FOREST FEST 3: THE IBIZA REWIND EXPERIENCE
March 28, 2025Article Jeff Dobson
The dust has settled on Forest Fest 3, the voice has returned, and most of my marbles have been gathered back into the bag. With Forest Fest 4 just over the horizon, as promised, let’s piece together what was an epic weekend at the festival’s newest addition—The Ibiza Rewind Tent.
Now entering its second year at the festival, after what can only be described as a badass weekend for both punters and performers alike, the 2024 line-up is nearly ready to drop, and anticipation is running high.
Everyone knows Ibiza’s legendary status in the annals of dance music, whether through fact, fiction, myth, or memory. Just the name Ibiza conjures images of halcyon days, spectacular sunsets, and a soundtrack drenched in warmth and magic. The word “spiritual” might get thrown around too often, but is there a better way to describe the early days on the White Isle?
Capturing the Ibiza Spirit in Ireland
So, how do you bottle that aura and sprinkle it over Irish soil, where umbrellas in hand outnumber those in glasses three to one? The key lies in laying strong foundations and curating a line-up that doesn’t just replicate Ibiza’s legacy but carries its essence. Between tent hosts Danny & Gee, they did just that—and so much more.
They say, “A good DJ plays what you want to hear, but a great DJ plays what you didn’t know you wanted to hear.” Maybe I made that up, but it’s the only way to describe the pure joy of watching Jon Sa Trinxa set the tone for what was to unfold over the next three days. Unafraid to dive into pre-electronic sounds, he wove a rich, evocative tapestry that laid the groundwork for what Ibiza would become. No genre was off-limits—his seamless blend of ambient overtones and acapella verse was a sermon the apostles would envy.
Jon Sa Trinxa – Forest Fest Ireland 2024 photography Jeff Dobson & Dave
Jon handed over each day to an energised crowd, primed for the next phase—a true warm-up (though calling a legend like him a warm-up feels sacrilegious!).
Ibiza’s Storytellers and Sonic Architects
From backstage giggles to captivating the crowd with spoken verse and tales of messy days and messier nights, the dear, dear Kirk Field, under his Acid House Cabaret guise, guided us through memory lane like a true chronicler. Parents exchanged wry smiles, momentarily transported back to long drives and sunrises, before reality—packed lunches and chicken pox—snapped them back. Those kids will have some questions, and their parents will have only vague, guilty answers.
(If you get the chance, catch his theatre tour—it’s outstanding.)
Pippi, one of only two DJs ever sponsored by Adidas, took over next. A genuine icon of Ibiza’s golden era, his influence often gets glossed over in today’s short-form content world. But for those who know, Pippi is a time manipulator, making two hours vanish in an instant—even Einstein would have questions.
Pippi – Forest Fest Ireland 2024 photography Jeff Dobson & Dave
Mr C, David H Percussion & A Touch of Chaos
Arriving a night early were a couple of likely lads I knew were destined for mischief—and let’s just say, I was wearing a bra a little too big for them to suckle at the bosom of chaos. Brave words from someone who later found themselves lost in a wet, overgrown cornfield at 4 AM, cursing their lack of Navajo ancestry and a series of poor life choices.
Mr C & David H Percussion – Forest Fest Ireland 2024 photography Jeff Dobson & Dave
Enter Mr C & David H Percussion, in town for a live performance of Shamen classics and a little spin. And what a laugh we had… Watching a handful of self-proclaimed influencers get humbled by Sweden’s finest borrowed bars, while the tent’s impromptu choir backed them up, was priceless.
When Dave, hood raised, declared “I won’t be long” and vanished into the crowd, the Saving Private Ryan energy was palpable. His return stories will be told another day.
Gee Moore & Danny – Forest Fest 2024
Bora Bora, Gee Moore & The Golden Era
With Bora Bora as a promotional partner, it was a delight to see Gee Moore behind the decks for the first time in nearly two decades. His boundless energy could have pulled my muscles, never mind his own. Sonically, he transported us straight back to the Progressive House golden age, with marathon sets that mirrored Ibiza’s legendary sunset sessions.
Across three nights, he was joined by backstage guests for spontaneous jams. Lovely stuff.
Looking Ahead to Forest Fest 4
As I piece together these hazy memories, contracts for this year’s line-up are floating through the ether, soon to land back with Danny and be etched into the annals of dance history.
Forest Fest Ireland 2024
Expect old friends returning, new faces joining, and one mission objective:
👉 IBIZA REWIND @ Forest Fest 4 – Bigger. Bolder. Unmissable.
👉 IBIZA REWIND @ Forest Fest 4 – Bigger. Bolder. Unmissable.
A full release of last year’s tales (pending legal clearance) and an interview with Danny & Gee will drop in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out.
