Hot off the press - Manumissions night at Amnesia, following their move from Privilege sees Fatboy Slim, The Arctic Monkeys as well as Zane Lowe, Mark Ronson and Steve Lawler all dj’ing…. not one to miss we think:

Tonight was the eagerly awaited Streets gig at Bar M, which ended in disappointment for hundreds as the local authorities pulled the plug an hour before the first expectant punters arrived.

Kasabian at Ibiza Rocks in July

A hastily written sign and a stage devoid of equipment confirmed the situation, which was followed by an endless number of gutted ticket-clutchers reluctantly accepting their money back. The worst of it was that many of these had planned their holiday dates to coincide with the gig.

It would appear that the local authorities have, once again, overlooked the effect that their actions will have in terms of global publicity for the island. The closure of Amnesia, DC 10 and Bora Bora shocked the press worldwide at the start of the season.

These closures, although repealed by a higher court, were followed by the chaining up of the Kanya bar in San Antonio and the El Ayoun restaurant in San Rafael.

In the meantime half a dozen of the most famous beach bars on the island are fighting to save their existence as, despite having been there for some thirty years, new planning restrictions don’t permit the size that their popularity has driven them to.

Last week we had the debacle of the doors being locked on Manumission by the world’s largest nightclub – Privilege – provoking their switch to nearby Amnesia. (Anybody out there want to buy the world’s biggest nightclub?)

The result will be that the global press will probably be now allocating more press to these negative ‘goings on’ than the positives that Ibiza Rocks has brought to the island over the past couple of years. In complete contrast to the past couple of weeks where every other day the mainstream broadsheets have been positive about the island - albeit maybe because a number of “faces” with lots of money have turned up…. (and who happened to go to DC10 ?)

So it happens with Bar M’s latest initiative - not for the first time this year (remember the Kelis gig), The Streets gig being cancelled so late as to cause maximum disruption to those travellers fortunate enough to get these highly prized tickets, the future looks bleak…

Will Ibiza Rocks take the same route as Manumission and switch to a venue governed by a more sympathetic (visionary?) administration?

There are a number of alternative venues elsewhere on the island who would welcome the Ibiza Rocks phenomenon with open arms. For example ‘Las Dalias’ in San Carlos, which already stages events catering for more people than Bar M can hold, almost every night of the week. It has an auditorium, huge car parking facilities, an extensive outside garden dotted with bars for before and after the gig and is, coincidentally, celebrating its 53rd birthday as the original home of live music on the island this Thursday.

It’s the sort of venue that would have no problem running gigs night after night, if demand for tickets to see any one band were high enough - and even staging the occasional outdoor gig for really special events like, say, The Arctic Monkeys?
They’re connected.

The groundswell of opinion created by the press around the world is that Ibiza Rocks must go on, and if that means another venue, even in a different part of this, lets face it, a very small island – so be it.
Ibiza will continue to rock, even in adversity.

After another good night at Bar M, Andy confirmed that Manumission will be leaving privilege and going across to Amnesia.

After basically being held to ransom by privilege they decided - that they wouldnt…

Stuff has been going off over the past few days and Privilege asked them back and Manumission said …er no…

So Manumission is now at amnesia

can things gets any more weird ?

(on a side note, hard-fi were good.. and we’ll put up the gallery as usual at some point tomorrow (thurs)

Today the storm clouds gathered over Ibiza - literally.

Ibiza has been “open for business” for 2 months now, in clubbing terms, and tempestuous they have been.

The opening weekend featured most of the biggest DJ’s in the world and an audience estimated to be as high as 15,000.

The local police though had a field day confiscating drugs and arresting over some 400 people. Of those that got past the door, the police and security, eleven of them finished their party in the intensive care department of the island’s hospital. The authorities we’re not amused..

Determined to take action to protect the image of the island, in an ever competitive market place, and realizing that the only punishment that would make the venues take notice, would have to be whilst they we’re open - ie in the season, so draconian action took place.

They appear to have gone through their records and fast-tracked past misdemeanors. Within days Amnesia, the island’s longest established club was closed for a month. DC10, the renowned monday morning venue for those still not ready for bed, were closed for 2 months as was Bora Bora (a beach bar on Playa d’en Bossa beach). Both of the latter sidestepped the potential, and intended, financial damage that the authorities had in mind. Bora Bora relocated to next door and DC10 had the judgment overturned in Palma, on appeal, but a point had been made. It took Amnesia far longer to reopen….

Next we heard that El Ayoun in San Rafael had been closed for exceeding the remit of its licence and will eventually reopen as a restaurant only and that future reprimands were in the pipeline. Next to fall was Kanya in Cala des Moro - again licence infringements were cited. No-one can deny there seems to be a lot of posturing going on - why is another question…

Currently we have the doors locked, apparently by the venue owners, for Manumissions Friday night spectacular as of last friday night.

