Amsterdam Music Event in 2014 was definitely the biggest and most successful of all times so far. The absolute highlight was the Amsterdam Music Festival that this year took place at the magnificent Amsterdam Arena that events like Sensation were organised in the past. Last years Amsterdam Music Festival included variety of stages but this year everything was focused on the mainstage that included dj sets only from headliners djs. You can easily guess that this was the ultimate Clash of the Titans of electronic dance music in front of the eyes of thousands of fans who travelled in Amsterdam from all over the globe who came to party, sing a long, jump and getting trashed completely out of their heads.
Amsterdam Music Festival is the perfect occasion to get lost in music and become insane for some precious moments of happiness and joy. The party started with Dash Berlin who delivered his very powerful progressive house and festival style bangers to the crowd who didn't stop to clap even for a minute and sing a long. Despite being the first set Dash Berlin watch the crowd going crazy as they didn't require any warm up or special preparation. The excitement was painted in their faces waiting for unforgettable moments to happen in their lives, take as many pictures and videos as they could and tell the world by uploading in their social media that they were present in this global gathering of electronic dance music fanatics. Dash Berlin was stunning as always and he gave the crowd intensity, dynamism and unforgettable moments to talk about on their way back home.
Next was the French Titan David Guetta who simply could not hide his excitement. David Guetta was pure pleasure to watch him perform, playing his biggest pop dance anthems in the most aggressive and festival friendly versions and drive the crowd nuts. He knew how to please them and he took the microphone in his hands many times to encourage them participate in the shamanic ritual that was this magnificent spectacle beyond any belief or description. David Guetta mixing skills are well documented and always amaze us how he can compile such a powerful set even by playing usually most of his well known tracks from the past that the majority of them are big joy to listen them played by the man who produced them. Dangerous dj set for lovers in the Sun who can party hard all night.
For the next 45 minutes before the announcement of the winner of the dj mag TOP 100 djs Pool the Highest New Entry dj Deorro from Mexico USA performed by playing his top notch remixes and many of his favourites in his very unique dj style that of course helped to raise so much his profile and climb at the number 19. The standout track of the night was his tune Five Hours on AVICII's Le7els Label. Despite releasing a vocal version he played the instrumental version and really drive the crowd mad. From 23.45 till 24.00 we enjoyed the megamix of the Top 10 djs of the year according to the readers of Dj Mag. The winner was of course Hardwell who came on stage to receive the special award and thank all those who have helped him to keep the number 1 position for 2nd year despite the huge competition from Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike who came 2nd. It was definitely the most painful Clash Of Titans.
Hardwell was next on the mainstage. For 1 hour the brilliant dj and producer proved why he is so charismatic and so determined to be always on the top of the world. His dj set was packed with many tracks that the crowd recognised instantly and who simply could not stop dancing and bouncing around. Hardwell is a true entertainer who never fails to please his crowd that is hungry for more. In the age of the internet and social media the young electronic dance music fans are seriously educated and that makes them very demanding and difficult to please as they have watched everything already and they have certain expectations that Hardwell manage to satisfy them 100% without doubts. His triumph is not matter of hype and well focused marketing strategy, it is rather the fruit of his hard work and commitment to succeed against all odds and in his case against his health and well being. Of course he is very young and his immune system is super strong at the moment and he doesn't loose any opportunity or chance to spread his love for electronic dance music and at the Amsterdam Music Festival was definitely one of his most representative performances of what he is able to achieve behind the decks and upon the decks when he climbs to wave his hands and salute his crowd.
Armin van Buuren had an incredible year and many waited to see him again at the top of the dj mag Top 100. He reached of course number 3 despite having enormous competition from younger djs that usually younger people identify more easily with them because they can see themselves in the position of those djs and can aspire to become like them. His dj set was definitely very fresh and exciting representing were the modern trance sound is heading at the moment with big room even hardstyle basslines, epic euphoric synths and feel good vocals. Of course he dropped all the mainstage favourites and he spiced it up with uplifting trance tracks even at the very end and huge climax of his unforgettable dj set.
Armin van Buuren is great dj and entertainer cause despite having his own unique and easily identifiable sound, he never afraid to take risks and experiment with elements that his hardcore fans would consider unthinkable to include. He waved his hands, he raised his hands, he climbed at the dj booth and he dance along with his fans enjoying every single second of this sweating dj set that required limitless amounts of energy to keep going till the end. Armin is a phenomenon and his performance could only be phenomenal.
