Connect with us

Editorial

This Was: Don’t Let Daddy Know 2024

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

The sold-out ten year anniversary of Don’t Let Daddy Know (DLDK) took place on Saturday March 2nd at the Ziggodome in Amsterdam.

For those who don’t know, DLDK is one of the world’s largest electronic music festivals with editions in more than 18 countries around the world. Known for its out of this world production, state of the art visuals, and top-tier talent, DLDK continues to push the boundaries of electronic music events, and the tenth anniversary edition was no exception.

Getting There

As a veteran raver and frequent visitor of the Ziggodome, getting there from my house in Leidschendam was a no brainer between the tram and the train. First my usual quick stop at a nearby Chinese restaurant for some food and pre-game drinks with friends then we were off! We arrived at the venue around 22:00 and there was already a massive crowd waiting to get in General Admission.

After about an hour wait, we entered the venue and upon entry were given stickers with the DLDK logo on them and a recycle coin to encourage partygoers to turn in empty cups rather than dispose of them on the ground. The Ziggodome offers lockers for two euro, however once you close the locker you have to pay to re-open it, but thankfully as this was not my first rodeo this was not a problem!

Venue

Having lived in the Netherlands for almost eight years and having been raving for more than 16 years, I can confidently say that the Ziggodome is one of my favorite venues in Europe. The Ziggodome is a moderately sized indoor arena (17,000-person capacity) with a large mainstage, tiered stadium seating, and food and drink vendors located around the outside ring.

What sets the Ziggodome apart from other locations is its accessibility. Not only is it easy to get to by public transport but navigating inside and finding your friends is not an issue. One of my favorite parts about the Ziggodome is being able to climb to the top tier and watch the show from above. Viewing the show from top-level seats is an incredible experience between the lasers, pyrotechnics, fog, and of course, people watching!

Food & Drinks

The Ziggodome offers your standard food and drinks options ranging from hotdogs, burgers, fries, and various snacks. The prices did slightly increase from when I was last there in December with a large beer increasing in price from 7.25 euro to 7.45, wine going from 5.25 to 5.50, cheeseburgers from 9.50 to 10.25 etc. However, with the prices increasing across the board at every festival this was no surprise.

My usual issue with the Ziggodome remains unchanged as they do not sell bottles of water but rather charge for cups of water which is not very practical for dancing! Aside from my strong feelings of the water situation and the increasing prices of food and drinks, the Ziggodome remains to be one of my favorite venues in the Netherlands, and I continue to go there multiple times a year.

Music

Lucas & Steve

We kicked off the evening with Lucas & Steve who from start to finish captivated the audience with familiar bangers such as ‘Animals’, ‘Where Have You Gone’, ‘Sexy Bitch’, and ‘Sick’. Lucas & Steve consistently know how to blend together Pop, House, and Future House to create a euphoric environment that you can’t help but jump, sing, and scream along to!

Nicky Romero

Up next Nicky Romero, one of my classic go-to favorites from the 00’s (the good ole days) delivered an incredible set infused with his signature hits like ‘For the People’, ‘Only for You’, and ‘Tomorrow Comes’ with classic fan favorites such as ‘Better off Alone’, ‘Freed from Desire’, and ‘Miracle’. This set had good vibes all around and left my heart feeling full when he dropped all my time favorite, ‘I Could Be the One’ (RIP Avicii)!

Hardwell

The recent return of Hardwell to the electronic music scene and greater community has been nothing short of legendary in the last few years. Time and time again Hardwell demonstrates why he’s one of the greatest DJs of all time and his set at DLDK was no exception. Hardwell delivered the quintessential hour and a half set for a ten-year anniversary event mixing his classic hits we know and love him for (‘Oldskool Sound’ and ‘Apollo’) with some of his newer darker Techno (‘Shotgun’ and ‘Acid’).

Blasterjaxx

Blasterjaxx kicked off their set with a bang with their explosive track ‘Party with the Cops’. From the moment Blasterjaxx took the stage their high-octane performance had the crowd going insane. The set even included a surprise performance from Dutch rapper Jebroer, with his famous track ‘Kind van de Duivel’ (Child of the Devil). If that wasn’t enough, the set also included a special birthday tribute to member of Blasterjaxx, Thom Jongkind! Cue 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’ coupled with a photo collage of photos of Thom. Can’t think of a better birthday celebration!

