The knockout tournament that is the Ibiza summer season reached its business end over the weekend just been. But unlike cruel sporting contestants where most contestants finish losers, everyone's a winner on the White Isle.
Since Friday (September 30) there has been pain, glory, blood, tears and rousing anthems. Some players are still at it, others are rubbing their sore heads and getting some rest before Bora Bora and Underground's closing parties tonight.
PURE PACHA CLOSING - 30.09.05
In comparison with last year the Ibiza Spotlight Review Squad was in a remarkably healthy state. The prospect of Monza's bonus Friday gig was appealing but for the second time in as many weeks we were rebuffed by the huge queue. A bit further down Avd. Ocho de Agosto, Ibiza's oldest club Pacha hosted the curly-haired Florentine Alex Neri (right).
Pure Pacha closing - September 30, 2005
His electro-tinged house satisfied the energy requirements of the occupants of the sala principal but Jarren C was having a tougher time in the Global Room. This spotty kid here was pretty lively tho:
Pure Pacha closing - September 30, 2005
MONZA @ PENELOPE BONUS GIG - 30.09.05
At around 4.30 we figured the crush outside Penelope might have eased. It had, but inside the traffic remained heavy. Refurbishments are scheduled for next year - can we suggest that the room be redesigned so that punters don't have to negotiate a packed dance floor to get to the only toilet.
Monza bonus gig @ Penelope - September 30, 2005
Monza bonus gig @ Penelope - September 30, 2005
Monza bonus gig @ Penelope - September 30, 2005
Heidi plays the Monza bonus gig @ Penelope - September 30
Heidi (above) from Phonica Records in London was clearly relishing her second Monza appearance of the summer. Tattooed, cute and talented she has been supplying visitors to her London shop with hip techno and clearly has cherry picked the best for herself.
Click here to see photos of her July 28 appearance
MATINÉE @ SPACE CLOSING - 01.10.05
Saturday of course was the closing of the mighty Matinée at Space. Believe everything you have heard. It is massive. The djs – Brad, Iñaki, Ior Dee, J. Louis, Jobani and Joey Plastic - are not the biggest names in Ibiza but under the Matinée banner they become a relentless machine not unlike the self-assembling transformer, Optimus Prime. The battle continued till sundown.
Matinée closing - October 1, 2005
Matinée closing - October 1, 2005
SPACE CLOSING - 02.10.05
The tried'n'tired Space closing line up of yesteryear had been tweaked slightly – gone was Carl Cox, in were Behrouz and Jeff Mills and approximately 40 others, both guests and regulars at Space. We rolled out of bed and back into the club at around midday on Sunday to join the guest list prize winners and other early birds who were gradually filtering in. It was a bit quiet and only the discoteca and the sunset terrace were in use. The be-kilted Scottish soldier, Stu Hirst, was waiting patiently for the outside arena to open so he could initiate proceedings. Earlier he had been approached by police outside the venue but waved on after he proved he had no place to stash anything.
Stu Hirst @ Space closing - October 2, 2005
Sarah Main (middle) & friends @ Space closing - October 2
Elsewhere David Moreno (in the discoteca) and Pacha's Sarah Main (above) were laying down the musical foundations for an epic night'n'day. Cowardice being the better part of discretion we clocked off for a few hours and returned before midnight to witness a quite ridiculous queue snaking all the way out of the car park. Every room was now heaving. Jon Ulysses (below) was blowing his biggest bangers at the sunset terrace crowd and the reaction was correspondingly ecstatic. He finished with Lionel Richie's ‘All Night Long', thus inducing pandemonium.
Jon Ulysses @ Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Exactly the same thing was happening over on the terrace, where Erick Morillo (below) was playing. ‘The Dog' has his detractors but had they been in attendance their grumbles about his compulsive fiddling with effects knobs would have been drowned out by the screams of thousands of girls and guys for whom the big hits are the reason for coming. As the song goes, he just likes to call you his bitch. The howling continued till dawn. We climbed the stairs to the Sweat Box for Jo and Tim's final appearance together at Space but were unable to enter due to the excess number of fans who had the same idea.
Erick Morillo @ Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005
Space closing - October 2, 2005 (Space photos courtesy of www.Space-Ibiza.es)
DC10 CLOSING - 03.10.05
Monday was Dc10 day. We arrived after the eclipse that occurred shortly before 11am which must have been a total headfuck to anybody not forewarned. The view was impeded by cloud cover but the ring around the moon as it passed over the sun was very distinct and ever so eerie. Was it an omen?
from San Josep - October 3, 2005
If so it was a bad one for those busted by the police whose tactics this year included mingling with the queue to select targets for searches. Once inside however the feeling of relief gave way to euphoria. Dancing energetically under the blue sky with lots of people in a very good mood must be one of the best feelings in the world.
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
The line up looked exciting in the way that Space's didn't, even though the two shared names like Jose de Divina and Tania Vulcano. But put them next to Damian Lazarus, Cirillo, Clive Henry, Dan Ghenacia, Ricardo Villalobos, Andrew Grant, Claudio Coccoluto, Fabrizio, Jamie Jones, Silicone Soul, Loco Dice, Luciano, Silicone Soul and a host of new and bristling Italian and international djs and live artists and it appears emminently consumable.
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
On the traditionally well-attended terrace Ghenacia was experimenting with frequencies seldom heard in clubs. The Frenchman has the ability to take away the bass and drums entirely yet still manage to hold the attention of those present with a sort of wobbling mid-range bleepy hum. Does that make sense? It certainly did at the time. Obviously it's all about the drop but it's so nice to be teased and aurally massaged before the thorough shafting that inevitably follows.
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005
As per the last few years a stage had been set up in the car park so everybody could get stoned while dancing on stones. In attendance was motorsport legend Valentino Rossi, celebrating after taking his seventh motorcycling world title the previous weekend.
As day turned to night so the action got more unhinged. Why is their gravel in my pocket? Why is she wearing a peg on her nose? Ohmygod that clown is freaking me out. It's dark in here. That light's bright. Why is that guy on stage checking his email? This is a good tune – who's playing? What's that you've put on my hand? I'll have a whisky y cola thanks. Could they dress any more Italian? See you on Saturday. You're leaving forever? Give me a hug. Where's all my money gone? How long would it take to walk home from here? Where's the exit? No worries, see you at the after party. Zzzzz.
Dc10 closing - October 3, 2005