It has been a landmark year for Hed Kandi Ibiza, celebrating ten years of parties on the island is a massive achievement. It might be the clubbing capital of the world but the competition on the island is fierce and to have sustained a position at the top of the clubbing pecking order for a decade, through three venues, is something to be proud of. The glamorous brand has celebrated all season, hosting a weekly birthday party for thousands of clubbers from all over the world but tonight sees the birthday curtain fall as we head to Es Paradis for the Hed Kandi closing party.
Hed Kandi promotes parties all over the world, where production is a key element and the club in question is transformed into Kandiland. I’m not sure there is another club anywhere that lends itself to a Hed Kandi quite as easily as Es Paradis. The chic white interior and multi level platforms makes it a paradise for the production crew, they have so many options inside the famous old club, they could deliver a completely different show every week if they wanted to! Hed Kandi hearts and stunning chandeliers hang from the ceiling, a huge illuminated number ten takes pride of place and the graphics on the screens behind the DJs celebrates a decades worth of parties. The atmosphere inside a Hed Kandi party is always fun, this is not a dark and moody underground affair, this is a happy place where you can hear music that you know and a place where ear to ear grins occur naturally.
The club is already packed when we get there, clearly the island has turned out in force to get its last Hed Kandi fix of the summer, a summer that has seen it enjoy its most succesful season yet, the perfect birthday present for the brand that loves to dress up. The talent on show tonight includes Treasure Fingers, returning after a stunning performance at the opening party and a wicked recent compilation for the brand. Joining him are Hed Kandi regulars Eibhlin, Phil Favershom, Sam Cannon and Ben Santiago as Hed Kandi looks to go out with a birthday bang. Ibiza usually takes a slight dip in September and then bulges at the seams as the influx for the closing parties arrives but I haven’t noticed it that much this season. One things for certain, there’s not much more room in the famous old club now, as thousands pack in to celebrate the ten year anniversary one last time.
When it comes to Hed Kandi, the talent only starts with the DJs, the party is more of a theatrical performance than a straight up club night and tonight is no different. The Lovely Laura has been an integral part of the brand as it has evolved over the years and tonight, as she is raised high above the crowd, sitting on the zero of the illuminated ten, she delivers yet another stirring Sax performance, much to the delight of the capacity crowd. The Hed Kandi percussionist is another stalwart of the party and, elevated high above the crowd; he delivers the perfect accompaniment to the cool soundtrack. The dancers are elegant and sexy as they strut their stuff along the custom-built platforms above us and the acrobats defy gravity and they contort their bodies into ridiculous shapes for our enjoyment. The crowd appreciate the effort and let out a might roar every time.
Back in the booth and between them the Hed Kandi residents have the floor rocking as each one delivers a flawless set, mixed with classic cuts and some of the anthems that have had the island dancing all summer. Hed Kandi has always been the glamorous party, the one where the crowd and the club makes a real effort and gets dressed up to the nines and tonight is no different. Chandeliers shaped like disco balls hang from the ceiling, there’s a real disco flavour to the house music and the atmosphere befits the biggest birthday party of the season. Confetti cannons explode over the happy crowd and a huge birthday cake is wheeled out at one stage. Hed Kandi is rightly proud to reach its tenth birthday in Ibiza, an amazing achievement and on the strength of this season, there is another decade I the making.
