Name: Awakenings Summer Festival
Start: 2022-07-29T10:00:00.000-07:00
End: 2022-08-01T01:00:00.000-07:00

Netherlands

Gashouder

Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the Gashouder is a breathtaking venue synonymous with techno music. It's one of the fountainheads of early dance music and has hosted some of the biggest names and events in electronic music. But before the fabled club became "The Pride of Westergas," it endured a less glamorous role from the 1800s through the turn of the century as a storage facility for the fuel that powered Amsterdam.




The now idyllic grounds of Westergas were once home to Amsterdam's gasworks, a cluster of 22 stark, industrial buildings that created and housed fuel for the city. The buildings were designed by prominent Dutch architect Isaac Gosschalk and constructed in 1880 by London Imperial Continental Gas Association for coal gas production. The gas replaced oil in the late 1800s to light the streets of Amsterdam with an amber glow. However, as the city modernized, gas production faded, and the factories soon became obsolete.




By 1967, the Westergas factories had ceased operation, leaving to question the future use of the abandoned spaces. For decades, the city and local businesses used the buildings as storage and workspaces.






Never leaving a good warehouse to waste, European DJs began hosting raves at some of the facilities in the early '90s. And in 1992, local entrepreneurs gained interest in the untapped potential of the polluted and decaying brick structures. Eventually, new renters and the City Council poured in over 31 million euros to renovate the space. What used to be a source of pollution was transformed into a beacon of culture, commerce, and sustainability.




By the late '90s, the forgotten cluster of dull industrial buildings had become a colorful and bustling hub of arts and entertainment with Gashouder as its celebrated centerpiece. The imposing monolith of stone transformed into a world-class entertainment venue that could comfortably house 3,500 visitors in the inner space of the former gas storage tank. The rise of techno in Amsterdam in the '90s, coupled with the newly renovated space, created the perfect storm for Gashouder to become globally synonymous with techno and house.






Electronic music was becoming an international sensation, and Amsterdam had a foothold in defining the sound of early European dance music. In 1996, Amsterdam Music Event (ADE) hosted its first three-day conference, with performances by 30 DJs and attendance of 300 industry delegates. And in 1997, Awakenings held its first techno night at Gashouder with DJs Angelo, Billy Nasty, Derrick May, Dimitri, Godard, and Nick Rapaccioli. Today, ADE is a mecca for music professionals, attracting over 400,000 attendees to 200 venues. The conference began incorporating Awakenings early on, which now hosts 300,000 visitors yearly at some of the most renowned techno events worldwide. As the home to Awakenings, Gashouder is now an essential stop on any ADE trip.











Known for hosting some of the most epic techno events in Europe, Gashouder has become a destination venue for music festivals, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and more. Patrons have dubbed it the "Temple of Techno" and Amsterdam's most spectacular venue, not only because of the lineups but also the quality of production and the space's vacuous nature.




The round stone behemoth boasts massive, nearly 50 foot ceilings and an iron roof, with no pillars to obstruct views of the stage. Because of its colossal size, party-goers are often dazzled by indoor fireworks displays launched from the ceiling 3.5 stories overhead. Thoughtfully crafted showcases mean no two performances are alike, but they always meet and exceed the same high standards of the venue.




Shivani Murthy of THE - Music Essentials described her first techno experience at Gashouder, "Being the techno virgins that we were, we went in with zero expectations and had absolutely no idea about who and what we were going to witness there. To summarise what we experienced, all I can say is, by the end of the night, we were baptized at the 'Techno Temple' and came out yearning for more!"









Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the 2019 edition of ADE Awakenings was streamed online as a free event. DJ performances were filmed at Gashouder and streamed into fans' living rooms across the globe via social networking platforms. As live shows return triumphantly, ADE and Awakenings are back in action. Awakenings will present six ADE shows in 2022, back where it all started, at the legendary Gashouder.





World-renowned techno brand Awakenings grandly announced earlier this year to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2022, and they would be changing locations and adding a second festival, Awakenings Summer edition.   

The new festival edition will take place over three days, July 29-31. The summer festival in Hilvarenbeek expands on their previous festival’s two-day affairs and will include camping allowing you to enjoy the entire weekend without a fret in the world.   

Full lineup details were dropped today, and they are phenomenal. This is a techno wonderland.   

