It was a true ‘Only at Space’ moment: This summer on the 13th of July, Space’ 25th anniversary party, the club’s charismatic boss and founder, Pepe Rosello, ascended the DJ booth on the huge open air arena stage, microphone in hand, intoning ‘Happy Birthday’ with a few thousand people joining in. What an emotional moment for the island, it’s residents and thousands of visitors.
Let’s be honest, everybody has its Space moments, some from really long ago, some rather recently and every summer there are new tourists having ‘their’ moment inside the hallowed halls that they will never forget. Space, the original after-hour club in Platja d’en Bossa has given so many so much. I remember getting utterly lost the first few times inside this maze of floors and alleys. I remember standing at ‘We love Sunday’ afternoon dancing in a loud and completely dark main room while outside there was broad daylight. For me this was the Ibiza that I had heard so much about. Not to speak about all the musical revelations and goosebumps it has given us over the years and never ceases to achieve.
All this was celebrated on this glorious day in July when Space turned 25 and Fatboy Slim, Erick Morillo or Nina Kraviz all turned up to congratulate, together with about 11.000 people. This definitely was a party that upped the ante once again and sets the stage for this year’s big closing fiesta, confirmed for the 5th of October.
The mammoth Space season send-off is always an emotional, melancholic and euphoric event with thousands of tourists returning to the island for this occasion only to celebrate the end of another summer together with island residents and workers. Again the car park at the back of the club will be turned into the huge ‘Flight Club’ open air dancefloor with a huge and impressive stage, this year probably hosted by the Ultra Music Festival again, inviting some of the DJs who’ve left their mark on Ibiza in 2014.
It was another hugely successful season for Space, not just because of the 25th anniversary party. ‘We Love’ under new management has gone back to former glory, especially with the new ‘Stripped’ daytime concept for the sunset terrace. With Carl Cox the club houses probably Ibiza’s favourite party and Richie Hawtin’s ENTER. had a strong third year. Elrow proved a valuable addition to Saturday’s avantgarde night Kehakuma and for the more commercial musical tastes Café Olé and Ibiza Calling performed great as well. 2014 also saw the much applauded return of trance music to Space, in the form of the scene’s figurehead Ferry Corsten on Fridays.
Lots to celebrate on October 5th, so come early as the ‘Flight Club Arena’ is usually busy from the start. Especially its huge stage with the best performers and dancers of the island will provide the right setting for great hands in the air moments and smartphone-videos to send home to your friends. This year with elrow’s professional performance-creatives in the house we expect an even more flamboyant show.
Musically this summer’s closing fiesta will see one of the biggest and refined line-up of the last years, with Deep Dish, Carl Cox, Disclosure (DJ SET), Agoria, Blackhall & Bookless, Camilo Franco, Chus+Ceballos, Coolmachines, David Moreno, DJ Tennis, Dr. M2M, Elio Riso, Ian Blevins, Igor Marijuan, Jason Bye, Javi Bora, John Talabot , Jonathan Ulysses, José de Divina, Josh Wink, Juan Gomez, Julian Jeweil (Live), Marco Loco, Mr.Doris, Nic Fanciulli, Paul Reynolds, Pional, Ramon Castells, Riotgear, Visionquest (Ryan Crosson, Lee Curtiss and Shaun Reeves), Yan M!kale. already confirmed and with several other big names rumoured to play at one of the seven floors and to be revealed by October 3rd.
Text: Matthias Daniel
Photos: Ana Ruiz De Villota & Carlos Pastor