In a similar fashion to Sonar festival in Barcelona, Amsterdam Dance Event or ADE, which runs from October 17th-21st, has risen to become the largest electronic music festival and business conference in the world, and just like Sonar it has also enveloped a whole city in the process. However, ADE has a slightly different feel to it, the official program of events has a much more structured texture and the wealth of industry based panel talks, workshops, tech demonstrations and associated events make ADE unmissable for the clubber and those already working in the industry.
Like Sonar, ADE also has an immeasurable amount of fringe or off parties and as you might expect from a 5-day music conference it is hard to choose which events to attend, so we have done the hard work and narrowed it down to just 5 to get you started…
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FREE YOUR MIND FESTIVAL
Taking place at Thuis haven,one of Amsterdam’s premier indoor/outdoor festival areas on Thursday, October 18th is a
beautiful meeting of minds between Hernan Cattaneo’s Sud Beat imprint, Nick WarrensThe Soundgarden and Audiofly’s Flying Circus party series and they could not be more made for each other. Performing a very special all day long set will be label heads Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren whose progressive and melodic styles perfectly complement each other. Also on the line-up is Graziano Raffa, Gustin, Interaxxis, Marcelo Vasami, Mariano, Mellino, Nick Varon, Atish, Blond:ish, Tal Ohana and Unders completes the party. This sprawling event will also mark Free Your Mind’s 15thanniversary celebrations, so there will be plenty to look forward to.
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VBX
Dutch record label and promoter VBX have announced some of the most interesting parties of ADE, decidedly underground but curated so well that you won’t know which party to put at the top of your list. To make it a bit easier we will run down each of the parties in chronological order.
Their Thursday night (October 18th) party at Bret belongs to tINI and her gang and boy do they know how to throw a party. tINI will be playing B2B with good friend and equally fine selector Molly, also on the bill is Russian rising star Makcim, Pelle and Roon. With Amsterdam’s heavily relaxed closing times this party starts at 11pm and runs until 8am.
The Friday night party at Warehouse Elementenstraat is perhaps the biggest in VBX’s ADE program as it features sets from RicardoVillalobos, Seth Troxler, Zip, Sonja Moonear, Steve Rachmad, Nicolas Lutz and Spokenn (Ferro and Reiss). Almost as a continuation of the Friday night party, the focus shifts back to Bret where the party keeps going on Saturday morning. Starting at 7am and running until 7pm will see after hours sets from Apollonia artist Dyed Soundorom, Voigtmann, MaxVaahs, Makcim and Reiss. This one is for the pro level party heads.
If you are still alive come Saturday evening then VBX will be taking over one of Amsterdam’s finest clubs – Shelter and they will be putting on a suitably massive party to round out an ADE outing that is estimated to be nothing short of stunning. Headlining will be two Romanian artists that consistently drop jaws both singularly and collectively and they are Praslesh aka Raresh and Praslea, they will be joined by Japanese legend Fumiya Tanaka, Francescodel Garda, VBX man Ferro and Kristina.
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ON IT LABEL SHOWCASE
Taking place at The Box, a relative newcomer to Amsterdam’s music scene on Friday, October 19th is a showcase from Manchester underground house and techno label ON IT. As well as securing an exciting industrial venue in The Box, ON IT have also confirmed the ADE exclusive of one of dance music’s most captivating stars – Green Velvet. The “La La Land” star has etched his name and sultry voice in to the mind of almost every clubber worth their salt and an exclusive set from the man himself is definitely worth checking out. He won’t be alone though, hell no. Joining him will be label boss Onyva, Umek, Julian Jeweil, Technasia B2B Dennis Cruz, Dosem, Mihalis Safras, Wally Lopez as well as a host of talented artists from the UK and further afield. As is the Amsterdam way, the party starts early and runs until the wee small hours (10pm to 8am), so make sure you are packing your comfiest dancing shoes.
DOCKYARDS X MYSTIC GARDEN
Possibly one of the biggest events taking place during ADE and with a heavy duty line up of house and techno artists from almost every corner of the dance spectrum Dockyards X Mystic Garden on Saturday, October20th is an obvious, yet very smart choice. Boasting 6 stages, 3 from Dockyards and 3 from Mystic Garden, it is 2 festivals rolled in to one. On one side you have Dockyards, which has a full-on Cocoon stage playing host to boss man Sven Vath, Dana Ruh and LenFaki amongst others. Also on the Dockyards part of the yard is Machine, which brings a serious techno line up including Ben Sims, Blawan and Robert Hood’s Floor plan. Finally, from Dockyard is Paco Osuna’s Mindshake Records and he will be drafting in French trio Apollonia, FerBR B2B Dela, Cuarteroand special guest Technasia.
