Amsterdam Dance Event 2015: The Party GuideAde 260815

Amsterdam Dance Event 2015: The Party Guide

Amsterdam Dance Event 2015: The Party Guide

More than two decades old and still drawing industry folk and avid fans from every corner of the globe, it’s festival segment has become an increasingly essential spotlight for talents established and fresh on the mark. It’s 2015 edition perfectly reflects the shifts and turns in taste happening across the industry. Whilst still favouring its motherland’s rich and plentiful talent pool, an increased presence in international artists shows where Amsterdam Dance Event is still an opportune place to take the pulse of the electronic dance world. You’re going to be spoilt for choice once again, so here’s Dancing Astronaut’s essential pitstops you should be making for the duration of the festival.

Check out the full schedule on Amsterdam Dance Event’s official website.

Kraak & Smaak

Where: Melkweg

When: Wednesday October 14

The Score? Kraak & Smaak have long been the golden boys of Holland’s indie dance circuit. What’s more, the trio now boasts an incredible live accompaniment to their already impressive career of solid full-length albums and standalone crossover singles. No strangers to ADE’s festival circuit, Kraak & Smaak will be on hand once again to run through their artillery of polished singles and career highlights, with UK newcomers Ephemerals playing support to an essential blast of live dance finesse from The Netherland’s worst kept secrets.

HI:TEC Presents – Toolroom ADE special

Where:

When: Wednesday October 14

What’s the story? If 2014 was a year of change for Mark Knight and his gang at Toolroom Records, 2015 was the year it truly came to fruition. Still boasting a who’s who roster of house and tech luminaries, the UK label turned globally renowned clubbing brand is making up for their absence from last year’s proceedings in a serious way. Secondcity, Technasia and Mendo join seasoned label staples Weiss, Adrian Hour and Knight himself among others, once again showing where the long-serving brand continues to hold face for top tier house talents both household and imported.

Awakenings Presents: Carl Cox & Friends

Where: Gasshouder

When: Friday October 16

What’s the story? Time has told that renowned British techno legend Carl Cox is not short of friends. Off the heels of a whirlwind season in Ibiza and an ongoing presence as one of the genre’s favoured tastemakers, Awakenings welcomes back the ADE favourite alongside a mouthwatering array of industry peers. Calling on INTEC cohort Jon Rundell, techno’s leading lady Nicole Moudaber and beloved New York staples The Martinez Brothers, Joseph Capriati and Yves compliment an otherwise seamless line-up sure to whet the appetites of anyone looking to ditch the hard style kicks and jagged synths more commonly associated with the city’s musical exploits.

Diynamic Showcase at Loveland

Where: Mediahaven

When: Wednesday October 14

What’s the story? Diynamic are one of the weirdest musical families on the circuit, but they continue to push the envelope with a flawless roster of acts. The label’s own pioneering underground stalwart Solomun stands front of house for their return to Amsterdam for 2015, brining with him the likes of Adriatique, Karmon and NTFO to show the wider spectrum of the collectives sound. If you’re anything like us and Solomun’s Zora EP was up their among your favourites for 2015 then this one’s a no brainer, but there’s far more to the Diynamic family than meets the eye.

All Gone Pete Tong

Where: AIR

When: Thursday October 15

What’s the story? The All Gone Pete Tong concept has remained an essential weapon to the undisputed king of BBC Radio One’s dance music programming. Back once again with perhaps his most eclectic line-up within the city to date, Tong has wasted no time in tapping into some of the finer shades of European dance music for ADE’s 2015 sitting. Danish heavyweight Kölsch holds the top of the bill alongside the knighted broadcasting legend himself, with Sante & Sidney Charles representing the AVOTRE movement with a back-to-back appearance. Add Kidnap Kid and PBR Streetgang and the billing is one befitting of someone who’s ear and eye continue to hold weight far beyond the UK airwaves.

