Editorial
John Summit CTRL ESCAPE: From CPA to DJ
How John Summit turned his life before music into the concept behind ‘CTRL ESCAPE’.
Before he was headlining festivals and selling out clubs worldwide, John Summit worked a corporate job as a CPA, spending his days inside the kind of structured routine that many artists eventually write about leaving behind. That contrast now sits at the center of CTRL ESCAPE, his upcoming album set for release on April 15, a date that also happens to be U.S. Tax Day. Paired with the visual themes introduced in the “Lights Go Out” music video, which uses office imagery and controlled environments, the project frames Summit’s move from accounting to dance music as more than backstory. It positions CTRL ESCAPE as a concept rooted in personal history, timing, and intent, turning a former reality into the narrative thread running through his current chapter.
From Accounting to Dance Music: John Summit’s Path Before the Spotlight
Before releasing music professionally, John Summit, born John Walter Schuster, studied accounting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he began DJing while still enrolled. During this period, he played regularly at local venues connected to the campus nightlife circuit, including The Red Lion and Canopy Club, building basic club experience long before touring became part of his career. After graduating, John Summit entered the corporate workforce and took a position at Ernst & Young, qualifying and working as a Certified Public Accountant. Music at this stage existed alongside a full-time accounting schedule, limited to evenings, weekends, and small local bookings.
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While employed at Ernst & Young, John Summit continued DJing in Chicago, focusing on house music and gradually teaching himself production outside of working hours. He began releasing tracks independently and on smaller labels, using early gigs and online feedback to refine his sound without industry backing. This period lasted several years and did not end with a single turning point. John Summit remained in accounting until 2019, when steady release output and increased booking opportunities made it possible to step away from the firm. The year that followed marked a clear shift, culminating in “Deep End” reaching No. 1 on Beatport’s Overall chart in 2020, where it stayed for an extended period. That success came after his exit from accounting, but it was built on years of parallel work, making the transition from corporate life to music gradual and deliberate. This timeline gives weight to the themes later present in CTRL ESCAPE, which reference control, routine, and release without exaggeration.
How “Lights Go Out” Introduced the World of CTRL ESCAPE
“Lights Go Out” was released as the first single connected to CTRL ESCAPE, making it the starting point for the album’s visual rollout. The music video is set inside a corporate office environment, with scenes showing cubicles arranged in rows, desks with desktop computers, rolling office chairs, ID badges, and overhead fluorescent lighting. John Summit appears dressed in standard office clothing and is shown seated at a desk alongside other workers. Much of the video takes place inside enclosed office interiors, with repeated shots of desks, hallways, and shared workspaces. There is no dialogue or written text on screen, and the setting remains consistent throughout the early portion of the video.
As the video continues, changes take place within the same environment. Lighting conditions shift, movement becomes more pronounced, and the way John Summit interacts with the space begins to change. The office setting does not disappear, but its rigid order is interrupted as the video progresses. These visual changes occur without explanation and without introducing new locations. The use of an office workplace as the primary setting aligns closely with John Summit’s documented history of working as a CPA before committing to music full time. By launching CTRL ESCAPE with “Lights Go Out,” the album rollout begins with imagery tied directly to work, structure, and routine, grounding the project in a real-life setting that connects clearly to his background and setting up the logic for the album’s wider narrative.
Following “Lights Go Out,” John Summit released his second single “Shadows,” continuing the rollout for CTRL ESCAPE shortly after the album was publicly revealed. The official music video for “Shadows” was filmed during John Summit’s pop-up album announcement event at Re:frame Studios in Los Angeles, the same night he first revealed CTRL ESCAPE and confirmed its April 15 release date. By capturing footage from the announcement itself, the single connects directly to the moment the album entered public conversation, linking the music to the physical launch of the project.
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Why April 15 Matters for CTRL ESCAPE
After “Lights Go Out” set the direction for the project, John Summit confirmed the album title CTRL ESCAPE and announced April 15, 2026 as the release date. The reveal took place in early February 2026 during a surprise pop-up appearance at Re:frame Studios in Los Angeles, where the album name and date were shown publicly for the first time. That moment anchored the project in a physical space before the same information was shared later that day through his social channels, making the title and date part of the wider conversation around the album.
