Monday night saw the return of David Guetta's BIG at Ushuaïa and as expected, it was exactly what it says on the tin. BIG.
Even if EDM is not your favourite genre, everyone cannot but appreciate the Frenchman's showmanship. He never fails to fill out a venue with people of all ages, genders and nationalities.
What's clear is that he has the ability to provide anyone with an unforgettable night. Opening night was no exception. The venue was heaving, in what must have been a near sell-out evening.
A feelgood festival vibe filled the air. The sun was blazing, people were up on shoulders and there were plenty of smiling faces to go around.
Support came from resident Lovra, GLOWINTHEDARK and Robin Shulz who got the crowd fired up. Helping to close Shulz' set was the Plastik Funk Remix of Unforgettable by Robin Shulz & Marc Scibilia. This track felt suitably uplifting as the sun began to set behind the stage.
It was soon time for the man himself to take to the stage. As Guetta appeared behind the decks, he told us how good it was to be back at Ushuaïa and the crowd were evidently as thrilled to be there, too.
He opted for a more trance-like sound to open the show, such as Liquefaction by Activa & Matt Abbott, before delving straight into those infamous EDM bangers.
The set continued as expected with all the classic David Guetta hits, including When Love Takes Over and Sexy Bitch. These tunes really took me back to my high school days 10 years ago when I would play them on repeat as a 13-year-old girl.
The crowd went insane when he played Jump – a song of his own with Glowinthedark. Guetta reached for the mic to urge everyone to go wild. And indeed, they did. I may have had my toes trampled on at this point, but I didn't mind it was all part of the fun.
A mashup of Rebuke's Along Came Polly – a personal favourite of mine – and Cardi B's Bodak Yellow took me by surprise the most. They are not exactly two songs you would put together. But, staying true to form, Guetta displayed his genius mixing skills with this one.
Other recognisable tracks came from Sebastian Ingrosso & Tommy Trash & John Martin's Reload. This song never gets old and the crowd agreed as they sang along jumping to the beat.
Once the set was in full swing, masses of glow sticks were chucked into the crowd, lighting up Ushuaïa from beyond the decks.
Towards the end of the set, we caught a glimpse of Guetta's new alias Jack Back as he went all techno and house on us for a short while.
The crowd responded well as they reached for their camera phones to film the brief pause in EDM drops. Maxim Lany's Renaissance sounded particularly enticing.
Meanwhile, a huge bundle of balloons lifted a dancer high above the sea of people that were packed into the venue. There is no denying the production value of Guetta's performances. The balloons were something of a spectacle and the lasers were a treat for the eyes.
Admittedly, I am not an avid lover of EDM, but Guetta might have won me over with his nostalgia-inducing hits. We expect BIG things from this residency this season.
You can find BIG at Ushuaïa on Mondays until 30 September. Head down the page for information and tickets.