Barong Family Label Night

Where: Bitterzoet

When:Thursday October 15

What’s the story? The story of the Barong Family started with thrashy A-side ‘Lick Dat,’ but has since exploded into one of the most important trap collectives this side of the pond. Led by Euro trap legends Yellow Claw, the trio plays its hottest cards for this celebration of chaotic music making serious waves on the global circuit. With Wiwek representing his signature Jungle Terror sound and Moksi brandishing their bass-savvy modern house getup, such heavy footed additions as Cesqeaux paint the bigger picture for where Barong are making a lot of positive noise. You’re going to be spoilt for choice where the next generation of Dutch talent is concerned, but Barong’s inaugural label night is a safe bet where the future of its sound is concerned.

100% Pure X Rejected X Inacto

Where: Dido Events

When: Sunday October 18

What’s the story? One of the many charms of Amsterdam Dance Event is having so many prolific forces all in the city. Stick three of the most accomplished underground imprints in one room and you finally have a view of why the festival continues to prove an essential pitstop to industry folk and punters alike. Headed by 100% Pure’s commander in chief 2000 and One, label staple Jay Lumen accompanies to firmly bridge the gap in modern tech house and techno. Rejected’s Edwin Oosterwal and UK staple Reset Robot are also along for the ride, adding to an eclectic and enthralling showcase of underground dance music from across the European front.

Oliver Heldens Presents: Heldeep

Where: Paradiso

When: Wednesday October 14

What’s the story? A young face in the crowd, Oliver Helden’s debut hosting duties are a pretty strong sign of how far the Dutch prospect has come since unleashing ‘Gecko’ on the unsuspecting industry. Taking the reigns of Paradiso for one night only, the addition of seasoned veterans Junior Sanchez and Chocolate Puma say everything you need to know about the level of respect Heldens has earned with his short but impactful career. Bart B More, Watermat and Curbi join to keep things eclectic, but Heldeep is an unapologetic celebration of a precedent setting breakout who has found a loud and proud voice within the commercial house gold rush.

EPIC X Ultra Night

Where: Supperclub Cruise

When: Wednesday October 14

What’s the story? There’s been a fair bit happening for Sony cohorts EPIC and Ultra Music this year. To celebrate, the powerhouse brands are linking up to set sail with a host of talents from their mutual rosters sourced from new and exciting pastures on the electronic dance circuit.  Where Netsky represents a more familiar talent for the European ranks, the likes of PANG!, Bearson and 99 Souls show a welcome focus on some of the budding talents emerging from these reliable camps. If floating festival antics are on your to-do list, you could do a lot worse than this soundtrack.

Suara

Where: Panama

When: Friday October 16

What’s the story? There may be ‘bigger’ nights happening at Amsterdam Dance Event for 2015, but Suara’s congregation of underground heavyweights is by far one of its most important. Led by cat loving luminary Coyu himself, the label seamlessly collects some of its finest contributors from across the continent for a who’s who of house, techno and tech house artists under their infamous umbrella. Tube & Berger join for a special addition to the line-up, with long-serving titans Dosem, Yousef and Reboot joining such fresher imprint cohorts as Jeremy Olander and Ramiro Lopez. That’s a lot of heat under one roof, but it’s true to a brand single handedly redefining the landscape for underground club music in 2015. 

Fat Kids Eat Cake Showcase with DJ EZ

Where:Chicago Social Club

When:Wednesday October 14

What’s the story? To watch DJ EZ perform is like falling in love with the art of turntablism all over again. Renowned for his epic extended sets and high octane mix etiquette, there is not a credible media outlet or tastemaker that hasn’t tipped the UK pioneer as one of the world’s most consistently mesmerising performers of modern dance music. Chicago Social Club welcomes U Know The Drill and Mitchell Kelly as adequate musical aperitifs, but you are unlikely to see a more skilfully orchestrated set at ADE than from EZ. 

Axwell /Ingrosso

Where: Heineken Music Hall

When: Friday October 16

What’s the story? To many, Axwell /\ Ingrosso have remained an essential conciliation prize to the untimely parting of Swedish House Mafia. The knack for taking electronic music into the bigger arenas has lived on through this project, making their rare but well received return to Amsterdam an important pitstop for big room fanatics and nostalgic SHM fans alike. With no shortage of crossover vocal anthems and sharpened instrumental cuts to their collective namesake, Heineken Music Hall is a rare but wonderful opportunity to see the duo outside of the festival environment and back on Dutch soil for one of the biggest artist-led shows of the festival.

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