International Music Summit (IMS) is over and out, but not before delegates and dance music lovers made the annual ascension to Dalt Vila's fortified dancefloor. The epic IMS Grand Finale took place within the ancient walls of the Old Town, for a showdown for the history book.
Backdropped by panoramic views of Ibiza Town and the port, the location is a party spot like no other. Enter party people of the world, ready to get down with old friends and new connections. The result is a serious contender for one for the biggest nights of the summer.
As if it needed any more of a rub, IMS Grand Finale is a serial matchmaker when it comes to programming back-to-back sets.
Up first, IMS co-host Jaguar and DJ Paulette (pictured above, right) raised the vibrations for those arriving from doors open. Later, sounds of the underground were delivered from further combos Artche b2b Kalismā (above, bottom left) and Sarz b2b Kilimanjaro (above, top left).
Definitely worthy of a mention, was relative-unknown Alex Wann, thrust into the limelight as Pete Tong's partner. More than holding his own and trading veteran Pete track-for-track, Alex made an assured showing, that included memorable highlights such as his own Peperuke.
In her signature flamboyant fashion Rósín Murphy (formerly of Moloko, pictured below), took to the stage for a live performance that rocked a cool futuristic all-black 3D geometric outfit.
Blink, and it could've been the late David Bowie up there, with Róisín sporting sartorial elegance that was both avant-garde and androgynously mystique.
Ukrainian DJ and producer Miss Monique (pictured top) then slammed down a heady concoction of Melodic Techno and Progressive House, justifying her increasingly bigger profile.
Not a soul stood still, as we collectively journeyed through Miss Monique's immaculate selections. In particular, her spin of Dominik Gehringher's latest atmospheric release Strange World, as well as her own track Look At You, provided the ultimate moment to get lost in.
While it always feels a little disingenuous to single out one set of many, the group's consensus was unequivocal. Miss Monique stole the show.
Next, Sasha and Franky Wah fused sonics on one of their unmissable back-to-back sets. With the crowd totally absorbed on every transition, hands flew skyward and a sense of togetherness radiated. IMS has made a habit of bringing the whole community together.
Anybody who missed out, can count of repeat performances, as Franky Wah's SHÈN Ibiza residency kicks off at Club Chinois next month. Sasha is confirmed for multiple appearances across summer and Miss Monique is booked too.
For the final hour of IMS Grand Finale, one of the most in-demand DJs on the planet right now, Brazilian star Mochakk addressed the jam-packed crowd with a mastery in House music.
Aside from the spectacle itself, mingling backstage and bumping into faces from Jukebox and Suess Media PR, once-of-this-parish Katie Knight and off-duty DJs such as a holidaying Tommy Farrow, it really did feel like one big industry reunion.
Needless to say, the night didn't end there. Afterwards, it was a hotfoot over to Club Chinois for the official Grand Finale After Party (pictured below).
IMS Grand Finale has officially lifted the curtain on partying for summer 2024.
From here on out, club weekly schedules start to fill up with our party calendar being your go-to guide, ensuring you never miss a beat. We'll be back in the Old Town to do it all again next April, although there could well be some free parties in the port to come - all TBA.
If anything of that nature materialises and for all other club-related news, our magazine has all the latest as it breaks.
ADDITIONAL WORDS | by Stephen Hunt
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Titiana Chausovsky and Mario Pinta
