DEKMANTEL: THE FESTIVAL FOR THE UNDERGROUND AFICIONADOS

Where underground and pioneering electronic music meets quality production, attracting a dedicated and passionate audience from around the globe. The highly anticipated festival once again delivered high-level performances and didn’t disappoint, except for the weather… And despite that, it was an unforgettable experience. 

From August 2nd to 6th, Dekmantel consisted of musical presentations, ambient concerts, high-energy DJ sets, radio podcasts, panel discussions, and film screenings – all taking place in various locations around Amsterdam, followed by the regular grounds at Amsterdamse Bos, the festival’s home. 

Dekmantel’s vision is elastic, shaped by a progressive mentality, and not limited by any boundaries. Instead, it emphasizes the exceptional, constantly surprising the listener with fresh talents but also the greats of the industry. Amongst those, more than 115 artists were part of the lineup. Some of our favorites were Freddy K – Roman vinyl maestro – combined with D.Dan – a rising Berlin-based underground weapon – mixing fast-paced, continuous, and slick broken techno sounds in an electrifying B2B set to witness at the UFO I stage. Shanti Celeste took us on a journey filled with uplifting house tunes at the outdoor Selectors stage. DjRum exposed his extended eclectic sound; the artist took us on a diverse sonic ride at the second indoor UFO II stage. Shygirl, the English multi-disciplinary artist, left us speechless with her colorful and exciting show at the Greenhouse stage. Amsterdam’s own Cinnaman made us groove to his unmistakable LA-rooted techno and house performance at the Radar stage, a new addition to the festival hosted by HÖR. ISAbella, Colombian leading artist of the Barcelona dance scene, and founder of the LGBTQIA+ party, platform, and collective MARICAS, gave us a taste of her impeccable house-techno & trance sound. Lastly, Mad Miran & Upsammy, the Dutch powerhouses, delivered a memorable, speedy, and heated B2B at the Nest stage. 

However, the show didn’t stop there. The after parties were held at LOFI, one of Amsterdam’s hottest clubs, and co-hosted by ISBURNING, featuring Berlin’s raw and sexy Herrensauna crew on Friday, keeping us on the dancefloor until early morning.

Remaining loyal to its vision and values, Dekmantel’s crew and production created another sensational edition for faceted and open-minded electronic music lovers. The festival’s resounding success embodies a symphony of innovation, unity, and boundless audiovisual exploration, reaffirming its irreplaceable stature within the global music landscape.

cover photo MARTIJN KUYVENHOVEN
text JOIAH LUMINOSA & THORE DAMWERTH
in collaboration with DEKMANTEL FESTIVAL