Lissy, who? Whilst Lissy Lü is gallivanting around Worthy Farm in Somerset back in the UK, instead of pausing dancefloor diaries, we've decided to keep them going by passing the responsibility to Jo!
We had the pleasure of offering Jo an intern placement in summer 2019, which gave her first experience of working in the music industry.
In the time since, she has gone on to work for a music publicist, feature on podcasts and present on regional radio, but she has always kept Ibiza close to her heart. Five years later, we're delighted to welcome her back to the island and to the club team.
This is the story of What Jo did next...
Trading places
20 to 26 June
Thursday
Guess who's back? The 03:55 airport pick-up time is worth it once you land on god’s party playground, Ibiza. My digs for the next few days are with a friend above Café del Mar and the panoramic sea views hit me in the feels every time.
Soon after arriving, it was time to reunite with the clubbing team at Plastik and watch England versus Denmark in Euros 2024. As a Scot football is a sore talking point, so I’ll leave it there. Nevertheless, I was so excited that the band was back together!
It was my 25th birthday on Tuesday (eek!).
Before we traded places, me and Lissy had a short time on the island together and she kindly surprised me with a little gift and an incredibly sweet card. We then wandered down to an Italian fave of ours, Ausonia, to share pizza, pasta and wine and have a big fat gossip.
Ah, island life.
Friday
Ready and raring for my first big night out back on Ibiza, us girls got glammed-up for Lucy Jane's birthday meal at STK Ibiza where we dined and danced into the evening.
A taxi ride to San Antonio and we met up with Tim and Steve at Eden for deadmau5's much talked about appearance for Space. A DJ first for me and in all honesty, I didn’t know what to expect.
To my surprise, deadmau5, AKA Joel Zimmerman, initially stepped-out unmasked. However, he later donned his famous mouse headgear for a short while. It was at this moment we realised the peak summer heat of Ibiza and lack of headpiece air-con likely had something to do with this.
After a schooling on the harder side of dance music, the unmistakable vocals of deadmau5 and Kaskade’s Escape teased into the mix, and I fangirled. An EDM guilty pleasure of mine that I didn’t think I'd ever get to hear live.
Sunday
My friend Tash and I treated ourselves to a day by the pool at Palm Star Ibiza, because, why not? Of course, on arrival we hit-up the menu, tucking into a mouth-watering chicken curry pitta and a club sandwich.
Later, I met up with Steve and we jumped on the infamous disco bus (oh, the worker life memories!) and headed to Pacha for the Solomun +1 opening party.
Unsurprisingly, Solomun played all night long to a filled-out dancefloor and reminded us why the party has entered its eleventh year reign.As always, Solomun never sends us home empty handed. My Shazam is popping off with new finds.
You can read the full review by clicking here. And, what’s that? Talk of an after party?
Monday
After battering the snooze button and a few hours of work at the laptop, it was time for round two.
We made a quick pit stop at Que Pasa? to fuel up on tasty Shawarma loaded fries and headed to 528 Ibiza for the Solomun +1 official after party which had only been announced in the early hours of the morning. Fair to say, loyal followers of Solomun made a quick turnaround.
The DJ booth set up in the epicentre of 528 Ibiza's amphitheatre provided a perfect view of the Bosnian at work and a rare chance to get up close and personal.
Playing to the strengths of the sun-down set time, and magical boho aura of 528 Ibiza, Solomun took us on a melodic House trip laced with percussive notes before going darker and heavier as night fell.
Restaurant of the week
Would you believe this idyllic Spanish tapas bar is just a stone’s throw from the West End?
Rincon de Pepe is San Antonio's oldest tapas bar, serving up authentic Spanish plates since 1962. A family-run business, you can taste the love poured into every homemade dish – especially the tender pork layered with creamy peppered mushroom sauce sauce laid on sliced potatoes. Delish!
Party radar
SG Lewis presents Forever Days | Cova Santa | Wednesday 3 July
A hidden gem and White Isle debut can be found in the party calendar this week.
Revered producer SG Lewis brings his newly launched record label and party brand Forever Days to Cova Santa for an exclusive day to night takeover, starting on the sunlit terrace and moving into the intimate club room in the early hours.
The line-up is as dreamy as Cova Santa's rolling hillside backdrop. Hosting a high calibre of electronic mastery you sure to be taken on an immersive sonic trip, by DJs you rarely catch all in one place.
Line-up: SG Lewis, Bonobo (DJ set), Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (DJ set), Logic 1000
Whisper from the dancefloor
Which international DJ was set to play a surprise, intimate gig earlier this week, only to cancel after a result in the Euros didn't go the way they wanted??? Shame, as this would've been one of the most talked-about sets of the entire summer.
Let's hope it can be rearranged for later in 2024.
Tune of the week
Cabin Luv Affair | Right Or Wrong | Cécille Records | 21 June
A steady grooving melodic number for you here and the perfect Ibiza sunset soundtrack. Right Or Wrong is stamped with that classic House sound I crave from Cécille Records' output and enriched funky electric guitar twangs and mellow vocals.
Fellow fans might be keen to know this is a shift-maker release for Cécille. Launched by an anonymous roster name, this first sampling of Cabin Luv Affair, comes via a self-titled forthcoming album. This is an indication in the long player format the label hopes to embrace more of. Music to my ears!
Hungry for more dancefloor diaries? Jo will be back with all the action from next week, online soon.
Read previous weeks' capers here:
Foodie heaven
Lissy finds her sea legs
Yacht life
The first of the private parties
You can find the full archive, by visiting this page.
