a nightmarish few weeks for innocent party CREAM , who were forced to hold their scheduled launch event as a free party at BAR M . It rocked of course, not un-helped by the appearance of EDDIE HALLIWELL, who spun alongside ADAM SHERIDAN and SEAN HUGHES .
AMNESIA was convinced that they could successfully overturn the closure, virtually assuring CREAM that the second week could go ahead, but failed to do so. This caused the Liverpool-based organisation to pull the second party just six hours before it was due to start, issuing refunds once again. But it was third time luck, with EDDIE HALLIWELL once again on hand to launch the event ‘proper'.
MADE IN ITALY followed on the Friday night, with SASHA headlining, then on Saturday AMNESIA penned in their OFFICIAL OPENING PARTY .
By Monday COCOON returned to the fold having switched their first three parties over to nearby PRIVILEGE , an option CREAM also had, but which they refused to do.
CREAM finally unveiled the long anticipated PAUL VAN DYK on the following week, via a mammoth five hour ‘live' set - it was amongst their busiest ever, akin to a mid-August Radio One Weekend special.
On the day DIVA announced it was closing, JULY 12 th , HEAVEN IBIZA opened in the old PENELOPE venue near PACHA and EL DIVINO . It's intended as the first expansion ‘franchise' for the London gay-friendly club organisation. It proved a low-key launch, with FEDERATION , a gay promotion from Leeds , putting on the event.
Back in May 2000 I attended the ROCK bar Opening Party in IBIZA TOWN . A young girl, fresh to the isle and who had been newly employed to organise live broadcasts at club nights for KISS FM , wearily, diva-ishly groaned to me that “gawd, what am I gonna do, I've got all these live shows to line up, but there's just no one of importance around on the island at the moment.” At the time I was editor of DJ MAG IBIZA , plus the unshaven baldy guy on her right was DANNY WHITTLE , the PACHA boss (who might at that time still have been running WE LOVE , I'm not sure. On her left was FRITZ PANGRATZ , who ran SPACE . The guy handing us drinks was ROCK -BASE-ES VIVE guy JASON BULL and, well, just about EVERY OTHER SHABBY GIT present turned out to be not just ‘nobody', but somebody of extreme importance and influence, running just about everything that mattered on the island. Oh how I chuckled as I introduced her to each in turn. I was reminded of this incident at the door of HEAVEN IBIZA'S FEDERATION opening, when the promotions door-bitch responded to my ‘I'm on the guest list' with an instant (very instant); “Sorrrrry, I'm afraid you're not”, neglecting to even check his sheaf of papers whilst looking at me in sarcastic-sympathy. He then handed over a discount flyer, winked and said; “Go on lad, that'll get you in with a five euro discount - best offer you'll get tonight.” Oh dear. Ohhh dear, dear, dear… Here was another island newbie in need of emergency tutelage in Ibiza club etiquette. First rule, the more decrepit they look, the more likely it will be that you're talking one of the very powerful owners of a mega-venue, or something even worse… After the second week FEDERATION appeared to have departed HEAVEN IBIZA . Perhaps they could explain why?
PEACH - GRAHAM GOLD 'S event at the same HEAVEN IBIZA venue, were outraged to arrive for their opening event and discover that the island had been filled with posters (well, not San An, almost no one is aware that it has opened there, three weeks after the fact), with publicity that said the GRAND OPENING PARTY would take place TWO DAYS AFTER the first Peach party. I know this relates to the idea of a VENUE CELEBRATION for the island crowd, but in GOLDY'S opinion not much chance of them kicking off PEACH with a bang if no one knew they were happening.
Chatted to KALID, owner of EL DIVINO at a 10 YEARS OF FTV event on the DIAMOND SHIP moored in the port on AUGUST 3 rd (as MANUMISSION wasn't happening). He told me that, alongside his vast EL DIVINO in southern BRAZIL , he is currently 50-50 partner in FIVE new EL DIVINO'S across CHINA . Also that another 45 will follow once the initial batches are in place. All with have water settings and an outside balcony! He is also likely to open another in PALMA MALLORCA in the near future.
HED KANDI is again having it right off at EL DIVINO , though it's getting mighty crowded in there! The main aim of the night seems to be to spot the general flow of people, force your body towards it, and hope the drift will carry you through to somewhere useful, like the outside port terrace, the toilet… or, more often than not, back to the door so that you can escape. And that was before August.
P DIDDY is on the island! Oh what further joy – bottles of CRISTAL all around!