The next brilliant set was by the number 4 dj Martin Garrix who confessed in his ADE Next interview that one of the things that inspired him to get involved with electronic dance music was when he watched Tiesto playing at the Olympic Games in Athens. Martin Garrix delivered an exceptional set packed with all the usual suspects and some cool surprises out of his hat as well. It's impossible to describe with words what happened when he played Animals that is the most easily recognisable track. The whole Amsterdam Arena transformed into jungle with thousands of ecstatic Animals dancing and jumping around. He used the microphone as well many times and he gave his best of his abilities to make every single person feel that is part of this massive party and they should have great time with him. Martin Garrix has all the needed ingredient to become a first class entertainer despite his young age as he knows what it takes to stand in front of thousands of fans who expect to capture any of your moments and he delivers seamlessly mixed dj set that bangs hard and keeps the crowd enthusiastic.
If you ask me personally who I believe had the biggest response from the crowd and who manage to make the whole Amsterdam Arena to dance like crazy the answer can only be Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. The Tomorrowland resident djs radiate wherever and whenever they perform madness and it seems that this exactly what the young festival goes demand at the moment. When I watched from the press podium the crowd waving their hands according to Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike commands I whispered that they deserve even this year to get the number 1 position. Not because they are residents on the biggest festival of the world but because the crowd wants them and as we know the customer has the final word in any transaction. The Belgian/Greek brothers with their down to earth attitude, simplicity and warmth manage to win the hearts and support of many fans who are ready to surrender in their invitation to get smashed, cranked, freaked out and go bonkers on the dancefloor. Another moment that I witness the same reaction from the crowd was from The Prodigy and now I saw it happen with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike who grab the opportunity from the hair and now they enjoy the highspeed madness of superstars dj life style without forgetting where they come from by staying grounded and in touch with their friends. Next year they deserve the number 1 position if they continue to work hard like they did on the mainstage of Amsterdam Music Festival.
The next duo to invade the stage of Amsterdam Music Festival were W and W. Another success story of the Dutch Electronic Dance Music industry with their own label Mainstage Music, their own radio show and their own club anthems including their collaboration with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike for Waves that became the official anthem for Tomorrowland festival. what you notice very easily is that W&W are very tall guys in contrast with other djs and it was easy to see them from the crowd behind their dj booth while the majority of the rest of the djs were hidden behind the very tall dj booth and it was impossible to watch their performance. Their dj set included euphoric feel good synths, rave style synthy hooks, aggressive in your face basslines and thunderous kicks to blow the speakers and cause mass riot in the Amsterdam Arena. Faultless mixing, constant interaction with the crowd and acknowledgement that they are at top because of their fans who were there again to enjoy their monstrous performance.
Last dj of the night was Wildstylez who is well known in the hardstyle community and definitely the best choice to bring this memorable festival to its climax. The rest of the djs may played hardstyle infused basslines, Wildstylez played the real thing and if you ask me about the crowd reaction I can tell you that they totally loved every single moment of it. Heavy, rough, raw, wild and furious basslines combined with sharp kicks and great vocals that thanks god are not stretched to sound like the next chipmunks hit. Colourful anthemic feel good synths and positive vibrations were spread all over the place to highlight the fact that the hardstyle scene is more alive than ever and there is huge fanbase for those styles that can turn your mother crazy when you played them in your bedroom. What an epic closing set for an enormously successful event...
The 2nd Amsterdam Music Festival was magnificent in many different levels. From the fantastic organisation behind the scenes that ensured that everything run smoothly in its smallest detail, to the incredible mindblowing stages, hi-tech lasers and pyrotechnics that created that party atmosphere that any festival must aprise to convey cause at the end of the night everyone who attends those festivals want to let the inhibitions and fears go and dance until the end without thinking about the consequences. The decision to move the festival in a larger venue and concentrate on one stage rather than spreading them in many different stages definitely was a wise one and this mythical Clash of Dj Titans will remain as one of the most fierce of all times. Next stop Mexico Music Festival, 16 May 2015. As it seems a brand new festival concept that can be exported in many countries across the globe is just born!
Thanks so much to ADE for the press accreditation and thanks to ALDA EVENTS and Maaike Peys for the AMF press accreditation.
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“Niche producers will always have a space at the Amsterdam Dance Event.” - Dave Clarke
