Portside Ibiza: Chinois’ Free Party Unites the Island

Ibiza’s Heartbeat: Portside Delivers a Free Celebration of Community and Sound

On Sunday, June 1st, Chinois orchestrated its third annual free open-air gathering, PORTSIDE, at Ibiza Port. This highly anticipated event drew thousands, offering an array of top-tier DJ sets completely free of charge. More than just a party, PORTSIDE stands as Chinois‘ heartfelt tribute to the island, fostering unity among locals, authorities, businesses, workers, and visitors alike.

Each year, PORTSIDE champions inclusion, celebrating the essence of the White Isle, its vibrant community spirit, the enduring magic, and the rich legacy of Ibiza Old Town. This year’s evening spectacle was a resounding success, enhanced by the gratis special effects of a breathtaking Ibizan sunset. Against this stunning backdrop, Chinois‘ world-class DJs captivated the vast crowd.

Musical Mavericks Take the Stage

• Luciano, a beloved figure on the island, made his third PORTSIDE appearance. He delivered a captivating closing set, weaving in timeless classics such as Armand Van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me.
• Co-headlining, Bedouin, Chinois’ new Sunday residents and the visionary founders of SAGA, electrified the audience. Their set featured tracks including their eagerly awaited upcoming release, Heavy On My Mind, set to drop on June 27th.
• Hypnotic French talent Adassiya kicked off the proceedings with a sensational live vocal performance, setting a vibrant tone for the evening.
• Local hero and Beachouse resident Bruz delivered a masterful warm-up set, further igniting the atmosphere.

A Unified Effort for the Island

Chinois extended its profound gratitude to the many entities whose invaluable support made PORTSIDE possible. They specifically acknowledged Ayuntamiento de Eivissa, Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares, Asociación de Vecinos y Comerciantes del Puerto de Ibiza, Asociación de Empresarios de La Marina de Ibiza, Asociación de Comerciantes de la Calle de la Virgen, and Asociación de Vecinos de Es Pratet. Like much of Ibiza’s renowned club culture, PORTSIDE thrives on this crucial assistance. Thanks to these organizations, all the dedicated behind-the-scenes teams, and local businesses, this year’s celebration proved another extraordinary success.

Voices from the Decks

Luciano shared his deep connection to the island: “Since I left my country Chile 25 years ago, Ibiza has been like my home. It’s a magical place. This is a yearly gathering with music, family, lovely weather… The harbor is somewhere super special. This is one of the last free parties in Ibiza. I think it’s extremely important to give something back to Ibiza and back to the island.”

Bedouin echoed the sentiment of appreciation: “It was fantastic, an amazing set up! To be able to play and give back to the island in an authentic way, in a free event like this, it means the world to us. It doesn’t get better than this! It’s a new year for us, we’re very excited to be moving to Chinois for our new home on Sundays, starting on the 27th June. There’s lots of surprises coming!”

The After-Party: Continuing the Celebration

Following the open-air festivities, many attendees transitioned to Chinois, located just a stone’s throw away, for a night of clubbing. The after-party saw Luciano and Bedouin headlining once more, joined by French producers Dorian Craft B2B Baron and London-born Cameron Jack. This segment of the night was a sensational full house, providing a perfect crescendo to a truly heart-warming, community-driven day.