Missing my own publishing deadline (conversely both my biggest critic and most lenient judge), I made choosing my June selections a lot more difficult for myself by running out of month. Only ten days to play with and yet it still proved a headache to whittle it down to five DJ sets.
Ibiza is always guaranteed to deliver if you prepared look beyond the obvious names and dig that little deeper. Let's be honest, our party calendar makes that very easy.
July's choices will be submitted early! In the meantime, though, mull over these suggestions.
Patrice Bäumel (all night long) | HALO | Akasha
Friday 19 June
Positioned in the centre of the club and surrounded by the most musically-committed crowd found on Ibiza, Patrice Bäumel presents HALO at Akasha on 19 June. The latest edition of his all night long concept is part of the 300-capacity club's summer series of parties.
Taking the reins for the duration, Bäumel plays from doors open right until curfew. With the brakes off and given total freedom, this will allow our host to explore the often neglected corners of his artistry. Grab a ride to a deep and personal journey on the dancefloor.
Kerala Dust | NuSun Solstice | Playa Soleil
Sunday 21 June
While it might feel we're just getting started in a lot of way, 21 June is summer solstice AKA the longest day of the year. With more daylight to play with, the NuSun collective is observing the occasion just as the pagans of yesteryear would have: with a dance, of course.
Taking place off the sands of Playa d'en Bossa beach at Playa Soleil, NuSun invites electronic rockers Kerala Dust back to Ibiza. Instead of a live set-up, the band transition to DJing, though you can still expect the same euphoric moments. Fans of RÜFÜS DU SOL take note.
Having lamented missing Kerala Dust's last island appearance several years ago, I've vowed not to make the same mistake again.
DJ EZ | Defected | Chinois Ibiza
Thursday 25 June
Possessing the quickest fingers in the game, nobody has mastered the cue button quite like DJ EZ. Once known as the benchmark for UK Garage, EZ has broken away from the genre and proved he can cut it turning his hand to most sounds.
This summer, he's back in the Defected camp. After playing for the brand at Eden, Ushuaïa and Pacha, he now lands at Chinois Ibiza to rip through its impressive sound system.
In dance music circles, all the people whose opinions I respect the most, all happen to share the one same sentiment: DJ EZ is the most technically gifted DJ on the planet.
François K | Glitterbox | Amnesia
Friday 26 June
From DJ Harvey and Jellybean Benitez, to Jazzy Jeff and Norman Jay, Glitterbox has a long history of booking the most time-honoured DJs in the history of dance music. Commanding the same level of respect in the upper echelons of our business, sits Disco pioneer François K.
Now in his seventies having been in service to music for the last five decades, François K remains just as passionate as he's always been.
Born François Kevorkian in France, but a New Yorker in all but name, he was a patron of legendary hangouts Studio 54, Paradise Garage, The Loft, Cielo and Zanzibar. François lived the culture like no other. Indeed, he may be the only living DJ to have played at all of them.
Far from pandering to nostalgia, François K defies his years by continuing to push the culture forward in a progressive way.
Lost Miracle (Sébastien Léger & Roy Rosenfeld) | Solèy | Hï Ibiza
Monday 29 June
You may well be familiar with Sébastien Léger and Roy Rosenfeld thanks to their work for All Day I Dream as DJs at the party series or producers on the label. Individually, they have been two of the standout contributors to Lee Burridge's musical stable.
Now, the pair link forces in an official capacity.
Borrowing the name of Séb's record label, Lost Miracle, they've become a DJ and production unit that stays loyal to the uplifting, progressive sound they're already associated with. Francis Mercier presents Solèy at Hï Ibiza should make for the ideal backdrop.
That should give you plenty to chew over, but if you're still in need of more suggestions, Lissy's picks for June provides further recommendations.
Tickets to all five of Steve's picks can be found on our party calendar, along with extensive listings at the island's best clubs.
