NachtKalender
Two week Pride & Dekmantel edition!
As annual readers probably know by now, the upcoming week is one of my favourite weeks of the year. It’s also one of those weeks where everything happens all at once, making it nearly impossible to navigate the thousands of parties popping up around town.
This year especially, since Amsterdam is hosting World Pride(!) till August 8th. So I’ve decided to put together a double-thick newsletter this weekend covering everything happening around town: a mix of both Pride and Dekmantel festivities. Kicking off with my annual top-10 list plus all the other events that didn’t quite make the cut but are still very much worth checking out.
Enjoy the next couple of weeks, hopefully this newsletter will guide you through your next two weeks xxx
Also I will be doing a slow morning set at TNP’s this Sunday from 12.00-11.00, on the day of TNP’s Summer Records and Vintage Fair (which actually starts at 13.00). Be sure to check it out here: https://radio-tnp.com/
1. The Planet x Los Angles (31 July)
w/ Clementaum, Archangel, DIORA, GLTTR GDDSS, Lucrezia, Miss Jay, lis, NMSS, angelboy, YoungWoman, smother, Mina Galán
Tillatec’s party next Friday is curated by important queer collectives that have truly left their stamp on the city. Curated by The Planet and Los Angeles, this night is known for its high-energy sets blending house, techno, club, rap, jungle, footwork, and R&B. Expect that same energy to carry through once again. With many of the collectives’ regulars taking the decks at Tillatec, it’ll feel like a true family gathering.
2. Garage Noord x Nyege Nyege weekender (25-26 July)
w/ amara, Amz, Azzi On The Beat, Bahati, BARROSKINI, Nsasi, D-opss, Garnett, Han, Jay Mitta, Kampire, LYN, MASK ON,Pili Pili Girls, Princess Vineyard, Elias Mazian, Regal86, Sandor, Yucky, Nèna, Hibotep,Sarkawt Hamad, Seny.D, State OFFF, Suzi Analogue, tatang, T.NO, R3ign Drops, Xexa
Not a Dekmantel party nor a Pride event, but the Ugandan festival and collective Nyege Nyege’s annual party at Garage Noord is well worth mentioning. This fifth edition has once again such an incredible lineup of artists, bringing together both local and international legends, that I know will play with such incredible energy. It’s a vibe at Garage that I don’t see often, so be sure to check it out. Saturday especially, the weather is going to be great: perfect for a daytime dance at the outdoor area.
3. Pride Knights: RAUM invites Sexyland x Body x No Limits! Art Castle (24 July)
Afra, Alice Olsthoorn, Animistic Beliefs, bebe bad, ELMER, lis, Reanny, UNAUNA & KITT, Maara, Manu Miran, mayo, Angel Spiders, Aryelle Freeman Hopelezz, Juno Dijkshoorn, Miss BB Bellyhood, Bent Lochtenberg, Claudio Fiore Massenz, JeanPaul Paula, Shaquina Karg & Iris van Son, Simomo Bouj, Vanity Dusk
PRIDE KNIGHTS (SEXYLAND) is a collab between banner-bearers, each representing an essential part of queer culture, community, and artistic practice: “actively questioning what queer nightlife and cultural space can be”. Together with BODY, No Limits! Art Castle, and Elmer, they’ve built a programme that will be a fun alternative Pride for the city, with a very fun night programme too!!
4. Zeedyke Sloterdyke Edition - IsoAmsterdam (25 July)
w/ Rosa Pistola, ZOBAYDA, Nèna & Nushin
This Pride, Zeedyke graduates from intimate gatherings to their biggest party yet: Sloterdyke. FLINTA-centred crew Zeedyke celebrates Pride with a Latin-infused party at DIY space ISO, featuring a headline set from reggaetón icon Rosa Pistola and local favourites Zobayda and Nena & Nushin.
5. Pride is Protest - Skatecafe
w/ Alastair Curtis, Angelo Tijsens, Aronpatat, Dominic Holmes, Fendi, Fien Veldman, Floss, Finn Ronsdorf, Glock 45, Jelle Hoekstra, Jim Sluis, Kelly Verpepsi & Louver, Maan, Maartje Wortel, Mel B, Merol, MMIV, MTS, NAAZ, Pete Wu, PJ Othi, Puma Hilton, Ratkapje, Rianne van Rompaey, San Cha, Saskia de Coster, Slimfit, Sophia Habib, Someone Sunny, The Space Choir, UNAUNA KITT
Pride Is A Protest returns to Skatecafe for its third special WorldPride edition. They’re bringing together artists, performers, and activists from across Europe for a night of live music, drag, literature, and club sets!! I’ve never been myself, but I’ve heard incredible things about the night + the line up look great.