On August 5 th PEACHES GELDOF , the hasn't-done-bugger-all-in-her-short-life-to-merit-being-given-the-chance-but-gets-it-anyway offspring of SIR SAINT BOB , is performing in the Funky Room at EDEN , for ROGUE, at JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS . PEACHES (aged 16 or whatever) will NOT BE quoted as saying “it's always been my dream to play Ibiza, I've been taking my DJing seriously for the last three days so that I can get it right off the mix CD that my producer mate in Notting Hill made for me” because that was something that I wrote, not her.
I can hardly wait though. Bet you can't either! What joy August celeb season and the approaching RADIO ONE IBIZA WEEKEND brings to the island annually.
Not that JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS need any of the crappy publicity gimmicks appearances like PEACHES provides – JULES has been smashing the place, and records, all summer long. Indeed it's SO BUSY that JULES has taken to working behind the BAR in the upstairs WHITE LOUNGE at the end of the night every other week… Don't panic though, the headline talent at ‘San An's Busiest Night' hasn't demoted himself, the guy has simply opted to switch his funkier 5-7am end-of-night sets from the FUNKY ROOM to the upstairs bar now that the room has improved the sound system, and in there the decks happen to be located at the end of the bar. Eight of his FETISH-CLAD DANCING GIRLS like to jiggle around on the bar top throughout his set (it was 12 until the staff pointed out that with no gap they couldn't serve drinks to punters).
NATHAN SEAL left his full time role at EDEN (though is still involved in GARLANDS ) to open VIVA bar at the top of the West End 's main drag. The place, previously known as BEAVER BAR (‘beaver' is pronounced ‘viva' in Spanish). It's become extremely popular as a hang-out and social hub for the young worker crowd of the area (open until 6am ), no least because the ranks of the underpaid and under-washed are able to purchase any drink for the ludicrously low price of 1.50 euro. The longer-term plan is to establish awareness of good value attitudes, then improve next summer.
Strange, but true. I was on a yacht with Dutch super-hunk FEDDE LE GRANDE of ‘PUT YOUR HANDS UP FOR DETROIT ' fame, when he was jeered at and abused by a crowd of thousands. It wasn't personal though, the boat just happened by ‘chance' to be strategically anchored off the CAFÉ DEL MAR at the exact SUNSET MOMENT , blocking the view. The fact that the boat belonged to the owner of MAMBO and SAVANNAH (the bars either side of the Del Mar) had nothing to do with the skipper's choice of obscuring anchorage, he said.
Meanwhile the CAFÉ DEL MAR has re-fitted its highly distinctive, trademark blue and white sunshade contraption-thingy's, that loop between a series of flagpoles all along the front of the bar. It may not do much, but by golly, despite all the changes to the SUNSET STRIP with the decking terraces and the new promenade, it now looks rather like the old Del Mar once more, but better – having been a big beneficiary of the revamp, gaining a vast stretch of wooden terrace decking and losing, well, nothing actually.
A large number of Leeds-based kids are working in San An this season. Many are connected to the acidic-excitement that is the KETO LOCO DJ-promoter collective. In winter this group established themselves in their home city (third tier footy team though) at a number of underground after parties held at secretive venues. They called them DC15 , in reference to a certain Monday daytime party venue near the airport in Ibiza , which had closure issues earlier in the season, supposedly due to open substance abuse. Hmm, would the venue in question find this mimicry (for KETO substitute CIRCO too) helpful?
... and the whole thing now goes into pirate mode for two weeks – with a boat party and a secret event, before returning to GALA NIGHT on the 21 st .? Look out MANUMISSION.
The ZOO PROJECT at GALA NIGHT in BENIMUSSA is one of the KETO LOCO crew's main locations. The mad-for-it are found dressed in animal costumes from 5pm until midnight, and now that it's taken off totally loads more ‘normals' have joined the initial 500 or more rabid San An worker massive. There are multiple areas of underground sound, plus just about everyone getting into the spirit, partly thanks to costumes by JO of MINX FX . Music includes a fantastical TRIBAL ACIDIC ELECTRO concoction. As I said after the first two parties in June, look out MANUMISSION , there are exciting NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, a NEW SKOOL IBIZA LEGEND in the making .
FILTHY GORGEOUS , the dirty-electro-house party that ran with MEGANITE at PRIVILEGE last season, celebrated their second birthday with a party at AZUCAR , the former SECRET GARDEN LAP DANCE venue. The place looks its same sleazy self and still smells like a strip joint. No doubt sex-obsessed underground promoters will also be utilising the facilities soon…
FILTHY'S JAMIE GITTINS and SEAN HUGHES (a CREAM regular) have also launched DISCO BOMB at SAVANNAH'S BACK ROOM CLUB (formerly the
Funky Lounge), with house, breaks and acid dropped next to drum & bass and rock.
