Parties, Panels and Pro Tips: 23 Things You Can’t Miss at the 2023 Amsterdam Dance Event

Whether you're trying to chase the biggest DJ sets, discover the underground sounds of tomorrow or seek out the best insights the electronic music industry can offer, the Amsterdam Dance Event is your skeleton key to every door.

Our community is abuzz ahead of this year's edition of ADE, the world's leading electronic music summit, which returns to Amsterdam from October 18-22. And between its Lab, Pro, Festival and Arts & Culture programs, ADE is once again offering a veritable smorgasbord of innovation and live music.

There are enough events to make even the most experienced ADE veteran's head spin, so we dug deep into the programming to highlight various must-attend parties, panels and more. Read on to discover 23 events you can't miss at ADE 2023, in no particular order.

And if you'd like to connect with the EDM.com team in Amsterdam, RSVP to our "EDM.com & Friends" show with Nostalgix, Dzeko and more. You can also head over to the ADE edition of our "Insider Access: Global Networking Event" series, our annual networking event and demo drop designed to unite electronic music enthusiasts from all walks of life.

Tomorrowland Expo

Location: De Rode Hoed | Keizersgracht 102, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 18-20, 10:00 - 20:00
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Celebrate 20 years of Tomorrowland in the heart of Amsterdam!

Discover the journey of Tomorrowland from its humble beginnings to a global phenomenon, and take a trip down memory lane. Experience the magic of Tomorrowland's iconic moments and dive into the artwork of the 2023 'Adscendo' theme by The Great Library Studios.

Grab a glass of Solo Vida in the Bar for networking opportunities, and talk with music industry specialists.

Check In at HBO's The White Lotus

Location: Felix Meritis (Shaffyzaal) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 18, 14:00 - 14:45
Lineup: Cristobal Tapia de Veer (Composer, The White Lotus), Jon Weigell (Rolling Stone)
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Discover the secrets behind the viral sound of HBO Series The White Lotus with composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer.

Jungle sounds, hissing snakes, pan flutes, a roaring bass and chilling screams. If there is a soundtrack that captures the atmosphere of the series well (and also keeps ringing in your head for weeks), it is the score of The White Lotus, composed by Canadian Cristobal Tapia de Veer. He will appear as a keynote speaker at the BMIM x ADE Conference. The music not only plays a major role in the background in this hit series. The soundtrack of The White Lotus has one of the leading roles. The music creates the alienating and oppressive atmosphere, increases the tension and is supplemented where necessary by animal sounds. The soundtrack contributes relentlessly to the message of this dark and wry series.

DGTL ADE

Location: NDSM Warehouse | NDSM-Plein 85, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 21:00 - 05:00
Artists: Bicep, Dixon, Stephan Bodzin, More
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On Thursday, October 19th, we’re kicking off our ADE extravaganza with a heavy-hitting lineup of deeper and melodic sounds. Italo, house and disco deep cuts will be brought to you by none other than Bicep, and Stephan Bodzin will blow the roof off of the NDSM Warehouse with his driving, hypnotic and melodic sounds. Few artists walk the line between past and future as well as Dixon, so we’re very excited this pioneer will be joining our celebration.

The fun doesn’t stop there, as we also welcome Amsterdam’s own Nedda Sou to our DGTL festivities, who will show us her unmatchable ability to unite people in and outside the club under one groove. Also joining us is boundary pushing creative moniker Coloray, no stranger to DGTL.

Make sure you’re wearing your dancing shoes, standing still won’t be an option during this opening night.

Cercle x W Hotels

Location: W Amsterdam | Spuistraat 175, 1012 VN Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 18-21,
Lineup: Mochakk, Indira Paganotto, Mind Against, Chloé Caillet, LP Giobbi, More
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Uniting the worlds of electronic music and luxury hospitality, W Hotels and Cercle are gearing up to unveil the next iteration of their partnership through a four-day takeover at Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). Furthering their joint mission to provide music lovers with extraordinary experiences around the globe, W and Cercle will make waves at ADE through an immersive exploration into the deeper meanings of music. The collaboration will showcase not only the monumental growth of the electronic music industry, but how W Hotels has harnessed this momentum to shape the next chapter of luxury travel through a sonic lens. W Amsterdam, an embodiment of historic Dutch architecture and avant garde design will emerge as the epicenter of this year's conference from October 18 - 21.