The choice of April 15 adds another layer of context once the background is considered. In the United States, the date is widely known as Tax Day, marking the annual deadline for federal income tax filings. John Summit has spoken openly about his time working as a Certified Public Accountant before shifting fully into music, making the date difficult to read as a neutral scheduling decision. Coming after a lead single and video set inside a corporate office, confirming April 15 as the album release date extends the same real-world references into the calendar itself. The timing reinforces the project’s focus on work, structure, and routine, carrying those ideas beyond visuals and into the date chosen for the album’s release.
With CTRL ESCAPE now scheduled for April 15, John Summit has also stated that he plans to release a new single every Wednesday leading up to the album’s release. That approach keeps attention on the music itself and gives listeners a steady way to follow the project as it unfolds over the coming weeks. Each release adds another piece to the larger picture around CTRL ESCAPE, without relying on long explanations or thematic statements. As April 15 approaches, fans can follow the weekly singles and see how the full album comes together track by track.
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MiNT XL opens its doors in Leeds with a sold-out party for 2,500 ravers, as Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear launch the new nightclub
MiNT XL officially opened its doors on Friday, 25 September, with a sold-out opening party featuring names like Craig Richards, Enzo Siragusa and Sonja Moonear. 2,500 ravers gathered in the heart of Leeds city centre to experience the latest addition to the city’s rich rave culture, marking a memorable beginning for MiNT XL.
Taking over the former nightclub, PRYZM Leeds, MiNT set themselves the challenge of giving the venue a new identity through their own production and iconic signature. In an interview with EDM House Network earlier this year, MiNT marketing manager, Mikey McMahon said they wanted people to walk into MiNT XL and feel like they were part of something forward-thinking. There is no doubt they have achieved this, with the opening night already setting MiNT XL apart from other venues in Leeds.
Credit: David Dumitru
Exploring The Venue’s Layout
Arriving at the venue, you could feel the excitement in the air as people made their way into the club. Music was bumping through the walls and the night was just getting started. Walking inside, the dark environment immediately made it feel like a rave and not a regular nightclub.
Heading up the stairs from the entrance, we reached the main hall of the venue, which houses two of the three rooms at MiNT XL, as well as an open-air terrace. The ‘Clubroom’ was the first room people encountered on the floor, while the main room, also known as the ‘Ballroom’, sits to the left of the hall.
The second floor is a great extension of what the main floor has to offer, hosting the venue’s third room, ‘Cage’, as well as an additional bar with sofas and seating for those wanting a quick break from the dancefloor. The VIP area is also located on this floor, providing a comfortable chill-out space with its own bar and seating area.
Credit: David Dumitru
The Rooms at MiNT XL
1. Ballroom
The largest of the three rooms, the ‘Ballroom’ is a warehouse type of space hosting the headlining names on MiNT XL’s line-ups. Some of the lighting features that stood out as soon as we walked into the room included the large ring structure above the dancefloor, as well as the linear rigs placed horizontally across the ceiling, which rotate to create a wave-like effect through light.
Another standout piece of the room is the newly installed Funktion-One Vero sound system, delivering bass that pumps through your body and an overall premium sound quality. The same system can also be found in the other two rooms, where its impact is even greater due to their smaller capacities.
Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
2. Cage
Probably the most interesting room of the three, and our personal favourite, ‘Cage’ delivers an experience like no other. Its design feels unique and fresh out of the box, while still maintaining a lush feel. Throughout the opening night, the room was lit up with orange lighting, creating a somewhat comfortable atmosphere amid all the chaos going on.
Credit: David Dumitru
‘Cage’ also has a few sofas placed around the room, helping complete its luxurious feel. The cherry on top, however, is the fact that the space will often welcome DJs playing on vinyl. We had the chance to witness this live, and let me tell you, seeing the artists flip and swap records behind the decks totally elevates the experience.
