Being lucky enough to have unrestricted access to the clubbing chocolate box (all for work purposes, you understand!), I've been to some incredible parties in 2024. Many resulted in late nights way past bedtime and induced some stubborn hangovers.
However, it's been a treat and one I wasn't ready to say goodbye to. After six months spent on the dancefloors, it's been hard to pick my top five but here we go…
Nightmares On Wax | Cosmic Pineapple | Cova Santa | Thursday 6 June
Held close to my heart, Cosmic Pineapple made the transition to Cova Santa for summer 2024, and what a triumph it proved to be. Known for its creative collaborations and eclectic mix of artists, it's home to Ibiza's hippy-hearted brigade.
Island favourite Nightmares On Wax led the open-air stage with a jumping set, resulting in hands being raised whilst Dave the inflatable dolphin crowd-surfed upon them.
In classic Cosmic style BabyJane, dressed in their latest vibrant ensemble, eloquently played the trumpet as a fairy mascot painted rainbows on stage. It was weird, wonderful and welcoming - everything the spirit of Ibiza is about.
Chase & Status | Ushuaïa | Sunday 30 June
Drum & Bass duo Chase & Status' Ibiza return came with as much hype as their performances.
Pacesetters for the scene, they landed upon the mountainous Ushuaïa stage with a supporting collective of artists just as heavy. Becky Hill brought the first big hit, warming the crowd with a set that included a renditions of her Disconnect collaboration with the boys.
Skream and Benga then switched it up, delivering a Dubstep-laced set as the crowds grew and the anticipation reached its peak.
As if Irah, Flowdan, Trigga and Takura weren't bringing big enough front to the stage, the rumour mill had been in hyper-drive with whispers of Stormzy completing the crew. Expectations were high, but, ultimately, they were met.
Stormzy bounced onto the stage louder than ever, debuting BACKBONE. Seeing an entire crowd lose their minds and skank in unison, was an Ibiza moment and a reminder of why this scene still feels so authentic and untouched, even with an artist as big as Stormzy on the track.
Clockwork Orange | Es Paradis | Friday 19 July
Clockwork Orange landed for its annual Ibiza ceremony in mid July, bringing its legions of old school DJs and its party-ready fans. Friday night saw the first of the club parties, with Es Paradis hosting Danny Clockwork, Andy Manston and pals for an early evening celebration.
The energy this party brought was unreal, clubbers covered every spec of the dancefloor, lining the stairs and podiums for a sweaty night of anthems. No one stood still, me included.
My legs, arms and face ached from all the grinning and hands-in-the-air belters they blasted all night long. It was a golden-year revival, filled with golden oldies - along with some energetic younger recruits - that felt like a homecoming.
Neliah Kandisha | Namaste | Las Dalias | Wednesday 14 August
14 August was a pretty special night for Ibiza Spotlight, as a large contingent of us met under the stars in the Las Dalias garden for Namaste. This may sound a little cliche, but as the tribal sounds floated into the night sky and we danced around the open fire, it was a proper heart-melting moment.
Neliah Kandisha held the Pachamama crowd in the palm of her hand.
Psychedelic, tribal and Psytrance- beats got the vibe all Goa-like and gooey, while Joselito and Marco Tegui performed their compression set on the Garden stage. Donning a large pointed hat, he resembled a majestic musical wizard. It was something to behold.
More than just a party, Namaste is a vibe to be reckoned with, and one I'd recommend everybody gets a fix from this summer.
Joseph Capriati b2b Seth Troxler b2b ANOTR | Metamorfosi closing party | Amnesia | Friday 6 September
There’s just something about a night with Joseph Capriati. He’s one of those artists who can effortlessly hold a dancefloor in the palm of his hand. At Metamorfosi's closing, he did just that.
The party only had a run of eight Fridays over peak summer. Maybe it's this short but sweet time Metamorfosi had, but there's definitely a special energy Capriati has created at his residency. For the finale, he lined up an epic back-to-back, inviting Seth Troxler and ANOTR into the booth.
A notable moment was hearing a Techno remix of Garage favourite Do You Really Like It? burst out across the club. The dancefloor ate it up. When an artist can get away with throwing curveball tracks like these throughout their set, you know their playing at another level.
The summer season may now be over, but that doesn't mean that clubbing completely shuts down on Ibiza. For winter listings, please visit our party calendar.
