Dubbed by Mixmag “the year of the hotel, pool and beach party”, 2011 is the year that people truly embraced the outdoor clubbing experience like never before. And while for the last four months or so the majority of the headlines have been dominated by European destinations - with Ibiza’s Ushuaia perhaps commanding more column inches than any other – there is a whole world of hidden and not so hidden gems the world over than are equally worthy of your attention.
Here we present a selection of those venues from Asia that we feel truly encapsulate the spirit of al fresco partying.
Ku De Ta, Bali
Since launching back in 2010, Ku De Ta has established itself as a leader in beach and outdoor clubbing, helped in no small part by resident DJ and musical director Donnie One. The stunning Seminyak beachfront location is at the very foundation of what makes the venue so magical, but it is the musical policy that has set it apart, with the now legendary high season parties regularly attracting premier international talent such as Frankie Knuckles, Todd Terry, Jose Padilla, Sir Norman Jay, Kevin Yost and Dave Seaman as well as the creme de la creme of Bali’s local selectors.
www.kudeta.net
Potatohead, Bali
The Potato Head Beach Club is one of the newest venues in Bali, with the club opening its doors in late 2010. Designed by acclaimed architect Andra Martin as a modern take on the Coliseum, the beachfront bar is housed within a state-of-the-art amphitheater.During the day, the selection of handcrafted cocktails offers a cool and opulent fusion of both old and new inspirations carefully combined with cutting edge Mixology techniques, while come late evening, the venue shifts gear, with partygoers taking over the beach as resident DJs showcase their skills and spin well into the early hours.
www.facebook.com/Potatoheadbeachclub
Azzura, Singapore
Azzura is an innovatively designed multi-level entertainment, dining and music complex, boasting both indoor and outdoor club venues. Located on the beautiful Siloso Beach, everything about Azzura is designed with opulence in mind, including Asia’s first ever coffee-cocktail bar, a lush alfresco bistro-dining setting and a range of watersports activities. Music is also well catered for, with regular appearances from top international DJs providing the beats long into the night.
http://www.azzura.sg/
Sunburn, India
Sunburn is an annual electronic dance music festival held in Candolim Beach, Goa, India. Organised by Percept, it is India’s first festival dedicated entirely to electronic music and is in a large part responsible for the burgeoning interest in club and dance music culture across the subcontinent. DJs who have performed there in the past include Armin van Buuren, Roger Sanchez, The Shapeshifters and Axwell, and with attendance hitting nearly 50,000 in 2010, the festival looks to be going from strength to strength.
http://sunburn.in/
Haad Rin Beach, Thailand
While not strictly a venue in its own right, this infamous beach on the east coast of Thailand’s Ko Pan Ngan is an essential destination for global clubbers, backpackers and thrill seeker alike. The full moon parties have become stuff of legends as every month tens of thousands of people flood the beach and bars around it to dance the night away under the stars. Musically its come a long way since the early days of Gabba and trance dominating proceedings, with house, techno and pretty much everything in between well catered for.
www.fullmoon.phangan.info
Defected Presents Beachclubbing: Pacific is out 24th October - listen & pre-order
