For those who think Ibiza is alive only in the summer, think again. The season keeps growing longer every year. By the time spring starts, it is bursting with parties that continue well into autumn. The heart of the party-island beats on.
Already now, proper full-on bashes make it difficult to choose, and we are talking ones that could be taking place smack in the middle of the official season. More than pre-season tasters, these parties open up wormholes into the summer, providing a leap into the heat of the season. The energy runs high and they have a charm all their own.
Enough to justify an entire Ibiza vacation, they have the added benefit of leaving plenty of time for repeat visits. You don't believe us? Here is a rundown on what the white isle has to offer a whole month before the official openings, starting now.
What: Seth Troxler
Where: Pacha
When: Friday, 21 April from 23:59 to late
Just to get you started, the freak himself Seth Troxler returns to the cherry world after five years, so this is more than a special treat. Few artists are known for their personalities as well as their musical talent. The Circoloco favourite will be improvising his freaky jams for what cannot but mark the unofficial opening of the 2017 season.
As anyone who has been to the pre-season parties at Pacha can tell you, these events are as busy and full of energy as the summer ones. Accompanying the Detroit star, Jesse Rose on his final world tour, Elrow resident DJs Ion Pananides and Alex Pott will all be hitting the decks. For an all-out bash, this one is for you.
What: The Lovin' Ibiza Festival
Where: Pacha, Privilege, Bora Bora and Ocean Beach
When: From Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 April at varying times
Chapter VI of the Lovin' Ibiza Festival is back on the white isle for its Fantasy Edition. This four-day extravaganza marks the first festival of the year on the island and takes place at four different locations.
Kicking off at Pacha on Thursday 27 April, the festivities continue the following night Friday 28 April at Privilege. As the biggest club in the world, it will stage quite the performance as well as welcoming Technasia and many other headliners.
The revelry continues open air the rest of the weekend. Saturday 29 April sees the Lovin' Ibiza crew take over Bora Bora for a whopping 18 consecutive hours of partying in three separate areas including the beach. Finally the festival comes to a smashing conclusion at Ocean Beach on Sunday 30 April at one of the island's favourite pool parties.
Go here for full details and line ups.
What: Loco Dice
Where: Pacha
When: Friday 28 April from 23:59 to late
Pacha continues upping its game and brings in yet another techno superstar in April. For one night only, Loco Dice returns to Pacha on the final Friday of the month. The house and techno kung-fu master will be getting it on with a sonic stomping all his own. A regular of the most hedonistic clubs around the globe, he will have Debby Coda and longstanding Pacha resident DJ Angel Linde with him for another colossal bash.
What: Opening weekend
Where: Blue Marlin
When: From Friday 28 to Sunday 30 April from 11:00 am to 4:00 am
The opening of Blue Marlin Ibiza has become so massive that it needs not one, not two, but three days to get its season started. From the 28th to the 30th of April, the beautiful Cala Jondal bay turns into a huge glam beach party for one of the most anticipated openings of the island.
This year the celebration kicks off on the last Friday of this month with Do Not Sleep mainstay Darius Syrossian. German house master Nick Curly will also be bringing his refined underground style for what is bound to be one heck of an opening.
On Saturday 29 April, the party continues with BMI and Ibiza residents Bruce Hill, Christian Len, Eli Rojas, Luca Garaboni, Oscar Akagy, Paola Poleto and Valentin Huedo. To conclude the grand opening, New Yorker Dennis Ferrer and a very special guest will be completing the feat on Sunday.
What: Opening party
Where: Pikes
When: Saturday, 29 April - poolside from 19:00, dinner from 20:00 and party from 24:00
The legendary Pikes also re-opens its fantastical world at the end of April. With a number of revamps, surprises and established artists, both the event and the venue continue to qualify as proper Ibiza classics.
An absolute charm, this 500-year old finca turned luxury hotel has seen some of the wildest partying on the island since its founding in the 1980s. Boy George, George Michael, Grace Jones and Freddie Mercury, who had his own suite that is now the nightclub, have all gone wild on these grounds.
With two handfuls of top artists and promoters, including Melon Bomb, Artwork, Rock Nights and Brothers Grim, the tunes as always will be rocking. The famous bathtub karaoke and Sunny's dress-up room will also be on.
Starting with some poolside action at 19:00, the restaurant Room 39 opens at 20:00 with its new menu. Make sure to book your table if you want to get in on that. From midnight onwards things turn naughty and continue until morning. Definitely a required pit stop of any Ibiza visit.
What: Zoo Evolution
What: Opening fiesta
When: Tuesday, 9 May from 17:00 to 24:00
Zoo Evolution is the newest chapter of The Zoo Project. On Tuesdays this season it evolves and carries the unique Benimussa Park and all its dwellers into a new dimension. The transformation of the reinvented zoo takes off on 9 May.