6. Saarein - Streetparty (1 Aug)
This year, Saarein’s street party will be a little different. Since their parties have gotten busier, they’ve made some changes to keep everyone safe. Because of this, you’ll need to reserve a free ticket beforehand, but it’s well worth doing if you haven’t already.
7. Dekmantel at Night - Garage Noord (2 Aug)
w/ Verraco, Dirtydms, CCL
Dekmantel at Night’s programming is absolutely incredible this year, but this would definitely be my favourite pick. Seeing CCL play at such an intimate venue is something you do not want to miss!! I also caught DirtyDMs play the kioskXThe Lot stage at Horst, and she absolutely smashed it. And Verraco is just a classic OG artist you do not want to miss out on.
8-10. Dekmantel - Into The City (29 & 30 July)
For its 12th edition of Dekmantel’s Into the City programme, the festival has added both Melkweg and Paradiso to its lineup of venues. Even though they’re not my preferred venues for an electronic-dominated sound, I do think the artists curated for these spaces could make it work, especially at Melkweg where the lineup strikes a fun balance between dance music and electronic music.
Oude Kerk - Space Africa, Opening Concert (29 July)
Manchester-based duo Space Afrika will present one of the most distinctive acts in electronic music today. Their ambient, drone-driven work — shaped by dub, trip-hop, and Detroit techno will be channelled through sound, visuals, and performance. Not only is Oude Kerk an incredible venue aesthetically, but the acoustics of the church are absolutely incredible too!!
Melkweg - DARKSIDE, Death in Vegas, Devon Rexi, Eerie Enterprise (piezo & upsammy), Headache, Juan Atkins, INFINITI, Molina, New York and Sepehr (30 July)
I meannn what can I say: DARKSIDE aka Nicolaas Jaar, Headache aka Vegyn, Devon Rexi and many more!!
Paradiso - Speedy J, Aurora Halal, Azu Tiwaline, Barker and Carrier., SnPLO (PLO Man, DJ Spence & Sentena)
Again, I have no words... this incredible lineup of artists all playing together on one intimate night is just absolutely great. I just saw Carrier at Waking Life doing an incredible set, a great experimental DJ who’s always surprising you. As well as PLOman, who is such a great all-round artist.
Other incredible party’s you shouldn’t be missing!!
Skatecafe (24 July) - LET’S STRUT w/ Music Drag Bingo with Tabitha, Amsterdam Drag (Live), Disco Danny, Carlos Valdes, Emma Champagne Queen, Princess Vineyard, Nepobaby, Benny2, GLTTR GDDSS
Tillatec (24 July) - Tillavision: Aquatec w/ Diora, Juja, Sausy, Tekna
Tillatec (25 July) - Ophic Pride Takeover w/ Mila Haj Kasem, Rosati, Serti, Siphonophora (live), Thoms Traxx, ISA W, Juliana X, MMIV, SERAFIM, Vuur
Skatecafe (25 July) - PLUG & PLAY, Klub Krai, Epiphany w/ wRec, EVER, Ecstasya, kimmah, Lis, prekeris, SISSY MISFIT, Emeel, dj diy, Krai
Lofi (31 July) - LAUNDRETTE ...IsBurning
Stopera (31 July) - Lesbische Liga Straatfeest
Van Gogh (31 July) - Vincent op Vrijdag w/ The Queer Agenda
Raum (1 Aug) - Adonis x Spielraum w/ Grace Sands, Hannah Holland, Josh Caffé, Shay Malt
Pamela x Waterkant (1 Aug) - w/ ketia, boyband, lis b2b Tundji, Female Woman b2b Manwife
And also the whole Dekmantel at Night programming is just incredible this year:
Garage Noord (31 July) - RHR, Sherelle, JLSXND7RS
Radion (31 July) - Afra, Blasha & Allatt, Mari Sakurai, MARRØN, Phase Fatale, Rene Wise, DJ Stringray 313
Garage Noord (1 Aug) - Amz, Mia Koden, Sir Spyro
Radion (1 Aug) - AMORAL, Decoder, Jasmin, JASSS, Luke Slater, Ottagone, Sandrien & Steffi
Raum (2 Aug) - Dekmantel at Raum w/ line up to be announced (!!!)
Radion (2 Aug) - Aaron J & DJ Maria, Fadi Mohem, GiGi FM, Hitam & Woody92, Marco Shuttle, Oscar Mulero, Sarkawt Hamad