HAT CLUB does a weekly free party in BACK ROOM at SAVANNAH from 11pm through until 6am every Tuesday, until September 18th. The music style features the big broad world of house, played by leading island DJs, who appear on rotation. These include SPACE'S JONATHAN ULYSSES and GORDON EDGE , plus residents FILTHY RICH and LEE GARRETT . One proviso, IF YOUR HEAD'S NOT CROWNED YOU'RE NOT COMING IN - you HAVE to wear a hat. Don't panic if you don't have one though, HAT CLUB have flown in thousands so that they can hand them out to the weak willed.
TOO DAMN GLAM takes place in BACK ROOM on Thursdays, Sundays feature Mambo's ANDY BAXTER , Mondays J BAXTER , with FAUNA IBIZA on Saturday nights. FAUNA t-shirts feature a row of seven used condoms hanging on a washing line, each noddy relating to a different international city – LONDON , PARIS , ROME , MADRID , BARCELONA , NEW YORK and SAVANNAH (the biggest nob!). DJs include island legend PIPPI (for 20 years PACHA resident) and KING KENNEDY .
STUDIO RESTAURANTE - one of the most popular eatery-hangouts of the clubbing community in Ibiza port area –– has been forced to move to a new location in the SA PENYA area due to the condemning of their former centuries-old premises (which partly overlooked CALLE DEL LA VIRGEN ). The new place, at C/ SANTA LUCIA 7 , is a fabulous outside terrace in the moonlit shadow of the towering fortress walls of DALT VILA , just up the steps from famous DOME bar, where all the CLUB PARADES conclude their nightly tours.
When BORA BORA re-opened for music after its month-long ban the interior part of the venue (that glass and metal club structure that most people don't realise is to the rear and which normally only opens at night until 4am ) was the only place they could play music from, so the DJ's were taking to the upstairs decks, entirely unable to see, or respond to, the crowd outside. Bizarre!
TIESTO LIVE AT PRIVILEGE - Yes, as mentioned in the MANUMISSION stories above, TIESTO - long time former CREAM resident DJ and WORLD NUMERO UNO - is returning to Ibiza for two performances of his ‘ELEMENTS OF LIFE ' live tour on AUGUST 18 TH and 20 TH . It incorporates the music of his third album and involves a huge stage show, dancers, visuals and more, attempting to take the whole DJ thing into new territory.
Absolutely nothing to do with MANUMISSION or their IBIZA ROCKS events (though ROGUE connections seem obvious), UK rock radio DJ EDDY TEMPLE-MORRIS is presenting DANCE ROCKS at ES PARADIS . The Friday July 20 th launch is to be followed by forthcoming ones on August 10 th , 17 th and 31 st . The parties feature DJ sets from members of KASABIAN, HARD-FI, FRANZ FERDINAND ( feat PAUL THOMSON), BABYSHAMBLES (FEAT ADAM FICEK), DIGITALISM, NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB, DAN LE SAC & SCROOBIUS PIP, DUMB BLONDE ( ANN SAVAGE – not a rock act ), DEVILS GUN, CASSETTE JAM, ANDEE EXILE, MATT WALSH and EDDY TEMPLE-MORRIS himself. Mind you, since many of these were tied to being on the island around the IBIZA ROCKS gigs some were to perform, it might be a case of MIND THE GAP .
TOM JONES might have been about to appear at MANUMISSION , but that is obviously now unlikely, but if so (there or elsewhere) he'll be doing the new FLACKSONS featuring TOM JONES single ‘Put Your Hands In The Air' , which is basically a huge lift from a funky horn-driven track called ‘RESURRECTION SHUFFLE' by ASHTON, GARDNER & DYKE , a 1970 classic one-hit-wonder chart topper, which all discerning record collectors (ie: me, myself and I) naturally own.
Organised package holiday bookings to Ibiza have apparently fallen 30 per cent over the last five years, for example where once there were over 3,000 Club 18-30 kids on the island each week there are now supposedly only 300 – they go to cheaper destinations. The main reason for the fall in numbers is of course because tourists have become more independent, using the numerous EASYJET, BRITISH AIRWAYS, MONARCH and JET2.COM flights to book a more favourable arrival and departure time.
