Bart Skils: Mastering the Art of Pure Techno Energy

For decades the Netherlands has purported a reputation for techno excellence, and Bart Skils is one of the DJs who is maintaining that reputation beyond reproach. Even in a nation filled to the brim with top-notch artists, he continues to stand out.

As a frequent contributor to Adam Beyer’s revered label, Drumcode, Skils stands among some of the best artists in the world including Alan Fitzpatrick, Joseph Capriati, Nicole Moudaber, Luigi Madonna, and Sam Paganini. These artists are building the landscape for the next generation of techno acts.

Skils release schedule outside of Drumcode only matches or surpasses the already legendary force in music. His catalog includes music on Sven Vath’s Cocoon Recordings, Reiner Zonneveld’s Filth on Acid, and more. Not to mention his remixes of famed talents like Moby, Joris Voorn, Nicole Moudaber, Kaiserdisco, Johannes Heil, and Kollektiv Turmstrasse.

On the live front, Skils focuses just as much on giving back to his native Holland as he does to touring the world. His event series Voltt is regarded as one of the best in Amsterdam, and he even has his own outdoor festival through Voltt called “Voltt Loves Summer” which welcomes over 15,000 people to a shipyard in Amsterdam for an unforgettable day of dance music.

Beyond his own events, his list of past venues includes all of the global favorites like Awakenings Amsterdam, Berghain Berlin, Fabric London, Cocorico Italy, Rex Paris, and Wire festival Tokyo.

Bart Skils has hit so many of the benchmarks in techno that young artists strive for, and he shows absolutely no signs of stopping. With this kind of passion and drive, there is little doubt he will soon be on the same status as Adam Beyer, running his own version of Drumcode and holding space for the younger versions of Bart Skils.

Netherlands

deep minimal techno

minimal techno

Bart Skils

United States

Crossbow

Adam Meliani

PAGODA

Weska

Superior Ingredients Roof

Bart Skils & Guests

acid techno

italian techno

999999999

Sweden

dark techno

raw techno

schranz

swedish electronic

swedish techno

techno

Adam Beyer

Switzerland

deep disco house

melodic house

melodic techno

swiss house

Adriatique

United Kingdom

house

Alan Fitzpatrick

afro house

Alex Wann

Germany

electronica

german house

german techno

microhouse

minimal tech house

Âme

Spain

spanish techno

Andres Campo

Italy

Anfisa Letyago

Ben Böhmer

Ben Klock

Russia

electra

russian electronic

russian techno

Nina Kraviz

DJ Gigola

 is a legendary name in electronic music, especially for techno lovers. What began as a humble techno night in Amsterdam over two decades ago has exploded into the Netherlands’ leading techno event, now renowned worldwide.

It was founded in the late 1990s by Rocco Veenboer, who felt a void in the Dutch scene for pure techno amid the prevailing house and hardcore sounds. The very first Awakenings party in Amsterdam’s Gashouder venue sold out and proved he was onto something big. Since then, Awakenings has blossomed into a globally recognized festival brand, drawing over 300,000 visitors annually from all corners of the world. For many fans, Awakenings is a pilgrimage and a symbol of the Netherlands’ influential role in techno culture.

From its early days as single-night raves, Awakenings quickly grew into multi-day extravaganzas. Before long, those one-off parties turned into weekenders and then full-blown festivals, as demand from the techno community kept rising.

Today, Awakenings spans multiple events a year, including an iconic spring gathering near Amsterdam and a summer weekender in the woods of Hilvarenbeek. At the current festival grounds in Hilvarenbeek, up to 80,000 attendees from more than 80 countries come together for a three-day techno marathon. The scale is immense - over a hundred artists perform across eight stages, ranging from intimate tents to gigantic open-air arenas. Every year the organizers up the ante with groundbreaking stage designs, jaw-dropping laser shows and even carnival touches (a luminous ferris wheel, for example) to immerse the fans in “techno madness”. The result is an almost surreal rave wonderland: crazy visuals, booming sound, and fireworks that light up the night sky.

Despite growing bigger and bolder, Awakenings has stayed true to its roots. It remains fiercely focused on techno music rather than chasing mainstream trends, a commitment that earns it huge respect in the scene.

