The last instalment of Defected's Hannah Thomas' weekly updates direct from Ibiza.
The opening and closing parties have always been one of the defining experiences of Ibiza and some of the most eagerly awaited parties of any serious music-head’s calendar. Promoters and clubs alike save their very best for last; a send-off to end all send-offs, a statement that blows the budget, designed to provide the ultimate finale for the end of season celebrations.
For Defected in the House 2013 closing party, this was certainly no exception; its monster line-up, any house heads dream. With a programme that boasted Simon Dunmore, Noir, Tensnake, Eats Everything, MK and Nick Curly it was always going to be one of the Defected parties of the season. In no uncertain terms, the programming sold itself; an eclectic mix of artists whose diverse production and DJ styles appeal to a cross section of clubbers. In fact, I have to admit it made our PR job very easy indeed last week. We barely had to walk the beaches and streets in search of potential punters - our phones were literally inundated by calls in search of our limited free wristbands. Ticket sales sky rocketed and by Friday they had already quadrupled the average weekly sales. There was no shadow of a doubt that it was going to be completely and utterly road-blocked affair.
At 11.30, half an hour earlier than the usual opening time, the dance floor was already shoulder to shoulder, jamming to the grooves of Simon Dunmore – a warm up set of classic house vibes you couldn’t fault. Two hours later, by the time Tensnake came on, it was near nigh impossible to move on the dance floor. Every inch of club - the VIP, behind the booth, the stairs, the terrace, the bathrooms – were jam packed. And the queue was still snaking down the road and around the corner; demand I don’t think anyone had quite anticipated. And no one was about to leave either, not with the kids’ favourite MK still to take centre stage. I’m sure you don’t need me to describe the carnage when he dropped ‘Look Right Through’. And after MK? Still few people wanted to leave. It was the first time at 8 o’clock that the dance floor was still pretty much at capacity – a true testament to the skills of Nick Curly, whose intelligent set held the crowd until closing.
Photo credit: Shane Webber Photography
Unexpectedly, the standout set of the night for me came from Noir. I felt he read the crowd to a tee and struck a great balance between classic house and more techy vibes. I also really enjoyed Eats Everything, his tougher base lines and more techno edged sound that night were more up my street. The highlight was when he dropped ‘NY is Alright’, one of my top 5 tunes of the season. The only thing I could fault all night really was the size of the dance floor itself which has proved to be a little on the small side for the crowds Defected had been pulling. Judging from the crowd left stranded outside I reckon it could have easily been filled three times over.
Elsewhere on the closing party circuit, it was a similar story. Guest lists were ridiculously tight at Carl Cox, Used and Abused, Enter and Music On, and even that didn’t help much with the volume of people spilling in as soon as doors opened. If you’re like me and prefer the room to shack out and/ or are not hardcore/wasted enough to withstand the pushing and shoving, elbows in ribs and sweaty armpits in your faces, none of these colossal nights would have been massively enjoyable. Without access to VIP areas I would have crumbled after an hour or so for sure. It’s actually insane to think back to arriving at Music On at 5am with over 600 people were still queuing to get in, many of whom had paid full price for a ticket. Thank god for being able to blag my way in a side entrance up to the VIP via one of the bouncers!
When we got up on the balcony of the terrace I just couldn’t believe just how rammed it still was; we didn’t brave it down onto the dance floor until 9am when things had only ever so slightly began to thin out. Even Toyota Carola himself couldn’t handle the pace. At around 11am, we saw him disappear behind the decks only to be pulled up by one of his cronies – his headphones all skewwhiff. Rumour has it he even went to hospital to get checked out after passing out. The cynics amongst us reckon it was a bit of PR stunt, much in the same way Richie’s stage dive was at Enter, but it really wouldn’t have surprised me if he had genuinely passed out it was that intense in there. Even machines fail sometimes after all… Not that it stopped him from playing later that day at the afters at Cova Santa (what an incredible venue btw) where he played again from 6pm til 12 and then later on, on Sunday morning down inside the cave. Fainting or no fainting, that’s pretty impressive stamina.
After all of that bedlam I am now well and truly partied out and right now, as I’m coughing and spluttering with a heavy self-induced cold, I would be quite happy if I was told I couldn’t never go to another club again! My body is definitely saying no. So, mixed reviews for the closing parties to some extent but regardless of the overcrowding and over exhaustion, Ibiza just wouldn’t be the same without them.
Finally, as I sit here in a random internet café in the Basque country, en route home, the time has come (albeit too soon) to reflect on my first season spent living and working on the world’s premiere party island. Overall it’s been interesting to say the least, and far cry from the carefree and blinkered experience that sums up the two week holidays I’ve had in Ibiza over the years.
I’ve seen and experienced a different side to the island and one that isn’t so pretty; the sickening disproportion between the super-rich and the very poor, the overt police corruption, the addictions, overinflated egos, the image obsessed, the takers, the theft, the rife sexual exploitation…
But much of this is, I guess, is the inevitable by-product of the island’s hedonism which in itself makes the island so magical and unique. It’s a stunningly beautiful and romantic place; a hub of creativity, freedom and expression where weird and wonderful relationships are forged and where pretty much anything goes. Ibiza, for all your madness and quirks, I salute you.
All in all it’s been a summer to remember. And would I do it again? Definitely, maybe.
xxx
Check out our photo gallery from the Defected In The House Closing Party at Booom! here
Defected presents The Closing Party Ibiza 2013 is out now – order from iTunes