Grab a dose of the original Balearic spirit and cutting-edge electronic music. Providing the tunes, Highpath Records co-creators Stephane Ghenacia and Thomas Roland, together with residents Federico Grazzini and Jean Cedric, will be at the decks of the Treehouse and Living Room. Special guest DJs are being kept under wraps but The Zoo Project gang are known to deliver massive surprises.
Meanwhile in the Mandala Garden, 432 Hz music will bring on ecstatic dances. Unique on the island, this festival-style event leads you deep down the rabbit hole and twirls you around.
What: Unusual Suspects opening
Where: Sankeys
When: Thursday, 11 May from 23:59 to late
Born in Ibiza Unusual Suspects has become a global event. Now in its second summer, it returns to Sankeys with some mouthwatering house and techno talent. The season kicks off on Thursday 11 May with a juicy line up enough to get any underground lover drooling.
In the Basement, the bouncy tINI, the Berlin-born and -based Club der Visionäre resident Janina and Spanish selector Rick Maia will make sure you are up and going for the night. The Lab will present underground producer Eats Everything, Frank Storm and island favourite Federico Grazzini for a heavy techno bashing.
What: Es Paradis opening party
Where: Es Paradis
When: Saturday, 13 May
The dazzling San Antonio club opens its doors on Saturday 13 May for what promises to be quite the event. The Es Paradis Opening Party brings in the world celebrated Graham Sahara to work his genre-defying magic on the crowd. Also on the decks that night 2Vilas, Clara da Costa, Ramón Castells and Steeve Valverde. For house tunes, techno overtones and good vibes in San Antonio, this is the party for you.
What: Last Night on Earth (with Sasha)
Where: Pacha
When: Saturday, 13 May from 23:59 to late
Here is another night that seems to belong smack in the middle of the summer season. LNOE label head Sasha delivers a special showcase to Pacha Ibiza. As one of the most influential and recognised contemporary artists on the planet, we are in for quite the treat here.
In the six years since it launched, the label has brought about some of the freshest talent as well as presenting major luminaries. On the 13 May, we will see some of its gems on display at Pacha. One of these is the rising star VONDA7, championed all over the globe from BPM to Berlin. Also on the decks London sensation George Fitzgerald and Alex Kennon.
Presented by Electric Ibiza, this night promises to go down as legendary.
What: ANTS preseason warm ups
Where: Ushuaïa Ibiza
When: Saturdays 13 and 20 May from 15:00 to 23:59
After taking over the world, the ANTS colony returns to its homebase for another summer of underground tunes at the luxury open air venue. With two pre-season warm ups on 13 and 20 May, get ready to dance poolside to some of the hottest techno out there.
This double-whammy starts in the day and goes until night, so be ready to keep on moving. With ANTS regulars Andrea Oliva and Nic Fanciulli as well as Francisco Allendes, Patrick Topping, Raul Rodriguez and Tapesh, the season is off to a massive start.
The following week Francisco Allendes returns to the decks this time with global favourites Groove Armada, Housekeeping, Richy Ahmed, Steve Lawler and wAFF.
For a proper taste of summer, this is where you want to be.
What: Unusual Suspects Open Air
Where: Benimussa Park
When: Thursday, 18 May from 16:00 to 23:00
The first of six al fresco dates this summer, Unusual Suspects Open Air gets the balls rolling on Thursday 18 May. With only one date a month, this popular event goes open air at what is arguably the most original venue on the island, Benimussa Park.
In the Treehouse, Romanian prodigies Raresh and Praslea will be getting it on, as well as Rick Maia. The Seal Pit Half Baked Records showcase will have Le Loup, Sam Bangura, Greg Brockmann and Federico Grazzini B2B Frank Storm.
If a day of partying is not enough for you, this party is the perfect way to warm up for Unusual Suspects at Sankeys. After 23:00 you can carry on at the original Playa d'en Bossa location as the season will have already started the previous week.
What: Music On warm-ups
Where: Amnesia
When: Fridays, 19 and 26 May
Music On battles it out as one of the favourite parties on Ibiza. As the techno extravaganza of king Marco Carola gets ready to enter its 6th season, it has come to require two days for its closings and openings to satisfy the cravings of techno fiends on and off the island. Underground heavyweights are guaranteed, as are raving all-nighters.
For the first of the two nights on Friday 19 May we already know that Marco Carola and Marco Faraone will be taking over the Terrace, while Paco Osuna, Nicole Moudaber and Leon smash the Main Room. The line up for the second night 26 May has yet to be announced.
Not for the faint-hearted, this massive two-day fiesta will have you ready and trained for the summer season.