Over the span of four days, W Hotels and Cercle will offer ADE attendees access to exclusively curated music experiences, intimate artist interactions and sets from some of the world's top DJ talent including Gordo, EYNKA, Matisa, Mind Against, Chloé Caillet, LP Giobbi and more. A collective of both emerging and globally revered artists will converge between performances at W Amsterdam to host a variety of panels filled with interactive artistic discourse that provides an insider perspective on the music industry's path forward.

20 Years of Armada Music: How to Stay Relevant

Location: Felix Meritis (Zuilenzaal) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 20, 14:45 - 15:30
Lineup: Armin van Buuren, Maykel Piron, Nadine van Bodegraven, Renske van Kollenburg
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As Amsterdam-, New York- and London- based independent label Armada Music celebrates 20 years in dance music, this is your chance to gain unparalleled insights into how the biggest independent dance label in the world has navigated rapid growth, embraced innovation and stayed ahead of the curve across two decades.

Learn how to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry with co-founders Armin van Buuren and Maykel Piron (also CEO), and Nadine van Bodegraven, COO of BEAT Music Fund, the first dance music investment company founded by Armada Music.Whether you're a seasoned industry professional or an emerging talent, this session promises tools, strategies and insights to future-proof a career in dance music.

demo:drop Do's and Don'ts with Nicky Romero & Jorik van de Pol

Location: Brakke Grond (Boom Box) | Nes 45, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 14:45 - 15:45
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Ever wondered why your demo hasn't been picked up after sending it out to hundreds of labels? Don't get demotivated! Most of the time, it's not about your creativity or productional skills, but about the fact that your work, and most importantly, your way of approaching an A&R, needs to stand out from the huge demo-drop crowd. A true skill you need to develop! In this educational masterclass, Protocol label owner and artist Nicky Romero and A&R director Jorik van de Pol spill the secrets on perfecting the art of demo pitching, having been on both sides of the blade.

If you feel confident or are curious about your tactics, share your demo to [email protected], the way you would normally reach out to a label and expect to discover the intricacies of submitting your demo effectively, uncovering the essential do's and don'ts, and receive valuable insights on crafting compelling emails. Yes, your work will be used on stage as a case-study, and reviewed by Nicky Romero & Jorik!

After all that knowledge sharing, the two might shift focus for a bit and share some valuable feedback on the demo's that have been shared on a music production level... An opportunity to not miss out on!

The US Tech/House Scene: What's In It for You?

Location: Felix Meritis (Koepelzaal) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 13:15 - 14:00
Lineup: Carissa Szlosek (Prodigy Artists), DJ Susan, Kaysin, Sherm
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Tech house is a subgenre of house music fusing elements of techno (rugged basslines) and house (harmonies/vocals) - Fisher, John Summit, Green Velvet, and Solardo are just a few examples of where the sound comes from, and where it is today. During this session, featuring reps from several top Tech/House labels from the US, the conversation will focus on how to start a relationship with US labels, how to develop a fanbase, organize successful events, and grow profitable relationships with the US. The main focus of the discussion will be built around how foreign labels/artists can break into the booming American Tech/House market.

Monkey Project

Location: Loft Amsterdam | Overhoeksplein 1, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 20, 23:59 - 05:00
Lineup: BLOND:ISH, Franky Rizardo. LP Giobbi, WhoMadeWho
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Prepare for an extraordinary night of music and dancing as Monkey Project proudly presents 'BLOND:ISH & Friends' at the iconic A'DAM The Loft, in the heart of Amsterdam!

Friday, October 20th, the city's vibrant electronic music scene will come alive as we team up with the spectacular BLOND:ISH, to bring you our epic lineup featuring Franky Rizardo, LP Giobbi, and WhoMadeWho! Get ready to elevate your experience to new heights with a night of pulsating beats that will leave you utterly captivated.