WILL SO MANY BE NEEDED IN FUTURE THOUGH? The general island belief is that, from next summer, AFTER PARTY activity will have to cease, and that nightclubs will only be able to operate from midnight until 6am or 7am , to ‘normalise' the Ibiza experience… So there are a few thousand ‘independent traveller' types who'll probably search elsewhere if that happens. After all, when you get just one two week holiday trip a year brand and place loyalty counts for shite, as the holiday package companies have found. All that matters is that you get your once-in-a-lifetime good experience.
If this daytime party ban were to actually occur venues such as DC10 would have to cease holding daytime events – like CIRCO LOCO. They would need to switch times or fold. How that would affect BORA BORA in PLAYA D'EN BOSSA I'm unsure, since they playing banging music on a family beach already seems to contravene many rules, yet doesn't! Likewise many events at SPACE , as much as 16 hours of WE LOVE'S 22 hour duration, four hours of CARL COX 'S night, ALL of IN BED WITH SPACE , MATINEE and so on. The sometime wild WORKER PARTIES in the BAY of SAN AN too. This would indeed be a becalming measure.
A second door, plus yet another new lounge terrace addition at SPACE mean that the place now appears to be operating as two separate, competing, venues on many nights. Promoters are sharing parts of the venue, but often not necessarily the crowd. For example on Fridays AZULI have the original (now glassed and covered) Terrace, while LA COMUNIDAD take the interior DISCOTECA and the chilled roof PREMIER ETAGE. The doors between them have remained shut so far, since each has a separate entrance. On the other hand the previous night sees XTRAVAGANZA take the DISCOTHECA interior, and SPIN CLUB the original terrace. On that occasion the doors between the two are opened during the night, which hasn't proven to be good news for ALEX GOLD 's event, since once the doors between them ARE opened around 3am the majority drift out to the preferred terrace to see CHRIS LIEBING and co. It's claimed XTRAVAGANZA are pulling in the crowd and selling the tickets, but SPIN inherits the people. MISTER GOLD told me he feels a bit like a PIMP .
PLASTIK are having a ball at their new, larger, more glamorous clubbing-bar venue, which is located away from the WEST END in San An, where they began four years ago and later helped instil the idea of an upmarket UPTOWN experience in that area. The new place, near to EDEN and ES PARADIS , now hosts club pre-parties on most nights of the week, for the likes of TWICE AS NICE , GATECRASHER, PUKKA UP and HED KANDI. Will they even WANT to return to the WEST END when redevelopment restores their old premises to usage next year?
Meanwhile BACK in the WEST END the second clubbing-bar to go ‘UPTOWN' following PLASTIK'S lead was HUSH. Now in its third season it is again enjoying the accolade of being bar far the coolest dance destination in the central bar district. With resident MISS DIVINE and regulars like MARCO LOCO, JON ALLEGRO, DANNY GRAHAM, JC and many more leading the way, it's the place where the best San An DJ's WANT TO PLAY, for the great atmosphere and crowd, rather than for the £€'s. It's really no exaggeration to say HUSH has been rammed from start of season right through, particularly with the cool crowd after 3 to 4am until close (at 6am ) when so many of the worker crowd are able to get there after their night of toil ends. Like ALL San An clubbing-bars it is FREE to enter of course, with another HUSH edge being the style, plus the quality of their drinks. No crap!
JOSE PADILLA'S BAR ZIL event takes place at the opulent ATZARO hotel, restaurant, spa, art gallery, bar complex near to SAN CARLOS in the north of the island. The place is lush beyond reason, with acres of this otherwise remote area now covered by comfy lounge beds which are spaced far apart. It's one of the most spectacular venues you'll find anywhere, a bit like KM5-MEETS-BAMBUDDHA , but done on a PRIVILEGE scale. JOSE is located at the centre of it all, in a sort of ‘public square with water feature' area, bringing the international crowd together with his varied selection of BRAZILIAN music…
It's not too far from LAS DALIAS, a place best known for its huge Saturday HIPPY MARKET , plus live gigs and weekly happenings such as the lush Indian-themed NAMASTE parties. A couple of summers ago they initiated the slightly cut down Monday NIGHT version of the HIPPY MARKET which has become very successful and it carries on until 1am .
LOVEDOUGH have been using the 2007 as a profile-raising exercise, learning the Ibiza promotion ropes. But for 2008 they are already planning a grander strategy. For example a luxury villa is being secured for their key promotional team, a place that will also house the visiting DJ and performance talent. I also believe they might switch to a different night of the week, one that would remove them from direct Thursday night competition with TWICE AS NICE , the only other major urban-themed promotion on the island, which is currently situated directly across the street at EDEN . I suggest a straight swap with PUKKA UP, so that THAT HOUSE NIGHT can distance itself from the Monday night UK HOUSE CRUSH that currently involves a mad competition for similar fans with DUSTED at EDEN and Mn2S over sat EL DIVINO . But what do I know.