Credit: David Dumitru
3. Clubroom
With a large light panel on the ceiling covering the centre of the dancefloor, ‘Clubroom’ is an ode to MiNT Warehouse, the brand’s second ever venue. Sharing similar characteristics, the room brings the MiNT Warehouse spirit to MiNT XL, carrying over the energetic vibes that have become a trademark of the brand.
While the room has a great design from a production perspective, the air conditioning isn’t felt as well in some corners, often making it a very hot space.
Credit: David Dumitru
4. Terrace
An open-air space with a nice view of some of Leeds city centre’s tallest buildings, the terrace is a well-arranged spot for those who want to unwind a little and take a breath of fresh air. Located close to the ‘Ballroom’, the path to the terrace can, however, become very busy at times.
Credit: David Dumitru
The Music at MiNT XL
The venue opened with the brand’s own event series, ‘system.’, taking over the decks. Across the three rooms, a well-curated line-up delivered the soundtrack to MiNT’s new beginning.
From the perspective of EDM House Network, our highlights were Foehn & Jerome at the ‘Cage’, Craig Richards B2B Francesco Del Garda at the ‘Ballroom’, and then back to the ‘Cage’ for a vinyl session with Fumiya Tanaka.
Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
Beyond the opening night, a wide range of renowned DJs are set to follow at MiNT XL, with the likes of Ewan McVicar, Riordan, Morgan Seatree and a Worried About Henry (WAH) takeover among those already announced. While so far only electronic music events make up the calendar, organisers have said they are excited to expand into new genres and live music.
Atmosphere Inside The Venue
MiNT XL operates a no-phones policy at all events, meaning attendees can fully immerse themselves into the music. Having experienced an event with such policy for the first time, it was impressive to see how big of a change it makes.
Seeing people living in the moment and having fun truly gave everyone a taste of what some mean when they say ‘raving was better in the 90s’. The no-phones policy genuinely made the night feel like a time machine that teleported us back to a time when people used to socialise and not chase Instagram clout at raves.
Credit: @elliotyoungphoto
With three state-of-the-art rooms, a 2,500-capacity venue, a sound system that blows the roof off and a no-phones policy, MiNT XL has real potential to become one of the best nightclubs in the entire UK. The opening party was not just the green light for a new venue in Leeds, but felt more like a statement that MiNT XL is here, and for good.
The club season is only just getting started, with a packed list of upcoming events already lined up at MiNT XL.
Friday 9 October – Marsolo Invites: Marsolo + more TBA
Saturday 10 October – Airspace: Notion, Kyle Starkey, Camille Doe + more
Saturday 17 October – Mint XL Presents: Cam Stockman b2b Tommy Phillips
Friday 30 October – Airspace: Riordan, Stef Davidse + more
Saturday 31 October – Ewan McVicar Presents: Halloween – Ewan McVicar, Special Request, Olive F
Saturday 7 November – Mint XL Presents: ALISHA, Robbie Doherty + more
Saturday 14 November – Mint XL Presents: Morgan Seatree + more TBA
Friday 20 November – Framework Presents: Ben UFO, Papa Nugs + more
Saturday 21 November – Jampacked Would Tour Leeds Edition: Jamback, Anil Aras, A For Alpha
Saturday 19 December – Framework x Mugpie Presents: Christian AB, Unai Trotti + more
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EDM Festivals October 2026: Festivals We Can’t Miss worldwide as major events fill the month across North America, Asia, Europe, and South America
October 2026 brings another busy month for the EDM festival calendar, with events taking place across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. In the US, 808 Festival, Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, Niteharts, Head Trip, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, BOO! Seattle, BOO! Arizona, and Hocus Pocus Miami fill the month. Meanwhile, EDC Korea and Chill O’posite Festival add major dates in Asia and Africa. No Art Lisbon and AMF represent Europe, while EDC Colombia and Ritvales bring two large weekends to South America. Here’s a full look at the EDM festivals taking place throughout October 2026.