Over on the other side of the yard is the Mystic Garden crew and they also have 3 stages bursting with international heroes. First up is A.T.E. and that involves sets from AndresCampo, Eats Everything, Frank Storm, Gregor Tresher (live), Matador, Skream and wAFF. Next is a techno heavy showcase Gem Records with huge names such as Christian Smith, Enrico Sanguilano, Luigi Madonna, Nakadia, Pig & Dan, Ramon Tapia, Secret Cinema and SQL. Lastly, and this stage is not for the feint hearted is Terminal One. Headlining is Dave ClarkeB2B Mr Jonesaka _Unsubscribe_, Dispar, Joran van Pol, Markantonio B2B Roberto Capuano, Mirella Kroes and the The Advent vs. Industrialyzer (live). When you couple all these top artists with some of the week’s finest production you have perhaps the standout event of ADE.
AWAKENINGS ADE BY DAY
No trip to ADE would be complete without experiencing an Awakenings party at the other worldly Gashouder. Awakenings ADE by Dayon Sunday, October 21st is a party unlike few others at ADE and indeed the world. Taking place in the ultra-industrial surroundings of Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek gasworks complex, Gashouder plays host to some of the year’s most raucous parties and ADE by Day is no exception. With a line-up of heavy hitters from the very beginning, this is a party you do not want to arrive fashionably late to.
Kicking off the party is rising Dutch star Ferro who is making a real name for himself, he will then be followed by Peggy Gou, Kolsch, Luciano, Sven Väthand then a special closing set from Âme & Rødhåd. When attending a party at Gashouder the music being played is only one, all be it very important factor, but when you throw in to the mix fireworks screaming past just above your head (or so it seems), massive fountains of smoke billowing down from all corners of the massive ceiling, mind bending visuals, a thunderous sound system and of course the intoxicating atmosphere, this is a party that will stay with you until the very end. As the name suggests, this is an early start and the mayhem kicks off at midday and keeps going until 10pm.
Like Sonar, ADE also has an immeasurable amount of fringe or off parties and as you might expect from a 5-day music conference it is hard to choose which events to attend, so we have done the hard work and narrowed it down to just 5 to get you started…
FREE YOUR MIND FESTIVAL
Taking place at Thuis haven,one of Amsterdam’s premier indoor/outdoor festival areas on Thursday, October 18th is a
beautiful meeting of minds between Hernan Cattaneo’s Sud Beat imprint, Nick WarrensThe Soundgarden and Audiofly’s Flying Circus party series and they could not be more made for each other. Performing a very special all day long set will be label heads Hernan Cattaneo and Nick Warren whose progressive and melodic styles perfectly complement each other. Also on the line-up is Graziano Raffa, Gustin, Interaxxis, Marcelo Vasami, Mariano, Mellino, Nick Varon, Atish, Blond:ish, Tal Ohana and Unders completes the party. This sprawling event will also mark Free Your Mind’s 15thanniversary celebrations, so there will be plenty to look forward to.
VBX
Dutch record label and promoter VBX have announced some of the most interesting parties of ADE, decidedly underground but curated so well that you won’t know which party to put at the top of your list. To make it a bit easier we will run down each of the parties in chronological order.
Their Thursday night (October 18th) party at Bret belongs to tINI and her gang and boy do they know how to throw a party. tINI will be playing B2B with good friend and equally fine selector Molly, also on the bill is Russian rising star Makcim, Pelle and Roon. With Amsterdam’s heavily relaxed closing times this party starts at 11pm and runs until 8am.
The Friday night party at Warehouse Elementenstraat is perhaps the biggest in VBX’s ADE program as it features sets from RicardoVillalobos, Seth Troxler, Zip, Sonja Moonear, Steve Rachmad, Nicolas Lutz and Spokenn (Ferro and Reiss). Almost as a continuation of the Friday night party, the focus shifts back to Bret where the party keeps going on Saturday morning. Starting at 7am and running until 7pm will see after hours sets from Apollonia artist Dyed Soundorom, Voigtmann, MaxVaahs, Makcim and Reiss. This one is for the pro level party heads.
