Without fail one of the most magical parties every summer, always holding a special place in our hearts, is Amnesia's Opening Party. Its early May arrival marks the true beginning of summer - a high-energy marathon from nightfall through to the late morning sun.
It's a party which only the most dedicated clubbers make over the finish line, basking in the golden light that seeps through the legendary Terraza all the way to midday. This year, the annual curtain-raiser took a new direction.
No past, no future, JUST NOW!
While recent past seasons were reliably closed by former residents Joseph Capriati and Jamie Jones, their winter departure heralds a new era for Amnesia. The line-up wasn't the only major change on the cards for the club.
Amnesia's Terraza has long been celebrated for its signature glass roof, which floods the room with sunlight and gives the club its unmistakable character. The architecture has remained virtually untouched since the roof was added in the late '90s. Until now...
Partly updated to accommodate more soundproofing (but perhaps also to reinforce its production capabilities with the impending arrival of RESISTANCE...), the new design features sleek white panels with skylights running the full length in the centre of the room.
Fear not, the new look refreshes the space, without sacrificing one of the club's trademark features.
Another significant upgrade is the brand new sound system, engineered by renowned audio specialist George Stavro. The sound reverberates through your core.
And then there's the CO2 cannons. Those dramatic bursts of white fog that have become a hallmark of Amnesia’s dancefloor climaxes.
While they were notably absent during the opening, the lack of them was compensated by the dancefloor's energy. The crowd were so engrossed in the music, we can overlooked their absence this time.
Thankfully, we have it on good authority the CO2 will be back in full force very soon.
The first rule of Amnesia opening is: you need to still be standing when it shuts. Planning your arrival time is key to succeeding. I got in halfway through Vintage Culture's set, who was followed by Seth Troxler for the sunrise set.
Before I knew it, the sun had crept up and the whole night had flown by in a magical blur. The moment was lived in. No past, no future, JUST NOW!
At this point, giant trays of fruit platters were handed out to the crowd, as a much-needed refreshment for those who'd been there for the long haul.
Even though it was only early May, the heat inside was intense, creating a sweatbox atmosphere that the crowd revelled in. The amount I was perspiring meant there was little point worrying about it. One option: crack on and keep dancing.
Much like the impending return of the CO2, a new air conditioning system is also being installed. That will become an absolute lifesaver for the summer months ahead. As we entered mid-morning territory, Max Dean went back-to-back with East End Dubs in a prime slot.
By then, the sun was fully up, and the set was packed with "TikTok FYP" bangers, including the much-hyped Can't Decide by Max, his cousin Luke and one to watch Locky. It's finally released at the end of this week.
As is often the case, the standout moment was the closing back-to-back, this year conducted between Luciano and Denniz Cruz. From start to finish, they took us on an unforgettable journey through House music, touching on high-energy deep, Latin and Minimal sounds.
If one track summed up my experience of the Opening Party, it was this one, which came in the final ten minutes. It's since done the rounds on social media, and will be a moment that goes down in Amnesia's rich party history.
The crowd’s energy never dipped, not even at the end. Honestly, this was the best one yet and I'm proud my weary legs made it to its natural conclusion. Who needs run clubs and gym subscriptions, when you've got Amnesia opening?
The club also stood defiant after surviving a torrid winter that saw their talent cupboard raided and largely emptied. "We are Ibiza. We are Ibiza as much as anyone else. We are born of freedom, diversity, fun and community spirit. We don't like limits. We refuse to be domesticated and we will not succumb to the pressure of those who don't want us to be ourselves."
2025 is a fresh slate - a hard reset. Amnesia has been here before. It adapted then; it will do so again. It many ways, it's about going back to basics and playing to the club's strengths: music-focussed programming, quality sound and attracting an engaged crowd who dance till dawn.
Amnesia's regular weekly programme doesn't kick into gear until the first weekend in June. However, you can get your fill of underground sounds on the Terraza every Thursday with Do Not Sleep in the meantime.
PHOTOGRAPHY | by PHRANK and David Montes Aldea
