Kick back and enjoy The Big Chill

Tonight is the launch of the Ibiza-style Big Chill event at Sea Breeze and Terrace at Elbow Beach Hotel.

Three Big Chill events will take place each week at several locations around the island.

Music producer and husband of Heather Nova, Felix Tod, has teamed up with promoter Tony Brannon for the venture. Tod will be spinning a variety of tunes under the chill out genre tonight at Sea Breeze. He hopes to offer a “mature and sophisticated” alternative to many happy hours found in town that focus on high energy, Top 40 tunes. The family-friendly event will be complemented by a casual menu of sushi and tapas and runs from 6pm to 11pm.

The Big Chill at The Reefs Hotel will take place every Tuesday evening and will incorporate an evening of Caribbean and Creole food and music. “A feast for your vibes” is the strapline and an international menu will reflect the music each week priced at $58 per person.

Finally, starting on May 26 is the Cambridge Chill Lounge at Cambridge Beaches with DJs playing chilled vibes — pool and ocean-side. Boaters are encouraged to raft up and enjoy a dockside food and drink service. Guests can reserve a pool/beach lounger for $50 which includes bottled water, a cocktail and a towel. Canbana rentals will also be available.  

We spoke to Felix Tod about what we can expect from the Big Chill and what inspired the move to bring it to
Bermuda. 

Why did you decide to create Big Chill?

Bermuda is starved of a good entertainment product and working with Tony Brannon on the Lennon concert last year I think we are starting to see ourselves as people who can put together new entertainment brands and products. 

Maybe we’ll come up with another idea for something to do in the years to come.

How does this differ from other happy hour events around the island?

This is totally different — it will be a five star service. There are waiters, service staff... There is a lovely sushi and tapas menu so it’s not too formal. 

There will be no plastic cups or standing for hours. It is casual and friendly and there will be lovely cocktails. 

It’s also great that it is so close to the beach. Bermuda’s history has always come from other islands reggae, soca, calypso so why shouldn’t we take that? 

I went to BeachFest and there are thousands of people on the beach — people want to go to the beach for a good time. Why aren’t more people doing more activities focused on the beach? This is as close to the beach you can get with good drinks. 

What type of music will you be playing?

Chill out music is not spa music there are a lot more beats. A more accurate description might be lounge music, ambient, Latin and world music or dub — a combination of those genres. With chill out you can take more left turns — many happy hours play music that sticks to the 4/4 timing or 128 beats per minute and I’ve heard enough Rihanna!

With chill out you can throw in something from way back in the day — you can drop in Phil Collins, you can drop Michael Jackson or Mister Mister or Aha. We will have a week, in a couple of months, where people can bring their own iPods just to see what they want. 

The eclectic thing will be fun. 

We will also have a violinist, guitarist harmonica, saxophonist. We have put together a live band with Joy Barnum to play a short set in the chill out genre each week at Sea Breeze. I am going to sing as well. 

I started making dance music through the ‘90s. I was in the ‘92 scene — EMF, Jesus Jones... I met Heather (Nova) and her music was much better than mine. It went from me being lead singer to Heather. 

This is the first time I have DJed here apart from private functions. I think this needed to be done. Financially we are a really sophisticated country but entertainment wise we are really not. Having spent a lot of time in Soho I spent a lot of time going to great little clubs and I wanted to recreate that here. I have tens of thousands of CDs I was given as a producer.

 I have produced for all the major labels — I did alot for Creation Records. Heather might come along and sing. It will evolve through the summer and we are really excited about it. Most of all I want it to be fun. A lot of the stuff here is very serious. This is quite a playful music.