One of Awakenings’ biggest draws is its consistently incredible line-ups. The festival is essentially a “who’s who” of techno DJs, featuring legendary pioneers alongside fresh talent. Dance music icons like 

 or Detroit’s Derrick May have all graced the Awakenings stage over the years, cementing its reputation for top-tier bookings. At the same time, newer generations of techno stars, from drum-machine wizards like 

The programming balances the genre’s underground purists and big-name crowd-pleasers in equal measure. Fans love that mix; many attend annually knowing they’ll see their favorite DJs who return year after year, as well as discover cutting-edge acts. This loyalty goes both ways: artists often speak fondly of the “Awakenings vibe” and how energetic and dedicated the crowds are. The festival’s commitment to true techno has nurtured a loyal community that keeps coming back for more.

Awakenings has left its mark on several locations, each adding to its character. Its spiritual home is undoubtedly the Gashouder in Amsterdam, an immense circular industrial gas tank turned party arena often nicknamed the “Temple of Techno”. Many of Awakenings’ legendary nights have happened under the Gashouder’s wrought-iron dome, with its spider-like web of lights beaming across the ceiling. For years, the brand’s flagship outdoor festival took place at the scenic Spaarnwoude recreational area just outside Amsterdam - a green park that was transformed into a techno playground every summer.

As the festival grew larger, it eventually moved to an even bigger outdoor site in Beekse Bergen (Hilvarenbeek) in the south of the Netherlands, providing more room for its expanding stages and audience. Beyond these mainstay venues, Awakenings has also ventured into other Dutch cities; at times it staged events in Rotterdam’s warehouses and Eindhoven’s Klokgebouw, showing it can bring the party anywhere.

The Awakenings experience has even gone international on occasion, with one-off shows popping up in places like New York and London to spread the techno gospel abroad. Still, the heart and soul of Awakenings remains firmly in the Netherlands, where its combination of iconic venues, enthusiastic crowds, and uncompromising techno sound continues to thrive as a cornerstone of electronic music culture.

Awakenings

Hilvarenbeek

Awakenings Summer Festival 2025

brazilian techno

ANNA

Denmark

danish electronic

danish techno

deep euro house

Kölsch

nyc club

Layton Giordani

swiss techno

Lilly Palmer

Ireland

irish electronic

Rebūke

Amnesia Ibiza

Drumcode Amnesia

Tunisia

Cera Khin

Deborah de Luca

Australia

I Hate Models

France

Space 92

Joris Voorn

Mind Against

Ukraine

Miss Monique

Ellen Allien

Hadone

François X

Joseph Capriati

Enrico Sangiuliano

Belgium

Joyhauser

8Kays

Argy

CamelPhat

Giorgia Angiuli

Kevin de Vries

Grace Dahl

MARRØN

Richie Hawtin

Rødhåd

Dax J

Kobosil

Perc

Helena Hauff

Speedy J

Airrica

Fleur Shore

Franky Rizardo

Michel De Hey

Paco Osuna

Brazil

Vintage Culture

DJ HEARTSTRING

Partiboi69

Remy Unger

Secret Cinema

Amelie Lens

Indira Paganotto

Pan-Pot

Ilario Alicante

Stephan Bodzin

Tale of Us

FJAAK

Len Faki

Marcel Dettman

Clara Cuvé

Farrago

Fatima Hajji

Adiel

Anetha

Patrick Mason

Benin

AMÉMÉ

Chloé Caillet

Chris Stussy

HoneyLuv

Hot Since 82

Mochakk

Barry Can't Swim

New Zealand

Chaos In The CBD

Honey Dijon

Sally C

Gene On Earth

tINI

 is one of the world's most prestigious techno music festivals, held annually near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Since its inception in 1997, the festival has grown tremendously in popularity and scale, drawing techno enthusiasts from across the globe.

The festival occurs over two days and is typically held during the last weekend of June. The event takes place in Hilvarenbeek, a scenic area nestled between Haarlem and Amsterdam, providing a picturesque backdrop for festival-lovers.

Awakenings Festival is not just about music; it's a comprehensive sensory experience. The festival grounds boast impressive stage designs, which are a hallmark of the event. Each stage is meticulously crafted to create immersive environments with state-of-the-art sound systems and spectacular light shows. This attention to detail ensures an unparalleled audio-visual experience that captivates the audience.

The lineup at Awakenings consistently features a blend of established techno titans and emerging talents, maintaining its reputation as a platform that promotes the full spectrum of techno music.

Apart from the main summer event, Awakenings also organizes several indoor events and special one-offs throughout the year, further cementing its status as a key player in the global techno scene.

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