The Month Ahead: August In Ibiza

Image: Hard Times Opening Party (Credit Marc de Groot)

As the temperature gauge hits unrelentingly sweltering in August the idea of a boat party becomes ever more appealing. The thought of bouncing around the deck to amazing sounds, sea breeze blowing through your hair and a cocktail in hand while you top up your tan is an alluring combination.

Add in a stunning Ibiza sunset and you have all the ingredients for a memorable experience and at this time of year, it’s the best way to party.

One of our favourite boat parties has to be ‘Lost in Ibiza’, who host some of the world’s most cutting edge house and techno DJs over a booming Funktion 1 sound system to a 300 strong crew of merry men and women.  

The ‘Lost’ parties are into their fifth year and this year they are again teaming up with Paradise to offer a shuttle bus and entry directly into DC-10 as part of their package option. They also host a pre-party at the awesome new space The Backyard in San Antonio so it’s a full day and night experience each and every Wednesday.

Skiddle Mix 075 - SEFF (VIVa MUSiC/Hot Creations) by Skiddle on Mixcloud

Looking particularly tasty is Wednesday 12th August when Hot Creations’ SEFF (check his recent mix for us above) joins the almighty Cristoph, both of whom have released massive tech-house smashers over the last year or two. We don’t doubt that these two up and coming stars will be rocking the deck with their beefy beats. 

Back on dry land but sticking with the outdoor fun in the sun vibe, we can highly recommend a visit to Ocean Beach Club. Since it’s arrival in 2012 Ocean Beach has had a big impact on San Antonio and provides a fresh new glamourous place to party the day away until the sun goes down.  It’s an impeccably run oasis with excellent food and service and boasts stunning views out to sea.   

If you are looking for an alternative to the Zoo Project on Saturdays in San Antonio then Soul Heaven at Ocean Beach is where you should head. Their aim is to cater to those looking for a more soulful, uplifting sound to their Saturday and there’s a really great feeling at this event with a slightly more mature audience who know their music. 

Saturday 15th August looks like a belter at Ocean when top London DJ Sy Sez will be joining popular Ibiza resident’s Tom Crane, Giuilano A.L and Grant Collins. Put on your best poolside clobber and get involved. 

Now onto the night time vibes and for those who love their house mixed up with some disco and nu-disco, Glitterbox is one of the best parties on the island. The music is eclectic, fun and funky and the crowd don’t take themselves too seriously.

Having started out last year at Booom as a new choice for residents and workers gasping for a musical breath of fresh air, the party has really grown this year and has taken over the Terrazza at Space on Fridays. We’re especially looking forward to Friday 21st August when The Magician will be waving his happy wand alongside the mighty Basement Jaxx and Joey Negro.

It’s the promise of Late Nite Tuff Guy that’s really cast a spell on us though, with a long line of quality productions and nu-disco re-edits behind him, we’re fairly sure he’s the one that will be pulling the proverbial white rabbit from the hat.  

If you throw into the ring an appearance from Mr Doris, unquestionably one of the best resident DJs on Ibiza, you’ve got more entertainment than you can shake a black and white stick at.

Golden Ticket

The arrival of legendary UK house music event Hard Times has been a real talking point on the island and represents a great new addition to the programme for the world’s largest club, Privilege.

From it’s humble beginnings in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, Hard Times went on to become one of the most well respected house nights and record labels of the nineties, at the forefront of bringing US house jocks like Todd Terry (who played the opening party, main pic), Louie Vega, Roger Sanchez and David Morales to the UK in their early days.  

Having taken a break for a quite a few years, Hard Times came back with a bang in 2012  but despite more than 20 years in the game the much loved party was yet to bring it’s sound to Ibiza.  It’s a move that’s been well received and another welcome sign that proper house music is returning to Ibiza.

With a solid line up for every event,  you can’t go wrong whichever night you head to at Hard Times. However, top of our list for August has to be their shindig on Saturday 29th August which sees long time British buddies and musical innovators Paul Woolford (check out his orgasmic 'MDMA' above) and Mat Playford joined by headlining legendary New York DJ and producer Danny Krivit, whose roots go right back to the early days of New York disco.

Leeds faves PBR Streetgang will be keeping the Yorkshire connection alive and kicking and completing the roster for the evening is Louis Bailey. It’s a really great mix of talent new and old and is guaranteed to be top quality in music and atmosphere.

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