Festival locations don't really get much sicker than the world's most famous sunset vista: Ibiza's Sunset Strip along the San Antonio coastline. In it's inaugural incarnation, Ibiza 123 Rocktronic pioneered a never seen before festival twist: iconic rock and dance headliners double-teaming to offer the ultimate jam session (mercifully, sans the 15 minute drum solos of yore). Elton John showcased his new reworked 70's hits collaboration with our Aussie electro-faves Pnau and Lenny Kravitz went head-to-head with DJ Luciano's beats. Sting closed the first day with a set brimming with classics.

Perched right next door to Ibiza institution Mambo, the site hugged the shoreline, appearing like a great big party infinity pool. Carpeted with a vibrant green enormo-Astroturf, every festival-goers worst nightmare was blissfully absent: mud.

From our VIP plateau we quaffed Bacardi mojitos and fois-gras blinis against the setting sun vista - our highlight? The ultimate good-time vibes of the peerless Nile Rogers who belted out Chic hits along with his produced Madonna and Bowie classics. Bedecked in a white suit, the disco deity was flanked by the tightest band since, well, ever.

We've had our eye on newbie, Totally Extinct Enormous Dinosaurs since we saw Orlando Higgingbottom play fashion label Monki's launch party last year and were once again wowed equally by sounds from new album, Trouble and his Totally Enormous American Indian head-dress. Our beloved French ethereal M83 soared as did Azari and III's filthy Canadian house.

We've lost count of how many countries we've shaken our thang to 2ManyDJ's in but their Ibizan pre-sunset one tops the lot. David Guetta, Tiesto and Fatboy Slim satisfied the mainstream, trance and bigbeat contingent respectively.

Need car hire in ibiza? A good set of wheels (whether two or four) is essential to explore the island's hidden treasures. Head north east for the famous hippy markets at Es Cana and Las Dalias. For the best beaches hit Salinas's beautiful stretch of nature reserve beach where the beautiful bronze their bones or Benirras for the weekly drumming sessions.

(montage images credit: Ibiza Spotlight)

Posted on July 06, 2012 at 3:53:34 by The Real Runway