ADE: More than a Techno Festival
The Curtain Closer to My 2024 Curiosity Trips Series
Standing in a queue in Lisbon, ready to delve into its thriving Batida music scene, I met someone who would go on to alter my perspective. The man in question is, Brian, AKA Prince Pasensi, a Surinamese-Dutch DJ and producer based in Amsterdam who, like me, was on a solo trip exploring the Batida scene and Lisbon’s creative scene beyond.
Brian and I connected and ended up hanging out a few times during the trip. Naturally, many of our conversations revolved around music and Brian asked if I’d ever been to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). My answer was no. From the outside looking in, ADE always seemed to cater to a narrow audience, with its focus on house and techno—genres I appreciate but don’t actively engage with. That’s when Brian shifted my perspective.
For those unfamiliar, Amsterdam Dance Event is an electronic music festival and conference held annually, drawing music lovers together from across the globe. I first heard about it back when I was living in South Africa, where I was more exposed to the techno scene as part of the local music ecosystem. My exposure back then shaped my limited perception of ADE as primarily a techno festival. As my interest in the genre waned, so did my inclination to attend ADE, especially since it also appeared to lack diversity. When Brian brought it up, I was surprised he would recommend it. When I shared my perspective, he acknowledged it was valid but explained that ADE had made significant strides in diversifying its programming. With this insight and my trust in Brian’s taste, I decided to experience it for myself.
While techno remains a mainstay, burgeoning scenes from Amsterdam’s former colonies and other culturally connected countries now take centre stage at ADE. For example, events like Tribes, Sankofa, and Descendants spotlight Southern African sounds, including Amapiano, Afrohouse, Afrotech, Gqom, and Batida. Local talents like State OFFF and Lamsi share the stage with international stars, including South African DJs like Uncle Waffles, Musa Keys, and DJ Lag. If Caribbean dance music is more your speed, events by the Curacao natives' Kurashi collective showcase Bouyon, Shatta, Surinamese sounds and more. Meanwhile, for those seeking to explore the SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) region’s music, Kurdish-duo Chamos has got you covered. With over 1,000 events, this is just the tip of the iceberg and a testament to the richness of Amsterdam nightlife and ADE’s inclusive celebration of it.
ADEs evolution is an insight of its organisation's democratic nature. Walking around Amsterdam, I noticed yellow ADE-branded cubes marking official event venues. I was struck by how widespread it was; virtually any venue could become an official ADE spot. Upon digging deeper, I learned that this was by design, venues, and organisers simply need to apply for recognition, providing details like the lineup, theme, and venue. Organisers can even request funding through the ADE Festival Fund, which supports innovative and culturally valuable electronic music and multimedia projects. This fund fosters experimentation, diversity, and boundary-pushing ideas, contributing significantly to ADE’s evolution and its ability to nurture the local scene.
Experiencing ADE, I couldn’t help but wonder why London doesn’t have a similar platform for its local music scene. Every genre I encountered at ADE has its equivalent in London, albeit not always as thriving. Reflecting on this, I realised there are myriad reasons why London struggles to replicate the ADE model. Firstly, when it comes to dance music, Amsterdam definitely has a healthier scene and ecosystem compared to London. I’d also argue that, compared to London, Amsterdam has more DJs who are also talented producers. Secondly, London’s nightlife scene is in decline, venues are either limited to early closing times or shutting down at an alarming rate, seemingly with no government support in sight to save the night. By contrast, the Dutch government’s backing of ADE is apparent. Amsterdam’s scene maintains close ties with its international counterparts, fostering cultural exchanges that London finds harder to replicate –Visa policies also play a role; a Schengen visa allows access to multiple European countries, making Amsterdam more appealing to foreign talent compared to London’s restrictive UK visa.
All in all, ADE was an incredible experience. And though, as you can tell, I spent a lot of time partying, there were plenty of daytime activities too. Stores like The New Originals hosted daily activations, the streets buzzed with an influx of people, and of course the conferences were also going on during the day. I did not have access to that but there were loads of interesting talks happening throughout, including necessary conversations about the state of dance music, its growth, and its future too. I’m already planning to return next year, glad I met Brian, as I never would’ve considered ADE if it weren’t for that. It was a worthy leap of faith.
This brings an end to my curiosity trips and my final article for the year. If I could leave you with one piece of advice, it would be this: Explore more. If you can afford to travel, do it. It took me going on these curiosity trips to find the inspiration to write again and Lord knows when I would’ve dusted off my pen if it wasn’t for those trips. Meet new people, visit new places, speak to strangers, trust their recommendations, and embrace new perspectives. It’s a beautiful reminder of life’s serendipity. I went to Lisbon on a solo adventure, not knowing what to expect, and met Brian whose shared curiosity opened a door to experiences I never may have considered. There’s also an element of trust here, but considering we met outside a club with the shared interest of tapping into the Batida scene in Lisbon, I knew our musical palettes were in alignment. In a world obsessed with control and taking calculated risks, take more chances. Throw yourself into the unknown.
In 2025, what will be your ADE? Give something a chance that you usually wouldn’t, and see how it just may surprise you.
Thank you, Brian.
Until next year,
Yus