inthemix | International News | Pacha Ibiza unveil plans for replacing Pete Tong

Pacha brand director Danny Whittle chatted to Skrufff recently about the Ibiza superclub’s plans for replacing Pete Tong on Fridays and revealed that they’ll be continuing as ‘Pure Pacha’ with a rotating line-up of big name stars.

“We decided not to go down the road of having just one weekly resident but to take several monthly residents. We feel this not only makes for more exciting line ups while also allowing us to work with more DJs generally. Considering we have 24 clubs worldwide, the more relationships we have with great DJs the more we can use them in our other venues,” he pointed out.

Confirming that regular guests including Basement Jazz, Sander Kleinenburg, Steve Angello and Faithless will be appearing, Danny remained as optimistic as usual, pointing out ‘we are really excited about this summer and already are way ahead on bookings than we were at this time last year’. “I have to say it’s all looking very positive for our Fridays; and for Ibiza in general,” he added.

Ibiza-Voice chief Samuel Guetta also predicted ‘business as usual’ for the coming season though pointed out that changes to the island’s after-hours licensing laws could have an effect. “There will certainly be a little more pressure on the scene, with no official after-hours events but having said that I’m sure there will be loads more private parties and after-parties all over the island,” he predicted. “It’ll be back to the old days; after all, who can stop you from partying in a private property?” he pointed out.

“The whole issue of when clubs have to close remains very confusing indeed, I guess politician themselves are confused,” Samuel added. “So far the new rules seemed to say that day time clubs could open at midday whereas now it seems to be 4.30pm, with the big clubs having to close at 6am the same as in previous years. Though I’m not convinced they’ll do that, many would rather pay the fines. The problem with these new law is that many DJs will not be able to perform in Ibiza this season. Circoloco is losing 14 hours of music a week, ‘We Love’ at Space are losing 40 hours and Bora Bora might not be opening as a club as we know it,” he said.

Samuel was upbeat about Pete Tong relocating to San Antonio’s Eden (‘its nice to see Tong investing the place, it should help to improve San An profile, which is a necessity’) though Danny cautioned against the resort changing too much. “San An has always been the side of the island that is more affordable for younger kids, most people I know spent their first year or two in San Antonio and then later the return to Ibiza when they have left uni or got better jobs and maybe move over to the Ibiza side of the island,” said Danny.

“To be honest, to try and change San An wont help the island, if San An goes more up market it will just force the younger kids to go elsewhere for their first holiday and then maybe they’ll never visit Ibiza at all,” he warned. “Ibiza has always had a great return of service, it’s one of the key Ibiza success stories, People come to the island for the first time, usually to San An and then fall in love with Ibiza and return on many occasions. If San An suddenly becomes full of VIP style attitudes and prices then we will lose that initial entry point to the island and the kids will be forced elsewhere.”

“Personally I hope San An improves each year but doesn’t fundamentally change: San An makes Ibiza affordable for the kids and we defiantly don’t want to lose the kids,” he added.