As Amsterdam’s sprawling (and over-crowded) festival season is far from over, many Facebook timelines are already devoted to the, literally, hundreds of events that are expected during this year’s 20th anniversary of Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
The tone is set for this highly anticipated week in October where Amsterdam’s historic city centre will serve as the playground for dance lovers, DJs, club owners, bookers, promoters, manufacturers from the electronic music industry and many other influentials.
The amount of events is staggering with some 400+ performances alone, let alone a week worth of workshops, film screenings, tutorials, technology showcases, and much more. As we sift through the massive affair, we will highlight some of the events we most look forward to. By breaking down each day hopefully we can provide an easy to digest look at the ADE Essentials (listed alphabetically).
Audio Obscura pres. Ellum | Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ | Tickets
Audio Obscura returns to the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ for another Ellum label showcase bringing with them its impressive roster of talent, featuring Agoria, Scuba, Danny Daze, Stephan Bodzin, and more. With, of course, the main man himself, Maceo Plex doing his thing in one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful (and acousticlly-enhanced) venues.
Breakfast Club | Closure | Tickets
The freaks may come out at night, but the real troopers come out after dawn. After last 2 years of ADE madness, Breakfast Club provides three smaller parties with intimacy and bad ass line ups, taking place at the new hotspot, Closure. On the bill are names like Midland, Levon Vincent, Donato Dozzy, Dj Qu and many others. And, as always, they serve delicious high quality food to conquer the morning and dance a glorious day ahead!
David August & Ensemble | Melkweg | Tickets
David August & Ensemble, features a revolving troupe of instrumental musicians performing live improvised and rearranged pieces on-stage with Diynamic electronic music artist David August. Musically the Ensemble traverses a range of styles and sounds, from beatless ambient explorations, to ecstatic walls of sound, leaving the amount of bpm totally open.
Dekmantel | Westergastheater | Tickets
Dekmantel returns to the Westergastheater and North Sea Jazz Club for two dazzling line-ups during this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event. Friday’s event features Delmantel mainstays Ben Klock, Marcel Dettmann, alongside Matrixxman and Function, with North Sea Jazz Club featuring the likes of Ryan Elliot vs Makam, Joey Anderson, and more.
DGTL pres. Paradise | Scheepsbouwloods | Tickets
No one tips the solid, all-encompassing house sound that Jamie Jones has globalized over the last five years with the traveling Paradise show, where Jones and partners in crime go on an all-out bang, with dirty bass lines bound to tremble the dance floor and Chicago-styled hi hats ringing your eardrums. For DGTL’s ADE extravaganza Jamie Jones will be joined by two highly acclaimed guests, Jackmaster and Eats Everything, and of course nothing but the finest contributors to his label: Richy Ahmed, Patrick Topping, wAFF, Denney and Russ Yallop.
Enter.Amsterdam | Mediahaven | Tickets
In the centre of Amsterdam located in the Houthaven lays Mediahaven. The stunning location made its debut in Amsterdam’s nightlife last year during ADE 2014 and this year is poised to be an ADE hotspot. Bringing Richie Hawtin‘s famed Enter. concept to Amsterdam for its inaugural Netherlands edition, the Minus boss will be joined by a who’s who of dance heavyweights: Dubfire, Hot Since 82, Gaiser, Matador, and more.
Keinemusik & Pets | Chicago Social Club | Tickets
Keinemusik & Pets Recordings are back for a special ADE collaboration. Expect the all the usual suspects form both labels on the Friday of ADE at the Chicago Social Club, including Catz ‘N Dogz, &ME, Adam Port, David Mayer, Beesmunt Sondsystem, and more.
MN2S pres. Kaoz Theory | Sugar Factory | Tickets
International music and talent booking agency MN2S present Kaoz Theory ADE Special at Sugarfactory. This event is part of MN2S’s 20th anniversary celebrations, as well as a celebration of the Kerri Chandler run deep house label. With the likes of Detroit Swindle, and DJ W!LD (amongst others) joining the man himself, the intimate confines of Sugar Factory should play right into the labels’ communal feel.
Pleinvrees & Straf_Werk | WFC | Tickets
Pleinvrees & STRAF_WERK team up once again for an unforgettable ADE adventure. We invited two very special label showcases on Friday: SUOL and Gui Boratto‘s newly formed D.O.C. Records. The impressive lineup not only highlights two of our favourite local crews, as well as labels, but also features several DHA friends.
Seth Troxler All Night Long (DJ:Kicks Launch Party) | Closure | Tickets
Closure is a nightclub in its purest form. Open minded, Funktion One sound system, minimalistic lighting and a dance floor layered around the DJ-booth in a club that is literally underground. This is where contemporary electronic music roams freely, and where artists known and (yet) unknown, local and international get the space to explore musical territories. On Friday, non other than Seth Troxler will be handling DJ duties all night, in celebration of his instalment in the DJ-Kicks series of mixtapes.
ZeeZout ADE – Garden Special | Undercurrent | Tickets
After 2 sold-outs years in a row ZeeZout is back at ADE, this time hosting a 4-day extravaganza. With quality line-up’s, an intimate venue and a big soundsystem throughout, Friday’s Garden Special event with a live performance from KiNK, as well as DJ sets from Prosumer, Tamo Sumo, and more,