Moments · 5 picks
Wednesday openers that set the tone.
The first proper night of the week. Big openers and label parties for people who arrive early and want to start strong.
By Songpot desk · from the ADE programme, our venue guide and artist notes
Big-room techno to open the week.
Alan Fitzpatrick's kick-first techno, Joyhauser's riffs and melodic lift and T78's fast, hard drive, in a music complex of studios and stages. Starts early enough to make after the conference.
For fans of Adam Beyer, Charlotte de Witte
Paris' Rex Club and Because Music, in a club with a radio studio.
Busy P founded Ed Banger and managed Daft Punk for twelve years; here he goes back to back with Chloé. Around them, Logic1000's punchy, UK-leaning house and BAMBII folding dancehall into bass-heavy club sets. A night that never sits in one genre for long.
For fans of HAAi, Peggy Gou, Mall Grab
Twenty years of Klockworks, under red light in a 1960s school.
Ben Klock and DVS1 both play long and physical: tight, rolling techno with deep low end and tension that builds for hours. Setaoc Mass and a Madrid crew around them lean harder, into hardgroove. Stay for the last two hours.
For fans of Marcel Dettmann, Rødhåd
Oliver Heldens opens ADE at Melkweg, as is tradition.
Bright, polished house built for big rooms, punchy drums and glossy leads, with Chicago-born J. Worra and Dirtybird regular Will Clarke bringing chunkier, rubbery grooves.
For fans of Chris Lake, Don Diablo
Armin van Buuren and the hard-house revival, in the Gashouder.
The Gashouder's opening night pairs Armin's long trance builds with Benwal, credited with leading the hard house revival: fast, tight and built for pressure. London twins IDEMI warm up with raw 90s house.
For fans of Tiësto, Ferry Corsten
Times, lineups and tickets are on each event's ADE programme page. Songpot is independent of the festival.