Friday will kick off the festivities with techno’s power couple Charlotte De Witte and hubby Enrico Sangiuliano, Joyhauser, Klangkunster, Kolsch, and Patrick Mason.  





Saturday keeps you going with Adam Beyer, Apollonia, Archie Hamilton, Ida Engberg, Mind Against, Nina Kravitz, Panpot, and Patrick Topping.   

If that isn’t enough to entice you to go, then the third and final mind-blowing day will surely solidify your plans. Sunday will see the likes of Amelie Lens, The Blessed Madonna, DJ Rush, Eats Everything, Jackmaster, Skream, and Stephan Bodzin with one of his unique live sets. 

Awakenings already hold the international throne when it comes to Techno events. The summer edition boasts plans to host nine fantastical stages, with all of the usual bells and whistles that set them apart, including impressive light shows and unparalleled sound design. 

This is an event you do not want to miss. Preregistration is live on the website, giving you early access to the ticket shop.

Awakenings Announces Summer Festival Lineup

Each passing year represents a shift in the music industry. The evolution of sound, how listeners consume music, rehashing old tropes. In 2021 we learned that there could be new ways to consume music even in a crowded streaming market. Twitch and Audius blossomed as two new platforms for dance music fans to get that house music fix. We also witnessed 90s nostalgia in full swing, whether we liked it or not.

2021 had a bit of everything. As we enter 2022, we can reflect on one thing 2021 has taught us: nothing is promised. The pandemic put a halt to live music and concert tours, and artists had to get creative in how they continued to reach their fans and put out new music. 

The slowdown of the music business in 2021 has forever changed the shape of the industry. Yet it produced some groundbreaking trends that we hope are here to stay. 




Social Media Livestreams


Livestreams became popular, with venues in flux in 2020 and 2021. Social media platforms with video streaming and sharing capabilities such as Twitch and Facebook Live have provided musicians and their fans the opportunity to connect through streams. They gave us a forum to enjoy our favorite artists and explore new tunes in real-time while interacting with fellow house heads.   

Whether the streaming media included short, raw performances hinting at future music or full-fledged online music festival. These performances allowed giants like Paxhau, Dirtybird, and Desert Hearts to move forward with doing what they do best, entertaining the masses.   

And for emerging artists, they provided limitless opportunities to advance their careers. By the time live shows returned, artists like Mary Droppinz and Nala had established new and growing fan bases that helped make them enticing to festival promoters. While artists like LP Giobbi and Sofi Tukker, while already fan favorites, streamed their way into superstar status because of their daily presence on Twitch.





Festivals such as Electric Daisy Carnival, Awakenings, Ultra, and Tomorrowland continue to maintain live streams, making festivals more attainable to the masses—further propelling house music artists to household names.  




Music Video Comeback

The days of MTV being an actual music network that played actual music video are long gone. Music videos used to be a must for any hit song. However, social media sites and YouTube have reintroduced them as a necessary promotional tool. And yet another way for artists to creatively express their vision.   

Music videos add a sheen to a song. They eliminate the uncertainty of understanding what an artist is trying to covey. They elevate the artist's vision and often add an additional layer of nuance to the message. There is power in creating curated and compelling visual narratives for the music. Artists like Will Clarke have mastered the medium, creating solid, visually stunning music videos.

Cross-Genre Collaboration

Collaborations allow artists to tiptoe the line between genres and maybe do something that lies slightly outside of their comfort zone. While they aren't new to dance music, cross-genre collaborations exploded in 2021 due to the pandemic. Artists were in discovery mode. They had time to experiment with music and the ability to collaborate across vast distances via Zoom, Dropbox, Splice, and any number of collaborative platforms.

The door was wide open in 2021 for performers to pair up with their favorite artists of any genre. And the collaborations were nothing short of magical. With critically acclaimed partnerships in-house music with pop, rock, and hip-hop artists alike, we've seen dance music explode into the mainstream in unprecedented ways. The underground is becoming truly massive.



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DJs Ditching the Decks

When a DJ drops the decks and plays live, it's a thrilling way to experience their work in a new way. Watching them actively create or remix their music is a kind of magic generally reserved for production studios. 







