Once upon a time – back in 2018, to be precise – the team at Pikes had an idea (a very good one, if we do say so ourselves!) for a party.
It was quite simple really. We’d tap into our network of musically inclined pals and invite some friends to play a one-night-only gig at Pikes, be it behind the DJ booth in Freddies or live on stage in Plaza Mayor.
There was no strict music policy (like there might be in a major nightclub), just zero expectations, no rules and complete free rein on the decks and over the dancefloor. We encouraged our guests to dig deep into their musical archives and play whatever they wanted to.
Hidden gems. Unfiltered classics. Top secret remixes. Old favourites. The possibilities were endless, just like spinning the soundtrack at your very own house party.
As we suspected, the idea had legs.
We called it Pikes Presents, and it felt like these were parties that would be talked about for years to come. Fast forward to today, and that’s still the case.
There was never a one-size-fits-all approach to booking the musical acts – we started our journey with Jamie xx, and over the following years, we welcomed artists as diverse as The Blessed Madonna (who even brought her own top secret guest, Ms Kylie Minogue along for the ride), Sven Väth, Goldie and Fatboy Slim, along with musicians such as Jarvis Cocker and Miles Kane.
Bringing the world’s biggest acts to the island’s tiniest DJ booth was no mean feat and the fact it was all so low-key and raw was what made it so special. There were no gimmicks, no OTT production and no flashy marketing. It was all about the music, the energy, and of course, the people.
So, when the opportunity came to take things up a notch, we jumped at the chance. We moved heaven, earth, disco balls and decorations up into the Benimussa hills, recreating that same Pikes Presents magic at 528 Ibiza but on a slightly bigger scale (right down to a replica booth, bookcase and even bigger disco ball) and on a weekly basis.
We spent balmy afternoons beneath the blue skies, we danced our way through dusky sunsets and into the starlit summer nights. Pikes Presents at 528 Ibiza felt like the Ibiza of old – so we were told again and again, by island residents and music loving visitors alike.
It was hands-in-the-air outdoor clubbing, with an old-school energy and a diverse range of special guests. In our debut season, the party was awarded the coveted title of Best Club Night in the annual White Ibiza Readers’ Choice Awards – the people had spoken! From there we’ve never looked back…
Today, Pikes Presents continues to travel over the rainbow – beyond the hotel and further afield than the hills of Ibiza, now popping up in places we love for their own individuality and character. Our ethos remains firmly the same however, always sprinkling a little of that Pikes magic wherever we go.
Just like we did in Freddies in the past, and just as we do at 528 Ibiza in the present, we’re laser focused on creating that magical combination: incredible music and sound, a like-minded crowd, and an energy that simply has to be experienced.
