As Ushuaia gets set to say adios to its second season, it can look back on the summer with a great deal of pride. The biggest task that faced the most talked about venue of last year was building on the amazing debut it made. As the final preparations are made for the closing party it’s fair to say that year two has surpassed expectations. There were a few cosmetic alterations during the winter that saw the huge stage get a makeover. The DJ booth was elevated and moved forward and the screens that framed the back of the stage were also placed in front of the booth making the visuals even more breathtaking.
A few adjustments were made in the weekly rota from last summer, Pooldisco, the famous London pool party, made its Ushuaia debut and enjoyed an amazing first season. French superstar David Guetta enjoyed his cameo on the outside stage so much in 2011 that he returned as a resident in 2012. Australian sisters Nervo made a big impact with their high-energy performances, playing alongside Guetta and taking the reigns when his residency ended. This summer saw the final performance of the Swedish House mafia as they brought the Ibiza curtain down on one of dance music’s most successful combo ever! Avicii took up residence on a Sunday as the new brigade brought their unique brand of energetic electro house to the huge stage and the old guard was well represented as Fatboy Slim made a couple of road-block appearances.
Luciano enjoyed another amazing season, filling the venue every Thursday and bringing some of the finest electronic talent to play alongside him. Most notably his collaboration with Richie Hawtin and his Enter Space party, a collaboration that saw the two DJs, parties and clubs deliver a joint party that will be remembered long after the summer is just a memory. After closing his own Cadenza party last week with a special appearance from the Masters At Work, Luciano returns tonight to headline Ushuaia’s own closing party alongside a plethora of stars from the summer. Kike Radikal, Juan Ma and Raul Rodriguez kick the party off at 1pm, normally Ushuaia has a strict midnight curfew but tonight’s finale promises to run long after that.
ONNO was one of the Pooldisco residents, a young talent that has captured the imagination wherever he has played and one that made himself at home in Ushuaia over the summer. He looks completely at ease as he takes control of the huge DJ both and proceeds to kick the party up a notch. It’s not quite full yet but it’s already busy enough for the atmosphere to start building. There is no doubt that the Ushuaia faithful will be hearing much more from him over the coming years. Julian Bracht is the first live performer of the night, born in Germany; he grew up in Spain so he has a unique perspective when it comes to his music. The live theme continues with Frivilous, an entertainer known for his leftfield approach to making music. Thankfully there is no knife in tonight’s performance but the legendary telephone is there to help him hear what he is doing and provide deep vocals along the way. There is a real carnival feeling to proceedings as Frivilous using his effects units, filtering the sound and getting a great reaction from the now huge crowd.
Solomun has enjoyed an unbelievable season, getting his Diynamic Neon Nights party off to a flyer as well as playing almost every other high profile venue on the island. His inclusion on the DJ line up for tonight is a bonus; he has been the outstanding DJ of this summer in our opinion. His unique sound, either through his label, his own production or his numerous remixes, has captured the imagination of the Ibiza underground. The talented German has no problem controlling the huge outdoor crowd, the chunky, bubbling basslines and eerie melodic chords has them eating out of his hand. The sun has now disappeared and the huge screen really comes into its own, delivering groundbreaking visuals that light up the venue. The visual aspect of the performance was really placed front and centre last summer when Ushuaia launched and with the slight adjustments to the stage for this season, they play an even bigger role in the entertainment.
Reboot is the next protagonist to take his place behind the Ushuaia booth, and he starts picking up the tempo and preparing the huge crowd for the imminent arrival of Luciano, still the biggest draw for the beach from venue. Reboot has been a regular throughout the summer, featuring in the cadenza Thursday night party, and has won an army of new followers with his flawless technique and ability to pick amazing tunes. He is a popular member of the international circuit and one that is growing in stature year on year. The biggest cheer of the night, as expected, is reserved for Luciano. Having recently celebrated the first gold disc to be placed on the pavement outside the hotel, mirroring the Hollywood walk of fame, he has played a major role in the success of Ushuaia. The collaboration between the two brands started in slightly more humble surroundings further along the beach and has flourished since the move into the grandeur of the hotel.
As it’s closing party weekend, we have other parties to attend and regrettably we have to leave our trusty photographer Nic in Ushuaia to capture the last few hours as we head to the centre of the island and Amnesia. The closing parties underline the amazing array of talent that this beloved island attracts as many of the world’s finest electronic DJs play across several venues. If anyone had to wonder why Ibiza is the clubbing capital of the world, one of the reasons is the ability to deliver unprecedented line up’s in various venues at the same time! Reluctantly we leave Luciano as he whips the Ushuaia crowd into a frenzy, preparing himself for his back to back finishing performance with Mirko Loko. As details start to leak of Ushuaia Towers, the second Ushuaia project, right next door to the hotel, it seems that there are exciting times ahead for Playa d’en Bossa new kid on the block and that can only mean good things for the legions of clubbers who make the journey to the island on an annual basis. Roll on Ibiza 2013!
