As a twenty-something-year-old, I listen in awe of my peers who experienced Ibiza in the '90s. Through tales of all-nighters and envious villa parties, one gathering always steals the limelight: Manumission.
Launched in the early '90s by brothers Andy and Mike Mckay, and their then respective partners Dawn Hindle and Claire Davies, Manumission served Ibiza’s wandering souls. It offered a space of self-expression, escapism and straight-up raucousness.
To celebrate 30 years of organising many of the biggest and most colourful parties on Ibiza, Manumission and Ibiza Rocks originator Andy McKay, and also the current owner of Pikes, felt it was time to draw upon his wealth of experience (and his thick contact book) to reinvent some of the energy from bygone years. And so, Andy Manumission & Pikes Ibiza present Mondays was born.
We were promised a synergy between both Ibizan institutions, with a nod to the past by a DJ roster of Manumission veterans that linked back to those hedonistic days. As of Monday 29 April and the follow up on 6 May, the rest became history.
On arrival at Pikes, stickers were strategically placed over our phone cameras sending out an immediate message that this is a party to be lived in the here and now. Seconded by the strict no under 27s policy.
As you entered the Plaza Mayor courtyard, the magic of Pikes truly sinks in. Fairy were lights sparkling over the intimate new DJ booth where resident Ryan O’Gorman played and there was a buzz in the air for what the night might hold.
The clock hadn't even struck twelve yet, but already Freddies disco was of a bouncing capacity with a raring ambience to match.
On the decks, UK House master and once Haçienda resident Allister Whitehead gave a real-time education on reading the crowd and selecting accordingly. Joined throughout by Manumission descendant Andy Carroll who brought pops of Soul and Disco into the mix.
Immaculate House records spun all night long with the intent to make you feel alive in the moment and forget all else. Beaming faces around the room told me this feeling was mutual.
The soundtrack spanned underground cuts including percussive number No Worries by Butch, to pure endorphin-surgers like Mark Knight and Armand Van Helden's Don’t Abuse It.
Of course, crossing into classic dance territory with spins of Inner City to Hardrive when the moment was right.
Now, I know the burning question on everyone’s mind, did Manumission at Pikes still have its sex show appeal?
Not this time around. It was a tame affair on that front. All focus was solely on the music and party at hand - can you really argue with that?
I’'ll say it again, breathing new life into such an adored brand like Manumission is not easy. There will always be those who cling to the original parties, and, hey, maybe I’d do the same in their position.
However, as I left Pikes at 04:00, no longer a Manumission novice, I feel nothing but absolute gratitude for the chance to have experienced this iconic party on even a glimmering scale.
In my eyes, it’s another best night ever for the history books.
Andy McKay promises many more great DJ greats who have graced the Manumission turntables in years gone by on future Mondays. Plus keep your eyes peeled for some VERY surprise guests.
If you want to be part of the action, be sure to put your name down on the Pikes Ibiza guest list in good time to avoid disappointment.