Over the past couple of years, we have started seeing a spike in Live Sets. Groups like Bob Moses, Wajatta, Rufus Du Sol, and WhoMadeWho are no strangers to the festival circuit. But seeing artists like this on more lineups only proves the value of "playing live." 

The immense creativity and emotional weight that artists like Georgia Anjuli, Hannes Bieger, KiNK, and Motez, have created in performing their music live are indisputable—and seeing someone working multiple machines to create soundscapes before our eyes create an immensely meaningful dance floor experience that is difficult to match. 

Here are some other producers taking the house music to new heights as live acts: Jacques Green, Rodriguez Jr, Rybo, and Jamie Jones with Kate Simko as Opus 1.




Rise of the Indie Artists 


The internet and its many devices have allowed independent artists to find inventive ways to get in front of broader audiences in 2021. With touring out of the question for almost half the year, younger artists stepped out front as they took control of platforms like Tik Tok, Twitch, and Instagram and created new opportunities for growth outside of live shows.

They've allowed people the advantage of keeping their music constantly at their fingertips with personally curated playlists, creative content, unique livestreams, and insider videos. They were masters at manipulating the algorithms. As a result, the ever-growing ability to find underground artists across a changing digital landscape is more powerful than ever.

2021 was a treasure chest of indie artists starting to shine. Niles Shepard, Sammy Legs, Arnold & Lane, Nick Siarom, and Lubelski harnessed their powers and are fast becoming names to watch. The future continues to be bright for the underground.   

5 Trends in House Music we Loved in 2021

There’s no shortage of exciting destination festivals for house heads and techno tourists. And nothing beats the experience of exploring a new city as you take in the sensory bliss of a far-flung festival. From established powerhouses like Awakenings and Creamfields, to underrated gems like Street Parade, let us be your guide as we tour some of Europe's remarkable rave experiences.

Creamfields | Daresbury, United Kingdom | Aug 26-29, 2021

Creamfields is notorious for being the UK’s biggest music festival of the year. Located in the beautiful countryside in Daresbury, England, the four-day campout is a marathon. For those who prefer a race two-day tickets are available. Creamfields features sets from hundreds of world-renowned DJs and incredible live acts. The lineup for this year's sold-out event is absolutely stacked this year, with over 300 performances set to take place.



DGTL Barcelona | Barcelona, Spain | September 3-4, 2021 

DGTL: four letters associated with unmistakable prestige. The DGTL Music Festival is global, with editions in Tel Aviv, Santiago, São Paulo, Bengaluru and Madrid. This sustainable house and techno festival is known for its impressive, raw industrial stages, mesmerizing light effects and visual treats. DGTL Barcelona will take place the first week of September this year at the Parc del Fòrum. A park with a fabulous coastal view and close proximity to divine local eateries and delightful attractions. 

Ticket preregistration is now open.



Lobster Fest | North London, United Kingdom | Saturday, September 4, 2021

London-based label, Lobster Theremin, home of DJ Kush Boogie, Route 8, DJ Seinfeld, Hidden Spheres, and SONIKKU, will make their festival debut with a 50 artist lineup at The Cause in London this September. Lobster Fest is five years in the making, so the house and techno label is pulling out all the stops. The organizers vocalized their commitment to diversity and revealed that the artist lineup will consist of roughly 50% women and non-binary artists and 50% POC & Black artists. Though not released yet, the headliners will span five stages of live music all day from noon to 10 pm. 

Tickets are on sale now

Caprices Festival | Crans-Montana, Switzerland | September 17-19, 2021 & September 24-26, 2021

Outdoor adventurers, rejoice! This Swiss festival takes place in one of the best ski resorts  in the Swiss Alps, Crans-Montana. Not only are the snowy mountain top views incredible, so is the production, line up, and gorgeous glass tents. Don’t think twice about it, come make mountain memories at this stunning party above the clouds! 

Tickets are available now.

Elrow Town Amsterdam | Westpoortweg, Amsterdam | September 25, 2021

Elrow Town is a quirky, colorful whirlwind of a dance party that takes place during the best time of the year to visit Amsterdam. Expect to see plenty of glitter, inflatables, and whimsical characters as you make your way around the various stages in the venue. You’ll leave with confetti in your hair, a smile on your face, and a fortified love for tech house in your heart.

 Tickets are available now.

