[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][ATTACH=CONFIG]5494[/ATTACH]On a global scale when people think about the Middle East they don’t think about a party destination. However in this region Beirut has become renowned for its incredible parties, especially those at BO18. Can you imagine that this club, which was formerly a quarantine that housed over 20,000 people during the civil war has been renovated to become one of the best clubs in the world! [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Unlike Dubai where all clubs close at 2-3am, at this time the party is just kicking off at BO18. I got there right about 3am and the club was totally full. As I opened the doors all I could see was total darkness. I heard my name being called and it was so dark I couldn’t even see my friend who was standing right beside me! Unlike a lot of clubs that boast amazing lights and lasers, BO18 is a dark dungeon, until the roof opens letting in the light as the sun rises into the early morning. The lack of light makes walking around the club quite difficult. I came home with nicely bruised shins, because in Lebanese fashion all nightclubs are full of tables, even on the dance floor. I think it’s the first time I have been at this type of underground club where I have been served champagne from a magnum bottle of Moet, it was like an endless supply of champagne and vodka all night long. Lebanese people overall are very nice and were very welcoming offering whatever they had to be shared with us. [FONT=Calibri]I think it’s the first time I have been at this type of underground club where I have been served champagne from a magnum bottle of Moet, it was like an endless supply of champagne and vodka all night long. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Lebanese people overall are very nice and were very welcoming offering whatever they had to be shared with us but the vibe in the club was different compared to many underground clubs I have been to. Although people were very energetic I didn’t find them as talkative as in some other party occasions. Everyone was a little more on edge and not as blissful as when some other party favors are floating around. [/FONT]Even though I found the tables pretty annoying we made the best of it as everyone was table dancing to the sounds of one of the world’s finest DJ’s, John Digweed.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Digweed started off the night with tracks to suite the pitch black atmosphere, such Guy Gerber’s ‘Timing’ then continued to drive the crowd crazy with tech heavy tunes such as Sian ‘Dreams Are Maps’ from the new Structures album he is on currently on a world tour promoting. A major benefit of having a club stay open until 9am is being able to hear marathon sets, something that is pretty rare these days. Digweed played for 6 hours, taking the entire club on a musical journey that ended with LCD Soundsystem’s latest track ‘You Wanted a Hit (Soulwax remix)’[FONT=Calibri]), the perfect finale as the sun beat down on us through the open roof. I was happy that I brought my sunglasses and not just to keep the sun away, most people look a lot better when their intoxicated eyes are covered![/FONT] Being the caliber of DJ that Digweed is means that his sets are full of promos, such as the last track, which is yet to be released. I love a set where the majority of what I’m hearing is brand new to me, I come to expect that from legendary DJ’s like Digweed and he fully delivered! John is known for being one of the most solemn looking DJs behind the decks, barely flinching as mayhem is going on in front of the decks, but on this night I could feel he was having just as much fun as we were, his hands were up in the air clapping to the next big break, he took pictures of the crowd which he posted on his Twitter thanking us for an amazing night [FONT=Calibri]and I even got him to smile on camera! [/FONT] As he played the last track and we begged for more he handed out promo copies of his new Structures album to a select few of us that had been glued to the front of the DJ booth all night long, thank you John, it was a night to remember and I still have the disco injuries to prove it! [/FONT][/SIZE] [ATTACH=CONFIG]5495[/ATTACH]