Stage & Visuals

The Don’t Let Daddy Know brand is synonymous for out of this world production and the tenth anniversary held nothing back with its theme red galaxy. At the forefront of the stage was a large X that projected various visuals to accompany the music. At one point when the song, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ came on, the meme of goat singing (from the viral Taylor Swift meme ten years ago) was projected across X (which was SO funny). At another point in the night it was Spongebob visuals (so much nostalgia), everything was perfectly in sync creating an immersive experience.

All of this on top lasers, pyrotechnics, beach balls, balloons, and fog made it truly a night to remember.

General Impressions

As this was my second time attending Don’t Let Daddy Know (I also attended the 2023 edition in Amsterdam), my expectations were set very high. The only aspect of the party I really missed from the previous year was the LED wristbands that were given upon entry to light up in sync with the music. That was something really special that I missed this year and that really added to the visual aesthetic of the event.

Don’t Let Daddy Know is one of those events that if you’re a true lover of EDM you can’t miss it. The production and visuals are top-notch. I also personally as a Hard Dance lover loved the incorporation of more harder styles this year from Hardwell closing the last five minutes out with Hardstyle to Sound Rush and Radical Redemption closing.

This might have been my second Don’t Let Daddy Know but certainly not my last!

Continue Reading

Editorial

Juliana Bonde Steals ELF Stage

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

Juliana Bonde steals ELF stage

With over 80 million views, more than 40 videos, and a meticulously crafted performance on the Electric Love Mainstage, Brazilian influencer and singer Juliana Bonde has been making waves – despite never having set foot at the festival. The Salzburg-based festival is taking the situation in stride with a dose of humor.

Juliana Bonde steals ELF stage

Juliana Bonde Steals ELF Stage

What connects Electric Love Festival in Salzburg to a Brazilian pop singer? At first glance, not much. However, it seems the iconic Electric Love Mainstage has crossed the Atlantic – at least virtually. For months now, Juliana Bonde, a popular Brazilian singer and influencer with over 10 million
followers, has been posting videos on her social media channels showing herself and her band performing on the Electric Love Mainstage. The incredibly realistic footage, entirely digitally edited, has left fans amazed. However, Bonde has never performed at the festival. “We had to do a double take and even checked our lineup just to be sure,” the Electric Love organizers joked. “But no – Juliana Bonde has never been here. What she’s created is undeniably impressive, though!”

A Humorous Response

Festival host Jules Hardy (UK) was equally amused. “Someone has stolen Electric Love’s mainstage – you won’t believe where I found it!,” Hardy quipped in a video that recounts the entire story and even extends an invitation to Bonde for Electric Love 2025. “She must be a huge Electric Love fan. We’re gonna invite her to the next Electric Love!” Hardy added. The festival team added: “She virtually already knows our stage inside and out. It’s time for her to experience it live!”

Electric Love 2025
Electric Love Festival will take place from July 3–5, 2025, at the Salzburgring in the picturesque Fuschlsee region. Featuring over 200 artists across seven stages, the festival promises musical diversity with performances by international stars such as Major Lazer, Dom Dolla, Timmy Trumpet, Hardwell, Alan Walker, John Newman, Marlon Hoffstadt, Lilly Palmer, Bibiza, Holy Priest, and more. For tickets and more information, visit www.electriclove.at.

Continue Reading

Editorial

Sea You Festival Announce 150 Artists For 2025

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

sea you festival 2024

Sea You Festival returns to Lake Tunisee in Freiburg from July 18 to 20 with an expanded edition that stretches across six distinct stages and more than 150 acts.

Sea You Festival is known for combining open-air dance floors with lakeside views and playful summer elements, the event continues to grow while staying rooted in its laid-back yet upbeat dentity.

The 2025 Sea You Festival edition follows back-to-back wins at the Heavent Awards for Best Festival in Western Europe. With redesigned stages, a bigger Main Stage, and the addition of a sixth stage focused on hard groove and ghetto tech, this year brings in more variety without losing its flow. New art installations, more food options, and improved camping conditions are also in place.

Main Names Across All Corners of the Scene

This year’s lineup pulls in artists across techno, melodic house, trance, and EDM. Paul Kalkbrenner (live), Nina Kraviz, James Hype, Deborah De Luca, Sven Väth, Reinier Zonneveld (live), Nora En Pure, and Neelix stand out across various stages during Sea You Festival.