AVA Festival | Boucher Roads Fields, Belfast, Northern Ireland | September 24-25, 2021 

Hailed as “one of Europe’s smartest young festivals,” by Resident Advisor, AVA is Ireland’s most innovative and inspiring festival yet. The outdoor multi-stage event  pushes boundaries with prodigious music productions and remarkable art exhibitions and installations. Dance under oscillating lights and reverberating beats at this unforgettable avant-garde showcase of music and art in Belfast. 

Buy tickets now


Time Warp | Maimarkt, Mannheim, Germany | April 2, 2022

Boasting six floors of techno and house, Time Warp is on every techno lover’s bucket list. Since 2000, there have been 53 editions, its played host to more than 300 artists, and made over 600,000 dancers sweat it out. It continues to stand out globally due to it’s phenomenal production and incredible headliners. Expect an immersive visual and sound experience from this 19 hour, techno fan-favorite festival.

Tickets will go on sale in late 2021



Awakenings | Spaarnwoude, Netherlands | June 2022 

This European festival is on its 25th anniversary year, and for good reason — Awakenings is the largest outdoor techno festival in the world. Boasting 80,000 visitors in a single weekend, it is undoubtedly the best of all techno gatherings. The festival delivers the ultimate techno experience, with a series of non-stop parties and the best headliners in techno music today. 



Street Parade | Lake Zurich, Switzerland | August 13, 2022

If you love the energy of block parties and the spontaneity of bar crawls, you need to experience Street Parade in Switzerland. Since 1992, this it continues to generate enthusiasm and excitement for techno and house music. Taking place around the culturally rich Lake Zurich, brightly decorated trucks packed with booming sound systems and DJs drive slowly through and around the Lake. In addition, nine stages are planted along the route, headlined by top DJs and other live acts. Watch the city of Zurich come alive, and vibrate to the sounds of house and techno on the lakefront.

Sonus Festival | Zrce Beach, Novalja, Croatia | August 21-25, 2022

From the legendary creators behind Time Warp comes Sonus Festival—a 5-day techno beach party at Zrce Beach in Croatia. The festival is spread out over Zrce’s three world-renowned open-air clubs: Aquarius, Kalypso and Papaya. Experience booming techno sets day and night while taking in the views of the sparkling Adriatic Sea. Have yourself a perfect rave vacation in Croatia next September.

Tickets are on sale now.





10 European Destination Festivals to Add to Your Dance Music Bucket List

The extensive list of festivals in the Netherlands proves the Dutch people love their parties. While Amsterdam hosts most of the country’s largest dance music festivals, neighboring cities such as Utrecht, Spaarnwoude, and Rotterdam have their own, electric Dutch celebrations. Coming July 29th – 31st, 2022, Hilvarenbeek will be added to that list as it hosts 

 for the first time. After missing two Awakenings Festivals, festival organizers decided they wanted to make a mighty come back and celebrate their 25th anniversary in style by throwing two Awakenings festivals in 2022. 

Awakenings | Summer Festival 2022

We’re happy and proud to announce that in 2022, we’re celebrating our 25th anniversary with the biggest and best festival we’ve ever hosted. We’ll be returning with the new Awakenings Summer Festival, moving to a brand-new location, adding an extra day and a campsite plus the biggest programming we’ve ever had. 

Are you ready for an Awakenings weekender at a beautiful new location? 

Awakenings | Summer Festival 2022  
July 29, 30, & 31. Hilvarenbeek
Lineup release & start ticket sale: January.

In 2022, Awakenings celebrates it’s 25th birthday. We want everybody to be able to come to our birthday party, so we are hosting 2 festivals!


Monday 20th of November, the 2-day festival will be announced!

This edition of the festival will be their biggest and best yet! This year they are moving to a brand-new location, Hilvarenbeek, and turning the production up a notch. For the first time since its inception, this massive dance party extends over three days, making it the only three-day techno festival in the Netherlands.

When speaking about the addition of another day, Rocco Veenboer, Awakenings founder, said, “Awakenings Festival started as a single-day event, and expanded to two days in 2014. But, we felt like there was still room for more, especially because the community had so much to say about missing a multi-day techno event here in the Netherlands. With this renewed concept, we’re extremely happy to make that dream come to life.”

