The IBIZA season officially kicked off yesterday (June 4) as legendary club SPACE held its traditional opening party – heralding the start of another summer of dance on the Balearic isle.
The sold-out night, packed with 2,000 people, was headlined by revered DJ Sasha and home resident Steve Lawler. Hundreds were locked outside as a typically cosmopolitan mix of slick Spanish clubbers and spangled industry shakers partied until the small hours.
In contrast to the flooded English countryside, Ibiza is already seeing temperatures of around 80 degrees as the island’s clubbing machinery gears up for what looks set to be the busiest year yet. As one regular, Juan, told nme.com: “Sunday is Space time. It’s like church for us.”
This year, the opening party, as ever, was a party for the Ibizan residents and the visiting thousands who work on the island every summer. So flyer distributors and bar workers rubbed shoulders with promoters like Charlie Chester, whose Mezzanine Bar was one of the success stories of last year’s season, and Pacha‘s resident DJ Pipi, who in the afternoon entertained his local crowd on the upstairs, open-air terrace with his trademark blend of deep funk and US Garage.
Steve Lawler, who will be a weekly Sunday resident when home launch their events at the club at the end of June, found time to speak to nme.com after warming the crowd up for a rapturously received Sasha. “It’s a real honour to play at the opening of Space,” he enthused. “I always enjoy playing long, demanding sets and the crowd were incredible. I wish it could have gone on for longer.”For more Ibiza news throughout the summer, check Muzik‘s website The Islander on nme.com.