It's fitting that my first article for Ibiza spotlight would be the opening of Together in 2017. Last year I was at their grand finale. With both rooms hosting a fantastic line-up of artists, the night was a successful closing to another brilliant summer for the event. I was excited to get the chance to revisit the event that I have great memories of from my last visit to the island. Without further ado, here's my rundown of the opening and what to look out for this summer at Together.
Of the artists who joined the roster of DJs on the Terrace for the opening, Claptone's set was received best by the crowd. The masked artist entered the limelight in 2015, with his remix of Gregory Porter's liquid spirit. Thoughout his set he kept the crowd entertained with a mixture of soulful and funky house cuts. It was clear to see why the DJ's touring schedule is constantly booked. His skill behind the decks and his passion for the music he plays certainly shows in his performances. The end of his set was met with a cheers and applause from the crowd. He set the mood perfectly for the next artists to take the stage.
Gorgon City took over from Claptone and raised the bar in the Terrace. The chart topping duo comprising of Kye 'Foamo' Gibbon and Matt 'RackNRuin' Robson-Scott have moved away from their personal brand of club house in recent years. Their set at opening night was heavier, mixing their classics with banging tech house. The room was full, possibly the peak of the evening. The lighting and the effects matched the energy of the crowd, with very build up and drop met with increasing excitement. If you missed it, no worries. On 20 June Gorgon City go b2b with Rudimental, a date any clubber will want to put in his or her calendar.
Taking up most of the time in the main room were headline residents Chase & Status. Their DJ set was a combination of Jump Up D'n'B and Jungle, mixed with lots of their own music. They played hits such as Blind Faith and Time, but also some new previously unheard material. In a recent interview they confirmed that they will be releasing their fourth studio album later on this year, so it looks like we might be hearing more new songs over the course of the season. The artists are due to play at most Together parties this summer, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch the group DJ.
Other highlights of the evening included the arrival of Andy C to the main room. His set was more on the uplifting and euphoric side of liquid drum and bass. This was a cool change up from Chase & Status' set, and Andy C showed his fast paced skill by mixing on three turntables with ease.
Meanwhile back in the terrace, Hannah Wants had begun her set in her usual fashion by mixing in a classic house vocal 1996 hit You're Not Alone by Olive into a thumping tech house track. It was Hannah's fun loving persona and mastery of mixing that kept audiences happily dancing right until the end of the night.
So what lies ahead for Together this season? Over the next 15 weeks, Together has a big list of nights to choose from, each more impressive than the last. You can choose either the D'n'B beats of the main room or house grooves of the Terrace. With the range of artists at Together there really is something for everyone. Their roster of DJs is packed full. With more to be announced, which night do you choose to go for?
My first recommendation would be the 4th July, when Pendulum are first due to play the event. After announcing that they are re-forming this year after a five year hiatus, they will put on their first performance in Ibiza this year so bound to be a special one. On the 25th of July the terrace hosts a special line-up of Duke Dumont, Hannah Wants, MistaJam and Rufus Du Sol as the very special guest for that evening. This mixture of artists combined will make for a fun Tuesday for any partygoer. So put on your best kicks and come to Together in Amnesia this summer. See you on the dance floor.
WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY | Michael Tomlinson
