Festivals in summer are like sand by the sea: countless, inevitable, and somehow still multiplying. Every weekend lately, my Instagram stories have been filled with videos of friends at various outdoor locations, drinks in hand, shades on, and soundtracked by a plethora of genres. Experimental, R&B, techno, minimal – whatever your preference, there’s most definitely a festival for it, and it’s probably happening this summer.
Still, some festivals give us a rush of excitement like no other, and Dekmantel easily tops that list. Whether it’s the top-tier lineup, the striking set and light design, or the magical setting of the Amsterdamse Bos, the team behind Dekmantel has spent over a decade perfecting the art of putting all the right pieces in place. So, we can safely say that, out of the 300+ festivals that Amsterdam boasts annually, Dekmantel might just be our favorite.
What sets the self-described ‘independent music platform’ apart is the eclectic yet fine-tuned program: Newcomers that might just become your new favorite artists are placed alongside legends of the electronic music world, often delivering rare live performances or unexpected B2Bs. The setting, too, feels liberating, giving you the freedom to curate your very own experience – whether that means enjoying the sun with a glass of natural wine in hand, getting lost in the woods or becoming symbiotic with the music.
This year’s edition spans over 5 days and invites over 150 acts to its locations throughout the IJ, Oude Kerk and the Amsterdamse Bos. My experience is that of wandering through any of the 6 locations and 7 stages in the Bos, unaware of the line-up, and still becoming witness to a thrilling musical experience. That might just be the magic of Dekmantel: getting surprised, and surprising yourself in how you respond to the unexpected. So get curious! My biggest recommendation would be to get that ticket and go on a spontaneous sonic adventure.
That said, if you need some guidance in narrowing down your itineraries and optimizing your Dekmantel 2025 experience, here’s my take on this year’s program.
The 2025 edition opens on Wednesday 30 July at 21:00 in Oude Kerk with a Moritz van Oswald concert. Widely regarded as one of the most important founding figures of techno, Van Oswald is bringing his special live performance of Silencio, where he’ll weave a sixteen-piece choir with modular synthesizers.
Little did some of you know… While the Amsterdamse Bos program tends to steal the spotlight, those in the know will tell you Thursday holds the festival’s most unexpected gems. It brings an insightful conference program and multiple sonic acts in spaces across the IJ.
The conference is free to attend and definitely not one to miss. This year’s highlight is R&B & Soul artist Kelela’s conversation with BAMBII and Pitchfork’s Editor-in-Chief Jeremy D Larson.
Feeling hands-on? Venezuelan DJ Babatr (the mind behind one of our favorite tracks discovered this festival season) and Juicy Gang Records founder DJ Mell G will be giving production workshops in partnership with Resident Advisor. You can RSVP here to attend for free.
The festival as we all know it and love it kicks off in the enchanted Amsterdamse Bos on Friday August 1st and culminates on Sunday the 3rd. Read on for a couple standout acts on the first day in the Bos.
Sugar Free: From Madrid through Berlin, Sugar Free has been conquering the electronic music scene with her genre-defying sets, channeling her vinyl mastery through seamless mixing of minimal house, acidy beats and sci-fi overlays. Catch her at Selectors stage for a three hour journey from 17:00 until 20:00.
Two Shell: Home soundtracked so many of our ecstatic summer moments, but beyond this (ultra) bop, Two Shell’s music is a weird, emotive, and playful blend of experimental beats. They also collaborated with FKA Twigs last year, giving them the ultimate stamp of cool approval. Catch their Dekmantel debut at The Loop at 17:30!
Four Tet: One of the most prolific electronic music acts, Kieran Miles David Hebden, known as Four Tet, has been a pioneer of IDM Music since the 90s. His discography includes collaborations with Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Burial, and more recently with Skrillex and Fred Again. His versatility is such as only the best of electronic music artists can ascribe to. You can listen to the legend in action at 20:00 at The Loop.
The Saturday line-up makes me want to clone myself, just to be present at multiple stages at once. The program is packed with a multitude of exciting acts, spanning from recent discoveries to names I’ve been yearning to listen to for years. As, unfortunately, cloning is not an option (yet), here are my top picks.
KIA: Born out of Melbourne’s after-hours scene and now gracing Berlin with her amazing musical taste, KIA has a distinctive sound that can be best described as IDM imbued with her love of Bass and deeper techno. She’ll be mixing at the Radar stage from 16:00 to 17:00!
Shanti Celeste: If Shanti’s playing, you know where to find me. Her sets are energetic, festive, uplifting and everything you need to have fun in the sun.
Steffi & Virginia LIVE: Like many others, ‘Yours’ is one of those timeless tracks that I cherish in my playlist and keep going back to. Steffi’s subtle grooves and Virginia’s enchanting voices make for a sonic match made in heaven. On Saturday, they’ll be performing their latest house album live for the first time ever, you can experience it at the Loop at 18:00.
P.S. If you’ll still feel like stomping your feet, IsBurning… is the place to party after hours on Saturday. They’re bringing together an amazing all-girls lineup, with PARAMIDA, tINI & Saoirse, and TITIA at Lofi.
This all leads us to the final day, Sunday, August 3rd. Real veterans of the electronic music scene know that Sunday is, always and everywhere, the best party day. I still haven’t cracked the code on why that is, but all my experiences have only served to prove and re-prove that stance. Here are some acts that will elevate your Sunday Funday even more.
Efdemin: When my teenage angst started pulling me towards more introspective layers of techno, Efdemin was one of the first to catch my ears. I was first led to him by my slight Traumprinz obsession, and ever since, I havn’t stopped listening and re-listenting to Philipp Solman’s profound, mind-bending, and uniquely personal take on both house and techno. He’ll be gracing us with his mastery at UFO I at 19:15.
HiTech Live: ‘A mouthful of Hennessy and a double dose of booty-shaking techno’ is how the trio of DJ/Producer/Rappers King Milo, Milf Melly, and 47Chops approach their take on the iconic Detroit Ghettotech sound. I’ve been listening to HiTech for a couple of years now whenever I need to get pumped, and I can give you my word that their music is the epitome of high-energy fun. They’ll be fuelling up the Nest at 19:00.
Yaeji (DJ Set): There’s one undeniable quality to Yaeji’s music – it has that addictiveness that makes you listen to her music on repeat for months on end. She stays true to her playful sound, a mix of energizing beats and bilingual vocals that are full of attitude. I’ll be staying put at the Nest where she’ll be serving up a DJ set at 20:00.
Pro Tip: If you’re a real party professional and ready to go on a full-on bender, head to Club RAUM on Sunday night where you can catch Efdemin delivering a house set, joined by CCL & Roza Terenzi, mad miran, naone & more!
That’s all for now, remember to stay hydrated, listen to your body, be spontaneous, and get lost in the world of sound…
See you on the dancefloor next week!
P.S. Here’s a little playlist to get you in the mood
