There’s an air of knowing sophistication prevalent at the B-Bar with its expertly mixed rum cocktails, flamboyant bar-staff and outdoor terrace. It’s faux brick walls and chic club atmosphere give it a distinctive atmosphere that can’t be matched by most indoor festival arenas.
Upon entering, we’re greeted by 1Xtra’s late-night underground DJ, Benji B, who’s showcasing his smooth blend of broken beats and hip-hop soulfulness. Despite being a little too tame for our liking, it’s easy to admire Radio 1’s youngest producer for his carefully composed and confidently executed set.
Throughout the day, M-People’s legendary percussion virtuoso, Shovell, ups the tempo and bounces around the B-Bar stage, whacking anything and everything in his way. It’s easy to see why this ex-plumber is resident bongo basher this summer at Ibiza’s Pacha especially when he lifts the tent out of its early afternoon lethargy.
Mancunian genre-hoppers, Unabombers, in their live guise as Electric Soul Soundsystem are joined on stage by Pete Simpson on vocals from Joey Negro’s Sunburst Band. Their hip, accessible grooves don’t disappoint and it’s an exciting, spontaneous performance that has the Latin Quarter partying hard for the first time this weekend.
It’s an appropriate time to hand the reigns over to one the world’s most sought after DJs, Sandy Riviera, who packs out the B-Bar with a smattering of dark tribal house and vocal US garage. But the biggest cheers are reserved for the Queen’s favourite carnival king, Norman Jay (MBE). He reproduces the sounds of Notting Hill to an appreciative dance floor who lap up an astute mix of funk, hip-hop and funky house particularly when stand-out tracks from his best-selling Good Times compilations are deftly dropped into the fray. It might have started off slowly but by the end of the night, V’s classiest clientele had it large and lethal.
