Walking into Flower Power was a treat for all the senses. The smell of sandalwood drifted through the air, immediately transcending you back to the White Isle’s 60s and 70s freedom days. A smiling hippy chic girl greeted me with a daisy on my way in to what could only be described as a virtual acid trip of colours, costumes and reminiscent music.
The hippy market had taken over Pacha's entrance. Stalls brimming with gorgeous beaded jewellery, flower garlands, afro wigs and novelty sunglasses provided a last minute costume for those who had maybe decided against dressing up, but now felt understandably inadequate in this fantastic hippy haven. The iconic ‘Forty Licks’ logo, peace signs, yellow submarines and huge cannabis leaves hung from the ceiling amidst draping fabric and flashing lights.
Girls with centre partings, flowers in their hair and enviously high white platform boots (the sort that your mother used to deem ‘unsuitable’) danced on the flower and fairy light-adorned podiums in retro bikinis and sixties dresses to anthems such as James Brown’s ‘Sex Machine’.
Pacha was well and truly packed, and clearly changing this once-monthly event to a weekly Tuesday trip has been a good risk to take. One of the reasons Flower Power is such a success is because it doesn’t just appeal to a musical elite. It was also great to see that in keeping with a ‘love and equality’ vibe, they had opened up a lot of the VIP areas, meaning there was less of a divide between those who were there to party and those who were there to be seen partying. The crowd which was a delightful mix of ages were pulling out moves that would make the Grease cast jealous to a soundtrack of Lulu’s ‘Shout’ and Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’. Upstairs on the terrace you could get your photo taken with various props including feather boas etc, and in the main room an impromptu limbo competition took place to Little Eva’s ‘The Locomotion’.
One of the highlights of the night was when a tribute to the Hindu God Vishnu was brought out on a four poster bed, waving to the crowd, in a trail of incense and over the top embellishment. As ‘the preserver’ of the universe, this mini parade symbolised what the night in general is trying to do- relive and celebrate the 60s and 70s in Ibiza and therefore preserve it.
Flower Power represents music with serious soul and a genre and vibe that is and always will be timeless. In my opinion it is a huge must for everyone on the island. Word of warning though: chances are after a night here if you’re like me you’ll spend the next day listening to Rolling Stones and staring at pictures of a young Jim Morrison wondering where it all went wrong. Tuesdays at Pacha are now providing a well-needed break from dance music-domination where you can fall in love with the island (and its history) all over again.
Photography by James Chapman
