"Gather 'round people, wherever you roam."
Yes folks, it's time to throw off the veil of winter and embrace the kiss of spring, Thoughts should now be turning to joyous days at Salinas, balmy nights in the Dalt Vila, discovering the perfect 24-hour dancing shoes and whether to buy the extra-extra luggage allowance.
But "the times they are a changing, " I hear you cry. Just the other morning, I nearly choked on my bagel when The New York Times shrieked "Trouble is Stalking Nightlife Paradise."
Just as British Airways adds Heathrow to its impressive roster of Ibiza departures, there are those that suggest we should be packing our glitter and heading to the Nevada desert for our dance fix.
Now, I love limos, ultra lounges, and Dress Barn, I’m happy to share the floor with batchelorette parties and convention delegates, but it's summer, stupid. And anyway, good times, in my view, are not directly correlated to the length of the DJ’s Gulfstream or the spectral balance of the sound system. (Important as those things are)...
An afternoon at DC10, for example, might be hard to re-create on the Vegas Strip. An uncompromising soundtrack chiselled out by an Iranian DJ , a crowd that would have out-partied the infamous Wari Tribe and of course, the signature kerosene perfume wafting in from the runway.
So, about this trouble, then.
Yes, new clubs, new concepts, new hotels, ever more diversification of music...new legends emerging and old one's returning. That doesn't just spell more choice, it means more competition for the LGBT dollar, the pink pound and Tranz-quetzal. (Guatemalan currency is easily the most fabulous in the world, so we're claiming it from now on.)
My advice remains the same, and I hope it will be even more reliable this year. Namely, rejoice in iconic "scene-oriented" nights, but explore and experiment.
For example :
Some of our most trusted nights go from strength to strength. Boy George may find his spiritual home with La Troya at Amnesia this year on Wednesdays and Roger Sanchez will be upping the ante as Café Ole moves to the Monday slot at Space.
Meanwhile, there are many other big nights where you’ll more than welcome.
Cream with Paul Van Dyk; they’ve even got Paul Oakenfold dropping in from Vegas. As Manager Nick Ferguson says: ”Cream enjoys welcoming a really fun, mixed and up for it crowd every Thursday at Amnesia...everyone is welcome!"
Or how about Cocoon on Mondays at Amnesia? My best night of 2013 was an unexpectedly solo mission to the closing party. I was made to feel part of one very big (bonkers) family.
Pacha always affords the warmest of welcomes and Sundays with Solomon look super-appealing after his outstanding debut last year. Flower Power gets a weekly berth, and I ,for one, will be throwing some serious Jackie O shapes come Tuesdays.
But there’s so much more.
I’m excited about the intimate feel of Bomba and their amazing lineup....I’m hoping the Tower parties at Ushuaia live up their billing of “old-school daytime clubbing” ....and I’m willing Richie Hawtin to build Enter into something truly, globally, unique at Space on Thursdays.
Back to Bob Dylan for the last word:
"Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
Keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again"
Which is true. Every season in ibiza is unique. And remember, no matter how old you are, you'll never be this young again. Chocks away!
