As the doors close on yet another year at ADE, the When We Dip family looks back on the festivities with fond eyes. Over the past twenty years, ADE has grown into a globally renowned platform for the international dance and electronic music scene. The festival is situated in the perfect city, which assumes the ideal place to spot the latest musical trends and emerging talents, as well as gifting music lovers the chance to hear the most recent works of both electronic music pioneers and current tastemaker acts. 2016 may well have been the most impressive year to date, no need to trust us though, even one Maceo Plex echoed the sentiment (Btw check out a clip from his B2B set with Solar below).
Audio Obscura x Ellum at ADE
ADE 16 demonstrated an awesome capacity for execution as the burgeoning conference and its related activities took over the city in supreme style, offering everyone from artists and agents to managers and label owners a feast of activity and opportunities to learn and connect. The main conference assumed its position once more at the central hub; the Felix Meritas and the Dylan Hotel, while a more affordable collection of ADE Playground events returned, spanning across the clubs, venues and culture spots of the sprawling metropolis.
No.19 Music co-founder Nitin gives an insight his typical day-to-day routine
The likes of Miami, IMS, BPM and more offer occasions to make one’s mark but Amsterdam undoubtedly hosts the leading entity for fuelling music business in underground electronic music and for examining the work behind the parties. Daytime talks delved into intriguing elements such as the day to day errands of a top DJs like Eats Everything and Nitin, and the essential ingredients of a “hydro-headed” modern-day manager, while Sounds labs gave budding producers the chance to pick up techniques from the likes of Matador and Richie Hawtin. The descent of the sun brought a plethora of boogie moments in an ensemble of captivating venues. Choosing our top 5 moments was not an easy task but we made a play for the occasion that’s in it!
When We Dip – Top Five Moments from ADE 2016
5. All Day I Dream of Amsterdam at De Hallen
Lee Burridge and co. brought the All Day I Dream vibe to Amsterdam for the very first time this year. Joined by Lost Desert and Gorje Hewek & Izhevski, they proceeded to lay down an afternoon and evening on exquisite vibes, providing the perfect music acommpaniment to the immaculately decorated venue. Their reputation came well before them and the crowd turned up in big numbers. All the better was the occasion as the post-party munch was just a stone’s throw away, De Hallen renowned foodhall offered an amazing array of stalls to nournish the tired troops – itself a sight to see and taste for itself. Hats off to Jabugo Bar Iberico and Taqueria taco stand for feeding the WWD family in serious splendour.
All Day I Dream made their ADE debut at De Hallen.
Photo: ©Katja Rupp
4. WWD Showcase with Chapter 24 Records
We couldn’t leave this one out 😉 October 21st saw the debut WWD showcase in Amsterdam in collaboration with one of the UK’s finest young labels; Chapter 24 Records. Taking over the perfectly situated Bar Feijoa, the likes of Miyagi, Kora, Patlac, Miss Melera, Stonehouse, Sam Pauli and more treated a packed house to an onslaught of dancefloor delights rolling through the electornic outback from deep melodic groovers to synth-laden, bass heavy dingers.
3. Do Not Sit on the Furniture
Behrouz stole the spotlight on Thursday night, bringing his budding Do Not Sit On The Furniture brand to A’dam Toren, the monster tower behind Amsterdam’s Central Station, which was lit up in yellow for the ADE festivities. Shooting all the way up to the 20th floor on the elevator, people we’re welcomed into party paradise – a glass enclosed floor offering not only top quality sound and stellar cuts but the finest view upon the city that any venue could provide. Hometown hero Jan Blomquist fired up the crowd before the main man Behrouz took onlookers grooving to the finish.
2. Drumcode & Awakenings at the Gashouder
Our yearly visit to the venerated kingdom of techno that is the Gashouder also proved to be a momentous occasion. With the Awakenings crew once more curating a delicious lineup over 5 nights we managed to fit an evening with Adam Beyer and his Drumcode crew into our nightly itinerary. With powerhouse performances from the likes of Dense & Pika, Nicole Moudaber and Adam Beyer, we were once more reminded of just how special a venue the Gashouder is. And of course a night with the Awakenings crew wouldn’t be complete without the MC talents of the brand’s founder Rocco, whose loud bursts of excitement make sure to let you know you’re on hallowed dance music ground. As the man himself loudly proclaimed “No one fucks with Awakenings!!”
1. Circo Loco & Loveland at Mediahaven
Renowned DC10 party Circo Loco combined with a Dutch titan in its own right: Loveland (hosts of the prestigious Amsterdam techno festival of the same name) to bring a fiery end to our ADE adventure. Seth Troxler and The Martinez Brothers marshalled the proceedings with a hypnotic B2B that left little nothing on the table. Loveland, hosts at Mediahaven for the week, executed an exquisite evening, and early morning… operating the enormous venue seemingly with ease. They know how to throw a party!
Seth Troxler & The Martinez Brothers set the dance-floor alight at Mediahaven
More info: http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl