Radio 1 weekend (Aug 1-3) in Ibiza is always the busiest weekend of the summer on the island. The massive live parties at Ushuaia and Privilege were great, big production and packed events.
Café Mambo, on San Antonio’s sunset strip was the venue for a number of other Radio 1 shows too this year. Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast show, Danny Howard’s Dance Anthems show and Annie Mac’s Musical Hot Water Bottle were all live from Mambo.
Whilst catching Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast show on the Friday morning was never going to happen (we were at Cream Ibiza’s 20th Birthday party on the Thursday night until 6am), we did head down to Mambo for both Danny Howard’s and Annie Mac’s shows, which were both brilliant.
The Saturday night dance show on Radio 1 is a national institution. Radio 1 legend Judge Jules performed the show for years, until Danny Howard took over the reigns a couple of years back. To set the scene – it’s 5pm at Café Mambo, the sun is out, there are a couple of hundred or so people sat enjoying some drinks (Mambo’s famous strawberry daiquiris in our case!) and the atmosphere is spot on. Danny Howard performs the show from the balcony. He interviews Scott Mills, who bigs up his boat party gigs with Pukka Up later that night, then plays the likes of Tensnake – Coma Cat, Second City – What Can I Do and Example – Stay With Me.
Next up is the Push The Tempo feature, which involves taking a current big track, using various remixes and speeding it up from really slow to normal and faster speed. This week’s chosen track couldn’t been more apt – the biggest track of Ibiza 2014 on the biggest weekend of the year; Oliver $ & Jimi Jules – Pushing On is one of the best house tracks this summer on Defected Records, and here Danny used 5 remixes to ‘Push The Tempo’ – Solid Groove remix, Essess remix, Dub mix, Lupe Fuentes remix and Delta Heary remix. There was then a live singing performance from Matthew Koma singing his tracks Alesso – Years and Zedd – Spectrum. Next up Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw provided their Ibiza classic anthems from years gone by. Annie provided Armin Van Helden – You Don’t Know Me with Grimshaw playing Inner City – Good Life. Danny finished on a selection of big Ibiza 2014 tracks that included the likes of Kiesza – Hideaway, Route 94 – My Love, Wankelmut – My Head Is A Jungle (MK Remix), Ten Walls – Walking With Elephants and Watermat – Bullit.
Just over 24 hours later, Radio 1 weekend in Ibiza ended with Annie Mac presenting her Musical Hot Water Bottle show live from Café Mambo on Sunday evening. The show wasn’t advertised as being live from Mambo, but with Mambo tweeting earlier in the day that a very special guest was expected later that night, the crowd’s gathered at the sunset strip’s most famous venue. Her Sunday night show is designed to get people chilled out before they have to get up for the working week on the Monday morning. Annie said live on air, “you might know me for playing rave music on a Friday night, but this is music of the slightly mellow variety – from the iconic Café Mambo in Ibiza. This wasn’t supposed to be a rowdy show – but there a few hundred in front of me. Here goes.” She played some great, slow, melodic vocal tracks, such as College Feat. Electric Youth – A Real Hero, Missy Elliott – Sock It To Me (Kaytranada Remix), Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Cyril Hahn Remix), Caribou – Can’t Do Without You, Chris Malinchak – So Good To Me and Blonde – Higher Ground (KANT Remix).
Maverick Sabre then performed live his new track Come Fly Away, it was perfect for the scene. He was excellent, he has such a beautiful voice, with Annie saying, “I’m emotional.” He then sang a great cover of Lady (Hear Me Tonight). Annie then took over the reigns again, playing Gonzales – Knight Moves, London Grammar – Nightcall (Joe Goddard Remix) and Mapei – Don’t Wait (Chance The Rapper Remix).
Tourist ended the show with a guest mix. This was his first time in Ibiza, and he looked like he was having the time of his life in the mix at Mambo. He played CHRVCHES – Lies (Tourist Remix), John Talabot – Destiny, Mr. Fingers – Can You Feel It, London Grammar – Hey Now (Bonobo Remix), Jamie xx – All Under One Roof Raving, Ibiza classic anthem Kings Of Tomorrow – Finally and Roy Davis Jr Feat. Peven Everett – Gabriel (Live Garage Mix).
Annie Mac’s Musical Hot Water Bottle show live from Café Mambo on Radio 1 weekend in Ibiza was one the best radio shows we’ve ever heard live from Ibiza (and we’ve heard a good few). She provided beautiful tracks in a superb setting. Combine that with Danny Howard smashing out his Dance Anthems show 24 hours earlier to a great atmosphere, and Café Mambo was a massive part of this Radio 1 weekend in Ibiza. We’re looking forward to Radio 1 weekend in Ibiza 2015 already, where BBC Radio 1 will celebrate their 20th year on the island. Expect a weekend of large parties!