Awakenings is also adding camping at the illustrious event. The added campsite offers several possibilities in terms of accommodations and hangouts. There will be options to bring your own tent, buy one pre-built ready to move in on arrival, or luxury bungalows, catering to everyone’s wants and needs.

Awakenings has historically relied on Gashouder and other venues around Amsterdam for their all-night affairs, but now with camping, dancers can techno into the night. Opting to stay at the campsite also comes with some extra perks. Although messaging around this topic has been purposefully vague, those who stay on-site are definitely in for surprises.

In true Awakenings fashion, the lineup is teeming with international and up-and-coming DJ sensations to fit a 131-name bill. Veterans such as Richie Hawtin, Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati, and Eats Everything will be making their grand return to the Awakenings’ stage. 

Awakenings Festival 2019 Sunday - Live set Charlotte de Witte @ Area V

Watch the full live set of Charlotte de Witte at Awakenings Festival 2019 on Sunday @ Area V.  

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The ladies of techno are impressively represented by acid techno queen Charlotte de Witte, Palestinian punchy techno DJ Sama Abdulhadi, Lazy Tapes imprint owner Cera Khin, rising talent Grace Dahl, the stunning Amelie Lens who recently released her 

 EP, instant success Indira Paganotto, and many others.

The commitment to acid, industrial, and higher BPM techno will be showcased by one of techno’s most vital new artists Airod, no-nonsense techno producer Milo Spykers, Italian duo 999999999, and techno non-conformist I Hate Models. Other notable names on the lineup are local talent Philou Louzolo and Nicky Elisabeth, up-and-coming international acts Hector Oaks and Adiel, and global mainstays making their Awakenings debuts such as Skream and Denis Sulta.

Awakenings Summer will host nine custom-built stages, a combination of open-air and tented arenas, all in the visually striking Awakenings style. Veenboer and his team continuously look for ways to make their events more beautiful more impactful. The acknowledgment that there’s always room for improvement is the true catalyst that keeps Awakenings festivals getting better and better. Their new location is a product of this thinking. The change of scenery will undoubtedly impress as festival-goers get lost in the forest exploring art structures or taking in the view of the lake as the light shows reflect off its shimmery surface.

Come cut loose and kick off your Covid-blues at Awakenings Summer 2022. 

Awakenings Summer Festival

The extensive list of festivals in the Netherlands proves the Dutch people love their parties. While Amsterdam hosts most of the country’s largest dance music festivals, neighboring cities such as Utrecht, Spaarnwoude, and Rotterdam have their own, electric Dutch celebrations. Coming July 29th – 31st, 2022, Hilvarenbeek will be added to that list as it hosts Awakenings Summer for the first time. After missing two Awakenings Festivals, festival organizers decided they wanted to make a mighty come back and celebrate their 25th anniversary in style by throwing two Awakenings festivals in 2022. 

This edition of the festival will be their biggest and best yet! This year they are moving to a brand-new location, Hilvarenbeek, and turning the production up a notch. For the first time since its inception, this massive dance party extends over three days, making it the only three-day techno festival in the Netherlands.

When speaking about the addition of another day, Rocco Veenboer, Awakenings founder, said, “Awakenings Festival started as a single-day event, and expanded to two days in 2014. But, we felt like there was still room for more, especially because the community had so much to say about missing a multi-day techno event here in the Netherlands. With this renewed concept, we’re extremely happy to make that dream come to life.”

Awakenings is also adding camping at the illustrious event. The added campsite offers several possibilities in terms of accommodations and hangouts. There will be options to bring your own tent, buy one pre-built ready to move in on arrival, or luxury bungalows, catering to everyone’s wants and needs.

Awakenings has historically relied on Gashouder and other venues around Amsterdam for their all-night affairs, but now with camping, dancers can techno into the night. Opting to stay at the campsite also comes with some extra perks. Although messaging around this topic has been purposefully vague, those who stay on-site are definitely in for surprises.

In true Awakenings fashion, the lineup is teeming with international and up-and-coming DJ sensations to fit a 131-name bill. Veterans such as Richie Hawtin, Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati, and Eats Everything will be making their grand return to the Awakenings’ stage. 