808 Festival
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand
808 Festival returns to BITEC in Bangkok from October 2–3, 2026 for two days across two stages. The Phase Two lineup includes ILLENIUM, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, W&W, Argy, Ben Nicky, 999999999, Mesto, and KAAZE. Meanwhile, JUSTUS, RIVO, Dorian, Ian Asher, and Mary Droppinz are also confirmed. Several special performances are scheduled, including Adam Beyer B2B Chris Avantgarde and Nifra B2B Will Atkinson. Giorgia Angiuli will also perform live. More artists are still due to be announced before the festival returns to Bangkok in October.
Breakaway Utah
Dates: October 2–3, 2026
Location: America First Field, Sandy, Utah
Breakaway Utah brings the Breakaway Music Festival series to America First Field in Sandy, Utah, from October 2–3, 2026. Friday features John Summit, Tiësto, Max Styler, Jackie Hollander, Ray Volpe, LAYZ B2B TYNAN, and Trivecta. Hershe, Heyz, Roddy Lima, Soraya, and Obayashi also appear on the first day. Saturday then brings Chris Lake, Audien, Bonnie X Clyde, Frank Walker, Kasablanca, and Mojave Grey. In addition, Kaskade will play a sunset set, while Gorgon City B2B MPH adds another collaborative performance.
We Belong Here Central Park
Dates: October 2–4, 2026
Location: Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York City, New York
We Belong Here Central Park heads back to Wollman Rink in Central Park from October 2–4, 2026. Friday opens with MEDUZA³ and a sunset set from LP Giobbi. On Saturday, Ben Böhmer plays a sunset set before Stephan Bodzin performs live. Sunday closes the weekend with Steve Angello and a sunset club set from Bob Moses. Elsewhere on the lineup, Ashibah, Eve Lauren, and Tripolism are also confirmed. The wider program includes Aftours, Amanda Simpson, Anthony Romano, Malcolm Zeller, Sanvero, Sebi Luca, and several more artists.
EDC Korea
Dates: October 3–4, 2026
Location: INSPIRE, South Korea
EDC Korea returns to INSPIRE on October 3–4, 2026, with house, trance, techno, bass, and hard dance across the weekend. Saturday includes DJ Snake, ILLENIUM B2B Dabin, Ben Nicky Presents Xtreme, Brennan Heart, Coone, and Dimension. R3HAB, Sara Landry, Subtronics, and SVDDEN DEATH are also confirmed. Meanwhile, Bassrush Experience and an Insomniac Records Takeover appear on the Saturday program. Sunday features 999999999, Alok, Aly & Fila, Argy, FISHER, Kayzo, Nifra, and Tiësto. TOKiMONSTA, Vini Vici, W&W, and Wooli also join the second day.
Experts Only at the Gorge
Dates: October 3–4, 2026
Location: Gorge Amphitheatre, Washington
Experts Only at the Gorge brings John Summit’s Experts Only brand to Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington on October 3–4, 2026. John Summit leads the weekend alongside Cassian, Daniel Allan, Devault, Hamdi, Jackie Hollander, and KETTAMA. Before the main event begins, the EO Base Camp Pre-Party is scheduled for October 2. Layton Giordani is currently confirmed for that party, with additional names still to come. Across the full weekend, the music covers house, techno, and bass with a compact lineup centred on the Experts Only roster and its regular collaborators.
Starlight Festival
Dates: October 8–11, 2026
Location: Giza and Cairo, Egypt
Starlight Festival brings four days of events to Giza and Cairo from October 8–11, 2026. The main festival is held near The Pyramids of Giza on October 9–10. A welcome party takes place in Cairo on October 8, followed by a farewell party on October 11. The first main day features Adriatique, Indira Paganotto, Pete Tong, Vintage Culture, and WhoMadeWho with a hybrid DJ set. Awen, BiiA, Charlie Sparks, and Coco & Breezy are also confirmed. On day two, Charlotte de Witte, Michael Bibi, and Enrico Sangiuliano lead the lineup. Meanwhile, Deer Jade, Fiona Kraft, Floyd Lavine, Layla Benitez, and Olympe also perform.
