Let's start with the most & only important conclusion: ADE 2016 was the best week in my life as a professional raver! The world’s biggest club festival for dance music and most important business platform for electronic music industry, is also thé best, no doubt about that! From 19/10/2016 till 23/10/2016, edition n°21 of ADE broke new records, with 550 speakers, over 2.200 artists in more than 140 venues, 1000 events and 375.000 visitors. Also the Conference has sold out for the tenth consecutive year.
Better than writing an extended review with too many text, is to give you just an overview of some panels, debates, lectures,... I attended and some flyers & line-ups of showcases, parties, afterparties, raves,... I did. That's really the best way I think to show you that the possibilities and opportunities at ADE are endless.
Wednesday 19/10/2016:
A typical day at ADE for me starts around/in the Felix Meritis & The Dylan Hotel for networking with other people from the music industry. After a few hours of travel I arrived late in the afternoon in Amsterdam so only had time for some small meetings, after I popped in at the Snatch! Showcase (one of the hottest tech-house labels of this moment) with label head Riva Starr in the record store not so far from the Conference was perfect for this. After it was time to relax a bit and to prepare for the night. To start the night you have plenty of choices between the many bars around Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein which all host great label showcases during ADE. My choice on Wednesday was the label party from my belgian colleagues the LouLou Players. Once warmed-up it was time for a proper rave with Pan-Pot and their Second State Label Night at De Marktkantine. And if you still don't have enough like me, you can end the night in one of the many ADE after-parties. I mostly end up in Club NL, a club which is made for proper after-partying in my opinion!
Thursday 20/10/2016:
After a few hours of sleep everybody heads again to the Conference during the day. Networking with the other delegates you know. And some very intersting panels to attend: business keynote by Anthony Saleh about the role of the managers these days, a discussion with Dave Clarke ao about the trouble with taxes, a panel about modern management with Steve King from Safehouse ao, ... and a very funny debate about what artists do all day long.
In the evening it's time for my favourite thing: the pre-party at one of the many bars in Amsterdam, most of them are free, you can still network but in a more relaxed atmosphere and it's perfect to get you in the right party mood for the night. Choice of the evening is the party from We Are E, one of the most important booking agencies in Amsterdam & abroad. After I head again to Club NL for one of the best label parties I did: the spanish Sincopat VS the UK-based Selador, what a great combo! After I head to Pleinvrees at WesterUnie. It's my first time at WesterUnie and I immediately feel I'll come back here. This club has everything: 3 fantastic rooms, a cosy smoking garden and an amazing chill-out area with supercomfortable sofas, wow!
Friday 21/10/2016:
After some sleep, small visit to the Conference because again some very interesting panels: about royalties, rights management, label management,... But I can't stay that long this time, because I had to play 2 sets for one of my output labels: Conic Records. First one was in the late afternoon on a boat, and in the evening on a typical ADE-pre-party in a bar around Leidseplein. My first gigs at ADE, I really enjoyed it a lot! After we continue with the crew to another pre-party at Rembrandtplein from one of the most promising labels from the UK: Chapter 24.
The night that follows is heavy: first saying hello to my friends of Ibiza Global Radio at Club John Doe, then back again at WesterUnie for the Berlin Night (what a combo!!!). After, a short visit to Awakenings to check out one of the stars of ADE: Joris Voorn playing a home match. Ending the night at Komm Schon Alter where the biggest room is hosted by one of my output labels: Parquet Recordings from the mighty Solee.
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Saturday 22/10/2016:
Lack of sleep is now becoming a real problem, so I decide to pop-in only shortly at the ADE NEXT on Saturday which is a-must-do for every young talent or every starting musician in electronic music, really! A small sample of the program says enough: demo-pitch, from bedroom to big room, kickstart your career, promopitch, mastering session, getting your demo signed, making a dance hit in 2016, rough guide to the music industry, finding the best fit for your release,...
But so far the networking for me, from now on I only concentrate on relaxing and party. No better way to do this with Hot Since 82. His label party Kneep Deep In Sound smashed it already during Sonar Off in Pacha Barcelona earlier this year, and also in Amsterdam he did the same, respect!
Sunday 23/10/2016:
Last Day, last after-party, and really one for the wicked! To be fully ready for this one first catched some sleep after Strafwerk, and then all fresh arriving at the most loco party on the planet right now: ELROW. Elrow started in Barcelona, and then conquered Ibiza, first in the Vista Room of Privilege and finally in Space Ibiza. Now they conquer the world, including Amsterdam. And again at WesterUnie! No better way to end the best party week of my life in a great city where I met so many interesting business contacts & partied with so many fantastic people :-)
* written by Pedro Mercado for Rotationz
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* more info & reviews:
http://www.facebook.com/amsterdamdanceevent/
http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/
http://www.decodedmagazine.com/amsterdam-dance-event-2016-wrap-up/
http://www.6am-group.com/ten-things-we-learned-at-ade-2016
http://www.dancingastronaut.com/2016/10/five-days-amsterdam-ade-experience-close-personal/