The ladies of techno are impressively represented by acid techno queen Charlotte de Witte, Palestinian punchy techno DJ Sama Abdulhadi, Lazy Tapes imprint owner Cera Khin, rising talent Grace Dahl, the stunning Amelie Lens who recently released her Raver’s Heart EP, instant success Indira Paganotto, and many others.

The commitment to acid, industrial, and higher BPM techno will be showcased by one of techno’s most vital new artists Airod, no-nonsense techno producer Milo Spykers, Italian duo 999999999, and techno non-conformist I Hate Models. Other notable names on the lineup are local talent Philou Louzolo and Nicky Elisabeth, up-and-coming international acts Hector Oaks and Adiel, and global mainstays making their Awakenings debuts such as Skream and Denis Sulta.

Awakenings Summer will host nine custom-built stages, a combination of open-air and tented arenas, all in the visually striking Awakenings style. Veenboer and his team continuously look for ways to make their events more beautiful more impactful. The acknowledgment that there’s always room for improvement is the true catalyst that keeps Awakenings festivals getting better and better. Their new location is a product of this thinking. The change of scenery will undoubtedly impress as festival-goers get lost in the forest exploring art structures or taking in the view of the lake as the light shows reflect off its shimmery surface.

Come cut loose and kick off your Covid-blues at Awakenings Summer 2022. Tickets are on sale now.

 has become an integral part of the techno community. With appearances from Adam Beyer, Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Len Faki, Joris Voorn, Amelie Lens, 

, and Joseph Capriati, Awakenings hosts the largest techno events globally. 

Italy

Tale of Us

Each year 80,000 (40,000 per day) ravers flock to the two-day flagship event over Easter weekend to watch sets from over 100 of the most established DJs in the industry. And in late July the party moves to the south of Holland where 120,00 (40,000 per day) gather outdoors. Those who decide to camp on-site can immerse themselves in the warm embrace of techno until 5 AM each night.

Awakenings also holds several other events throughout the year including for Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), on New Year's Eve, and throughout the year for special one-off events.

The Gashouder, a goliath warehouse in northwest Amsterdam, is the site of Awakenings indoor events. A temple of techno for dedicated fans worldwide, it boasts a dizzying array of lasers, fireworks, and intelligent lighting. This is where 

Awakenings Charlotte de Witte

Awakenings   Charlotte de Witte

At the heart of this masterpiece is Awakenings founder Rocco Veenboer. An undisputed legend in the history of techno. Veenboer grew Awakenings out of a desire to give the genre its own dedicated spaces and events.

Veenboer first came up with the idea for Awakenings soon after moving to Amsterdam in 1988. At the time, he was 20 years old and hooked on the local rave scene. It wasn’t long before Veenboer felt compelled to organize events himself.

“In 1991, I organized my first party in a smaller location (600 people), and in 1993 I’d already started in Gashouder.”

Veenboer was one of the first to rent the Gashouder, a colossal chamber in northwest Amsterdam that had once operated as a gas storage facility. In 1995, Veenboer booked The Prodigy to perform at the Gashouder, which filled the venue to capacity for the first time. The band’s lethal beats and extreme volume paired perfectly with the venue’s brutal iron roof and industrial aesthetic.

By the late ‘90s, techno was rising in popularity across Holland. “I was happy to see that techno was coming up as it had that rave sound in it from the old house parties,” Veenboer explains. But despite this, techno events in Amsterdam were few and far between. Local raves had become dominated by hardcore, and clubs were focussing on house. With Awakenings, Veenboer sought to fill the gap.

After over three organizing events, Veenboer launched the first Awakenings night at the Gashouder in 1997. The event sold out with an all-techno lineup featuring Derrick Mary and Billy Nasty. Nevertheless, success didn’t come easily for Veenboer.

“Everything was challenging in the beginning. Building up an empty warehouse is hard.” Despite the challenges, he pressed on and a few months later, a second edition arrived with a marathon set from Sven Väth.

For Veenboer, Awakenings would never have happened without the support of his friends and family. “They were involved from the start and supported in every way they could.” In the early days, he handpicked lineups for Awakenings based on his trips to Amsterdam record stores. After researching the best-selling techno artists, he discovered greats like Jeff Mills, Dave Clarke, Adam Beyer, and Richie Hawtin. Before the turn of the century, all of these artists had not only performed at Awakenings, but had become Awakenings residents. Veenboer would structure lineups to ensure that intensity, and BPM, increased over time.

