Marching headstrong into September, the ANTS colony kicks into top gear for its next five parties.
This summer, Ushuaïa's in-house produced underground showcase has brought hellfire and bubbling sulphur to the 7,000 capacity playground. In addition to earth-shaking production, the DJ roster has been seismic itself.
The island's biggest Saturday party comes into its element from now all the way to its 5 October closing party. As momentum picks up for the end of season run-in, we attended the final party in August. It just so happened to the date a very special guest came down to play...
A very special guest addresses the colony
News of special guest Marco Carola, only officially revealed a few hours before doors opening, had spread like wildfire. The Italian heavyweight was joining birthday boy Nic Fanciulli, himself of Italian blood, for a closing back-to-back of gargantuan proportions.
Therefore, it was no surprise that the ANTS colony came out in force.
Mostly clad in the chosen attire of the all-black rave uniform, the crowd formed a human shield around the stage. Everyone edged forward to get a front row view of the two scene giants, soon to square off.
The insatiability of the dancefloor was accentuated by the sure-fire selections of Ben Sterling and Manda Moor. As aircraft flew low overhead, hands shot up.
Seemingly sensing a shift in mood, the crowd screamed in elation as Marco Carola and Nic Fanciulli emerged from backstage into the booth.
The sun now set, an atmospheric darkness shrouded Ushuaïa.
The towering stage design illuminated red, serving as an all-consuming portal with gatekeepers Carola and Fanciulli front and centre.
Fanciulli laid down the law with a heady mix of underground beats, whilst Carola thrashed out an assortment of fresh edits of old school bangers. The Way I Are sampling I Got My Money by Nari and Sandro Puddu was a true set highlight, which had the crowd in a piranha-like frenzy.
Tracks from the hottest names on the Tech House circuit followed, blaring across the open-air party hotel. Amongst them, the hard-hitting rhythms of Paco Osuna, Malone, Trallez and D.Stone were audible from the opposite side of Playa d'en Bossa.
The stakes would be raised even higher still. With every explosive drop, came an equally extravagant light show of pyrotechnics which erupted from the stage. The sea of ecstatic faces in the full-capacity crowd glowed crimson red, everybody anticipating the next transition.
Flame throwers and CO2 cannons added to the spectacle of it all, turning yet another Saturday afternoon into a lifelong memory.
There was still one last flame to extinguish - that of Nic Fanciulli's birthday cake! Feliz cumpleaños, hombre!
Marco Carola's appearance may have been a one-off, but the calibre of DJs playing does not dip between now and the end of summer.
Paul Kalkbrenner, Kölsch, Ilario Alicante, Nicole Moudaber, Franky Rizardo, Wade, Cloonee, Latmun and Syreeta all have dates remaining.
Below, you can find full listings and tickets for the rest of the schedule.
WORDS | by Lissy Lübeck, Jo Dargie and Stephen Hunt
