Shifting Sands
The Balearic oasis of escapism might face some
unavoidable realities due to the recession, but Ibiza 2009
is flushed with creativity and forward movement. We
track some of the key changes this season…
Words: ALLAN MCGRATH
E
very year there is a gaggle of doom-mongers the island right now. Flagship nights like Pure Pacha and
racing off to denounce Ibiza as ‘over’, con- We Love have unveiled their biggest, most daring line-
veniently ignoring the fact that it boasts the ups yet and bold new ventures are dotting the island.
world’s finest DJs playing seven nights a week, Without exception, everyone is raising their game.
jaw-dropping clubs, stunning scenery and a vibe like no Which can only be a good thing.
other. Every season they are proved wrong. “Sure, everyone’s always a bit nervous because they’ve
This season, though, Ibiza will face some of its sternest spent seven months making no money,” says buoyant
challenges of the millennium — an unforgiving ex- Ibiza entrepreneur Jason Bull, who owns Ibiza Town’s
change rate, ongoing recession worries and the cloud of vibrant Base Bar and the boutique Es Vive Hotel. “But
uncertainty hanging over the beloved DC10 for starters. everyone’s more excited to enjoy it and make their mark
But don’t expect a collapse. An island of perpetual than before. People who live here throw caution to the
evolution, Ibiza 2009 might well sort some wheat from wind anyway, that’s why they’ve chosen to live in Ibiza.
the chaff but there is a wave of creativity and innovative Recession? Fuck it. Let’s just go and have a good time,
thinking — rather than fear or negativity — at work on entertain and hopefully put a little a bit of sparkle in
people’s lives. That’s Ibiza — a bit of magic when you
need it most.”
Jason’s latest venture is new 800-capacity San Antonio
nightclub Boho and with entry prices fixed between €10
– €20 and drinks at “bar prices”, it could prove a shrewd
option for clubbers looking to tighten their spending.
Taking over the old Extasis site in San Antonio, the small
and chic venue is the latest wave in San An’s ongoing
renaissance and will be inhabited by nights like Northern
fidget house sensation Filth, Mr C’s Superfreq, Nicky
Holloway’s Desert Island Disco and hard house night
Atomik.
Jason is keen to emphasis that he is not undercutting
the bigger clubs but simply pricing his venue relative to
its size, location and line-ups.
But Mr C, who is taking his Superfreq promotion to Boho
on Wednesdays, believes smaller, more affordable ven-
ues offer a welcome oasis amongst the inflated prices
that can dominate the island.
“Boho is only a small club so it’s not going to change the
island, but it’s nice to see more people doing something
a bit more realistic with their prices — especially where
drinks are concerned,” believes Mr C.
“I like to buy my friends drinks but when I buy a round of
drinks for six and it comes to €120, it leaves me feeling
bitter,” he continues. “If the bigger clubs were more
reasonable with the drinks and charged €10, I wouldn’t
just buy one round, I would keep buying and I wouldn’t
have a problem with it. It’s cutting off their nose to spite
their face.
CUSTOMERS FIRST
The drinks prices gripe is no new one but it is no longer
falling on entirely deaf ears. Over at Amnesia, Cream
have convinced the venue to reduce drinks prices by at
least 30% between 10pm and 1am, as well as offering all
ticket holders a free drink for their grand opening party
on Thursday 18th June. It’s a start, at least.
030
www.djmag.com
DJ474.shifting sands.indd 30 18/5/09 20:17:52
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179