The BPM Music Festival is way beyond a collection of parties on the idyllic coast of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. BPM is a music festival experience like no other that must be at the top of your bucket list. Fans from over 70 different countries experienced 370+ DJs across 10 days of a techno utopia. This year’s BPM Festival featured 11 official venues (Canibal Royal, Martina Beach Club, Blue Parrot, Wah Wah Beach Club, Salon Salsanera Raices, La Santanera, The Jungle, Thompson Hotel, Mezcalina, Tribeca and Coralina Daylight Club). Playa Del Carmen, the BPM community, the BPM vibe and of course the BPM line-up just reconfirmed why FestPop awarded BPM the best music festival in Mexico
Here’s what FestPop experienced:
Ants Party Showcase, Blue Parrot
BPM kicked off on Friday Jan 8th with an Ants showcase led by Sasha, UNER, Gorgon City and Andrea Olivia. Spanish DJ/producer Uner was the stand out of the Ants crew. Having one of the most successful tracks in the Resident Advisor ‘Top Tracks Chart’ back in 2009 and one of the ‘Top 20 Best Selling Underground Tracks’ at Beatport has firmly put UNER into a place he has worked so hard to get to.
All Day I Dream – Martina Beach
One of the best daytime parties in dance music is Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream event. Lee’s set was filled with slow, weaving melodies that dnaced over a foundation of tech-house. In early 1991 Burridge was spotted by a visiting club owner from overseas who offered him a job abroad in the then British colony of Hong Kong. Moving on his 22nd birthday, Burridge discovered an exotic city entirely devoid of a club scene.
Seth Schwarz –All Day I Dream – Martina Beach
Seth Schwarz is definitely a rising star that incorporates his violin chops with elements of HipHop, House and Techno. His show is a true spectacle of self expression and manages to translate emotion into the virtual world of sound with a dexterity that is utterly unique. Back stage we talked and he just happens to be medical doctor in Germany.
Nicole Moudaber –All Day I Dream – Martina Beach
(Full Set Thanks to our friends at Local UnderGround)
Nicole has definitely earned her spot among the techno elite. Ever since delivering her debut album, Believe,for Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label in 2013, the Lebanese producer, with her signature, murky techno tropes, has become a constant fixture on the international touring circuit and a regular at festivals like Time Warp, Awakenings and of course BPM.
Techno Tacos
Richie Hawtin and Dubfire continued the tradition and took over El Fogon for a pop-up party that drew over 2,500. Only announced on the day of the party. On Sunday night, one of the city’s most busy roads, became a FREE venue for festival attendees and locals alike as Richie Hawtin and Dubfire played a driving techno B2B in front of the famous El Fogon restaurant as part of their Techno and Tacos event.
Groove Garden Sessions
The star that shined at BPM in my opinion was Satoshi Tomiie. As a trained classical and jazz pianist, Satoshi’s musicality just glistens in every track he does. Funny side note, BPM fans in their 20’s where not even born when Satoshi released his first house track, the all-timer “Tears” with Frankie Knuckles, more than 25 years ago. Last June Satoshi released just his second full-length album, New Day, and it’s got plenty of deep analog jams — a bit of a surprise for someone with official remixes of Michael Bolton and Mariah Carey to his credit.
P.S. Thank you Satoshi for the Grey Goose on the rocks, with fresh lime (his favorite drink).
Satoshi Tomiie – Live @ Groove Garden Sessions, Wah Wah Beach Bar (BPM Festival 2016)
THE JUNGLE aka YA’AH MUUL
First time in The BPM Festival’s history we ventured into the mayan jungle. Best described as a “festival within a festival”, the YA’AH MUUL party was a must-hit amongst the busy BPM circuit. In addition, Paul Kalbrenner made his BPM debut and was joined by Tale Of Us, Luciano, Guy Gerber, Apollonia and many more. The all-night adventure extended afternoon till dawn parties where fest fans experienced complepalapa, intimate lounges, an adjacent cenote, hand-crafted art displays from local artists, and a food court featuring local concession partners.
FestPop CEO Artist Interviews
Sydney Blu www.sydneyblu.com
Saeed Younan www.saeedyounan.com
BORIS www.djboris.com
BPM Music Festival Travel Guide
Best Hotel
Grand Mayan Palace
Part of a sprawling beachfront resort complex, this upmarket hotel is a 4-minute walk from El Manglar Golf Course and 1.5 km from the Cirque du Soleil Theater. All the colorful rooms include flat-screen TVs, terraces or balconies, and bathrooms with whirlpool tubs. Suites add separate living areas and private outdoor plunge pools; upgraded suites come with kitchens and dining areas. Wi-Fi and room service are available.
There’s a casual restaurant and a poolside bar/cafe. Other amenities include 3 outdoor pools, including an infinity pool, as well as a fitness room and a spa area with a hot tub. The Grand Mayan is located between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, so very close to all the BPM parties. The Grand Mayan is expensive but well worth the price and the perfect place to recover between BPM beach and night parties.
Best Dinning Experience
Almirante Pech
Best Lunch Experience
La Cueva del Chango
Best Actvity: ATV/Caves/Snorkeling
Paradise found. Though it’s difficult to pry oneself from the comforts of your beach chair, you won’t regret experiencing the offerings of activity-haven, Punta Venado. Just 10 minutes south of Playa del Carmen you will find Punta Venado’s 2,000 acres of white sand beaches and dense jungles. Punta Venado offers horseback riding tours, snorkeling tours, and ATV tours, in addition to visits to its unique caves and cenotes. For the thrill and pleasure seekers, you may want to try the ATV, Snorkel, and Cave exploration package.
The group kicks off the day on a 45-minute ATV ride through the dense Mayan Jungle. If you think that you may not get your moneys’ worth due to slow, rickety ATV’s, think again. These machines move! Punta Venado tour guides set a great pace as they quickly cruise through the dense environment of trees, boulders, and serious heat.
The first stop comes about 15 minutes into the ride, where participants are lead into a dried up centoes and caves. The underground caves are magnificent and most importantly, a brisk 65 degrees, which is a perfect way to cool off. They are illuminated by multiple underground lights, which help to identify the stalactites, thus helping to understand the origin of these pre-historic caves. After about 10 minutes of exploring the caves, it’s back to the ATVs and another 30-minute ride to the beaches. Pulling up to the white sand beaches comes just in time. All that’s needed are some goggles, snorkels, flippers, and you’re soon snorkeling amongst one of the Riviera Maya’s most beautiful coral reefs. The calm waters and diverse marine life leaves you wanting more, just be sure to bring eco-friendly sunscreen! After 45-minutes of snorkeling/cooling off, it’s back to the ATV’s for the final leg of the excursion. Back on your ATV, you head back to the ranch where you can shower, enjoy the beach club, and most importantly find excellent ceviche and cerveza!!
FestPop Editorial Team