If you are still alive come Saturday evening then VBX will be taking over one of Amsterdam’s finest clubs – Shelter and they will be putting on a suitably massive party to round out an ADE outing that is estimated to be nothing short of stunning. Headlining will be two Romanian artists that consistently drop jaws both singularly and collectively and they are Praslesh aka Raresh and Praslea, they will be joined by Japanese legend Fumiya Tanaka, Francescodel Garda, VBX man Ferro and Kristina.
ON IT LABEL SHOWCASE
Taking place at The Box, a relative newcomer to Amsterdam’s music scene on Friday, October 19th is a showcase from Manchester underground house and techno label ON IT. As well as securing an exciting industrial venue in The Box, ON IT have also confirmed the ADE exclusive of one of dance music’s most captivating stars – Green Velvet. The “La La Land” star has etched his name and sultry voice in to the mind of almost every clubber worth their salt and an exclusive set from the man himself is definitely worth checking out. He won’t be alone though, hell no. Joining him will be label boss Onyva, Umek, Julian Jeweil, Technasia B2B Dennis Cruz, Dosem, Mihalis Safras, Wally Lopez as well as a host of talented artists from the UK and further afield. As is the Amsterdam way, the party starts early and runs until the wee small hours (10pm to 8am), so make sure you are packing your comfiest dancing shoes.
DOCKYARDS X MYSTIC GARDEN
Possibly one of the biggest events taking place during ADE and with a heavy duty line up of house and techno artists from almost every corner of the dance spectrum Dockyards X Mystic Garden on Saturday, October20th is an obvious, yet very smart choice. Boasting 6 stages, 3 from Dockyards and 3 from Mystic Garden, it is 2 festivals rolled in to one. On one side you have Dockyards, which has a full-on Cocoon stage playing host to boss man Sven Vath, Dana Ruh and LenFaki amongst others. Also on the Dockyards part of the yard is Machine, which brings a serious techno line up including Ben Sims, Blawan and Robert Hood’s Floor plan. Finally, from Dockyard is Paco Osuna’s Mindshake Records and he will be drafting in French trio Apollonia, FerBR B2B Dela, Cuarteroand special guest Technasia.
Over on the other side of the yard is the Mystic Garden crew and they also have 3 stages bursting with international heroes. First up is A.T.E. and that involves sets from AndresCampo, Eats Everything, Frank Storm, Gregor Tresher (live), Matador, Skream and wAFF. Next is a techno heavy showcase Gem Records with huge names such as Christian Smith, Enrico Sanguilano, Luigi Madonna, Nakadia, Pig & Dan, Ramon Tapia, Secret Cinema and SQL. Lastly, and this stage is not for the feint hearted is Terminal One. Headlining is Dave ClarkeB2B Mr Jonesaka _Unsubscribe_, Dispar, Joran van Pol, Markantonio B2B Roberto Capuano, Mirella Kroes and the The Advent vs. Industrialyzer (live). When you couple all these top artists with some of the week’s finest production you have perhaps the standout event of ADE.
AWAKENINGS ADE BY DAY
No trip to ADE would be complete without experiencing an Awakenings party at the other worldly Gashouder. Awakenings ADE by Dayon Sunday, October 21st is a party unlike few others at ADE and indeed the world. Taking place in the ultra-industrial surroundings of Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek gasworks complex, Gashouder plays host to some of the year’s most raucous parties and ADE by Day is no exception. With a line-up of heavy hitters from the very beginning, this is a party you do not want to arrive fashionably late to.
Kicking off the party is rising Dutch star Ferro who is making a real name for himself, he will then be followed by Peggy Gou, Kolsch, Luciano, Sven Väthand then a special closing set from Âme & Rødhåd. When attending a party at Gashouder the music being played is only one, all be it very important factor, but when you throw in to the mix fireworks screaming past just above your head (or so it seems), massive fountains of smoke billowing down from all corners of the massive ceiling, mind bending visuals, a thunderous sound system and of course the intoxicating atmosphere, this is a party that will stay with you until the very end. As the name suggests, this is an early start and the mayhem kicks off at midday and keeps going until 10pm.