Emerging DJs Declan Knapp and Baobei (宝贝) have won the opportunity of a lifetime to play on the iconic island of Ibiza by opening Radio 1 Dance Weekend 2025 on Friday 1 August at 528 Ibiza. Every year, Radio 1 Dance partners with BBC Introducing to search for the UK’s very best and undiscovered DJs who produce their own music.
Jaguar will host a special show tonight (Thursday 17 July) from 10pm on BBC Introducing on Radio 1 Dance where she will play tracks from both winners.
The entries to Radio 1 Dance and BBC Introducing’s nationwide talent search were reviewed by BBC Introducing’s network of local and regional shows with each show forwarding one entry to the final shortlist and a panel of Radio 1 DJs and producers selecting the two winners.
Declan Knapp is known for his high-energy blend of house, garage, and bass with emotive, euphoric builds. His official edit of Groove Armada’s ‘Superstylin’ landed its first radio play on Danny Howard’s Radio 1 Dance Party and earned support from Martin Garrix, Pete Tong, and Hannah Wants. Declan’s music has been played on Jaguar and Jess Iszatt’s Introducing shows, Radio 1’s Rave-Up with Arielle Free, Radio 1’s Future Dance with Sarah Story, and Radio 1’s Dance Anthems with Connor Coates.
Declan Knapp says: “BBC Radio 1 has been a big part of my journey, so being invited to play their Ibiza weekend is something I’m really proud of. I’ve spent years crafting my sound and sets and now I get to bring that to one of the most iconic places in dance music. Expect a lot of energy and some proper moments.”
Baobei (宝贝) is a London-born, British-Chinese DJ, producer and songwriter who blends next gen UK Garage and house with pure pop sensibilities. In January this year, Baobei’s track ‘Hugging My Friends’ was BBC Introducing’s Tune Of The Week and secured radio support from Danny Howard, Greg James, Radio 1’s Future Dance with Sarah Story, Jaguar on BBC Introducing on Radio 1 Dance, Jess Iszatt’s Introducing show, and Radio 1’s Chillest Show with Sian Eleri.
Baobei says: “I am so looking forward to DJing for Radio 1 Dance Weekend and experiencing Ibiza club culture for the first time which I’ve heard so much about! I’m very grateful for the continued support from BBC Radio 1 and Introducing throughout my music journey. I am excited to play a fun set and add to Baobei lore!”
They join a stellar line-up of some of the biggest names in Dance music including newly added Brazilian dance sensation, Alok, Ukrainian DJ, Miss Monique, and British DJ, TSHA. The full line-up for Radio 1 Dance Weekend Ibiza 2025 is (in alphabetical order):
- Alok
- Biscits
- Chloé Caillet
- Chris Lake
- Coco & Breezy
- Disciples
- Emily Nash
- Jess Bays
- Special Guest b3b Special Guest b3b Locky
- Miss Monique
- Olive F
- Sonny Fodera
- TSHA
- Zerb
In addition to Radio 1’s epic dance event, the celebrations will continue throughout the weekend with Radio 1 Dance X at the following club across the island
Radio 1 Dance X Afterparty at Amnesia Ibiza – Friday 1 August
Line Up: Josh Baker, B2B Kettama, Caal, Chloe Callet, Danny Howard, Sarah Story
ANTS at Ushuaïa Ibiza – Saturday 2 August
Line-up: Djammin, Franky Rizardo B2b Cloonee, Jaguar, John Summit, Max Styler, Pete Tong
elrow at [UNVRS] Ibiza – Saturday 2 August
Line-up: Arielle Free, George Privati, Hugel, Matroda
Glitterbox at Hï Ibiza – Sunday 3 August
Line-up: Dan Shake B2b Myd, Dj Minx, Sophie Lloyd, Eli Escobar, Floorplan, Rich Medina, Joshua Lang, Mike Dunn
Ibiza Rocks – Monday 4 August
Line-up: Fish56Octagon, lau.ra, Connor Coates, Patrick Nazemi, Ibiza Rocks Resident DJs
Tickets for Radio 1 Dance Weekend: Ibiza 2025 are currently on sale. Find more information on the Radio 1 Dance Weekend website.
For those listening at home, the celebrations will kick off on Thursday 31 July in Radio 1 Dance Party Warmup with Danny Howard (Thursday, 6pm – 8pm) and will continue throughout the weekend with the station playing a mammoth eighty hours of Dance music. As well as this, Radio 1 Dance Weekend 2025 will broadcast live from Radio 1’s Main Stage on Friday 1 August, and from Radio 1’s Dance Stage on 2 August. Listeners will be able to tune in across the weekend on Radio 1 and Radio 1 Dance with performances and tracks available live and on demand across BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.
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