| Ibiza - Nightlife |
| |
| When you have lived through the gorgeous sunset, the real reason for seeking out Ibiza in the summer months dawns upon you: the nightlife. The pre-club bars in Ibiza Town are wall-to-wall in the Port. Base Bar, K-Ube, Angelo, and Tango are just a few examples. In San Antonio, you have plenty more: Cafe Mambo, Bar M, Sunsea Bar, and Savannah. In Playa D'en Bossa you have Bora Bora and Tantra, to name a few. There are trendy hotels with nice ‘before’ bars, like El Hotel [Pacha] and Es Vive Hotel. Then you have the clubbing: trendy nightclubs like Pacha and Penelope. Clubs that try to be high end but not quite making it, like El Divino. Extravagant clubs with enormous capacity; Privilege and Amnesia. After-hours clubs: Space, Lucifer, and DC10. You can go clubbing in San Antonio at Eden or Es Paradis.
|
 |
How shall one define the Ibicenco nightlife? There is nothing politically correct about the island during the summer months; it is a constant debauchery. This debauchery makes Ibiza a very marketable little island; the more extravagant nightclubs it has to showcase the better the marketing Spain can do to draw tourists to this small utopia off their east coast. Pacha and Amnesia draw more tourists to Ibiza than its beaches. You can get a good tan pretty much anywhere in the summertime, why go to Ibiza for the sunshine?
Ibiza is not very large: 45km long and 25km wide, with a year round population of 100,000. During the summer months, an estimated million clubbers crowd the island and put enormous pressure on it’s infrastructure. |
|
 |
Most of what is called ‘nightlife’ is just great, creative (or not-so-great-nor-creative) ideas developed into concepts and themes then marketed; in Ibiza these ideas are overflowing. Who came up with the idea of a 22-hour party? Foam parties? A party where the dance floor becomes a pool and everyone rips off their clothes and dive in? Flower Power parties, Dirty Diamond parties? Who put Fat Boy Slim behind the turntables in the bathroom? Or had sex with his wife on stage at the world’s largest club and called it Manumission? Who came up with the idea of having a team of topless PR-girls running around the beaches with a giant sparkling cherry? |
|
Who developed the visual experiences found at as good as all major Ibicenco establishments; the spectacles, shows and dancers, magic VIP areas raised high above the masses, looking out over the sea of people packing the dance floor full to the brim; indoor fireworks and glittering confetti? How is it, that on this tiny island you find the most amazing sound and a concentration of the world’s best DJs?
Someone came up with all of this, then developed and marketed these ideas successfully. They are the landmarks of the different clubs in Ibiza, what people talk about for ages after leaving; what creates a buzz. Idea generating and creating/living out fantasies is what nightlife/entertainment is all about. It is about letting your imagination run wild. It is an escape from the monotony of everyday life. It is a land of opportunity. Ibiza provides all of this; this is what makes the island magic.
|
 |
Text courtesy of ‘Ibiza Virgin: A study of the island and its clubbing cluture’ by Jennifer Eric |
| |
| Competition is fierce among the clubs, as they deal with a seasonal/tourist crowd who wants to “see it all” and “do it all” in a short period of time. The client base turn several times throughout the season, even within a week: there are new arrivals and departures each day. Moreover, there is an endless variety of entertainment outlets; the number of clubs and bars on the island is vertiginous. The major clubs are established, strong, with large capacity and mythic reputations. They live for the summer season and are very aggressive in their promotional strategies; as good as every large club host superstar DJs that make nice billboards and justify the 50 Euro admission charge, as every night could be thought of as a live concert/session. PR teams and dance troop midnight parades are colorful, exciting, creative and impressive. |
| It is hard to top the La Troya parade that makes its way through the bar-cluttered port of Ibiza Town as a taste of what is to be found at Amnesia later on that night. Colors, feathers, gorgeous dancers and done-up transvestites make every bystander gasp for air and their cameras to eternalize the Kodak moment. It is difficult to compete with the strength of the numerous outlets on the island: with true professionals, experienced promoters and extremely creative staff with crazy colorful ideas that work, all aggressively seeking to please the peak-season clientele and make enough money to make ends meet throughout the year. |
 |
|
Ibiza’s nightlife had its peak in the 1980s, but as everything else the island keeps getting recycled and enjoys new waves of popularity every few years. Profits decline to then rise again. In the late 1990s the establishments seemed desperate to regain the cash flow they once had and here came therefore an insurge of foreign promoters, “Mega-brands, terrible music and minimum effort”; replacing the “magic and flamboyance and glamour of the '80s” . To make Ibiza truly successful again it is this mythic and glamorous atmosphere the professionals on the island need to strive for. Make an effort!
