Ibiza 2024 is over and out. You would be forgiven for thinking that our club team are now putting their feet up after a gruelling summer, but you would be mistaken. Before a well deserved break, there's still time to high-tail it to The Netherlands for the annual Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
Whilst there, we charged our freelance contributor Jo to deliver one final dancefloor diary entry in this year's archive.
Alongside her dancefloor duties, Jo is also a PR manager with Urban Rebel PR, where she looks after a roster of international DJ/producers. Music conference and festival ADE being a staple in her calendar, this last entry takes you behind-the-scenes of a PR let loose in the 'Dam.
This is the story of What Jo did at Amsterdam Dance Event 2024...
What Jo did at ADE
16 to 20 October
Wednesday
Touch down in Amsterdam and it's straight down to business catching up with German dance station NRJ Radio before making our way over to WeRaveYou and Bootshaus' annual joint mixer at the Room Maite Aitana Hotel.
Nicole Da Silva is a new name on my radar who enchants the room with her ethereal selections and powerful live vocals. Then, it's over to roster friend AVAION who flips the switch from evening to night, nudging the tempo up and bringing the dancefloor together.
It's at this moment, that Leah and I catch eyes on the pop-up cocktail stand. Gin and basil or spiced strawberry daiquiri? Both are equally moreish and certainly not your usual club tipple.
Onto dinner and we are promised the best ribs in Amsterdam by Tai and his Armada Music crew at Café Klos on the other side of town. When in good company, dinner naturally escalated to drinks at Leidesplein Square but before getting too carried away, we call it a night.
The real grind begins tomorrow.
Thursday
Somehow, I make it to The Hoxton 10:00 sharp for a super quick breakfast having broken my phone charger and guided only by a paper map from hotel reception. Our brunch gang includes Niamh, weekend editor of Mixmag, and Lydia and Aimee, both talented PRs and former writers at Ibiza Spotlight!
Good job I'd necked a ginger shot at breakfast as Chris and I Uber our way around Amsterdam to pack in TV and radio press interviews and a sick live DJ mix recording. A quick coffee stop then it's onto the next location to deliver a collaborative presentation I've been working on with Sony Music.
Some of us do actually work at ADE you know!
Back in the heart of the city, we've kindly been invited to Dolby Atmos' live showcase of LudoWic.
Experimental electronic music at its finest, the Dutchman mesmerises the room with his analogue set-up, sampling live radio and crafting a truly unique sound experience heightened by Dolby Atmos' spacial audio system. I'm in awe.
Later, clubbing editor Steve lands and tradition dictates that no matter what country we are in, we must immediately catch up over a chilled glass of Verdejo wine, which my PR colleague Leah joins.
Introducing my Spotlight team to my PR team is almost like the in-laws meeting only waaay more fun!
Friday
First on the list today, we head back to the TOBACCO Theater to listen in on the world premiere of Dolby Atmos master of Kraftwerk's seminal album Autobahn. I'll never forget seeing the pioneering group live at Ushuaïa all the way back in 2019.
Darude soon flies in, and whilst I'd love to divulge, I'm going to play the “big things coming soon” card on exactly what we got up to.
At a glimpse, my afternoon includes visiting TikTok to hear more about how they are planning to support electronic music artists, checking out Enhanced Sessions' live showcase, going behind-the-scenes at AT5 TV's live ADE broadcast where we hang with none other than Ultra Naté.
Darude smashes an energetic set at SLAM! FM's Mix Marathon (watch back here) and my team reconvene upstairs at Hardwell's Revealed Recordings mixer. Time to relax? No chance! I bump into friend, artist and very familiar face to Ibiza, Lauren Nicole, who introduces me to her music friends and as if by magic, a tray of tequila shots arrive.
Defected is also in town, so of course, we show our support and head for the dancefloor. Myself, Lissy, Steve and our continuously expanding friend group, get in amongst the two stories of pure House goodness with Low Steppa and Dennis Ferrer on the heavy line-up.
What's that? PIV are throwing a warehouse party down the road? Sure, we can squeeze in another party.
Hot Since 82 already in motion as we walk in to Eric Prydz' Pjanoo, soon handing over to Honeyluv and Dennis Ferrer (we should've shared a cab!) for a back-to-back set to end all. The synergy between these two DJs at work and the sheer fire selections is nothing short of admirable.
Next door in room two, Demi Riquísmo and Matisa send it with a minimal approach signature to the PIV sound. In the late, or early, hours we peel ourselves away from the dancefloor in unanimous agreement that we've just experienced one of the hottest parties of the year.
Saturday
My final day at ADE is here and I can't lie, everything hurts. My daily step count is off the chart and the pizza slice diet is catching up. A solo hot chocolate date by the canal sounds idyllic.
We soon meet at the Felix Meritis to show our support for Danny as he joins the Future of Radio conference panel which covers topics from how streaming has changed our consumption behaviours, to how pirate radio stations began.
With only a couple of hours to go before I head for the airport and leave the clubbing team to power through the weekend, me and Steve settle in at local pub Haven van Texel for a final sport of lunch and, you guessed it, a glass of Verdejo! The perfect end to ADE 2024.
Tune of the week
Kilimanjaro & Jazzy | No Bad Vibes | Chaos | 18 October
Ask anyone in the industry, it's risky business releasing during ADE with even more might required to cut through the noise and catch attention.
However, underground powerhouse Kilimanjaro and Jazzy have proven fearless when in cohesion. New single No Bad Vibes is already proving a head-turner. Kilimanjaro weighs in with his dark and moody Afro production, whilst Jazzy puts into words the feelings of becoming totally immersed in a rave.
Ibiza summer might be over but, for me, UK club season is about to begin and this track has me dreaming of sweaty underground bunkers already.
Jo puts down her pen, taking the winter to rejuvenate and re-energise, ready to do it all over again next year. You can bet that summer 2025 will come around faster than you think!
Read previous week's capers here:
Final entry?
The closing party diaries
Not goodbye, just adíos for now
Excited puppy syndrome
You can find the full archive by clicking here.
We'll be back next summer with more action direct from the dancefloors of Ibiza. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with all the latest confirmed news for the 2025 season by visiting our magazine homepage.
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