The 4th annual BPM (Beats per Minute) Festival went off with a bang in Playa del Carmen on Friday, December 31st 2010, without missing an electronic beat until Sunday, January 9th, 2011.The event, covering a period of 10 days, with over 30 continuous day and night parties, was played out perfectly on Playa del Carmen’s tranquil beaches, beach clubs, its restaurants and bars.  More than 120 proclaimed international DJ’s created such excitement that Ibiza (Spain) and Ko Phangan (Bali) are forced to take notice.  Not to mention the beautiful people, too numerous to count, that danced, drank, and soaked up the continuous rays of the Riviera Maya sun.

The popularity of BPM has grown considerably since its inception in 2008.   The BPM Festival was founded by a group of well diversified music aficionados from Canada who had an ingenious idea to combine a climate of electronic music.  All they lacked was a site.  They knew they had to find a location with perfect weather conditions.  They also wanted a place with diverse culture yet with a reputation of knowing how to throw a party safely.  They knew it had to be a special place in order to attract its initial market–fellow Canadians looking to escape the doldrums of winter.

Enter –Playa Del Carmen, a charming town with an ideal climate, tranquil Caribbean waters, picturesque beaches, a chic diversity of international inhabitants and visitors, and a wide variety of lodging ranging from comfortable studios and apartments to boutique hotels and luxury beachfront villas, accommodating most budgets.  What the founders might not have expected was the overwhelming attraction of the event from different corners of the globe.  What they found was a mélange of people from all age groups, exchanging their daily routines for the freedom found from a mix of electronic altered sounds, combined with savvy vocals, against a canvas backdrop of the emerald waters of Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.

The  music festival’s attendance numbers for the 2010-2011 event have not yet been confirmed but judging from the packed beach scenes and parties from the numerous different sponsored locations, it’s clear the event was a huge success.

Whether your choice of electronic music’s sub genre is “House,” (spawned from the disco era) “Trance,” (beats using synthesized sounds for dancing) “Speedcore,” (very fast music, originating from Canada) “Ambient/Chill,” (lower BPM rate) or my favorite “Old School,” (blend of classic R&B, dance, disco, with a mix of electronic beats) rest assured that you will be mesmerized.  A special thanks should go to the BPM group for their successful efforts on this year’s event and choosing Playa del Carmen, the “Corazón” (heart) of the Riviera Maya as a platform for its venue.  Extended appreciation goes to BPM’s sponsors and affiliates for their important contribution to this event.  See you next year!

María González Roncarati

If you go: Reserve your hotel, condo, villa, or other lodging and travel arrangements months ahead of time as the Festival falls on Playa’s peak holiday period.

For more info:
email:  mariaroncarati @ yahoo.com
www.theBPMfestival.com