Comparisons to Las Vegas are frequent and it is easy to understand why. The concept of a small island providing endless entertainment outlets is just about as outrageous as building an adult Disneyland in the midst of the Nevada desert. Danny Whittle, brand manager of Pacha, thinks the island will come to resemble its US counterpart a bit more: “Not in a cheesy way, but in an established recognizable way. A place to have a good night, great beaches - the whole package.” |
Text courtesy of ‘Ibiza Virgin: A study of the island and its clubbing cluture’ by Jennifer Eric |
1. Pacha:
|
Pacha is an Ibiza original, one of the most established clubs and the first to open as far back as 1973. Large spaces, great layout and structure, every room easily accessible even from the rooftop terrace and equipped with a good sound system, Pacha made a great first impression even though I first experienced it a Monday in May. Most of the other clubs had not opened yet, would not for another month, and the island felt quite deserted. Nevertheless, at Pacha, the dance floor was packed and the atmosphere was amazing, very high energy. The DJ was reading the crowd well: they responded to every transition. When the beat changed to the next, you could hear a roar and see a sea of hands rising; this sea of people, where did it come from? They must all sleep during the day.
Pacha has a capacity of about 3,000 people with three different rooms and ambiances, excluding the rooftop terrace that overlooks Pacha’s El Hotel across the road. Pacha is known for its House music (but always presents at least another option) and famous DJs including Eric Morillo, Roger Sanchez, Frankie Knuckles, and David Morales, with an impressive party line-up every night of the week, including the above mentioned DJs but also record labels such as Defected Records and Ministry of Sound. Hip Hop and old-school names are found in the Global Room, such as Trevor Nelson (MTV), Neneh Cherry and Jade Jagger with her ‘Jezebel’. Once per month (twice in August) Pacha hosts the ‘Original Flower Power’ party, with disco and 80s’ music, and the deco to go with it. |
2. Space:
|
| Space opened in 1988 as a ‘normal’ club, but has since transformed itself into the after-hours venue. Space is located in Playa D’en Bossa, a five-minute drive from Ibiza Town. Even though it is mostly known for being an after-hours, the club has ‘regular’ nights as well. Sunday is their special day: the 22-hour party, launched in 1999, from early Sunday morning until even earlier Monday morning. The club hosts established DJs such as Carl Cox, Dave Piccioni, and record labels such as Azuli Records, who also do the Space compilations. Space also hosts the after hour parties of other landmark events, and calls them accordingly; such as the ‘Manumission Carry On’ immediately following the closing of the doors at Manumission. |
3. Amnesia:
|
| Amnesia is located close to San Rafael, half way between Ibiza Town and San Antonio. It has been open since the 1970s and is one of the original Ibiza clubs. It used to be an open-air club, but noise laws have put a roof on that. They are known for their Espuma (foam) parties, La Troya (flamboyant/gay) parties, and Cocoon (techno), with DJs such as Sven Vath, Armin von Buuren, Les Schmitz, Tiesto and Pail van Dyk. Nothing beats the view from the VIP balcony, at the table right behind the gogo dancers, when large canons fill the immense dancefloor directly beneath the balcony with foam. |
4. Privilege:
|
Privilege, formerly known as Ku, is located near San Rafael a minute or so [driving] from Amnesia. As Amnesia, it opened in the 1970s and used to be open air, and as Pacha it has several different rooms presenting different ambiances. It boasts an indoor swimming pool and a capacity of around 15,000 people. It is the largest club in Europe, maybe the world at this point. The Coco Loco room still gives the impression of being outdoors when the sun goes up, with its glass walls and giant fans.
