We Love Space Sundays is one of the high points in every Ibiza week, it’s a celebration of electronic music that is rarely matched, regularly delivering a line up of festival proportions to Playa d’en Bossa. With so many amazing rooms in the legendary old venue, We Love is able to offer a huge range of electronic delight, ensuring that there is something for everyone each and every Sunday. The relationship with Space is a mutually beneficial one that has grown during the tenure of its residency elevating both parties into the upper echelons of the electronic community. Today, however, is not a normal Sunday for We Love or Space, it’s the venues 23rd birthday and it has decided that it wants to share the occasion with its trusted Sunday party. We Love responded by putting together a line up that does the occasion justice, including the return of The Chemical Brothers for a DJ set, it’s going to be a big one!
It’s August, the silly season, so everywhere is packed, although, truth be told, I have a feeling that the legendary club would be packed for the occasion, no matter when it decided to hold its birthday party. In the 23 years since its birth, Space has made a huge impact, not just on Ibiza but on the electronic world in general, delivering monumental parties throughout the years and providing a unique platform for some of the finest DJs and producers to really push the scene forward. Space is older than a lot of the clubbers flocking to it tonight and the fact that it remains as relevant today is possibly one of the finest compliments you could pay it. The atmosphere inside the club is slightly different, We Love regularly deliver a carnival atmosphere but it has been kicked up a few notches as everyone pays homage to the venue on its birthday. Chemical Brothers and Simian Mobile Disco headline with the likes of Joris Voorn, Martin Buttrich Live and Ralf Yaya providing ample back up. Jaymo & Andy George maintain their hold over the Sunset Terrace, with Riva Starr making a welcome appearance. Fittingly, Alfredo enjoys a We Love residency, as one of the men who is responsible of the start of Balearica, he has seen Space open and evolve into its current format, who better to play on its birthday?
It might be me but I don’t remember there being as many performers at We Love on a normal week, however, I am optically challenged and there is usually so much going on musically that I could easily have overlooked them in the past. Performance art and acrobatics gives the event even more of a circus feel as every room in the venue fills to the brim. Clearly news of the biggest birthday of the year has been leaked and everyone is keen to congratulate the old girl. While it is definitely about the Space birthday, there are a few amazing performances to be seen. The Chemical Brothers are gracing the Space booth for the first time since 2009 and the anticipation for their return is evident. The atmosphere in the discoteca is electric! The Chemical Brothers has been a constant throughout the evolution of Space, delivering numerous floor fillers over the period and providing the DJs that regularly pass through the famous club with enough musical ammunition to keep the demanding floor happy. Tonight, they set about the destruction of the floor themselves, dropping nugget after nugget, expertly working the main room floor and ensuring there’s not a dry t-shirt in the house!
Other highlights include Jaymo & Andy George, if you’ve not caught the deadly duo in action before, now might be a good tie to change that. They are flying, production wise they are pushing parameters constantly, challenging the floors they play to and generally doing their bit to move the scene forward. Behind the booth, they have a real enthusiasm for their craft, an enthusiasm that is contagious, just check out the dancefloor when they are playing! Joris Voorn is a favourite of ours at Essential HQ, his ability to deliver a seamless journey, even in a short space of time is impressive. He has a unique understanding of what makes people dance and coupled with the ability to programme his set perfectly, he never disappoints us! Alfredo delivers his usual unbelievable Balearic set and tonight, given that we are celebrating an institution he has played a big part in facilitating, his music carries even more significance. For me, I love the fact that after all these years; he still plays with the exuberance of someone that has discovered his true life’s passion. He is an inspiration to us all.
Back in the main room, there is a huge white sheet being dragged out across the dancefloor, it’s performance art of Olympic proportions and everyone is keen to get involved. We Love has delivered the perfect birthday party for Space, a party filled with clubbers from all over the world being entertained by some of the finest performers on the planet, what better way to say thanks for the last 23 years and to look forward to the next 23! Happy Birthday Space, We Love you…