Loveland

Loveland Festival is a full-fledged techno and house playground by the water in Amsterdam's west end. The festival began in 1995, and this year's belated birthday has over 75 artists and an invitation for anyone in love with dance music and breezy, forested scenery. 

Loveland makes a grandiose return on August 13 & 14, 2022, at its home in Sloterpark. After you enter the gates, picture the vast festival terrain as trails, two peninsulas connected by bridges, and a lake where the musical experience extends offshore surround you. The Jupiter Cruise lets you dance on the water with a DJ booth in tow. 

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Loveland kicks off the weekend with a pool party and barbecue on Friday, August 12. Atop the Leonardo Hotel, catch sets by La Fleur, Dimitri, Miss Melera, and Sébastien Léger. Bask in the entrancing view of Amsterdam before a nonstop weekend of rhythm you'll keep close to your heart forever. 

The Lineup

On Saturday, Loveland welcomes heavy hitters such as sound connoisseur Enrico Sangiulliano, Booka Shade live, and Sasha, who in 2000 DJ Magazine was voted the #1 DJ in the world. Innercity, the Detroit duo that's lit up the scene since the 90s, perform with live drum pads, synths, and diva vocals to bring their classic house mixes to life. 

La Fleur fluxes and flows between techno and house with a flair for old-school acid. BBC Radio presenter and DJ Dave Clarke throws down his dark shades of techno. Berlin-based DJ and Innervisions record label founder Dixon will air out his minimalistic techno soundscapes. Hernan Cattaneo's Soundcloud is full of long mixes that resonate the feeling of basking in the sun and then watching it set, letting the orange light simmer. 

The super sleek Jennifer Cardini focuses her sets around punchy drums, and other signature sounds reminiscent of 80s electronic music. Lee Burridge's set will feel refreshing yet mysterious as he takes you on a sonic journey. Magdalena is a class act when it comes to deep melodic sets. 

Belgian bass arbiter Milo Spykers infuses his sound with a smoky, industrial edge. Paco Osuna is the type of DJ to have a lollipop in one hand and a joint in the other and can simultaneously manipulate a mixer and MIDI controller with ease. 

Eric Prydz blesses Sunday's lineup with his sleek, shadowy techno alias Cirez D emerging in the darkness. Tale Of Us and Nick Warren make their returns to Loveland. Drumcode Records founder Adam Beyer continues to supply audiences with cutting-edge techno releases. 

Zurich duo Adriatique float psychedelic beats on cool blue melodies. Anfisa Letyago serves ice-cold chill house with a warm smile. Richie Hawtin does the most with minimalistic tracks that explore the depths of tech house. Berlin techno queen Ellen Allien knows how to win over earthlings through futuristic transmissions over loudspeakers. 

Dutch locals include Amsterdam's very own DJ Odette, Luna Ludmila, and Speedy J, who has been Rotterdam's dealer of techno since the 90s. 

Location

Amsterdam has coveted the best and brightest aspects of dance music since the 80s. Once upon a time, Dutch producers were pushing gabber and hardstyle. Today the electronic music scene revolves around a blend of techno and house for its club and festival crowds. Out of the hundreds of dance music events held across the Netherlands, Amsterdam is home to dozens of the biggest annually.  

Sloterplas has been the home of Loveland year after year. Trees provide a shady, cottagecore backdrop, and with LEDs shining at dusk, the environment remains vibrant all day. Pull up a hammock and relax away from the mainstage crowd whenever you need. The lakeside park venue has swing sets, pedal boats, and other activities your inner child can't resist. 

Multi-tier hotel packages let you secure a comfortable stay in the area, a mere ten-minute drive away from the festival grounds. The silver and gold packages, offering exclusive rooftop after parties and backstage passes, are sold out. However, the anniversary package with all the comforts you need is available for €295 ($328 USD) for two nights or €375 ($417 USD) for three nights. The final batch of weekend passes are €89.50 ($100 USD), and single day tickets are also available. 

What to expect

The gates open at noon and DJs spin until 11 pm, with exclusive afterparties both nights. The skybar gives a 360 degree view of the city. Once you're at Sloterpark, you're immersed in greenery away from the city's typical bustling club scene. For those wishing to experience more of the nightlife the city has to offer, an I Amsterdam City Card is a must-have for sightseeing and getting around. 

Pack your best all-black outfits and find out for yourself why this festival has remained in the hearts of house and techno fans for over two and a half decades. If you want a taste of the long-lasting vibe of Loveland, they upload many of the sets from previous years to Soundcloud. Complete lineup and ticket info can be found at https://loveland.nl/festival/. 

words by Aurora Zboch