By Fiona Hurrell, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Straight from a certain notorious Balearic Island off the coast of Spain come the sounds of some of Ibiza’s best DJs, who are making their way to the shores of Rio de Janeiro in time for one of the city’s most anticipated music events. “Ibiza comes to Rio” is the second edition of its kind which will take place on Friday, August 26th and promises to be even bigger and better than its predecessor.
Gabriel Guimaraes is in charge of the VIP ticket sales and says: “On the back of the last great event on May 28th we have decided to do it all again and have already sold 4,500 tickets.”
Subliminal Records, who are responsible for some of the biggest names in DJing such as Eric Morillo, will take part in the event, which is set to be as big as its rivals on the Island of Ibiza. The venue is the appropriately placed Marina da Glória, which affords stunning views of the harbor and Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf) Mountain and will provide a truly idyllic, Ibiza style, setting for the event.
Gabriel Guimaraes goes on to add, “The place is just incredible, but also very practical. There is good car parking facilities, picturesque views and it’s easily accessible from most areas of Rio.”
The production line-up features a handpicked selection of both well known and up-and-coming acts. Guimaraes is particularly looking forward to the performance by Richard Grey who shot to fame in 2009 following some highly successful remixes that have been immensely popular worldwide. He explains, “He’s amazing and the resident Armani DJ. We are really pleased to have booked him to play for us.”
Also listed on the line up is electronic music sensation Shawnee Taylor. Shawnee has collaborated with many famous DJs including Roger Sanchez and Erick Morillo himself who has proclaimed her “the best.” He is quoted as saying “The thing that impresses me most in Shawnee Taylor is not just that she has a great voice, but she is a kick-ass writer and a wonderful person too. A triple threat.”
Undoubtedly, it would appear that the stops have firmly been pulled out, with scheduled performances not only from well known DJs but also from a wealth of alternative entertainment too, such as an acrobatic display and a light show that is set to truly wow the crowds. Guimaraes confirms, “There are loads of different things taking place. I’m really looking forward to all of it!”
Ibiza comes to Rio has managed to secure a wide variety of sponsors, which holds testament to the highly anticipated success of the event. Guimaraes states “We have loads of big names sponsoring the event which we are really proud to have been able to secure.” The list of names includes some native brands such as Devassa along with a few large international names like Absolute Vodka and Perrier Jouet Champagne.
Another import from Ibiza in Rio is the Cafe del Mar lounge in Copacabana, which opened its doors in November of last year and has become a staple in the Rio nightlife scene. The Ibiza comes to Rio party has no affiliation with the club though, other than hailing from the same famous island in Europe.
Tickets for the Ibiza comes to Rio event are on sale now at various Forum kiosks across the city. Some can be found at Rio Sul, Barra Shopping, and Plaza shopping. Standard tickets cost R$80 for women and R$120 for men while VIP prices start at R$140 for women and R$200 for men.