Chill O’posite Festival
Dates: October 8–10, 2026
Location: Dahab, Egypt
Chill O’posite Festival brings electronic music, live performances, and hybrid sets to Dahab from October 8–10, 2026. The lineup includes 47 Soul, AIWAA, and Aly Fathalla performing live. Blacky, Jad Halal, Nico Morano, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Tia, and Tony L Issac are also confirmed. Several B2B sets appear across the three days. These include BĪSU B2B Welson, Borio B2B Shika, and Kotoe B2B Madmotormiquel. Meanwhile, Chitati, Karamell, Menna Hussein, Molotof, Netam, and Nubatronic add more live performances to the program.
Niteharts
Dates: October 9–11, 2026
Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, California
Niteharts will run for three days at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego from October 9–11, 2026. Presented by ISOxo and Knock2, the festival covers bass, trap, electronic, and alternative music. The lineup includes Knock2 B2B DJ Snake, ISOxo, ISOKNOCK, RL Grime, Hamdi, 2hollis, and LYNY. Porter Robinson will also perform a DJ set. Elsewhere, Flava D, Jane Remover, Frost Children, Devault, Underscores, and Daine are confirmed. Nitepunk, Control Freak, Borne, Yaego, and Thaiboy Digital & Swedm® also appear across the weekend.
Head Trip
Dates: October 10–11, 2026
Location: Empire Polo Club, Indio, California
Head Trip makes its debut at Empire Polo Club in Indio on October 10–11, 2026. Saturday features Calvin Harris, Under Construction: FISHER + Chris Lake, and Peggy Gou B2B Four Tet. Seth Troxler B2B Ben Sterling is also confirmed for the first day. Sunday follows with Swedish House Mafia, Skrillex, and Dom Dolla B2B KETTAMA. The Blessed Madonna and DJ Harvey also perform on Sunday. Meanwhile, Floating Points’ Sunflower Sound System will be featured throughout the weekend. Presented by Goldenvoice, the new two-day festival adds another major electronic music event to Indio’s calendar.
EDC Colombia
Dates: October 10–11, 2026
Location: Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia
EDC Colombia holds its inaugural edition in Medellín on October 10–11, 2026, at Unidad Deportiva Atanasio Girardot. Saturday features Above & Beyond, Alesso, Alok, ARTBAT, Astrix, Chase & Status, and deadmau5. ILLENIUM, Jamie Jones, Maceo Plex, Miss Monique, and Richie Hawtin are also confirmed. In addition, Dreamstate Presents and Factory93 Presents appear on the festival program. Sunday includes 999999999, Afrojack B2B Green Velvet, Armin van Buuren, Boris Brejcha, and CamelPhat. Kaskade, Nico Moreno, Restricted, Subtronics, Sullivan King, and Vintage Culture also perform on day two.
No Art Lisbon
Dates: October 10, 2026
Location: Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Lisbon, Portugal
Following a sold-out edition last year, No Art Lisbon is back in the Portuguese capital on October 10, 2026. The one-day lineup includes Adriatique, ANOTR, Jennifer Loveless, Klin Klop, and SG Lewis. Franky Rizardo B2B Mau P adds a collaborative set to the program. With six acts currently listed, the event keeps its schedule more focused than many of October’s multi-day festivals. The Lisbon date also adds another European stop to No Art’s 2026 calendar.
AMF
Dates: October 24, 2026
Location: Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
AMF returns to Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on October 24, 2026, for its annual one-night event during Amsterdam Dance Event. The 2026 lineup currently features Afrojack, Amelie Lens, Armin van Buuren, ARTBAT, D-Block & S-te-Fan, Korolova, and Marlon Hoffstadt, with more artists still to be announced. David Guetta is also confirmed to bring The Monolith to the AMF stage, adding his large-scale live production to this year’s edition. The festival is scheduled from 8 PM until the early hours of the following morning, continuing AMF’s long-running place on the final Saturday of Amsterdam Dance Event and bringing several different sides of electronic music together inside one of Amsterdam’s largest venues.