Once we know "accurate" information on everything we’ll let you know. As usual, island gossip has hit full steam so take everything you read with a very large pinch of the proverbial salt…

On the other side of the coin: airport, ferry & cruise ship passenger figures were up for July and the first part of August so far - compared to last year…

We’ll see you at Ibiza Rocks tomorrow and Wednesday for another couple of nights of trouble free live music…

DC10 have been given the go ahead to opening on Monday after the court in Palma overturned the decision. Basically DC10 were found to have done enough with respect to trying to stop drugs being taken on the premises.

However Cream have announced that they are cancelling their opening night tonight.

“It is with regret that Cream has had to cancel its Opening Party at Amnesia. We offer our sincere apologies to all our customers and partners for such a late decision and any inconvenience caused. Customers who have purchased any advanced tickets will be fully reimbursed by the agency who sold the tickets. Despite having an alternative venue for the party, it was decided to allow Amnesia, our partners for the last 10 years, an opportunity to overturn the authorities decision to close the venue for a month.

Unfortunately, any such decision will now not allow the artists to arrive in Ibiza or for our team to suitably promote the event; hence the managment of Cream deciding on such a difficult decision, to cancel the Opening Party. We hope that the matter will be resolved soon and to open the following Thursday on Thursday 28th June, with a star studded line up. More information coming soon. Many thanks for your understanding and support”

Radio 1 have annouced details for their annual weekend broadcast here.

We assume Amnesia will have reopened by then!

Friday 10 August
Pete Tong , 7-10pm - live from Cafe Mambo.
Annie Mac, 10-12pm - live from Cafe Mambo studio.

Saturday 11 August
R1 DJs, 4-7pm - live from Mambo Terrace.
Judge Jules, 7-9pm - live from Mambo Terrace.
Zane Lowe, 9-12pm - Ibiza Rocks at Bar M.
Essential Mix, 12-5am - live from the Radio 1 party at Amnesia with Cream.

Sunday 12 August
Dance Anthems with Dave Pearce, 7-9pm.

Line up
Main Room
Sasha
Eddie Halliwell
Steve Angello
Axwell
Sebastian Ingrosso
Gareth Wyn

Mixmag Terrace
Annie Mac Presents…
Simian Mobile Disco
Annie Mac
Touche
Mart

Some closing party details:

El Divino - Kissdafunk Closing Party - Tues 11th Sep
Es Paradis - Extreme Euphoria vs Tidy Closing Party - Tues 11th Sep
Amnesia - Cream Closing Party - Thurs 20th Sep
Amnesia- Cocoon Closing Party - Mon 24th Sep
Pacha - F*** Me I’m Famous Closing Party - Thurs 27th Sep
Privilege - Manumission Closing Party - Fri 28th Sep

Quite a number of opening party dates are now in:
Amnesia - Sat 16th June
DC 10 - Mon 4th June
Eden - Fri 1st June
El Divino - Fri 8thJune
Privilege - Sat 2nd June
Space - Sun 3rd June

some promoter dates are also in

Privilege:
Manumission - Fri 15th June

Pacha:
Subliminal - wed 6th June
F*** Me I’m Famous Opening - thurs 7th June
Pure Pacha - fri 8th June

Eden:
Dusted - Mon 4th June
Judgement Sunday - Sun 10th June

DJ Magazine published their 50 top clubs in the world last month, and as expected Ibiza clubs were prominent - with Space grabbing the top spot.

The biggest DJs in the world have voted for their favourite floors to rock and here are the results… it’s the definitive top 50 clubs from around the globe.

Last year’s number five, the renowned Ibizan institution of Space jumped up four places to usurp Fabric as the globe’s finest club. Something anyone who has spent an infamous Ibizan sunset on its picturesque terrace would certainly agree with.

Indeed, it was a fine year for the White Ilse throughout the top ten and beyond, further proof still that all the hogwash about the clubbing haven’s diminishing influence is little more than hot air. The evidence speaks for itself. The colossal Amnesia held on to a top ten birth, Pacha climbed up a place to rise to number three whilst the home of Monday morning Ibizan wrongness DC10 also edged up a place into number seven.

Top 10 Clubs:

1. Space (Ibiza)
2. Fabric (UK)
3. Pacha (Ibiza)
4. The End (London)
5. Warung (Brazil)
6. Panorama (Germany)
7. DC10 (Ibiza)
8. Amnesia (Ibiza)
9. Pawn Shop Lounge (Miami)
10. Stereo (Montreal)