thejudge2k
Active Member
It may have been a few months ago now, but thought I'd share some thoughts from the International Music Summit earlier this year, including the awesome Grand Finale at Dalt Vila.
IMS Conference
It was my first time attending IMS and found it really helpful. The whole thing was held within the Grand Hotel in Marina Botafoch looking across the water to Dalt Vila. Wasn't staying at the hotel, but facilities were excellent, including the large pool area, decent food and good meeting rooms, bars, etc. Not sure it's worth the price they charge though, and even the food is really expensive, especially given the lack of customer service.
The event itself consisted of 3 days of panels by day (all on the same track) and parties in the evening/ Panels featured everybody from Ibiza club owners to superstar DJs, festival promoters, industry commentators and many more. The intimacy in terms of numbers and having an exclusive venue meant it was really easy to get time with everybody you wanted, including people such as David Guetta, Sasha, etc.
Highlights included:
- A party in the hotel bar hosted by mflow with Tom Middleton on the decks – first time I'd heard Tensnake – Coma Cat on the White Isle
- Interview with Guetta – actually seemed really down to earth and honest and even got his mobile studio out for everybody to see
- Interview with Mark Ronson – such an intelligent and humble guy - got an exclusive play of his new single at the time – Bang Bang
- IMS anthem with Cassius – surely 2 of the most hilarious guys in dance – they'd been asked to make a tune for the IMS and then had their own panel to talk about it (video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gs3q1drBj4)
- The panel of the ‘new generation' discussion (including Busy P) downing a whole bottle of hierbas, resulting in amusing banter
- DJ Paulette managing to tweet continuously for 3 days despite some distracting comments from the audience
Also had some good record showcases at Grial on two evenings, lunch time chill out sessions by the pool and all sorts of other stuff going on.
Think the whole randomness of the event struck me on one particular walk through the hotel at the end of one of the panels. I brushed past Pete Tong having some in-depth discussions at the hotel entrance, walked past David Guetta in reception who was trying to get the WiFi to work and headed to the toilet, where I looked up from the urinal to see Jose Padilla standing next to me!
Not only did I make some really good business contacts at the IMS but having travelled their on my own I also met some great friends within hours. It's amazing to meet so many awesome people that share your passion for electronic music and especially Ibiza.
Grand Finale
At the end of three hard days networking it was time to round things off in style – it was Friday night and time for the Grand Finale.
I love the beauty of Dalt Vila and have spent many a night dining and drinking within it's walls, but nothing had prepared me for this. As a group of us ascended the steps up to the venue I literally got goose bumps. It was around 7pm, the sun was beginning to dip in the sky and bathed Ibiza town below in an orangey light. From the vantage point you could see the town below on the right, with the pretty church perched up on the hill to the left/ Straight ahead was the stage for the evening with David E Sugar proving some beautiful vocals to accompany the view.
We grabbed some drinks from the bar and mingled with a growing crowd combining delegates, island faces and a smattering of clubbers preparing for the opening weekend ahead. As day moved into night, we witnessed the sun set as Pete Tong took to the decks. Tongs set combined with the impending darkness meant the party was truly started.
Next up was Mark Ronson who played some party classics mixed with his own tunes and eventually ended on his new track with Boy George.
Then for me, and my fellow IMS friends, it was time for the main event – Sasha!
Listening to his heady mix of tunes accompanied by the view was just mindblowing and the whole crowd was going mental. A truly special moment became part of history when he dropped King Unique – 2000000 Suns – what a tune! As the clock neared 23:30 and Sasha made way for Buraka Som Sistema for the last half hour I had to make a swift exit straight to the airport for a flight back to the UK and onwards to France for a wedding.
All in all the Grand Finale was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to anybody in future, whether it be an end to the main IMS proceedings or as a start to your opening party weekend. The venue is truly unique, the line-up quality and tickets very cheap for Ibiza – check it out!
IMS Conference
It was my first time attending IMS and found it really helpful. The whole thing was held within the Grand Hotel in Marina Botafoch looking across the water to Dalt Vila. Wasn't staying at the hotel, but facilities were excellent, including the large pool area, decent food and good meeting rooms, bars, etc. Not sure it's worth the price they charge though, and even the food is really expensive, especially given the lack of customer service.
The event itself consisted of 3 days of panels by day (all on the same track) and parties in the evening/ Panels featured everybody from Ibiza club owners to superstar DJs, festival promoters, industry commentators and many more. The intimacy in terms of numbers and having an exclusive venue meant it was really easy to get time with everybody you wanted, including people such as David Guetta, Sasha, etc.
Highlights included:
- A party in the hotel bar hosted by mflow with Tom Middleton on the decks – first time I'd heard Tensnake – Coma Cat on the White Isle
- Interview with Guetta – actually seemed really down to earth and honest and even got his mobile studio out for everybody to see
- Interview with Mark Ronson – such an intelligent and humble guy - got an exclusive play of his new single at the time – Bang Bang
- IMS anthem with Cassius – surely 2 of the most hilarious guys in dance – they'd been asked to make a tune for the IMS and then had their own panel to talk about it (video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gs3q1drBj4)
- The panel of the ‘new generation' discussion (including Busy P) downing a whole bottle of hierbas, resulting in amusing banter
- DJ Paulette managing to tweet continuously for 3 days despite some distracting comments from the audience
Also had some good record showcases at Grial on two evenings, lunch time chill out sessions by the pool and all sorts of other stuff going on.
Think the whole randomness of the event struck me on one particular walk through the hotel at the end of one of the panels. I brushed past Pete Tong having some in-depth discussions at the hotel entrance, walked past David Guetta in reception who was trying to get the WiFi to work and headed to the toilet, where I looked up from the urinal to see Jose Padilla standing next to me!
Not only did I make some really good business contacts at the IMS but having travelled their on my own I also met some great friends within hours. It's amazing to meet so many awesome people that share your passion for electronic music and especially Ibiza.
Grand Finale
At the end of three hard days networking it was time to round things off in style – it was Friday night and time for the Grand Finale.
I love the beauty of Dalt Vila and have spent many a night dining and drinking within it's walls, but nothing had prepared me for this. As a group of us ascended the steps up to the venue I literally got goose bumps. It was around 7pm, the sun was beginning to dip in the sky and bathed Ibiza town below in an orangey light. From the vantage point you could see the town below on the right, with the pretty church perched up on the hill to the left/ Straight ahead was the stage for the evening with David E Sugar proving some beautiful vocals to accompany the view.
We grabbed some drinks from the bar and mingled with a growing crowd combining delegates, island faces and a smattering of clubbers preparing for the opening weekend ahead. As day moved into night, we witnessed the sun set as Pete Tong took to the decks. Tongs set combined with the impending darkness meant the party was truly started.
Next up was Mark Ronson who played some party classics mixed with his own tunes and eventually ended on his new track with Boy George.
Then for me, and my fellow IMS friends, it was time for the main event – Sasha!
Listening to his heady mix of tunes accompanied by the view was just mindblowing and the whole crowd was going mental. A truly special moment became part of history when he dropped King Unique – 2000000 Suns – what a tune! As the clock neared 23:30 and Sasha made way for Buraka Som Sistema for the last half hour I had to make a swift exit straight to the airport for a flight back to the UK and onwards to France for a wedding.
All in all the Grand Finale was amazing. I would definitely recommend it to anybody in future, whether it be an end to the main IMS proceedings or as a start to your opening party weekend. The venue is truly unique, the line-up quality and tickets very cheap for Ibiza – check it out!
