Fatboy Slim's Smile High Club at Ibiza Rocks review

Image: Luke Dyson Photography

The revellers in Ibiza were awoken with morning thunderstorms on Wednesday 2nd September, and despite that being the talk of the island for the day, no one was prepared for the second impending storm due later that evening in the form of Norman Cook's alter ego Fatboy Slim, and his Smile High Club at Ibiza Rocks.

Despite this being his second appearance at Ibiza Rocks this season, after standing in at the last minute for the cancelled Spandau Ballet show a few weeks ago, everyone knew that tonight was going to be something special. The atmosphere when walking through the gates and Ibiza Rocks and through to the pool side stage was almost indescribable, and the buzz was immeasurable.

After attending many Ibiza Rocks events over the past ten years, this night was definitely on another scale. The whole area was jam-packed full of people, and almost every resident of the Ibiza Rocks Hotel were out on their balcony, eager to experience every second of what was abut to ensue.

Darkness seemed to set in almost suddenly and a thick air of smoke filled the stage area. It all went eerily quiet and then suddenly kicking off with ‘Eat Sleep Rave Repeat’ (below), Fatboy Slim took to the stage like a tornado of mayhem and the whole place shook in riotous appreciation. We were ready to witness something that would be going down in Ibiza Rocks history.

Not allowing the crowd a moment to take in what had just happened, he dived straight back in with 'Renegade Master' and the atmospheric build up reached another climax. The beautiful thing about attending a Fatboy Slim concert is the surprise element - you never know what’s coming next. It’s his outrageous sets that have secured his reign as clubbing supremo since the mid-1990s, and his Ibiza Rocks performance was no exception.

He hammered through his impressive back catalogue and cut the tracks with current electronic house music, samples, edits and classic mash ups. There was no mistaking that Norman Cook is top of his game. Witnessing a DJ that can control a crowd and twist and adapt to suit the needs of his audience is true artistry.

From 'Rockafella Skank' to 'Right Here Right Now', he played all his famous tracks and sampled the likes of The Rolling Stones to Skrillex and Daft Punk to Steve Aoki.

An awe-inspiring light and laser show transformed Ibiza Rocks and the shapes that the revelers were throwing were equally as impressive. For one night only, Ibiza Rocks was a full on acid house rave. A stand out moment was use of Michael Calfan's ‘Treasured Soul’ (above), a track that Cook seems to be dropping in his sets a lot lately and seemingly the anthem of the island. 

‘Praise You’ was the last track of the night and was the perfect ending to a perfect set. As the track kicked in, hands went up in the air and every single person danced as if their life depended on it. As we exited Ibiza Rocks and made our way back onto the streets on San Antonio, there were smiles all round. Fatboy Slim, you never fail to impress and long may you reign.

Like this? Try 24 hours in Ibiza (Circo Loco & Cocoon)

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