WHEN I mentioned to someone involved in a rival promotion that PUKKA UP were proving to be a big success in their fourth year on the island, at ES PARADIS , he snorted “Yeah, but that's cos they run all those Sunset boat parties and let these people in free.” Err, right, but that's the idea of doing them, I suggested – creative promotion! “Well, it's also only busy cos they're in San An, where the British are.” He added. And, erm, again I hinted that it seemed a sensible plan, given their market. “Huh, and they've had those MTV parties being broadcast on the TV, no wonder!” Which, err, yeah, also seemed to be to be an eminently clever ploy. Also they've revamped the old VIP bar and seating area at the club, a large wide balcony which has essentially been left abandoned, unused and unloved in recent years, adding velvet and glamour. Nice touch. Sounds like PUKKA UP are having ALL the wrong ideas this season. Err.
DOING A LOT FOR CHARITY - The CHARITY CANCER RESEARCH FUNDRAISING FESTIVAL has been organised by DJ-promoter TRISTAN INGRAM. It takes place at GALA NIGHT in BENIMUSSA , a couple of kilometres up the hillside behind San Antonio, on Wednesday August 8 th (just prior to BBC RADIO ONE 'S annual IBIZA WEEKEND beano – traditionally the busiest week on the island). The event runs from 5pm until Midnight in three outdoor arenas, with an all-night ‘AFTER PARTY' (catch ‘em while you can) in the interior club space at the venue through until 6am . Advance tickets are just 10 euros from all SAN ANTONIO ticket outlets (with all proceeds going to the cancer charity). 50 DJ's have vouched their services (and will doubtless further cough up their 10 euro entrance fee too). They include ATOMIC HOOLIGAN ( from KISS 100), ROB TISSERA (KISSDAFUNK promoter-resident ), JONATHAN ULYSSES (SPACE resident ), OLIVER LANG (DUSTED & BORA BORA resident ), DES MITCHELL ( BCM MALLORCA resident), SLIPMATT (SLIP BACK IN TIME resident ), TRISTAN INGRAM (IN BED WITH SPACE / RANDOM / JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS, IMMACULATE TOUCH), MISS DIVINE (LA VITA / HUSH resident ), VICKY DEVINE (JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS / ANGELZ OF FUNK resident ), DIRTY ROTTEN DJs (JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS / DIRTY ROTTEN SLUT PARTY promoter residents ), HORSE (SOUL CITY ), MISS BISTO, RYAN O'GORMAN (ELECTRIC SEX, REVOLVER, VITALIK promoter-resident ), ENZO SIRGUSA (ELECTRIC SEX resident ), ALEX ELLENGER ( EDEN resident ), ROB BURNE (KANYA resident ), SHAKE DJS (BABYSHAKE residents ), DANNY GRAHAM & ELLIO RISO (SOLO RECORDS owner / WE LOVE), SCOTT MARTIN & JAMIE GITTENS (FILTHY GORGEOUS promoter-residents FREQKLASH), LEE JOHN (SUMMERDAZE resident ), DERMOT C (PLASTIK / PUKKA UP / IBIZA RESIDENTS resident ), JON CONSTANTINE (IBIZA RESIDENTS / BASEMENT / GLITZ / DISTORTED DISCO / HUSH resident ), LEE BRINX (JELLY resident ), ROB COCKERTON & CRAIG BENITEZ (WARNING TOO DIRTY residents ), CARLOS & PUGSY (RANDOM residents ), JIMI DEJA (HUSH manager-promoter-resident ), MARCO LOCO & DA SENDRI (GLADRAGS residents ), JAY MOORE (PLAY 2 resident ), DJ BLU ( EDEN ROOMS resident ), ASHLEY MCKENNA ( NICE & DIRTY resident ), TRISTAN D (DIRTY LITTLE FUNKERS resident ), ROB HARDING (FREQKLASH resident ) … with promoters like RANDOM, LA VITA , IMMACULATE TOUCH, FILTHY GORGEOUS, JELLY, BABYSHAKE, SLUT PARTY, WARNING TOO DIRTY, IBIZA RESIDENTS, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO, NICE & DIRTY, FREQKLASH, DIRTY LITTLE FUNKERS, SUMMIT, ADDICTIVE CLUBBING, ITACA, SOLO RECORDS, MEGA MUSIC …
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