For avid music followers, the idea of an all-night-long set from a champion selector is an attractive prospect. Whilst others may look to stacked line-ups as the quality marker, others of us know that sometimes less can be more.
Ibiza hosts some of the most talked-about parties on the entire planet. Yet in recent years we've seen line-ups stretch, whilst set times have shrunk - and sometimes that's fine. We're not here to judge. However, we are firm believers in placing quality above quantity.
The famed all night long is not for everyone - and some DJs might feel out of their depth trying to source enough music to fill six hours worth of clubbing, that is if they even have enough variation in their arsenal to do the longer set justice. It is certainly not a format for the glory hunters, who only want to play big records.
The best all night long sets are honed by storytellers who dig deep and test the versatility of their record collection in the pursuit of taking their audience on a journey. Peaks. Troughs. Curveballs - and the odd seasoning of an old classic.
With the demographic on the island renowned for changing in a few weeks, we are getting to the point in the season when promoters start giving all-night-long sets a healthy run. Here are the best remaining for the 2019 season.
The Martinez Brothers | Cuttin' Headz x FUSE | DC10
Friday 2 August
Starting tonight at DC10, the Martinez Brothers are back with the second instalment of their Cuttin' Headz label takeover. Those loveable rogues from the Bronx, Stevie and Chris will be playing for a full eight hours on the terrace to celebrate.
Next door, frequent collaborator FUSE London is invited to look after business. Enzo Siragusa plays somewhat all night long himself, as he shares the decks with multiple partners throughout the duration of the party.
To mark A Decade Of Rave, Enzo plays b2b with his FUSE campmates and Guti (live). While you can catch stars from the collective all over the island this summer, this will be FUSE's only official outing on Ibiza in 2019. We make that unmissable.
Ilario Alicante | elrow | Amnesia
Saturday 10 August
Owing to his years of service with Cocoon, Ilario Alicante is no stranger to Amnesia's club room. When elrow moved to Amnesia in 2017 and brought the elrow City concept for room two with them, Ilario was the clear choice to be given his own host spot there.
And the Italian really does take to the long haul format like a duck to water. Although you might commonly hear him bangin' it out with heavy techno, these extended sets allow him to build the night transitioning bpm and explore genres he wouldn't ordinarily touch - the sign of a consummate professional.
You can never get too much Alicante, though we'll settle for an all-nighter.
Andy C | Together | Amnesia
Tuesday 13 August
Last year's recipient of the DJ Awards' Best Bass DJ, Andy C has long been the torchbearer for drum & bass on the island. Few could argue with the win. The pioneering RAM Records boss has been one of the last standing bastions of d&b on Ibiza for a good many years.
His relationship with Together continues to grow from strength to strength. Surely this is part of the reason why the party has charged him with an all night long set in mid-August. In a genre known for its short sets and quickfire mixing, we are drooling at the thought.
Check out our recent interview with the man.
Sven Väth | Cocoon | Amnesia
Monday 16 September
Here's one date we always look out for when the club line-ups get released. With Sven Väth in full flow and given six-plus hours to work magic with, who knows what tangents he will go off in? Deep grooves, thumping techno, leftfield, ambient, classics, trance - don't rule any of it out.
If this were not enough, Nastia, Carl Craig and Cassy take over the club room on that date also. Although we only get one full-on Sven set per year, we're hoping for an extended Afters set during the daytime soon.
Apollonia | Planet Claire | Octan Ibiza
Sunday 29 September
When they get together in the booth, it's rare that Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky play anything less than three hours - and usually more. In fact, the Parisian three-piece have turned the extended b2b2b format into their trademark.
Now they've bagged their own Octan residency with Planet Claire, we always knew Apollonia would gift us some of these special marathons. Having played the entirety of the night at their incredible opening party, the trio repeats the feat in eight weeks time at the closing party.
We can't wait to do it all again.
Dixon | Transmoderna | Pacha
Friday 4 October
Dixon occupies niche territory: adored equally by the underground, as he is by the glittering fashionistas. This is why Pacha is the ideal fit for his new Transmoderna party.
Artisan concepts aside, you can guarantee exceptional musical output every week - but especially for an all night long.
Technically, the Dixon all night long is the closing party - 4 October. However, we fancy the 23 August where Dixon spars off alongside his Innervisions stablemate Kristen from Âme. Sparks always fly when these two get behind the decks together.
And, yes, they play back-to-back all night long, baby.
Marco Carola | Music On | Pacha
Thursday 10 October
Few DJs command a die-hard following like Marco Carola. Although the DJing don from Napoli breached new horizons in 2019, it's fair to say he brought his fans with him to Pacha. Slaying the naysayers, Thursday nights have been an unmitigated success under the cherries.
Carola's marathon sets where the stuff of legend in Music On's former home - and we expect the same to be the case in its new environment. Once Marco has locked in the groove, there's no escaping. This date is part one of a two-legged closing party.
Does Carola have the stamina to do it all again the following night for part two? You better believe it.
These all-nighter DJ sets will dazzle your aural senses, so we recommend you save a date for at least one.
To check out what's happening for the rest of the season head over to our party calendar for up-to-date information on all parties.
