Photo: @hi.gunpowder for Space Yacht

Wicked Delight’s and Space Yacht’s Boat Party Season Finale 2024 was a feel-good, yet exclusive voyage to house music and beyond for Southern California. This annual day cruise never falls short of legendary. Featuring Will Clarke and other house music superstars in interesting or historical spaces is another day in the office for Space Yacht but a wonder for those who traveled to Long Beach in search of an experience for the mind, body, and soul.

The Secret Lineup Reveal: Will Clarke as the Special Guest

Every year, the special guest and headlining set curation grows with globally recognized dance-sensation artists! One of the primary highlights of this event every year is the reveal of the artist scheduled to perform at the house stage. This year’s special headlining set showcased Grammy-nominated UK producer, Will Clarke. Clarke performed his remix of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” as this regular cruise ship transformed into a party boat with 130 BPM in the air like the sea breeze. 

If the dance floor already wasn’t mesmerized, Clarke mixed “Innerbloom” by Rüfüs Du Sol. The dance floor stopped dancing for a moment during this sentimental track like it was a respectful moment of silence. It’s not everyday you have the chance to experience Will Clarke on a small, intimate stage on a boat! A pink sunset, tacos, and tequila on a cruise ship with Will Clarke performing feet away is an unexpected experience. 

Space Yacht Ducks Sailing Away with a Random Disco Ball 

After boarding the boat, the Space Yacht team gave everyone an exclusive Space Yacht Boat Party bead necklace to wear and take home as a souvenir. Once the boat was sailing, someone busted out a handheld disco ball at the house stage. The (traveling) disco ball’s whereabouts changed constantly as it was passed to others on their way to other stages!

Space Yacht yellow rubber duckies clipped to white captain hats were the hottest festival fashion item on the boat! Of course, everyone was wearing sunglasses to block the sun (and the haters off the boat). House music is a catalyst for connection and bringing people together. Some would argue that is what house music is all about! The boat-partiers on this aquatic excursion were open to mingle, and express PLUR such as giving stickers or buying others in the bar line a water/drink.

Historic House Music: The Queen Mary & A Century-Old Masonic Temple

Just next to the cruise ship was the historical and apparently haunted landmark, The Queen Mary. The Queen Mary, an ocean liner now a hotel, museum and event space was a colossal sight! It made the Space Yacht cruise ship look as small as a honeybee and fostered a mingling environment like a honeycomb.    

The official after party Night Temple was held at AltarLB, a premiere venue that was formerly a Masonic temple in 1903. This Masonic temple wasn’t used for worship in its prime, but 121 years later, music is worshiped here anyway. The century gave Downtown Long Beach a dance floor with a grand disco ball where history says this temple was used differently. 

A rave family I encountered drove from Las Vegas, NV in search of hedonistic-good house music because they grew tired of their local EDM scene. Sightseeing and exploring the Downtown Long Beach area was easily accomplished simultaneously during the event for tourists. 

The Brat Summer Boat & ¿Experimental Trap?

While the other stage was dedicated to house music, the other stage was dedicated to hip-hop and trap music. Charli xcx’s hits “365”, “Apple”, and “360” from her new album, Brat were mixed at both stages at the same time. This was the first time I heard the trendsetting Queen of “Brat Summer” mixed on the dance floor this season. 

Other than the brat queen blasted through the speakers, I don’t think I’ve ever seen people dance so hard to trap music. In some moments, I heard what I would describe as trap music and in other moments I would describe it as experimental bass.

Other moments sounded like a heavy trap-dominant sound profile layered with a similar sound to experimental bass. Since I don’t listen or expose myself to the underrated EDM subgenre of trap music, my mind was blown during this unique performance. 

Chandeliers in the Night Temple: The After Party 

Located minutes away from where the cruise ship docked, AltarLB was the next destination in this Space Yacht journey. Live painting was arranged next to an official chill corner with couches and a bar at every stage. Chandeliers and a disco ball hung from the main stage; you wouldn’t believe this venue was a former Masonic temple.

Friendly Fire, a DJ-producer duo made of London Bridge and Adam Auburn, performed prior to Will Clarke. Night Temple ignited the heat in Friendly Fire! The pair created a seamless B2B set which reflected their amicable nature in mixing house music together.The crowd was introduced to tracks like “Tiki” when the after party began. 

A performance so encapsulating, I thought this would be a rare two-three hour set from the duo. Watching the two produce a live mix using the microphone for a track, showing each other what they could do in a musical sense was out of the ordinary. Plus, who doesn’t love to see the wholesome connection between two friends having fun while they mix on stage? 

Can’t wait until 2025 for the next boat party? For all Space Yacht events and music releases, visit the official Space Yacht website.