August is finally past us, and here in Ibiza, that means many of the island’s inhabitants are breathing a collective sigh of relief. The mass invasion of tourists has started to subside, the weather is cooling off, and many of the island’s parties are pulling out all the stops for one last sprint to the finish line.
And if it’s a race to the finish, the top dogs in the game are the curators of the island’s longest running fiesta, We Love…, who are headed full bore into the last few weeks of the Ibiza season. With artists like Fatboy Slim, 2manyDJs, Skudge, Derrick May, Clude VonStroke, Jimmy Edgar and an Innervisions Showcase, We Love… are bringing it all home in style.
With just four dates left this season, Pulse goes in depth at We Love…’s massive September lineup to give you a play-by-play breakdown of what’s sure to be the best month of them all.
September 8
Before the dirtybird boss spread his wings to start his own night, Claude VonStroke was a We Love… resident and favorite. We Love… and Claude have been credited for bringing much of the bass sound that’s dominated so much of the island over the last few years, proving once again why this Sunday bonanza is one of the most forward thinking and influential parties around. Claude will be headlining the cavernous Discoteca, while over in the main terrace, headline duties fall to one of the most influential and storied figures in all of dance music, Derrick May.
Known as The Innovator, Derrick was part of the Belleville Three, alongside fellow giants Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson (who will be gracing the We Love… halls on September 15), and over the years has been responsible for some of the biggest innovations in dance music, including the seminal hit, ‘Strings Of Life.’ Derrick will be going back to back with Detroit’s Jimmy Edgar, who’s made massive waves in the Detroit techno landscape in recent years. Probably why We Love… chose Jimmy to team up with Carter for their recent We Love… Detroit two disc compilation. This is a rare opportunity to see one of electronic music’s most legendary figures go back to back with one of it’s newest prodigies – not to be missed.
Always one to bring a wide range of forward thinking artists to the table, September 8 sees Little Boots and company heading to El Salon. Little Boots recently released her sophomore album, Nocturnes, earlier this summer, receiving incredibly high marks from just about every major music outlet there is. Her sound is silky smooth, atmospheric synth pop, and her original vocals shine through, leaving listeners tingling. Not only will she perform in El Salon with Moon Boots, Kitt Proudfoot, Dief and Baker, but as an extra special treat, she’s even giving everyone a performance in the Sunset Terrace too.
Check out the incredible acoustic version of ‘All For You’ from Nocturnes here:
September 15
Like we mentioned above, this week sees another of electronic music’s most notorious figures step up to the We Love… decks in the Terraza, as The Elevator, Kevin Saunderson, returns to the White Isle to spread his magic with us. Though it hardly stops there, as also in the Terraza, hosted by the Just Jack crew for the evening is Heidi, who’s bound to keep the place jackin’ all damn night. If that wasn’t enough, topping things off in the Terraza is Poker Flat Recordings boss Steve Bug. Poker Flat has been one of the most influential techno and house imprints of the last decade, showing no signs of slowing, and Bug is the man responsible for it all. It might be tough to pull yourself out of the Terraza with that kind of a lineup, but in case you’re so inclined…
Over in the Discoteca, hosted by Chew The Fat!, longtime We Love… resident James Zabiela will be keeping it rocking and stomping with friends Simian Mobile Disco and Boddika, but be sure to get there early for Paul Woolford’s Special Request Live, sure to be a real treat. Chart topper Duke Dumont will be handling things over in the Sunset Terrace, still rushing full steam ahead after his bigger than big ‘Need U (100%).’ And for those moments you’re in need of some chill out time, collaborative effort of Michelle Drew and Phillipp Hill, Drew Hill, will be putting on a live show full of summery, ambient beats.
September 22
After four incredible shows last year, the Innervisions crew will be once again returning to the Terraza for a one-off performance of spectacular proportions, with Henrik Schwarz and Âme both bringing their live sets, along with Dixon and Marcus Worgull. Brainchild of Dixon and Âme, Innervisions has been on fire for the last several years. Their ethos rides in releasing only four or five EPs a year on the Innervisions label, choosing to only put out high quality, timeless music, rather than mass produced, forgettable fodder. This ethos shines through in everything they do, as everyone in the crew’s live performances is constantly a sight to behold. Last year saw the Innervisions bunch pull no punches with live back to back sets, taking the night anywhere they felt like, and you can be sure everyone in attendance was happy to follow. Word has it that We Love… have once again given the crew free reign to program the night as they please, so be ready for anything.
Over in El Salon, one of the island’s favorites is getting sent into marriage in style, as Eclectic Avenue Records (E.A.R.) is hosting the unofficial reception for PBR Streetgang’s Bonar Bradberry, who will just have gotten hitched that week. Sure to be a special one!
September 29 – Closing Party!
This is it folks! The big kahuna. The party we look forward to each summer with the most bittersweet regards. Sad to see the Sunday institution wrap things up for a long, silent winter, but thrilled to have one more fantastic go with the whole crew.
For the closing party, We Love… is welcoming the return of Fatboy Slim, who absolutely smashed the Space birthday party (which you can read about here). Fatboy is a born entertainer, and the Discoteca loved him as much as he seemed to love it, as Fatboy jumped up on the decks, blew an air horn, and did just about anything else to get the crowd as pumped as possible, and boy did it work. However this time around, Fatboy Slim is coming to rock the Pulse Radio Terraza, along with 2manyDJs, who are also returning after a smashing birthday show, working the crowd over with an incredibly flawless mix and mash of electro, disco, house, techno, and everything in between, even sneaking in a little classic trance to everyone’s awe. It was a show I won’t be forgetting anytime soon, and it should be an even bigger night for these superstars in the Terraza for the closing party.
Over in the Discoteca, Snowbombing takes over with James Zabiela and his Born Electric label, along with the one and only set from Blawan this season, and an extra special live set from both Simian Mobile Disco and Machinedrum, who’ll be keeping the crowd well on it’s toes with his heady brand of footwork and bass.
So there we have it! Four more weeks of We Love… at your fingertips. There’s no where else to be on a Sunday in September, but just in case you can’t make it to the island, look out for our upcoming weekly coverage leading up to the closing party madness!