The great outdoor beach parties
Are you ready to pack your shades, suntan lotion, tickets and tunes? Who cares where you stay once you hit the powdery sand of the island — everyone’s gearing up for the biggest summer festivals, events, concerts and parties on the beach.
Summer time is all about parties, not only in the Philippines but also back in the UK. Three of the biggest festivals are ready to launch this coming July starting with the Global Gathering, with three of music’s most gargantuan acts converging on a stretched airfield to catch rave titans The Prodigy, Orbital and Pendulum along with brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll headlining what promises to be an all-out party marathon.
Orbital — one of the most loved acts in dance music, and responsible for stone-cold classics like Chime, The Box, Satan and Lush — are ready. In fact, the recharged duo can’t wait to hit the stage of Global this year.
Back here on Boracay island, one of the most attended and biggest parties this year was the Slinky Trans-Forever event, which featured Armin Van Buuren’s Armada records DJ Blake Jarrell, who started at the very young age of 23 by passing out fliers outside Chicago clubs, before being able to slip his remix CD to Armin on one of his gigs. The latter saw the musical potential and took him in at Armada records. True enough, the journey of a superstar began with the first musical mile.
With no regrets or disappointment, Blake kept on rising, gig after gig, until he fine-tuned a new radio show that will soon be broadcasted on our shores.
The vibe that made the crowd hungry for more tunes and beats required us to push the boundaries for our next beach production — that was the Pete Tong party, happening (surprisingly) on the same day and at the same time, right on the sandy stretches of Boracay island, the passion for dance music driving the crowd to a free party with free drinks, amazing production and a separate smoking venue. It was a fantastic way to kick out the summer festival season. What more can our clubbers wish for?
Always wish for more dance parties, more clubs to open and more acts to hit the shores. Blake delivered the longest set on the island with six hours of nonstop progressive and trance beats. I know what you’re thinking: How was he able to do that? But for a DJ, after passing the two-hour mark, it becomes like autopilot, maneuvering the big tunes out to thousands of dance fanatics, who by the way refused to leave the Hey Jude beachfront, sticking around till 7 a.m. the next morning to watch the sunrise, after dancing the night away.
Meanwhile, back in London, the those wanting to catch Orbital are also in luck as the duo is set to play at Get Loaded in the Park 2009, which will take place on August 30 with over 30 live acts and DJs performing on four stages. With Get Loaded keeping the full lineup close to their vest, believe it or not the early-bird tickets have been sold out, and I made sure I got my VIP pass to this spectacular festival.
The following Easter Sunday in Boracay took the beach bums on a chillout journey, with no less than The Chillout Project head honcho Anton Ramos showing us how to touch the sun without burning, Everything Must Go playing in the background till the sun touched down. It’s only a matter of time before the crowd flocks to Pearl of the Pacific, grooving to the best chill tunes. Yes, Anton, you are the best at producing and compiling those great chillout tracks; bring back the old days.
Hedkandi also left its footprints this year, backed by Icons DJ Andy Norman and Jamie Richards, glad to say it was another record-breaking party. With an ending time around 8 a.m., this made it officially the longest party on the island. If you want to get a taste of this vibe, better pack your things early next year.
Our path back to Manila left nothing but great memories of an amazing beach vibe and great music, and the greatest smile drawn on the faces of the locals from the Jetti Port to Caticlan Airport. Nothing else to say but: “Gotta love the Philippines.”
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Comments and suggestion feel free to e-mail me at rickydaker@gmail.com.