Escape Psycho Circus
Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: Southern California
Escape Psycho Circus returns to Southern California on October 30–31, 2026, for two nights of electronic music across five stages. Friday’s The Big Top lineup includes Benny Benassi, Cascada, Cloonee, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, KREAM, MORTEN, NERVO, and Steve Aoki, while Bassrush hosts Sewer District with Excision, Getter, Kai Wachi, and Level Up. Feeding Grounds brings harder styles with AniMe, Coone B2B DJ Isaac, Darren Styles, Frontliner, Lady Faith B2B LNY TNZ, and Showtek, while The Cage features Adam Ten, DJ Tennis, Jamie Jones B2B Franky Rizardo, and Joseph Capriati B2B SOSA. Saturday continues with Alok, Disco Lines, Galantis, Ian Asher, JOYRYDE, Maddix, and Zedd at The Big Top, alongside Adventure Club, Dabin, Dr. Fresch, Liquid Stranger, 999999999, Funk Assault, Indira Paganotto, Nina Kraviz, Richie Hawtin, Avalon Emerson, Champion, DJ Heartstring, and Malugi across the other stages. With house, bass, hard dance, and techno spread across the Halloween weekend, Escape Psycho Circus closes October with one of Insomniac’s biggest seasonal festivals.
BOO! Seattle
Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: WAMU Theater, Seattle, Washington
BOO! Seattle returns to WAMU Theater in Seattle, Washington, on October 30–31, 2026, with three themed stages and more than 50 DJs and performers across Halloween weekend. Friday’s lineup includes AMP, Casey Club, Champion, DJ Heather, Elderbrook with a DJ set, Gramatik, GRiZ, James Hype, Levity, LYNY, OMNOM, Ravenscoon, TroyBoi, Walker & Royce, and Westend. Saturday continues with A Little Sound, AZYR, Cloonee, Getter, Hannah Laing, Hershe, It’s Murph, Kayzo, Morgan Seatree, Sara Landry, Subtronics, Taiki Nulight, Taylor Torrence, Wuki, and YDG. With house, bass, techno, and harder electronic styles spread across two nights, BOO! Seattle gives the Pacific Northwest another major Halloween festival option at the end of October.
BOO! Arizona
Dates: October 30–31, 2026
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
BOO! Arizona takes place at WestWorld of Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, on October 30–31, 2026, with two themed stages across Halloween weekend. Friday’s lineup includes 2DY4, Capochino, Deorro, Fieldz B2B Mile32, Hydes, Kompany, Maddix, Marie Vaunt, PEEKABOO, Restricted, Sippy, Virtual Riot, Zedd, and Zoe Gitter. Saturday continues with ACRAZE, Aja Cruz, Alyssa Jolee, The Chainsmokers, Dombresky, Gravagerz, Heyz, James Hype, Jay Prior, JSTJR, Level Up, Luci, Papajan, Samplifire, Seven Lions, and TRYM. With house, bass, techno, and harder electronic styles spread across both nights, BOO! Arizona gives Scottsdale another large Halloween weekend event at the end of October.
Hocus Pocus Miami
Dates: October 30–November 1, 2026
Location: Factory Town, Miami, Florida
Hocus Pocus Miami returns to Factory Town in Miami, Florida, from October 30–November 1, 2026, for three nights across five stages during Halloween weekend. The lineup includes Chase & Status, ChaseWest, Cassian, Gorgon City, Indira Paganotto, Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Kerri Chandler, Layton Giordani, Marco Strous, MEDUZA, Odd Mob, Prospa, Purple Disco Machine, Seth Troxler, Skream, William Kiss, and Yanamaste. Several collaborative sets are also listed, including Funk Assault (Chlär B2B Alarico) and Vic Prydz >>> Franky Rizardo, while Apollonia, Ayybo, Azzecca, Beltran, Berbrakka, Chris Stussy, Cole Knight, Danny Daze, DJ Boring, Hudson Mohawke, Jayda G, Malugi, Mary Droppinz, Salomé Le Chat, Slam, and VTSS appear elsewhere across the three-night program. With house, techno, bass, and underground electronic music spread throughout Factory Town, Hocus Pocus Miami extends the Halloween festival calendar into the first night of November.