Paradise x Loveland

Location: Mediahaven | Moermanskkade 107, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 20, 23:00 - 07:00
Lineup: Jamie Jones, AMÉMÉ, Loco Dice, Hot Since 82, HoneyLuv, More
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Get ready for triple the fun when Jamie Jones and the extended Paradise family return to Amsterdam for another ADE showdown together with the Loveland crew. This time, the party will go down at the mighty Mediahaven where three rooms of Paradise await!

The Future of Festivals

Location: Felix Meritis (Zuilenzaal) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 21, 14:00 - 16:30
Lineup: Márk Bóna (Sziget), Ivan Milivojev (EXIT), Gustavo Pereira (Sónar), More
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The Future of Festivals TalkShow will be taking a helicopter view of what festivals are becoming and what they mean to us as a society. Examining the changing sociological makeup of the festival audience and changing audience demographics, we’ll be examining issues including what it means to reshape festivals beyond lineups towards unique community experiences, asking what the essential elements are and what really makes an event unique, as well as diving into what we do in the daytime, and what’s behind the growth of multi-generational events.

Taking the lid off the positive and negative impacts of technology, asking how much onsite technology you really need to keep your audience entertained and stay relevant, and posing the big question about virtual events: does anyone really want to stay at home but still be part of a festival? How do you make it an experience rather than a compromise? How do you fold a vast online audience into a live event and make them want to repeat the experience? Is it even possible?

Looking at the role and relevance of festivals, the TalkShow will be tackling how festival crowds are a reflection of society, and society’s attention span is shrinking. So how do you guarantee that you’ll be able to entertain the easily bored? The presence of brands and their money is also a central issue of the discussion about that money. While it is a great enabler for the live scene, too much ‘presence’ can be an audience turn-off. How do you strike the right balance, especially in these financially challenging times?

The TalkShow will also be looking at initiatives to guarantee a healthy future for large scale live events and the music industry. In Beyond the headliners! Should Festivals be helping and supporting young artists? we ask the big question, are there too many headliners and too few unknown quantities? And looking behind the curtain at the people who make these events tick we examine backstage life: How do you make sure there are enough new, young technicians being prepared for a life of set-building and stage rigging? Why are there so few specialist courses? Where do you go to get trained and educated in live skills?

AMF Festival

Location: Johan Cruijff ArenA | Boulevard 1, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 21, 2023 21:00 - 06:00
Lineup: Charlotte, de Witte, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, MEDUZA, Headhunterz, More
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Overmono Live

Location: Paradiso | Weteringschans 6-8, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 20:00
Lineup, Overmono, Nèna
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Overmono can safely be called one of the most exciting electronic acts of the moment. The Welsh brothers originally went their separate musical ways - Tom making techno and Ed dubstep - but found each other in a shared frustration about the limitations of a solo career. The duo Overmono was born.

The brothers released their first work on their own label Poly Kicks, after that they started releasing a number of EPs on UK-based XL Recordings in 2020. Resident Advisor's Track Of The Year award-winning 'So U Kno' marked a worldwide breakthrough. Debut album 'Good Lies,' released May 12, includes everything Overmono has been working on during the past few years: 12 equally euphoric and melancholy songs, influenced by American rap records but always filtered through the British prism in which they grew up. Amsterdam native Nèna will warm up the dance floor with an eclectic selection of bass, rolling techno, electronic percussion and more.

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Indo Warehouse

Location: Melkweg | Lijnbaansgracht 234A, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 22, 20:00 - 02:00
Lineup: Anish Kumar, Harji, Kahani, Kunal Merchant
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Indo Warehouse is a record label and event series that showcases the beauty of South Asian culture, music and rhythm within house and techno.

We are proud of our South Asian roots and want to move you to global sounds that celebrate growth and inspire connection.

Predicting Hits: Human vs. Machine

Location: Felix Meritis (Teekenzaal 1) | Keizersgracht 324, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 15:15 - 16:00
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In an age where Artificial Intelligence intersects with every industry more and more, a central question has entered the music realm: can AI's predictive power reshape the music landscape?

Presenting an exploration of this potential shift in our industry, we delve into Neuroforecasting - where neuroscience meets artificial intelligence. Integrating the power of neural responses to music into a machine learning algorithm, new research suggests that hits can be forecasted with a staggering 97% accuracy.

