With our Warriors bands secure and sweat cascading from the low ceiling, it was time to embrace the intimacy of Sankeys Ibiza and tear the Basement a new one.
For the past five years in a row, Steve Lawler’s rebellious Warriors concept has dominated Sunday nights at Playa D’En Bossa’s favourite underground structure of Sankeys Ibiza and for the past five years, an army of loyal Warriors from generations young and old and ascended to the first international offshoot of this Manchester original to get their weekly fix of tech house sustenance.
Now established as an Ibiza rave essential since its birth back in 2011, Sankeys Ibiza literally offers one of the ultimate and most intense clubbing experiences on the entire island. Maxed out at a capacity of 1,500 members of the clubbing nation on a weekly basis, Sankeys Ibiza is armed with artillery of the Basement – designed with dimensions of the Manchester original in terms of a body-sonic dance floor and an entirely lit low ceiling, the LAB which provides opportunity for peak-time intoxication and smaller rooms like the Spektrum, decorated with LED lighting and the Boutique which is adjacent to the open-air smoking terrace.
Warriors fifth year of existence in the party capital had been arguably its most successful to date. Attracting such names as Eats Everything, Dennis Ferrer, wAFF, Richy Ahmed and Hot Since 82 behind the decks has proven a real winner amongst the Sankeys Ibiza faithful and this week’s chapter of Lawler’s residency was no different.
Commencing proceedings with a trip to the LAB, David Vincent’s creation of underground hedonism was busier than anticipated and right from the get-go as well. However, with one of the most hotly tipped house and techno acts, Solardo, present behind the decks, this should come as no surprise. Carving their warm and unique sound effortlessly into the minds of the early birds ensuring they were raring to go throughout with inclusions like “Don’t Wait” by Le Prix & Johan Agebjorn featuring Yota. The atmosphere during their set peaked during their work in of Mark Knight and Funkagenda’s “Man With The Red Face”.
With the mood now set, it was now time for two of the UK’s finest exports to take over the throne in the LAB – Leftwing & Kody. Undoubtedly up against it with the Warriors head-honcho now in command and in demand behind the decks in the Basement, the London-born pairing of Jon Kong and Chris Aidy held their own pretty well keeping the LAB busy and entertained inserting in Ex Sound System’s “Where Is Cesco”. Touching all bases between the foils of house and techno, the Lost Records chiefs let leash with a deliverance of infectious draws of swinging hi-hats, low slung synths and expertly crafted basslines throughout.
Changing up our scenery with a switch to the more intimate surroundings of the Basement, we decided to get up close and personal with headline resident, Steve Lawler. With sweat cascading from the walls and vibrations of the impressive Sankeys sound-system shaking the very foundations of the dance floor, Steve Lawler did what he does best and rocket-launched the Warriors faithful into complete and utter tech-house ecstasy with such bangers as Adrian Hour’s “Hear What They Hear”. Dynamic, driven and obsessed with providing the best of his capabilities from behind the decks, Steve Lawler utilised his 20 years plus of experience in electronic music and pushed the boundaries to the absolute limit with something you wouldn’t usually hear at Sankeys Ibiza on a Sunday night – “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa.
Closing out the Basement in clinical fashion was Of Unsound Mind boss, Skream. With sweat dripping from his forehead and a focus on lifting the atmosphere further with his enthusiastic drive and raw power of musical influence, Oliver Jones reminded me of a crazed professor in his laboratory possessed with devising the perfect formula. And what a formula it was… joyful and raging in energetic celebration, Skream injected an encore of stripped-back beats complimented by synthetic rushes and major bass power. The crowd erupted during the work in of Patrick Topping’s Remix of “Dem A Pree” by Ramkaustik before he let loose with Peter Pardeike’s Remix of Lehar and Rush Midnight’s “Number One Hero”.
With our fists clenched tightly and our feet glued to the Basement dance floor, we remained relentless until the lights came on and the music was eventually shut off. Steve Lawler, the ruling Warrior of the Basement, had done it again. The billing was on point, the music was on point but most importantly, the Warriors present before the decks were on point.
Photo Credit By: Justin Gardner