Ibiza Underground puts the ‘U’ in underground

Ibiza Underground puts the ‘U’ in underground

7 August, 2008 | 2.17PM

• Written by: Terry Church
• Filed under: Music News: ibiza underground

Seven of the world’s best-known clubs are in Ibiza - Amnesia, Space, Pacha, Privilege, El Divino, Eden, Es Paradis - but for underground techno and house fans DC10 has always been the place to get down.

But whilst DC10 has slowly but surely risen to dominate the underground scene of Ibiza, a club by name of Ibiza Underground has also quietly been offering an alternative club vibe hidden well away from tourists.

“Ibiza Underground doesn’t do any advertising, we don’t announce our line-ups and we don’t charge on the door,” Underground’s owner Nick Fry told Beatportal last night.

“We’re not in it for the money, we just offer an alternative space for people to enjoy themselves.”

The club doesn’t have any security.

“In the seven years that we’ve been open, we haven’t had one fight,” said Nick Fry’s partner, Juanito who is also one of Ibiza Underground’s resident DJs.

“The type of people that come to Ibiza Underground don’t need to be chaperoned by muscled bouncers, they’re capable of looking after themselves.”

Located on a hillside just down the road from the self-styled ‘world’s biggest club’ Privilege, and the equally famous venue Amnesia, Ibiza Underground has a refreshingly unpretentious, relaxed air to it.

The club doesn’t try hard to be something it’s not, and neither does its clientèle.

Formerly a farmer’s house, the club is more like a villa party than a purpose built dance club as the dancefloor inside is modestly small compared with the large camouflage-covered terrace outside.

Dance, drink, socialise or lounge on couches, it’s up to you.

“We only have underground artists play at Ibiza Underground, and the sound is usually a cross between deep house, tech house and minimal,” said Juanito.

“A lot of local Spanish DJs play here, but we do occasionally get guests like Craig Richards and Mathew Jonson, however we never announce our line-ups.”

As Nick Fry explained, they originally started Ibiza Underground because they wanted to create a club where people came for the vibe and atmosphere, not for the big names.

“We don’t try to create hype around the Underground, just consistency,” he said.

Walking around Ibiza Underground last night the crowd seemed mainly Spanish, although we spotted English, Italians and a French supermodel.

When you enter through the front doors of the club it feels like you’re stepping into somebody’s house, and people smile or greet you like you’re at a house party.

As you head left towards the intoxicating sound of minimal house, the room opens up to reveal a tightly packed sweaty dancefloor, with giant glass windows.

Squeezing through shadowy clubbers, you bump into a dance podium and a few couches, before finding yourself once more outside.

The star-filled sky and fairy lights feel romantic, almost dreamlike.

It feels magical, in Ibiza Underground.

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