So long 2008, welcome 2009!

Yes, 2008 is HISTORY. What has happened within this year? Let's think and write down everything...

Club Sudden Deaths

In 2008, several clubs discontinued their operation due to several reasons. Who are they?

Jakarta

• Bliss & Loft 25: One of the biggest R & B club ever in Jakarta closed in March 2008.
  Due to some internal problems, they decided to discontinue their operation. Sad to remember it!
  Also read: Bliss - Loft25 (Jakarta) - Disappearance of a loved club
  
  
• Neo & Vanity: the pair of club & resto who was expected to be a rival for Dragonfly & Blowfish, also decided to stop operating in August 2008.
• The Brains : Kemang's yellow club with the giant brain statues is gone somewhere in April 2008...to be replaced by The Green Kemang Club.
  
  
• Episode : if the opening was glamorous and promising, the end was totally unknown...
  
  
• Embassy Club Jakarta: one of the former biggest players in the industry has recently announced its retirement for 16 January 2009.

Bali

• Pacha : the unlicensed Pacha Bali, club that had nothing to do with Pacha Ibiza, closed in September 2008.
  
  
• Kudos : Bali's first gay club was closed in November 2008...
• F-Lounge : closed in October 2008.

The New Player in the Clubbing Industry

Well, the good news from one side is that even though several clubs closed down, more of them are opening!!

Jakarta

• Barcode: A new venue, very promising, in Kemang Area. A food terrace with an elegant club, suitable for preparty till the after!
  
  
• Buddha Bar: The posh branch from Buddha Bar Paris now opens in Jakarta - chic and social, this is the new IT Place in town!
  
  
• Untitled: Old Untitled was bombed down with JW Marriott almost eight years ago, and now it reopens - this time in Ritz Carlton Jakarta.
• Indochine: The succesful Asian brand of Indochine officially opens in Jakarta - for a better, more upper lifestyle.
  
  
• Urban Lounge: Ecclectic small lounge with an intimate party feeling.
  
  
• Apollo Bar & Lounge: The new player in the gay clubbing scene - Apollo is dedicated to PLUs...Gay & Lesbian community.
  
  
• The Luv's Bar & Dine: Girlie bar & resto with feminine concept.
  
  
• Triple Nine 999: Another new club in Kemang, for how long?
  
  
• 3 Degrees Club: A non-alcoholic concept of club - no alcohol, no smoking, it's a healthy place!
  
  
• MinusTwo Cafe & Bar: Serving the town's coldest beer: -2° C !

Bali

• Skygarden & Ocean Beach Club: If it's new, then it has mastered how to make people love it in a short time. Always full every night!
  
  
• Club Corundum: Just opened before New Year's Eve.
• Backstreet Club: Another new player in the underground scene...
  
  
• Sector Bar: A new gay bar in Bali.
  
  

New Era of Festivals: Embassy Playground 2008!

We had longed for a grand festival worthy of Jakarta's name as one of the most sought destination for international DJs in South East Asia...And in February 2008 we got what we had always wanted: the big festival of Embassy Playground!! With names such as Paul van Dyk, Vika Kova, VHS or Beta, Silent Disco, Belle & Sebastian plus Jose Padilla, it was undoubtedly the biggest, the best festival we attended in 2008.

Playground 2008 Event Info

Playground 2008 Event Photo Album

New Type of Event Series: JADE (Jakarta Annual DanceMusic Event) 2008!!

DJ Ai Tumbuan with his Whiteland Label succeeded in creating a new type of event series: not just party nights, but along with conferences. 7 Massive Days, 2 Conferences, 8 Venues, 52 DJs local & international, and it was grrrrrrrrrrreat!!!

Related Articles

Avalanche of Great International DJs

Yes, in 2008 Jakarta has witnessed so many grand DJs coming down to the archipelago. Who are they?

• Armin van Buuren: Undoubtedly the BEST DJ at the moment, yes we agree that he deserves his World's Number 1 title! He was great - the performance in Bengkel in November 2007 has witnessed more than 8,000 people coming...One of the unforgettable moments of 2008 was when Armin started his set!
  
  
• John Digweed: World's Number 9, who came just a day before Armin van Buuren. X2 was jam-packed and the event was great. His minimalist tech set mounted slowly to a faster progressive. We like the style!
• Sasha: World's Number 7, at the Invaders Series in Bengkel. About 6,000 people were there to see Sasha - it was a big night, too.
  
  
• Kyau & Albert: World's Number 22, the best duo at the moment! They came at the end of November 2008, marking the end of Marlboro Magnifisound Series (including Armin van Buuren & Matthew Dekay) and they were just great. We loved every moment of their set, and we adoooore their humbleness, their simplicity!
  
  
• DJ Pippi: Worldclass veteran DJ whose music we looooooooooove so much...The second time we met him (the first time was in 2006) - and he still remembers us!! Oh, that was awesome. We shared some drinks and some chitty chatty chats with Pippi like a couple of old friends, and tell you what, this DJ roooockksss! Definitely one of our favorites ever!
  
  
• Mischa Daniels: Armada's sweetheart with his "Take Me Higher" song is not only down-to-earth and funny, but spins incredibly great! He came twice: first in August, then in December, both at X2. The second time we met him for JADE Asia 2008, we eventually had more opportunity to talk with Mischa, and we found out that the man behind the big DJ is actually a great, very fun and witty guy!!
  
  
• Luciano: Fellow Frenchie with his marvelous tech-house music rocked Stadium's 11th Anniversary in November...It was the best Stadium Anniversary ever. We didn't know that Luciano and Moussa Ceesay, his manager, were Francophones, but as soon as we met them, we hit it off and we spent the whole night perching on DJ booth, talking and having fun not only with Luciano and Moussa but also with our friends at Concrete Sounds! We definitely are, always, in love, deeply, with Stadium.
  
  
• Ton TB: Black Hole's old lieutenant came here for JADE 2008. The simple man behind so many hit singles, a real trance guy, and it was fun meeting and interviewing him.
  
  
• Matthew Dekay: A week before Armin van Buuren, Matthew Dekay also came for the Marlboro Magnifisound Series in X2. We interviewed MDK and guess what, not only he was soooooo funny, he also did a great job with his marvelous set!
  
  
• Cosmic Gate: Front Media brought Cosmic Gate for Dancesfellas 1st Anniversary in X2. It was the first occasion ever we interviewed a DJ brought by Front Media, and you know, from that moment on we've started cooperating with those great guys from Front Media - and yes, in 2009 they will bring even MORE great international names!
  
  
• Sven Väth: Brought by Elektra666 to Embassy Club Jakarta - We didn't get to interview him, but hearing his set was more than enough. Another unforgettable evening in Embassy...
  

Yeah, that was 2008. Full of memories! This has been also the year where we hit the amount of 4,000 members, 8,000 party photos, 8,000 events, and so on!!

We wish you a great, great year 2009, a prosperous one, a year full of great clubbing events!!