The Awakenings Festival arrived in 2001. It was the first outdoor festival in Holland to have an exclusively techno lineup.

“Holland already had some big festivals by the end of the 90’s so when we did the first only techno outdoor festival in 2001 that was not a strange move.” However, Veenboer’s shift initially provoked some criticism. For some, techno was dark, underground, and nocturnal. Not something to enjoy in green, sunny fields.

Despite the naysayers, the event was a huge success. The weather was perfect, and 10,000 people attended across four stages. The first Awakenings Festival stands out as being one of Veenboer’s favorite memories. Summer temperatures got so high that the local fire department sprayed people down with water as they danced under the sun.

Enrico Sangiuliano at Awakenings Festival 2018, Area V - Drumcode

Awakenings expanded dramatically in subsequent years. In 2004, 20,000 people visited the festival, which had swelled to include a fifth stage. In 2006, the number grew to 25,000 attendants across six stages, and in 2009, 35,000 tickets were sold. Although he never looks on other festivals as competition, Veenboer has always aimed for visitors to leave Awakenings feeling that it was the best festival of the season.

For Veenboer, Jasper Schimmel—the Awakenings “production wizard”—has helped him the most in getting the festival to where it is today.

“He is in charge of the visuals but also logistically he put it all in place with his team.” The festival production, especially its moving stages, is absolutely mind-blowing, and comes thanks to an array of brilliant minds.

“Shows become bigger when the crowd gets bigger but we managed to work closely with a lot of creative people since day one.”

Today, Veenboer tells us that the event’s excellent lineups are largely crafted by two talented booking agents. “Our bookers Michiel and Mino make the right choices always!” Of all the Awakenings regulars, Veenboer has developed an especially strong friendship with Adam Beyer. In total, Beyer has played over 100 shows at Awakenings events, making him an Awakenings record holder.

Awakenings ADE 2021 - Adam Beyer

Awakenings ADE 2021 - Adam Beyer

Awakenings x Adam Beyer presents @drumcodeofficial 

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This summer, Awakenings Summer Festival will feature nine stages to allow even more sub-genres to be represented.

“Good music keeps coming and I’m happy about that. I’m not a techno-purist, but a party-kid from the early raves at the end of the 80’s, so I’m pretty much open to every sub-genre.”

The festival will also have on-site camping for the first time, which Veenboer believes will enhance the festival experience for attendees.

“Going on a short festival holiday is the best, so the new festival site for the end of July is chosen because it has a camping license, and we can also dance a few more hours in the dark at night. It has been a dream for me to do this and it wasn’t possible at the old site.”

What Veenboer finds most rewarding about organizing Awakenings is seeing an ocean of smiling faces at the events each year.

“Seeing the people loving it so much and having a great time is rewarding! The Awakenings team wants to be the best in what they do and they succeed in that. We can be proud."

With over 250,000 visitors a year, Awakenings has become an integral part of the techno community. With appearances from Adam Beyer, Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Len Faki, Joris Voorn, Amelie Lens, Tale of Us, and Joseph Capriati, Awakenings hosts the largest techno events globally. 



Each year 80,000 (40,000 per day) ravers flock to the two-day flagship event over Easter weekend to watch sets from over 100 of the most established DJs in the industry. And in late July the party moves to the south of Holland where 120,00 (40,000 per day) gather outdoors. Those who decide to camp on-site can immerse themselves in the warm embrace of techno until 5 AM each night.



Awakenings also holds several other events throughout the year including for Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), on New Year's Eve, and throughout the year for special one-off events.



The Gashouder, a goliath warehouse in northwest Amsterdam, is the site of Awakenings indoor events. A temple of techno for dedicated fans worldwide, it boasts a dizzying array of lasers, fireworks, and intelligent lighting. This is where 





At the heart of this masterpiece is Awakenings founder Rocco Veenboer. An undisputed legend in the history of techno. Veenboer grew Awakenings out of a desire to give the genre its own dedicated spaces and events.



Veenboer first came up with the idea for Awakenings soon after moving to Amsterdam in 1988. At the time, he was 20 years old and hooked on the local rave scene. It wasn’t long before Veenboer felt compelled to organize events himself.





