Williamsburg

In industrial Brooklyn, thousands flock to Jamie Jones’ Paradise party

September 28, 2017 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Brooklyn Mirage, a colossal music venue in East Williamsburg, has slowly but surely become a staple of Brooklyn’s underground music scene. Photos by @aLIVEcoverage
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Everyone has his or her own definition of paradise.

Merriam-Webster defines it as “a place or state of bliss, felicity or delight.”

For some, the term may evoke images of white-sanded beaches on a remote island.

For others, verdant meadows in the countryside may come to mind.

But for the thousands of young adults who thronged to The Brooklyn Mirage on Saturday, the word took on a whole different meaning.

Ravers descended on East Williamsburg for “Paradise,” the highly anticipated party from renowned Welsh DJ and producer Jamie Jones.

Making its New York City debut, the Ibiza-born bash brought everything revelers have come to expect from the famous party series, namely an excellent lineup of DJs, extravagant decorations and debauchery that extends well into the next day.

From the Party Capital of the World to the City That Never Sleeps, Jamie Jones’ events never disappoint, and Saturday was no exception.

“We’ve had a chance to recover and want to say: What. A. Party. A huge thank you to all who made this sold-out event so special and such fun,” read a post from The Brooklyn Mirage’s Facebook page.

“To each and every artist on both stages, to the entire [Paradise] team, our tireless staff, and, of course, to all of you: The vibe and energy was off the charts.”

In addition to Jamie Jones, other artists on the bill included Dubfire, Tiga, Honey Dijon, Doc Martin, Nathan Barato and David Berrie.

Surrounded by scrapyards, warehouses and truck depots, The Brooklyn Mirage, bordered by a metal fence, conforms to the area’s industrial vibes. From the exterior, the unassuming club looks like a gated compound.

With the faint odor of Newtown Creek in the breeze and the rumble of forklifts in the distance, pedestrians might never know there is a hip venue in front of them were it not for the swaying of palm fronds and the slight vibrations from the bassline in the air.  

Once inside, the club, which has slowly but surely become a staple of Brooklyn’s underground music scene, boasts a lush oasis of tropical florae.

The seemingly endless labyrinth of corridors, staircases and nooks brings surprises at every turn.

On Saturday, the colossal space featured two stages, one reserved for New York’s local talent and the other for the headlining DJs.

For as far as the eye could see, bodies swayed side to side as they were covered in warm reds and cool blues.

Like a nation-state, The Brooklyn Mirage uses its own payment system within its walls.  Attendees linked their credit cards to wristbands, which could be used at the bar to pay for drinks.

The unique procedure saved time for guests and kept people moving fluidly so that they could dance more and wait less.

Montreal-based DJ and producer Tiga properly warmed up the dance floor with an eclectic selection of tunes.

Jamie Jones and Dubfire’s individual sets were both stellar. Dubfire leaned more towards techno, while the Welshman favored his signature tech vibes.

The iconic duo ended the night with a two-hour, back-to-back session that promised ’90s house tunes. While the classics set was certainly a welcomed change to the predominately tech house sets before, it felt forced and a bit unnatural for the pair.

Nevertheless, people stayed until the end, begging for “one more song” as the lights came on at 4:30 a.m.

Some brave souls, at the venue since 4 p.m., made their way to the exits.

There was an eerie silence in the air as revelers processed what was indeed an unforgettable experience, a slice of paradise in the heart of Brooklyn.

 

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