Apenkooi Mooij Feest has been a steady influence and taste maker in Amsterdam’s nightlife for over eight years now, raising a generation of eletronic music lovers and party people with their recurring events and spin-offs (like Straf_Werk, Open Air and DGTL that are always playful, but with serious attention to the line up. Now the Apenkooi concept has found its way across the Atlantic, all the way to Brasil. Sao Paolo to be precise, for an event carrying names like Jamie Jones, Adriatique & HNQO.
It’s no longer a secret that throughout South America underground dance music is being listened to by tons of young, forward-thinking people. Raphael Carneiro, a Sao Paolo event organizer and DJ/producer, who has been following Apenkooi for the couple of years and decided that he wanted to do just that in his own city. So why not export the Amsterdam concept to a place where it is just as suited, where the sun shines throughout the year and where dancing is a way of life. So this Saturday the first steps of Apenkooi Brasil will take place, in the form of a daytime festival.
The line up promises a mixture of international headliners, local artists and Amsterdam talent as well. Opening at the stroke of noon will be Raphael Carneiro himself. Taking over is Prunk, who on his debut in South-America will bring the Amsterdam flavor to the mix, exuberant rhythms and snarling bass lines rolling from the speakers. Thirdly is one of Germany’s hottest acts of the moment, DJ Tapesh, who is one of the defining artists behind the modern melodic deep house sound, while he has lately altered his sound into something more raw and tougher.
Closing the final afternoon hours before the evening program are Dale Howard and Renato Ratier. Dale has been taking over the scene by storm with releases on labels like Gruuv. Renato Ratier is the one standing out from the line up. The Brasilian-born artist and mastermind/resident behind Sao Paolo’s hugely successful D-Edge club has nearly two decades of experience under his belt, both in the studio as well as behind the decks. His sound can’t be specified to one genre, since Renato has kind of set out his own genre over the years.
During the first hours of the evening the music of HNQO and Adriatique will be heard. HNQO, also a Sao Paolo resident, is known as one of the most sought after remixers in the game, while also keeping more than busy with original releases as well that are drenched in sexuality and soothing female vocals. After HNQO the illustrious duo Adriatique will shake up the place with a two-hour long set. We have had the pleasure of hearing the boys for ourselves at the first edition of Rooftop Sessions and we, together with the entire crowd, were blown away by their performance (as you can see in this video). Bringing the show to its proper ending will be an easy task for Jamie Jones, who will play until midnight.
Next to a rock-steady line up the event will also include a range of typical Brasilian side- and stage-acts that will be a nice distraction from the main stage where all the music happens. All in all, this Saturday will be a very exciting moment for both Apenkooi Brasil and Amsterdam to see if the Sao Paolo crowd will be down with the concept, and to see if there is a future for the organization in Brasil. The first signs are already showing, seeing as the event is nearly sold out, with some tickets being sold at the door on Saturday.
For those feeling the need to dance some more there is the official afterparty at D-Edge.
Jamie Jones | Adriatique | HNQO | Dale Howard | Renato Ratier | Prunk | Raphael Carneiro |
May 10th | Apenkooi Brasil 1st Edition | Tickets | Campo de Marte Airport |
