Warung Ibiza Closing Party: September 2010

What a disappointing season for Warung. Privilege’s Wednesday night, Brazilian-themed fiesta somehow failed to make a mark this summer, yet the concept ticked so many boxes.

THERE’S the convivial beach club atmosphere and the smashing summer line up that featured Fergie, Emerson Todd, Dave Spoon, Dave Seaman, Dirty Vegas, D Ramirez, X-Press 2, Minilogue and Audiofly. There’s the club’s courteous security staff – the most accommodating on the island. There’s the crowd – predominantly Spanish, friendly and fun. There’s the tribal, Brazilian ambience of which the party is originally inspired. But for whatever reason, Warung never really took off.

Much like Monday Calling at Space or Seduction at Pacha, Warung is something of an underdog when measured up to Ibiza’s regular club nights. It is the small fry mid-week filler – not quite as cool as Cocoon or as flamboyant as La Troya, it doesn’t attract the crowds of Cream or the merriment of Flower Power. Yet it has an upbeat mentality that makes you feel at ease. You are not confined to a Circoloco sweat box, or forced upon strung-out, perspiring ‘We Love…’ punters. Nevertheless, Warung hasn’t quite found its niche in Ibiza’s nocturnal existence.

On Wednesday at Warung the turn-out was somewhat disappointing for a closing party. Dancers in a dream-like state, sporting white underwear and pearl necklaces, looked about as animated as the two dinosaur cut-outs flanking the DJ booth in the main room where Francesco Farfa manned the decks.

Next door a near-empty Coco Loco failed to make a significant impact, so it was with much relief that Layo and Bushwacka! dished up their dirty deep house in the discotheque. L & B’s Matthew (sporting his now signature headband) overcame initial technical issues until sidekick Layo Paskin took over with his hypnotic grooves. Much of the sparsely scattered crowd looked like they were having a blast. It’s just a shame there weren’t more of them to see this much-underrated night off in style.

First published on I Voice, Ibiza, September 2010.
© Abbey Stirling