Four years after Blaise Bellville first taped a webcam to the wall of a small room in Dalston, his project Boiler Room has come to be one of the most highly respected platforms for underground music around. Showcasing talent from cities across the world, this summer it's back in Ibiza to continue its legendary legacy.
Known for its low-budget set ups - the webcam on the wall is still a format they use today - Boiler Room is all about keeping the focus on the music, with sets broadcast live from small spaces from both big names, step forward Sven Väth, to unknown talent, giving new DJs and artists invaluable exposure. In fact the impact of Boiler Room has been so instrumental in helping to shape electronic music in recent years that founder and creator Bellville was one of the key note speakers at the International Music Summit earlier this year, right here in Ibiza. He explained that the concept was conceived because the underground music scene in London wasn't getting the exposure it deserved - something which he's certainly gone a long way to rectifying. Four years down the line and Boiler Room can now be found broadcasting from cities across the globe, and when it comes to DJs, where better to source talent than Ibiza? Like shooting fish in a barrel.
This summer their Ibizan series will see Blaise and co stream three live sets from the island, and if past broadcasts are anything to go by you definitely want to be tuned in. Last year saw them hold three villa takeovers, with Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, and Richie Hawtin who put on an ENTER. pool party, complete with slip 'n' slides and inflatable animals. Grimes was one of the guests in front of the famous lens at Hawtin's night, and played one of the most legendary sets in Boiler Room history. Far from the underground set most had been expecting from the Canadian producer, she instead chose to get people talking with a set that included tracks like Vengaboys We Like to Party and Mariah Carey's Christmas classic All I Want For Christmas Is You.
VIDEO | A Boiler Room Villa Takeover from 2013 showing Carl Cox in a Captain's Hat. Great scenes ensue.
So when are this year's broadcasts? Well there's not long to wait until the first, with Balearic legend DJ Alfredo heading up an impressive line up next Wednesday, 16th July. The five hour event will start at 19.00 if you're here on the island - that's 18.00 in the UK - and will also include sets from Leo Mas, Kelvin Andrews, Apiento and Alfredo's son, Jaime Fiorito, with their joint venture The Heritage Project. This will be followed by Ellen Allien and Guy Gerber on the 18th July and Jackmaster, Eats Everything, Skream and Seth Troxler rounding things off on the 21st July. Three dates definitely worth popping in your diary.
IBIZA SESSIONS: DJ ALFREDO, THE HERITAGE PROJECT, LEO MAS, APIENTO (TEST PRESSING), KELVIN ANDREWS - boilerroom.tv/session/ibiza-dj-alfredo-heritage-project-leo-mas-apiento
IBIZA SESSIONS: ELLEN ALLIEN, GUY GERBER - boilerroom.tv/session/ibiza-ellen-allien-guy-gerber
IBIZA SESSIONS: JACKMASTER, EATS EVERYTHING, SKREAM & SETH TROXLER - boilerroom.tv/session/ibiza-seth-troxler-skream-jackmaster-eats-everything
