Last night Ushuaïa hosted the first of their two parties to mark the beginning of their second season as the islands favourite outdoor venue. No one will argue that Ibiza needed a plush, sexy, fabulous and exciting setting for a variety of events and Ushuaïa beach hotel has taken the crown for the most captivating outdoor venue on the white isle.
After a very successful summer last year with a residency at the amazing hotel, Luciano is back with a weekly event each and every Thursday alongside his Cadenza chums. So, who better than the top hat wearing (also rather handsome) DJ to kick start Ushuaïa's 2012 season? Immense light shows repelled from the stages arched roof as soon as Luciano & Friends approached the booth and a flashing rainbow of colours reigned over the brightly lit pool. The whole outdoor area of the hotel is simply breathtaking even if it was stripped bare of all production, the pools are all surrounded by white mini-villa's and pristine gardens, which were home to partygoers who like a VIP edge. Whether you were a hotel guest or simply there to see Luciano & Friends get the party started everybody was embracing the melodies and atmosphere of the opening party.
I'm assuming Luciano is a popular guy so the 'Friends' he was bringing with him really could have been anyone; luckily for us he was joined by Reboot, Robert Dietz, Maayam Nidam and Andrea Oliva. Obviously word travels pretty fast on the little White Isle so the place was absolutely heaving and the party attracted a mainly European crowd and was busting at the seams with locals enjoying what their island has to offer.
Luciano began his set soon after 9pm with a tribal intro featuring light drums which he then dropped into Peggy Lee's track 'Fever'. He continued to play tracks which were clearly influenced by his passion and experience with the sounds of South America. Bongos could be heard creeping into 'Fever' to be taken over by a big basslines which surged through the crowd. The Swiss/Chilean DJ not only had an amazing light show which really did look like it was reaching the stars, but he was also surrounded by sexy dancers wrapping themselves around poles behind the booth. Men on stilts and dancers dressed in typical Cadenza clobber were dotted about the venue bringing the party to life. The black backdrop and star like graphics on the stage were also perfectly suited to a night time party.
There were so many infectious sounds incorporated into Luciano's set but all stayed cohesive with his groovy, melodic and somewhat tribal sound. The Cadenza boss spent his time clapping and performing some kind of side shuffle continuously throughout his set and wasn't shy to engage with the crowd. He went onto drop Inner City's 'Good life' and later played the more recent hit 'Somebody that I used to know' by Goyte; both of which helped entice the crowd and everybody was either dancing in the paddling pool, on tree stumps, their balconies or raving at the front like a fist pumping maniac.
As one of Ibiza's most beautiful venues Ushuaïa not only put on a great opening party and production to suit but they also succeeded in attracting a crowd of the island's most beautiful people. How good looking the crowd was was actually a little annoying, but luckily I was stone cold sober so hopefully didn't look my worst.
If the first Ushuaïa opening party is anything to go by today is going to be fun, exciting, visually astounding and busy. Be sure to arrive in plenty of time to grab your preferred spot to dance along to sets from Fat Boy Slim, Groove Armada, Karlsson & Winnberg of Miike Snow, Alex Metric and Ibiza Rocks' Doorly.
