With clubbing announcements starting to trickle through (and an upcoming period of low pressure suggesting it will soon be a heavy downpour of news!), it's time to start thinking about Ibiza 2024.
There's a thrill in the chase and this stage of the year has us salivating at the prospective season in front of us. Truth is though, after a period of downtime and hibernation, we're lacking match fitness. The summer is long. The parties are in no short supply. Are you ready?
In order to put us in the right place mentally and physically, here are some ideas on how to warm up and be on top form. No time for slacking. The countdown is on.
Craig David presents TS5 Indoor Festival | Drumsheds London | Saturday 16 March
Since it launched at Ibiza Rocks in 2016, Craig David's TS5 has been a revelation. In the build-up to his already confirmed six dates this summer, he's bringing an indoor festival version to the cavernous Drumsheds in London on 16 March.
Also performing on the day, are other Ibiza Rocks' favourites Nathan Dawe, Switch Disco, Pat Nazemi and Emily Nash. There's also a live PA from Ella Henderson and further sets from Jax Jones, 24 Hour Garage Girls, James Haskell and Charlotte van de Peer across Rooms X, Y and Z.
We suspect more than a few of these will be showing their face at Ibiza Rocks later in summer. A nice little preview on English soil.
READ ABOUT OUR VISIT TO DRUMSHEDS
This is further to the UK-wide tour Road To Rocks, which started last weekend. The 33-stop road trip will be visiting cities across the nation including Dundee, Coventry, Guildford, Brighton and Blackpool all before the start of April. Let's go!
Worried About Henry | Document Bristol | Saturday 2 March
Yet again locked in for Monday nights at Eden, Worried About Henry embarks on a year of unscalable size for its tenth anniversary.
Continuing to bang the drum for all things bass-related on the island, WAH gets things rolling on home ground at the start of March. In the West Country, it takes over expansive event space Document. Hybrid Minds are the headliners, joined by Tempza, S.P.Y., Voltage and more.
This follows earlier parties in Manchester and on the south coast. Later in the year, the Drum & Bass outfit also produces the huge Chase & Status live gig at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes. Lest we forget, the 16-week run at Eden that begins on 17 June. Colossal in every way.
Time Warp DE 30th Anniversary | Maimarkthalle, Mannheim | 5 - 7 April
Europe is not short on clubbing options over the winter months, but one staple of the calendar always stands out. Marking the end of autumn-winter and heralding the arrival of spring-summer is Techno marathon Time Warp.
Taking place at its spiritual home on the first weekend in April, Time Warp is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024. Expanding to two days for the first time, Time Warp lays on 30 hours of unadulterated dancing, starting on Friday evening and ending Sunday afternoon.
Loads of Ibiza veterans are involved, with Time Warp regulars Marco Carola, Jamie Jones, Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati, Ricardo Villalobos and Loco Dice amongst the super-charged bill.
Easter partying on Ibiza
It's not deathly quiet here either. Anybody who has peeked at our party calendar will already know there's a programme forming across Easter weekend - with more still to be announced.
In the northern quarter, Sven Väth has confirmed he's repeating his Maundy Thursday feat from last year at Las Dalias. His The Year Of The Dragon World Tour reaches San Carlos on 28 March, for a day-to-night party that starts outside in the garden and ends in intimate Akasha.
Elsewhere, Sven's former right-hand man Johannes Goller has prepped two parties of his own.
His party TRIP returns to Club Chinois in Ibiza Marina for part one on 28 March and part two on 30 March. Underground A-listers Seth Troxler, Dan Ghenacia and Arapu alongside resident DJs play across both instalments.
That won't be all. There's more to come. Keep those fingers crossed for some Melon Bomb beach action in Playa d'en Bossa, as has become an annual tradition.
The Art of ARETÉ wellness retreat
Hold it right there though, because while we want your stamina levels up, we also don't want you to burn out before summer has even started. Decompress, de-stress and detox at industry wellness retreat The Art Of ARETÉ - designed for professionals working in dance music.
Created by Ben Turner and Blaise in 2017, The Art Of ARETÉ seeks to limit the rigours of touring, unconventional sleep patterns and exposure to excess that come with the territory. The programme is free to all IMS delegate badge holders.
Immediately after, we get straight down to business with the International Music Summit (IMS) conference itself. Taking place at Hyde & Mondrian Complex in Cala Llonga for the first time, three days of expert panels, workshops and networking kick-off from Wednesday 24 April.
Already on the topic agenda is Defected: Life After Acquisition, Amplifying Amapiano, Tomorrowland: 20 Years of Innovation, a market focus on the German club scene and a deep dive into the Ninja Tune label.
That should be enough to get you into tip-top shape and in good stead for a summer on the dancefloor here on Ibiza.
You can find all the latest news on our magazine feed and confirmed parties thus far listed on our party calendar. To get wind of any gossip before it breaks, head to our forum, sign up and get involved in the conversation.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by Jake Davis, Fernando V and Manel Gimeno