“In 1991, I organized my first party in a smaller location (600 people), and in 1993 I’d already started in Gashouder.”



Veenboer was one of the first to rent the Gashouder, a colossal chamber in northwest Amsterdam that had once operated as a gas storage facility. In 1995, Veenboer booked The Prodigy to perform at the Gashouder, which filled the venue to capacity for the first time. The band’s lethal beats and extreme volume paired perfectly with the venue’s brutal iron roof and industrial aesthetic.



By the late ‘90s, techno was rising in popularity across Holland. “I was happy to see that techno was coming up as it had that rave sound in it from the old house parties,” Veenboer explains. But despite this, techno events in Amsterdam were few and far between. Local raves had become dominated by hardcore, and clubs were focussing on house. With Awakenings, Veenboer sought to fill the gap.





After over three organizing events, Veenboer launched the first Awakenings night at the Gashouder in 1997. The event sold out with an all-techno lineup featuring Derrick Mary and Billy Nasty. Nevertheless, success didn’t come easily for Veenboer.



“Everything was challenging in the beginning. Building up an empty warehouse is hard.” Despite the challenges, he pressed on and a few months later, a second edition arrived with a marathon set from Sven Väth.





For Veenboer, Awakenings would never have happened without the support of his friends and family. “They were involved from the start and supported in every way they could.” In the early days, he handpicked lineups for Awakenings based on his trips to Amsterdam record stores. After researching the best-selling techno artists, he discovered greats like Jeff Mills, Dave Clarke, Adam Beyer, and Richie Hawtin. Before the turn of the century, all of these artists had not only performed at Awakenings, but had become Awakenings residents. Veenboer would structure lineups to ensure that intensity, and BPM, increased over time.



The Awakenings Festival arrived in 2001. It was the first outdoor festival in Holland to have an exclusively techno lineup.



“Holland already had some big festivals by the end of the 90’s so when we did the first only techno outdoor festival in 2001 that was not a strange move.” However, Veenboer’s shift initially provoked some criticism. For some, techno was dark, underground, and nocturnal. Not something to enjoy in green, sunny fields.



Despite the naysayers, the event was a huge success. The weather was perfect, and 10,000 people attended across four stages. The first Awakenings Festival stands out as being one of Veenboer’s favorite memories. Summer temperatures got so high that the local fire department sprayed people down with water as they danced under the sun.



Awakenings expanded dramatically in subsequent years. In 2004, 20,000 people visited the festival, which had swelled to include a fifth stage. In 2006, the number grew to 25,000 attendants across six stages, and in 2009, 35,000 tickets were sold. Although he never looks on other festivals as competition, Veenboer has always aimed for visitors to leave Awakenings feeling that it was the best festival of the season.



For Veenboer, Jasper Schimmel—the Awakenings “production wizard”—has helped him the most in getting the festival to where it is today.



“He is in charge of the visuals but also logistically he put it all in place with his team.” The festival production, especially its moving stages, is absolutely mind-blowing, and comes thanks to an array of brilliant minds.



“Shows become bigger when the crowd gets bigger but we managed to work closely with a lot of creative people since day one.”



Today, Veenboer tells us that the event’s excellent lineups are largely crafted by two talented booking agents. “Our bookers Michiel and Mino make the right choices always!” Of all the Awakenings regulars, Veenboer has developed an especially strong friendship with Adam Beyer. In total, Beyer has played over 100 shows at Awakenings events, making him an Awakenings record holder.

This summer, Awakenings Summer Festival will feature nine stages to allow even more sub-genres to be represented.



“Good music keeps coming and I’m happy about that. I’m not a techno-purist, but a party-kid from the early raves at the end of the 80’s, so I’m pretty much open to every sub-genre.”



The festival will also have on-site camping for the first time, which Veenboer believes will enhance the festival experience for attendees.



“Going on a short festival holiday is the best, so the new festival site for the end of July is chosen because it has a camping license, and we can also dance a few more hours in the dark at night. It has been a dream for me to do this and it wasn’t possible at the old site.”



What Veenboer finds most rewarding about organizing Awakenings is seeing an ocean of smiling faces at the events each year.



“Seeing the people loving it so much and having a great time is rewarding! The Awakenings team wants to be the best in what they do and they succeed in that. We can be proud."


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Awakenings Summer Festival

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