Each and every summer, we open with season curtain-raiser IMS Grand Finale - the last hurrah to our annual music business conference, International Music Summit.
After three days of analysis, intense debate and figure crunching, it's time to let loose and party before the whole things boils over. With seemingly the whole of the music industry in town, conditions are ripe for one of the best parties of the year.
Taking place only once every twelve months, IMS Grand Finale calls for a spectacular location.
Overlooking our capital Ibiza Town, the medieval fortification of Dalt Vila is a striking presence that is both beautiful and imposing. Here, on one of the battalions, IMS Grand Finale takes place in the open-air, with views as far as they are wide. It's quite simply breathtaking.
This party has a habit of throwing together fantasy back-to-back pairings. Let's take a closer look at three of the best sets from years gone by.
Sasha b2b Franky Wah (2024)
Friday 26 April
There was a real sense of mentor meeting student at last year's party, as veteran Sasha combined with underling Franky Wah. This was definitely one of those aforementioned fantasy back-to-backs. The duo had already worked in the studio together and graced each other's label, so there was no question whether they had the chemistry to form a cohesive unit.
It went so well, the duo even reformed at Chinois Ibiza later in the night for a second go. Don't take our word for it. Judge this alchemy for yourself. Watch carefully and you might see some Spotlighters you recognise!
Maceo Plex, Tomcraft and Marsh are amongst the artists featured.
CAMELPHAT (2023)
Friday 28 April
When CAMELPHAT were handed the headline slot in 2023, they were just about to embark on a new venture at Pacha. They'd spent the previous summer at Ushuaïa in a daytime residency that didn't always live up to its billing. With everything to prove, Dave and Mike didn't disappoint.
Grand Finale ended up being the first of two outdoor sets for CAMELPHAT during Ibiza 2023. Later during the height of summer, they took over 528 Ibiza for part of Pacha's 50th birthday celebrations called El Cielo. Overall, it really felt like a vintage summer for the duo.
You'll hear tracks from Fred Again.., Skrillex and New Order, as well as CAMELPHAT's own productions and remixes.
Tale Of Us b2b Maceo Plex (2017)
Friday 26 May
This fantasy back-to-back from 2017 felt like the coming together of two minds. At the time, the Melodic Techno sounds being pushed by Tale Of Us and Maceo Plex was soaring in popularity. With dry ice kicking up, the medieval setting took on an atmospheric, otherworldly state.
TOU's Afterlife, then at Privilege, would go on to become one of the best parties on the island that year. But Grand Finale set the benchmark.
Music comes from Patrice Bäumel, Sefton and reworked classics from The Age of Love and Robert Miles.
Fast-forward
This year, IMS Grand Finale has flipped the script and invited London-based promotion Appetite to help programme the line-up. Although it has partnered with brands such as Annie Mac Presents and Defected in the past to throw parties in the Old Town, this is the first time it has shared responsibilities for the official IMS season curtain-raiser.
While recent past editions have cast their net over a wide spectrum of sub-genres, this year, Grand Finale fully embraces the increasingly popular Deep-Tech sound that Appetite is known for.
You can expect rolling grooves from over a dozen DJs, including L.P. Rhythm, Locky, Indo Warehouse, Delilah, Mayssa and party architects Elliot Schooling & Liam Palmer. Back-to-back pairings are still to be announced. Like Pokémon, you gotta catch 'em all!
The headline spot is reserved for dance music royalty in Faithless Sound System, who will, presumably, be charged with closing proceedings (TBA). It goes without saying, there's still a spot for old sage, Pete Tong, pulling everything together like the mentor we know him to be.
Aside for those exceptions, this is the most youth-focused IMS Grand Finale line-up we can ever recall seeing and should go some distance in attracting a new generation of clubber to Dalt Vila.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased below.
HEADER IMAGE | by Juan Afanador