Ritvales
Dates: October 31–November 1, 2026
Location: Parque Norte, Medellín, Colombia
Ritvales returns to Parque Norte in Medellín, Colombia, from October 31–November 1, 2026, for two days covering techno, trance, house, melodic electronic music, and live performances. Saturday’s lineup includes Aly & Fila, Anetha, Ayybo, Carl Cox with an extended set, Ciaran McAuley, Dubfire, Guy J, Kobosil, LAVERN, Mauro Picotto, Paul van Dyk with an extended set, Somewhen, SPFDJ, Sven Väth, Tripolism, and WhoMadeWho with a hybrid DJ set. Sunday continues with Adam Beyer, Ben Böhmer live, Cloonee, Collabs 3000 (Chris Liebing B2B Speedy J), Crystal Waters live, Eli Brown, HI-LO B2B XXXXXX, I Hate Models, Klangkuenstler, Lilly Palmer, Massano, Marcel Dettmann, Oliver Heldens, Seth Troxler, Stephan Bodzin live, Supergloss, Victor Ruiz, and X CLUB. Stage hosts across the weekend include 44, Carl Cox Invites, and SHINE Ibiza, giving Ritvales one of the broader electronic lineups spanning the final day of October and the first day of November.
From major North American festivals including Breakaway Utah, We Belong Here Central Park, Experts Only at the Gorge, III Points Miami, Escape Psycho Circus, and BOO! Seattle to international events such as 808 Festival, EDC Korea, Starlight Festival, EDC Colombia, AMF, and Ritvales, October 2026 brings electronic music festivals to cities across North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Halloween events, city festivals, multi-day weekends, and one-day shows fill the month, with lineups covering house, techno, trance, bass, drum & bass, hard dance, melodic electronic music, and more.
Visit our EDM Festival News section to stay updated on the latest announcements and lineup releases.
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The Amplified Pianist releases “Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix),” a cinematic track telling the story of a man transformed into a cyborg.
Taking narrative-driven music to the next level, The Amplified Pianist releases ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, a track that tells a futuristic yet powerful story through its emotional and cinematic sound.
While the release is entirely instrumental, its elements tell the tale of a man who becomes a superhuman cyborg as part of a scientific experiment, in an attempt to secure his family’s future, at the cost of his own humanity.
The contrast between trance and piano reflects Icer’s transformation, showing that although technology takes over, a part of his human nature remains deeply rooted in his soul.
Speaking about the release’s perspective, The Amplified Pianist says: “Piano and strings represent the humanity that remains beneath the machine, while driving progressive-trance rhythms, evolving synths, and mechanical textures embody his irreversible transformation.”
In the beginning, the song follows Icer’s journey towards becoming a cyborg, while the breakdown unveils the man behind the steel. Classical piano notes express emotion and give character to the story, reflecting the initial motivation behind Icer’s decision to take part in the experiment.
Once human, his transformation becomes unavoidable, and the track shifts its focus to the dystopian part of the story. Building towards the main drop, trance synths slowly take over the production, preparing for the climax as Icer’s transformation reaches its endpoint. Heavy kicks, rolling basslines and orchestral electronic leads drive an aggressive drop, marking the success of the experiment the protagonist is part of.
Although Icer’s identity is now defined by steel and mechanical gestures, the track’s story returns to the human side that remains beneath the transformation.
“At the heart of the track is a recurring three-note motif, Icer’s musical identity. It persists through every stage of the transformation—a reminder that no matter how completely the machine takes over, something human remains underneath,” explains The Amplified Pianist.
The Amplified Pianist: What’s To Follow ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’
Having recently released ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, the Paris-based DJ and producer has a busy schedule for the months ahead. His next release, ‘Shockwave’, is set to drop on 23 October and is a collaboration with trance producer JARR Head. Similar to ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’, the upcoming release features classic trance elements within its story-like structure.
Beyond ‘Shockwave’, The Amplified Pianist is also working on six other projects, including a trance remix of Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ and a collaboration with Stretch, Tomorrowland’s mainstage MC.
To get a taste of what The Amplified Pianist has in store next, stream ‘Icer’s Theme (Trance Mix)’ now, available worldwide on major platforms.
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