I’ve been to countless Circuit party, bar, club and Pride events across North America, Canada and parts of Europe but this past August was the first time I have attended a “true” Circuit party overseas. While many of my international travels have included relatively good parties, they’ve never been able to successfully pull it all together into a weekend or weeklong series of events with that Circuit je ne sais quoi (that’s French in case you need to look it up).
Before getting started, I do have to admit that after last year’s trip to for another Circuit party turned Circuit flop, my expectations for attending some killer parties this year were fairly low. Having only been to one party thrown by the Matineé Group and considering that Circuit Festival’s events started on a Monday and ended the subsequent Monday, I really had no idea what the week had in store.
My week starts with the usual airline weather delays and a not-so-usual deployed emergency chute, which kept our plane from leaving Newark on time. Our one-hour weather delay was quickly followed by two plus hours sitting on the plane waiting for maintenance personnel and spare parts. I don’t know if it’s me or what, but I generally experience these types of lengthy delays while traveling and they always put me in the perfect mood to start a trip off right.
Unfortunately my delayed departure and other obligations kept me from attending Monday’s Warm Up Party so my first event was Tuesday’s Circuit Opening at Sala Apolo. We got to the club around midnight, showed our IDs to the guys working the guest list and are given our “Special” gold wristbands for the week. You notice I say wristbands, right? The last two European parties I’ve attended have given us wristbands that you’re supposed to wear all week long. I digress. We walk up a short flight of stairs and enter the space. Upon entering you could immediately see the DJ spinning in back of a large pirate ship that was constructed on stage and the adjacent dance floor. A quick walk up another flight of stairs revealed a second floor with balconies that overlooked the dance floor below. Over the course of the next few hours, DJs Yuri Antoine 909 and Enrico Arghentini took turns at the decks. There was also a show by “Devotion”. The club filled quickly with some of the most beautiful men from all corners of Europe. This Tuesday night party definitely started the week off right.
The Wednesday night party was held at Complex Esportiu L’Hospitalet Nord. This large outdoor space featured a couple of huge pools and a vast concrete deck that was perfectly suited as a dance floor. DJs Sebastien Triumph, Antoine 909 and Enrico Arghentini spun on a large stage flanked by lifeguard stands that conveniently doubled as boxes for go-go boys.
Thursday’s party, Salvation London, was held at Space and featured DJs Pier Morrocco, Guy Williams and Oliver M. The party itself was a very typical gay club event. The club opened a bit later then advertised and the crowd took a while to build, but the party was still spot on. The club (Space) features a DJ booth covered by plasma displays, great sound (although I did hear some rattling) and lighting. All three DJs delivered solid performances and the party did not disappoint.
Friday morning we hitched a ride to a pool party at the water park Illa Fantasia. After a short 15-minute ride, we arrived to what I can only describe as the European version of Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon (for those of you who have been to One Mighty Weekend during Gay Days in Orlando). DJs J. Louis, Iordee and Taito Tikaro cranked out tunes in the beautiful Barcelona weather as several thousand gay boys and girls danced throughout the facility. I really can’t get over how fun this party was. I’ve never seen “the gays” splash and dance in a wave pool quite like this before. At the end of the party we quickly boarded the “Circuit bus” (not my words, theirs) and retreated back to our hotel in La Rambla to prepare for the night ahead.
tourInfinita ’08 was held at DBOY Friday night. We walked down a couple of stairs into the club’s lobby with its LED-lit floor and then immediately onto a dance floor. The club and music were cute, but on the small side and I was left wanting more. After a few moments the crowd on the packed dance floor retreated to another, much larger space on the other side of the club. This is the dance floor I was looking (and hoping) for. Smoke black mirrors covered the walls and the ceilings while LED tubes crisscrossed above and huge LED-lit columns appeared to hold up the building. Music and DJs were split between the two rooms with David Berna and Ismael Rivas in one and Jeremy Reyes, Fabio White and Francesco Belais playing in the other. I have to say the sun at today’s Illa Fantasia party must have reinvigorated and recharged the boys because this is the friskiest they’ve been all week long.
We opted to skip Saturday morning’s after hours at Souvenir in favor of cramming in some sight seeing. Barcelona is an extraordinary city with tons of history and lots to see and do. I highly recommend visiting the Sagrada Família, La Rambla and La Boqueria, Montjuïc and La Font Magica. Of course Sitges and its gay beach “Platja de la Bossa Rodona” are just a short train ride away.
We arrive at Pabellón Olímpico De Badalona for Saturday night’s main event, Circuit Festival. When we walked into the large arena, dazzling lights and lasers instantly grabbed our attention as well as a gigantic LED video wall, which covered the entire area behind the DJ booth and LED panels covering parts of the stage. Decorations were strategically placed through the room to mask the stadium seating and give an intimate feel. This mega party and crowd of about 3500 people were stunning. DJs David Penn and Toni Bass entertained in the early hours followed by performances by Ultra Naté, Coco Star and Luca G. DJ Peter Rauhofer brought the party home with an amazing set. Two special points of interest were a mind-bending show, in which the crowd stretched spider webs from one side of the arena to the other and a faux sex show featuring a handcuffed (and later naked) Françoise Sagat accompanied by two friends, all packing rock hard tools. You can tell no expense was spared.
After the main event we hopped on buses heading for after hours at Souvenir. By the time we got to Souvenir, the club was already full and there was a line going down the street. Fortunately we showed our gold wristbands at the door and walked right in. This club is simply crazy with sound and lighting that easily put it on par with anything in the States. The party lasted well into the day.
Due to an early Monday flight and due to the fact that I had already gone to a party at Space earlier in the week, I decided to forego Sunday night’s festivities. Others in our group report that Offer Nissim put on a great show, whereas Maya’s “performance” was less then entertaining.
Having attended this year’s Circuit Festival , I truly believe that the Matineé Group embraces the name and ideals that make the Circuit what it is today as well as what it was years ago. I commend them for the hard work and attention to detail that made this one of the most memorial weeks in recent memory. I also tip my hat to Europe and to the exquisite men parties they produce! I’ve always been told not to drink the water while traveling overseas, but there must be something going on with the Mediterranean. I can’t recall the last time I have seen more beautiful crowds in all my life. I will certainly be back next year!
Bill Haberkam
Founder, JustCircuit.com
bill@justcircuit.com