Their most famous party is ‘Manumission’, which is a true spectacle and something everyone clubbing in Ibiza must experience. Fat Boy Slim is behind the turntables in the bathrooms. They put a midget in a big balloon that is thrown off stage into the crowd; their guiding hands keep him floating in the air. There are fireworks, sparkles, spectacles, dancers; you name it. Every club promoter should seek inspiration from it. It is probably the closest you can get to the Studio 54 phenomena in our days. At the end of the 2007 season, Manumission appeared at Amnesia, but hopefully that was just temporary. We will see what happens in the beginning of the 2008 season.
|
5. El Divino:
|
El Divino opened 1992, in the marina of Puerto Ibiza Nuevo, across the bay from the Port of Ibiza Town where all the ‘befores’ take place on the south side of the island.
The club is known to many as the high-end option in Ibiza, a bit too posh for most of the serious clubbers drawn to the island. This reputation is a remnant of the past; only its location makes it more posh than other establishments. It does have a magnificent view but the interior has deteriorated; it is a remnant of the late '80s. But then again so is much of what can be found on the island. Besides being a club it is also a restaurant, open 20.30 - 01.30 seven days per week, located on the terrace. The atmosphere is great: while dining you have a beautiful view of the Port and the Dalt Vila cathedral, and you are practically sitting right on the waterfront.
|
Text courtesy of ‘Ibiza Virgin: A study of the island and its clubbing cluture’ by Jennifer Eric |
6. Eden:
|
| Eden, formerly known as Kaos, is located directly on the waterfront of San Antonio, opposite the harbor. It has a capacity of 5,000 people and opened its doors as Eden in 2000. Mostly a Brit hang-out, the club hosts nights and parties that speak directly to its favorite audience, but that travel quite poorly for other nationals; such as Hip Hop DJ Tim Westwood (of British MTV) and his ‘Invasion’. Other high-lights include ‘Helter Skelter’ and ‘Retro’, and the Saturday night ‘Shower Party’.
|
7. Es Paradis:
|
| Es Paradis is located directly next to Eden on the waterfront of San Antonio, opposite the harbor. It opened in 1975 and is shaped as a pyramid, made of glass, considered one of San Antonio's most famous landmarks. It hosts the famous ‘Water Party’ twice a week, where the dance floor becomes a pool and people rip their clothes off and dive in.
|
8. Penelope:
|
| The 2005 newcomer was Penelope, located just a few blocks from Pacha and a few minutes from El Divino. It seeks to become the “eight wonder” of the Ibicenco nightlife. It opened on June 24, 2005 and at that time had a capacity of about 2,000 clubbers.
|
9. DC10:
|
| This club is worth mentioning due to its abstract nature. It is open only on Mondays during the day, and a few Wednesday nights throughout the season. It is located on the main road between Playa D'en Bossa and Salinas, in a discrete building that stands alone on the side of the road. Rumor has it that the club was given its name by an airplane that happened to crash into the building a while back. If this is just a rumor, urban legend, or fact, I do not know, but it is located close enough to the incoming flight runway for this to be possible. The atmosphere is rawer; there is no VIP area, no table service: everyone just kind of blend together. Starting early Monday mornings they host their famous ‘Circo Loco’ party. Due to the confinement of space they often cut the intake at the door a few hours into the party as the club gets excessively crowded. Five Wednesday nights, midsummer, Timo Maas was the resident DJ and the crowd made up of fans of his hardcore music style.
|
Text courtesy of ‘Ibiza Virgin: A study of the island and its clubbing cluture’ by Jennifer Eric |
| |
|