A music nerd's guide to ADE

As neon yellow begins to paint the city with tourists, ravers, and corporate bros alike: here is our comprehensive guide to ADE, fit for the club rats, bass victims, indie boys, record store nerds and casual listeners all the same <3.

For fans of: Nina Protocol, NEW YORK, nonchalantly shazaming every other track in the club

For a (relatively) chill and cutesy start to the city’s chaotic festivities, Bar Theo hosts Amsterdam/Tokyo based label Seedlink+ , curating a night of rising IDM and experimental electronica adjacent darlings. A cornerstone of Amsterdam’s underground electronic scene, Seedlink+ delivers us a truly blessed line up, from ity’s delightfully left field pop tunes to Hex Key Fantasy’s lucid soundscapes and the debut live performance of digital rumbler Project X. Perfect for those with curious ears and adventurous hearts.

For fans of: Sonic Youth, Slint, black midi

Under the same starry night, Nothing Here Now – Music for Nobody will venture over to BIMHUIS for an ADE special. A collage of international sonic imaginaries, Zohar invites offkilter rock band MOIN from London to front the evening. Pulling on the strains of math rock and post-hardcore, MOIN creates precise club afflicted guitar music, swaying about in between layers of hauntingly disintegrating guitars, chopped up samples, and ever rolling drums. Performances by cosmic collectors Futurejazz, Susu Laroche & MOBBS, Zohar, and Bahati fill in the night, weaving a ride of experimental fringe excellence. 

For fans of: Djrum, A. G. Cook,  late night soulseek lurking

As the sun sets on this year’s ADE, our beloved Garage Noord and Skatecafe link up to celebrate the closing of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary year with a festival of their own of course. With multiple stages spread across the two venues, the line up is expertly varied, filling almost every niche one could want. From Willem Feltzer’s ethereally electric ambient infused hyperpop to my newest favorite DJ duo DirtyLang (aka dirtydms b2b Helmond Lang)’s seamless blends and dubby drops, Sluitfeest offers just about everything a girl like me could want. 

For fans of: Voice Actor, ML Buch, ESP

Trade your kitten heels for knitting needles at Looping Sounds on Saturday with Knits & Notes. Cocooning webs and entanglements will enclose Volkshotel as a part of Ana Maria Suso spatial design & textile installation Cocoon. Naturally, DJs will soundtrack the installation, including a standout set by emerging experimental artist/producer Ya3l. Ya3l’s delicately deconstructed electronics hang between the bars of pop, ambient, & club, reimagining nostalgia and cultural memory on their debut EP PLFM like empherally fuzzy daydream.