I like to think of it as Europe’s SXSW. The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) playground is dotted around Amsterdam from the 15th- 19th of October on twenty five locations, from roof-top parties to art galleries. Over five days expect film screenings, music hardware presentations, art shows and exhibitions, exclusive fashion offers, interactive talk shows, promotional activities and pop-up musical performances.

Anyone can attend but it’s of special interest to DJs, VJs, managers, scouts and booking agents, as if offers priceless inspiration and business guidance in electronic music.

You want to go? Me too! How much will it break your Australian bank?

After missing ADE by one week last year, I thought it would be a good idea to investigate how much it will break my piglet bank, in order to get my sorry ass there this year. The website is incredibly user friendly – I have odd fetish with website layout (see inc.com). It allows  you buy tickets ranging from;
– Conference day passes (250 euro)
– To full access passes for 5 days + hotel (910 Euro).

While flights are currently at 1800 (AUD); pending no more plane anomalies this year!

Before you leave Sydney, you can curate your itinerary over the course of the event. It allows you to design this based on acts. venues and what your friends are doing. (I would like to take this opportunity to give be a big shout to all ZERO Facebook friends who are attending.)

So after a lonnggg investigation, and ADE being a short 2 months away, me going this year is HARD no :'( BUT those with a bit of cash in their bank accounts are looking at roughly $3,000 AUD to get you there, sorted with a hotel and the full flexed 5 day bonanza which for the diehard music fan is totally worth the big bucks!

So what about the lineup?

THE LINE-UP

The better portion of the line-up includes fave artists such as Sander Van Doorn, Oliver Helden, Watermat, Andhim, Noir, Claptone, Olivier Schories, Pleasurekraft, Tube & Berger, Shadow Child, Solomun, H.O.S.H, David August, Kollektic Turnmstrasse, Stimming, Adana Twins, Doctor Dru, Isis Salam, Amine Edge and Dance, Blonde, Bohdi, Shift K3y, Lane 8, Karma Kid, Eton Messy’s DJ’s, Pete Thong, MK , Hannah Wants, Fred V & Grafix, The Magician, Lxury, Wildred Giroux, Maceo Plex, Sasha, Bakermat, Green Velvet, Joris Voorn, Hot since 82, Kolsch, Maya Jane Cole, Jamie Jones, Guy Gerber, Deep Dish, Blond:Ish,Seth Troxler, Dubfire, Loco Dice and Ten Walls.

NOW FOR THE CONFERENCE PART

The conference programs explore art, technology, sustainability and music. This includes:

-Legends Michael Land, who co-created the original Woodstock in 1969, and trance icon, Nicky Romereo, have together been creating quite a green music smoothie. They will discuss sustainability and how DJ’s can use their power to effect positive social and environmental change. Pretty impressive stuff! On the other hand, the amount of lighting and electricity pollution from big dance festivals, as well as generally ruining large grassy areas to accommodate thousands of punters is alarming. Something to think about?

-A highlight would be a talk where Eelko van Kooten will be revealing how he and his business partner Roger de Graaf, have made Spinnin’ Records into one of the most powerful label in the electronic world. If you’re unfamiliar with Spinnin’ Records, I cant help you. Sort yo’ shit out. However, if you’re unfamiliar with Mr. Kooten and Mr. Graaf, they were named in Rolling Stone magazine’s ’50 Most Important People In EDM’ list this year. Expect lots of information about how Spinnin’ Records social media is a boomin’.

-As seen with Ta-ku, (as well as every picture on instagram from DJ’s on tour of plane wings landing #vscocam), music and art go hand in hand. Multiple galleries around Amsterdam will showcase how “visual design is an essential part of the music experience,” as well as the connection between music and cover art.  Armin Van Buuren’s, “Armin Only” tour is an exceptional example of this.

-Stop by, “Music Is Not A Game…Is It?” as part of ADE’s Conference. Steve Schnur will be examining how “gaming could eventually be used to train upcoming musicians and help to replace the skill-gap created by the increasing numbers of people choosing not to learn instrumental and compositional skills in traditional ways.” Fun Fact: Mr. Schnur produced the Golden Globe nominated best original song from the movie, Miss Congeniality.

-You can also catch  Seth Troxler chatting about the EDM scene, Oliver Helden’s Q&A and Sweden’s music boom under the microscope and much, much more.

Fingers crossed for the “future of soundcloud/streaming/download” debate! See you there next year 😉