About Music On
Music On is one of Ibiza's most cherished nights. Musically, it's nowadays more vocal House and "Deep-Tech" with the odd edit of something familiar thrown in and almost always ending on a crowd-pleaser, but even if it isn't really Techno any more, it still exudes Techno energy.
What hasn't changed is the groove. When it locks in, you can't escape. Time to dust off the black t-shirt and join the Music On crusade. A full dancefloor and a full VIP - that's the Marco Carola effect. It's gonna be another packed summer.
Want to know more? We answer all your questions: when? where? who? why? and how?
When?
Every Friday night, starting 17 May to 11 October | 23:59 to 07:00
Friday is the start of the weekend and nowadays the trend for extended weekend breaks to Ibiza means that Friday nights are a colossal night on the island. Some of the biggest parties of the week take place on Fridays, but Music On has a strong claim to the crown.
Save for one summer (2019), Music On has been continuously synonymous with Fridays and the two just go so well together. High-spending VIPs fly in especially for it at the start of the weekend, and the party rolls through to Saturday morning, where it's often followed by an afters!
Where?
Pacha - Ibiza's oldest club, having opened its doors in 1973 - 50 years ago last year.
Originally a converted finca, the building has undergone more regenerations than Doctor Who, expanding and updating almost year-on-year. Today's modern club is very different from the Pacha that stood in the same spot in 1973, as well as considerably larger.
That said, it still drips with that unmistakable Pacha signature.
In recent years, the dancefloor has been widened and the sound system upgraded, making the clubbing element equally as important as its famous VIP. Music On's high-profile arrival in 2019 no doubt instigated the overhaul as much as any.
READ OUR BEGINNER'S GUIDE FOR THE FULL LOWDOWN
Who?
Need you ask? Music On is Carola; Carola is Music On. They are inseparable.
Apart from a short run of parties in 2014 where a nasty ear infection sidelined him on doctor's orders, we can't recall him ever having missed any dates. A Music On without Marco Carola is just unimaginable.
Okay, the guests are also top-drawer (Joseph Capriati, The Martinez Brothers, Chris Stussy and Paco Osuna all appear) but who do you think the Music On loyalists come to see?
While the cult around Carola is multi-national, a large percentage of his following is Italian and this is reflected on the dancefloor. What can we say, people from Italy passionately love their Techno and their adulation for the party talisman knows no bounds.
On the surface, Carola has an expressionless poker face and an emotionless, maybe even cold, style of play. By contrast, the dancefloor is a full-on frenzied mix of mad-for-it ravers, dressed head to toe in black who can't worship their DJ hero enough.
The dancefloor is full, the VIP is sold out, there are queues at the door and at some point the 'completo' sign will be hung. Very few DJs on the planet have that kind of pull power covering all bases. The people have spoken: Carola is king.
While the debate about what he actually plays nowadays is likely to be discussed ad nauseam, what's equally true is that once he locks in that signature groove, you'll struggle to stay off your feet.
A set to get you in the mood
Biggest week?
On size of line-up and profile of the DJs, both 31 May and 9 August deserve your attention, while The Martinez Brothers' invite (this year set for mid-August) is always a roadblock affair. However, after missing last year, it's former lieutenant Joseph Capriati's return on 27 September that gets our vote. Whoa, the Italians will be out in force for that one!
Any surprises?
The extra closing party date, "part one", recently added to Thursday 10 October (the night before part two on 11 October), where Carola plays all night long.
Anything else interesting?
Prefer daytime dancing in the sun? Music On also returns to Pacha's sister-venue Destino a short distance up the hill for no less than eleven alfresco parties in 2024. They start 23 May and then staggered thereafter until 22 August. Please visit this page for tickets and info.
Playlist
Follow the playlist here - updated regularly throughout summer with tunes direct from the Music On dancefloor.
Ibiza Spotlight's top tip
Don't leave early for this one. The magic hours on the dancefloor happen in the last few hours.
How?
Just by heading below and grabbing your tickets. Simple, right? Tickets for all dates are on sale now.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Raul Sanchez
