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So if you looked at the sunday paper in Ibiza this weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking that there was simply nothing going on right now. The page 4 headline story concerned a lamppost falling over in Formentera complete with photos. (in San Ferran incidentally, and no, no one was injured). However, as the Vice annually insists, activity is vibrant behind the scenes, and right now, as the hangovers clear and the detoxes wane, is when it all begins. Obviously not everyone can be in situ this time of year, so luckily we've been propping up the bars and skulking in the corners at dinner parties to get you all the gossip first hand (or at least passed on from conversations overheard in toilet queues)

A quick stroll through Ibiza Town and the port tells you all you need to know about that area of the island this year - wall to wall 'For Sale' signs and shop fronts 'To Rent'. Not an encouraging sight for any potential new businessman or woman - but no doubt a few bargains are to be had by anyone with just enough money and as little sense.

Not that the town has had a quiet winter since the explosive end. Lack of cash for many bar owners and promoters has kept them on the island, and winter haunts such as Sushi Point, or new town additions like Soto and Ispirito have had a roaring time. The spirit of the beach was kept alive at weekends with Shardana and Delano both drawing crowds to Playa d'en Bossa out of season whilst New Years Day After on the beach is at least worth a mention.

Oh yes, 2010 is going to be all about the Bossa again. Unlike other previous revival campaigns we've seen on this little rock, the PDB trend is sticking, and like slowly gravitating molluscs along a seabed shore, everyone else connected with Ibiza nightlife is drifting that way.

Take Monza for example - well Privilege won't be this year. Whilst the World Biggest Club firmly stakes out it's big-room vibe with re-signings of Tiesto and Supermartxe, it's more than clear that discerning music policies should be left at the door.

Hence the Frankfurt-hailing tech house night finds itself being pulled Bossa way, talks are underway with several venues in the hood (well, OK so there's only 2 places big enough for them there) Thoroughly welcome news for their supporters who much preferred the little Monza of Penelope than that of its bigger mutation in recent years.

Maybe one of the learnings from last years ad-hoc summer is that risk sometimes does pay off, and that change can always work out for the best if handled carefully.

Certainly one of the biggest changes over the winter is the demise of El Divino. The long-standing re-development of the port appears to be actually happening - either that or Pacha have managed to finally scab their biggest competition quite literally out of the water.

Yes it's true. Structurally doomed El Divino has been bought out by neighbouring arch-rival Pacha, who recently announced plans to turn the venue into a sushi bar and lounge. Careful market research has shown them that that's exactly what Botafoch is lacking. More Sushi. Lord, if we get any more Jap joints down that road we'll have our very own Raw Fish Mile. You could knock down the Ibiza HOT brothel and turn it into a fish market. Crude comments about the relative irony and associated smell not necessary here.

Anyway current rumour insinuates that Park Lane's Nobu will be co-branding the new venue - which probably means that some bloke who apprenticed there once 4 years ago will be washing the dishes. Can't wait.

One thing we can't wait for this summer is going back to the beach of course. Speculation abound concerning big player Ushuaia this summer. Can the success be sustained? Can overkill be avoided? How on earth can it can any better? The Cadenza crew have certainly used the beach venue to their advantage - allegedly planning to step unapologetically into Pacha this year on Sundays. Befitting for 'the Jeremy Healy of minimal tech', the VIPs and glitterati crowd will adore that. Of course, Space have also been telling the world that they've confirmed Luciano and friends for the Wednesday nights too, so at this stage anything could happen....although little to stop pioneers Ushuaia being turned into a pre-party bar.

Space have also been pretty vocal about their other forthcoming plans this summer - possibly to save face from the disastrous free wrist-banding chaos of last summer. We know Hed Kandi has shimmered it's last over there. And according to one island magazine, this column's most avid fan Lynn Cosgrave is taking over bookings for all nights across the venue...we think it more likely that she's actually just taken one other night, a weekly live event bordering on the Ibiza Rocks stylee. Bout time someone did that, although finding live artists that aren't already contracted to IR, Reclaim the Dancefloor, We Love, or Pete Tong might be harder than it seems.

Talking of Pete Tong.... Well actually no. No one is.

I guess that's the most interesting thing about this period... whereby usual gossip would be of the Sanchez or Morillo persuasion, this year the underground have sincerely gone mainstream and what's concerning the coffee shops and dance-floors on island currently is the location of Luciano, or whether Riche Hawtin really will slip out of the Cocoon net and venture solo down to the beach. It's almost as if no-one even cares what dross Amnesia will dredge up this year to fill their Friday slot. Did all the sporadic one-off's and fresh new success stories of last summer really change the shape of the islands nightlife?

Do hope so. Be such a better season all round if so.

Other news and rumour-mill round-up.

	News which is so old it isn't really news any more. Circo Loco is back. Opens end May as usual. Please keep all the VIP tourists out. Hate to be an inverted snob but it's not the same raving next to some dude in a white suit 'Yah yah-ing', and trying to deliver rounds of drinks to 14 D&G dolly birds on the dancefloor.
	News we know but just can't bring ourselves to care about. Ibiza Rocks is expanding its empire across the Balearics and launching Mallorca Rocks this summer to coincide with its weekly concerts here. Yeah. Whatever.
	Worlds worst idea rumour - the news so bad you hope isn't true. El Divino's owner is considering buying Le Masque and moving all his operations there.Let. It. Die. Man. Please.
	News we are just going to close our ears to and hope it's all blown away by June. Funky vocal house is back. Please not another year of ill-informed tech-house jockeys dropping out of date Ministry compilation drivel into the middle of perfectly good sets.  All Funky House DJs were all killed off the the great cull of 2006 for a reason guys. Don't get caught up in a repeat epidemic.

(Everything written above is random rumour-mongering and cheap gossip and iBIzA ViCe would like to emphasis that our relentless meddling like this is what keeps the winds of the island blowing, so stir it up baby, stir it up...)