Also on board are Kölsch, Len Faki, BUNT., Alle Farben, Jan Blomqvist (live), Klangkuenstler, Kevin de Vries, Lilly Palmer, Dirty Doering, Nora En Pure, Silver Panda, NTO (live), and Lexy & K-Paul (live). From the progressive side, Raumklang brings in Bliss, Liquid Soul, Phaxe, Berg, Ghost Rider, and Vegas, alongside newer names like Jilax, Hatikwa, and Reality Test.

B2B sets include Adrian Mills B2B PRADA2000, Callush B2B Dasstudach, and Koboyo B2B Fjusha. The full range spans from big room to underground, with local names and emerging talent spread throughout the Sea You Festival.

Six Stages with Different Directions

Each stage at Sea You Festival takes on its own musical identity.

  • The Main Stage leans toward large-scale live sets and high-impact melodic acts

  • The Techno Dome focuses on industrial, driving rhythms

  • The Sea View Stage mixes dance-pop, commercial house, and upbeat electronic

  • The Hard Dome hosted by Gotec is darker, faster, and more raw

  • Stage 5, restructured for progressive trance and psychedelic sounds

  • The newly introduced Stage 6 brings harder, hybrid sets and Lake View sounds

This range gives room for long-time Sea You festivalgoers to drift between scenes without losing momentum, and it invites new listeners to explore genres they might not usually hear.

A Summer Setting Few Can Match

What defines Sea You Festival is its balance between world-class music and its natural setting. Floating dancefloors, inflatable flamingos, watersports, shaded lounges, and that long stretch of shoreline all play a part in the atmosphere. It’s built to be as much about the experience as it is about the sound.

With music running daily from afternoon into late night, and camping open until Monday, Sea You 2025 offers a weekend built around freedom, movement, and summer energy.

Tickets for Sea You Festival are now available at www.seayou-festival.de, with past editions often selling out ahead of time.

Continue Reading

Editorial

Martin Garrix Confirms His Second Album Is Coming in 2026

Unknown's avatar

Published

on

martin garrix live

Martin Garrix has officially confirmed that his second album is in progress and expected to arrive in early 2026.

Martin Garrix made the announcement during a live segment on Fun Radio, where he explained that the majority of the material is already finished. What remains is the last round of refinement, which he described as the most time-consuming part. His goal is to have everything wrapped up by November.

This will be his first full-length record since Sentio, which was released in 2022. That album brought together several collaborations and included songs he had already tested out during festival sets. Since then, Garrix has been focused on releasing one-off singles and smaller projects. His recent output, including the IDEM EP and songs like “Breakaway” and “Weightless,” has shown a shift in tone. Some of the newer material leans more experimental, while still keeping a strong connection to the sound that shaped his earlier career. Martin Garrix’s evolution in these projects is quite intriguing.

Tomorrowland Will Preview What Comes Next

Martin Garrix also shared that he has completed a brand-new club-oriented song that will be premiered during his Tomorrowland set this summer. He described the production as more aggressive than usual, suggesting that the upcoming album may explore a heavier direction than his previous body of work. Given his history of using major festivals as a platform to debut unreleased material, Tomorrowland is likely the first place fans will get a sense of how the album sounds, echoing Martin Garrix’s pioneering approach to live performances.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FUN RADIO (@funradio)

While no details were given about featured artists or the final lineup of songs, this new approach to performance and pacing hints that the album may not follow the structure of Sentio, which leaned heavily on vocal collaborations. Instead, it seems like Martin Garrix is exploring a format that reflects the kind of music he builds specifically for his live sets, demonstrating Martin Garrix’s intent to innovate.

A Different Kind of Album Rollout

Unlike his first album, which was promoted over several months with visuals and teasers tied to each single, this next phase feels more grounded in the moment. Rather than building an extended campaign around each individual release, Garrix appears focused on finishing the record as a whole and presenting it when it’s ready. The fact that he is premiering new material live rather than on streaming platforms shows that this process is being driven by instinct and audience feedback, not just marketing cycles, showcasing the practical and instinctive side of Martin Garrix.

With his timeline now set, fans can expect a gradual rollout beginning later this year. If the new club piece receives strong reactions at Tomorrowland, it may end up as one of the album’s lead singles. Either way, 2026 looks set to mark Martin Garrix’s return to full-length format, something his listeners have been anticipating since his last studio release, furthering Martin Garrix’s reputation for excellence.

Continue Reading

Trending