Monthly newspaper and online publication targeting 18 to 35 year olds. The ultimate guide to the hottest parties, going out and having fun. Music, fashion, film, travel, festivals, technology, comedy, and parties! London, Barcelona, Miami and Ibiza.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/319659
10 Issue 63 / 2014 GUESTLIST guestlist.net IBIZA HAS CROATIAN AMNESIA For years, Ibiza has been the original uto- pia for millions. It is cheap to get to, you are exposed to the worlds greatest DJs every night, and not to mention the world- renowned scenery (6am on San Antonio's infamous west end excluded). Ibiza has been the party capital of the world for cen- turies. Even the Romans used to go and let their hair down there! Apparently this is also around the time Sven Väth started djing… Eivissa has, alas, got a new rival to contend with. The one negative about Ibiza has al- ways been the cost efficiency once you get there. Into the turbulent party market has stepped Croatia, or rather, a lot of clever promoters. Value for money is the order of the day. Cheap festival tickets, Decent hos- pitality prices and accommodation primarily offered via each festival makes Croatia the hot new destination and no doubt has Ibiza quaking in its boots. Many who travel use the same description to describe this beau- tiful place – "untouched". You won't have to contend with stepping over a drunk, passed out girl from a Leicester hen night whilst you walk to the beach hungover. In other words, the masses haven't arrived. Yet. In essence, You will pay €50 to get into Cir- co Loco opening this year at DC10, whereas the 4 day (extended with parties) Hideout festival tickets were £100 (until it sold out within weeks). This is no new trend – Croa- tian festivals have been on the go for about 10 years, but with smaller, more intimate fes- tivals on offer. Now widespread, there has been a massive increase. Slowly the jugger- nauts like Hideout Festival are establishing themselves as names here to stay, not too incomparable to the journeys of the dance music heavy weights in Ibiza, like Cocoon. The theory is the same – Promoters back then spotted a gap in the market, and took full advantage. I predict the same to happen in Croatia. In fact, it's already started. As I've spent the past couple summers over there and attended most festivals, I feel obliged to give my opinion on which ones are the best, and just exactly who is suited to who. Each has their own authenticity, but no matter how much people try to put a gloss over their particular festival, be it through universal line ups or paying for good reviews, experience is always the correct formula for decision making. Rather than predictably name drop from each lineup, I'm going to give you a first hand insight into each festi- val for you to make your own educated deci- sion. Or you could just do them all? Anyone who's in the electronic music scene will surely be aware of the climate change going on for us clubbers and festival-goers alike. This is not a reference to global warming. I am talking about a global shift, but a shift in dancing feet, not the weather. In its first year in 2013, Unknown absolutely smashed it out the park. Being coordinated by the same people who organize Hideout, Electronic Music Group, gave vital knowl- edge and experience towards putting the festival together. Set in an abandoned For- est, much like Dimensions, Unknown has an overall different vibe. It focuses on mind- boggling images and lights, Acidic themes and a sort of hippy, hedonistic ambience. I heard one person say it was like being on DMT for a week. All areas are intertwined with secret walkways acting like the nervous system of the forest. It does, however, have a lot more of a friendly air to it than that of a dark, dingy moat. There was a lot more thought put into the festival than others. It's similar to Dimensions perhaps, in terms of the size of the lineup, but the comparison ends there, because there is none in terms of the festival itself. Unknown, in one year, has established itself as the best festival in Croatia. They even have there own party is- land, where Boiler Room hosted a recorded party last year. The sandy beach is also an underrated bonus. The general running of the festival, the layout, the crowd and the direction they try to take with the lineup is second to none. They even had a paint fight last year, and the after party was, excuse the cliché, the best party I've ever been to. I know I said I wouldn't namedrop but Chic and Nile Rodgers are going to be there this year, building it up to be even more epic. Set in the cooler months, this really is, as adver- tised, the perfect way to end it. 1. UNKNOWN FESTIVAL, ROVINJ. 8-12TH SEPTEMBER.