During ADE Pro, two absolute specialists in the realm of neuroscience and market-level analysis are set to guide us into the future: Professor at Claremont Graduate University and veteran tech entrepreneur Dr. Paul J. Zak, alongside Associate Professor of Marketing and Consumer Neuroscience Dr. Alexander Genevsky. They are joined by Kim Hoekema, A&R Manager at Sony Music, to help explore how technologic advancements can enhance the A&R process.

Audio Obscura x 10Y R LABEL GROUP

Location: RAW Factory | Joan Muyskenweg 39, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 20, 14:00 - 23:00
Lineup: Cera Khin, DJ Spit, DJ Stingray, Franck, More
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For our Friday program, we join forces with Kobosil’s R LABEL GROUP. It is Berlin’s definitive imprint that purveys boundary-pushing Techno, EBM and Industrial. Highlighting the bill is a special b2b between Kobosil and a – later to be announced – fellow techno kingpin.

Prepare to be hypnotized by the forceful rhythms of key R LABEL GROUP contributors like Somewhen, Melis, Kander b2b Frazier, and a special b2b set between Detroit native and Drexciya associate DJ Stingray 313 and Berlin’s DJ Spit.

Awakenings ADE 2023: Reinier Zonneveld (Live) B2B Special

Location: Ziggo Dome | De Passage 100, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 22, 14:00 - 00:00
Lineup: Reinier Zonneveld, Adam Beyer, Nina Kraviz, Space 92, Kiki Solvej
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The Art of Improvisation with Héctor Oaks by Seedj

Location: Brakke Grond (The Workshop) | Nes 45, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 20, 15:00 - 16:30
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Join electronic music and vinyl luminary Hector Oaks in a workshop hosted by Seedj that delves deep into the art of improvising with vinyl records. In this hands-on session, Hector will share his extensive knowledge and expertise, which he gained from years and years of mastering the decks at renowned hotspots worldwide.

Discover the secrets of mixing and blending vinyl records intuitively, exploring the intricate dance between tracks, textures, and moods. Learn how to curb vinyl's tactile nature to create unique, spontaneous sets that will leave a lasting impression. This session will help you get insights into crate-digging, record selection, and the importance of reading the dancefloor.

Whether you're a new to the game or a seasoned pro, this workshop by Hector Oaks and Seedj offers the rare opportunity to learn from a true vinyl-virtuoso to elevate your DJing skills to new heights.

Frequency Music x Tribal Trap x Friends

Location: Café Weber | Marnixstraat 397, 1017 PJ Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 17:00 - 21:00
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It's the time of year when Amsterdam Dance Event touches down. After a successful networking drinks last year we will be organizing a nice get-together again this year at Cafe Weber with Frequency Music, Tribal Trap, Lacuna and Suit of Bullets.

Frozen Frequencies

Location: Nova | 16 Korte Leidsedwarsstraat, 1017 RC Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 18, 16:00 - 21:00
Lineup: Electric Polar Bears, Ekonovah, Rich DietZ, More
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Amsterdam Dance Event is back with a bang, bringing you the most electrifying event of the year: Frozen Frequencies at Nova Nightclub. Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the beauty and diversity of electronic music, as we dance the evening away with the coolest beats in town.

Bootshaus x Dillon Francis Invite

Location: Club Prime | Rembrandtplein 22, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 18, 22:00 - 04:00
Lineup: Dillon Francis, BRANDON
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TARAKA presents GORDO

Location: Loft Amsterdam | Overhoeksplein 1, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 21, 18:00 - 02:00
Lineup: GORDO
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Monstercat Showcase

Location: Melkweg | Lijnbaansgracht 234A, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 23:30 - 07:00
Lineup: Adventure Club, Eptic, Dirtyphonics, Nostalgix, More
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Monstercat returns to Melkweg for their ADE gathering on October 19th. Every year the ADE Monstercat Showcase grows bigger and better, and it’s because of the incredible support of fans like you! Just like last year they'll take on both the Max and OZ rooms at Melkweg for one massive night with a huge lineup.

Awakenings ADE 2023: Adam Beyer Presents Drumcode

Location: Gashouder | Klönneplein 1, Amsterdam
Date and time: Oct 19, 22:00 - 08:00
Lineup: Adam Beyer, Eli Brown, Juliet Fox, Wehbba, More
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