Every year thousands of gabbers make the pilgrimage from all over the world to a small town outside of Eindhoven for the largest hardcore gathering in the world. This year was no different. On 21 July my friends and I embarked on our epic journey to the festival. Of course being my group of friends there were several obstacles along the way: missing IDs; lost OV chip cards; almost missing both the bus and train; and a packed sauna-like shuttle ride. Nevertheless after the three-hour journey we made it there!
This was my third edition of Dominator and one important difference between this year and the previous years (I went in 2017 and 2015) was that this was one of the hottest days on record in the Netherlands (according to me having spent almost four summers/partial summers here now). Thankfully Dominator is located on a beautiful beach with plenty of room to swim. Despite the heat the organizers were prepared and preemptively cancelled the fireworks as a result of the dry terrain. Furthermore, a big shout out to the organizers for providing cups and free water stations and potable drinking water near the bathrooms; that was a lifesaver.
We started the day off with Fan4stik. It was my first time seeing them and as a new recent fan of Billx it was the perfect start to the day. If you like Hard Tek check these guys out. Next we made our way over to the main stage for Bodyshock. Even though it was early the main stage was packed and the crowd despite the heat was so energetic. So energetic that people kept trying to steal our inflatable pig totem (Wilbur)! Thankfully Anne is a marathon runner and hunted the perpetrators down and returned Wilbur safely to our crew.
After now slightly dying as result of the heat I hopped in the water for a little swim during Radium’s set. The highlight of the set for me was while I was swimming I heard Rob GEE’s new track “A DJ Saved My Life” (side note: I heard it again later during Mutante’s set, could this be the festival anthem of the summer?). Next was the QSA (American hard dance) meet up during Billx’s set and as per usual it consisted of a sloppy failed attempt at a group photo then half of the group disappeared.
After that I got separated from the group and because they closed the beach off for Sefa’s set, myself and the other festival-goers trying to get to the other side of the festival had to cross through the water. This was probably my favorite part of the day. An exodus of sweaty people carrying dirty socks, shoes, and all their belongings (somehow still all texting and taking selfies) through the water to the other side of the island from the Frenchcore tent to the Extreme Hardcore tent. It was a long trek but we made it!
Last but certainly not least, my friend Hellcreator closed the talent stage and he crushed it! This is now two years in a row that a friend of mine had the opportunity to play on the talent stage at Dominator, what a treat!
Exhausted, dirty, sweaty, and sore. These are some of the words to describe how we felt the end of Dominator. Dominator festival is a must visit for anyone who likes hardcore; every year it gets bigger and bigger. The festival overall no surprise was an absolute success. The music was amazing, the production level was high, and the crowd was energized. The only thing that would make it better is if the Rawstyle stage was the Speedcore stage, well I can only dream.
Happy Throwback Thursday everyone! I was asked by The Hard Data to post my review of Defqon 2017 which was originally posted on my personal blog, Adventures with MC Unicorn.
Thursday- QSA Pre-Defqon Meet Up
*QSA is a group of American hard dance fans that meet at hard dance raves and festivals in the USA and abroad. Before major events such as Defqon and Qlimax we always meet at Luminaa in Leidsplein, Amsterdam
‘Twas the night before Defqon and all through the ‘Dam not a hard dance fan was lonely not even on the tram. The drinks were flowing and fists were in the air in hopes that Frontliner would soon be there. Some ravers were hakking all over the bar, while others loaded camping supplies into the car. With Kardiak on the decks and I with my squad, we were all starting to get a little bit odd.
When out in the plein there arose such a clatter, I ran from the bar to see what was the matter. Away to the door I flew like a flash, through the sweaty ravers I hustled out the door, and to what to my wondering eyes did appear but it was Rob Gee dancing with cheer. With his purple mohawk and horde of fans, I knew in a moment he must be the leader of the hardcore clan. More rapid than eagles his fans they came, he whistled and shouted and called out our names “QSA ITS GROUP PHOTO TIME!” To the front of the bar, to the middle of the plein, take out your flags, for now is the time! And then it was time for us to leap, some to the Melkweg and others to sleep. For tomorrow was Defqon, the most wonderful time of the year, see you at the Yellow Stage tomorrow my dear.
Friday-Day 1
The day we had all been waiting for had finally arrived (note: the remainder of this review will not be written in poetic form, sorry!)! We all got up a little groggy from the night before (some of us more than others) and headed from my house in Voorburg to Den Haag Centraal to hop on the event travel bus. Unfortunately in order to get to the station we had to take the local bus where we got some interesting glances from my neighbors (six ravers with a ton of camping gear). After knocking into a few people with my 2015 Defqon tent and spilling all of the contents of my shopping bag down the aisle of the bus not once but twice, we finally made it to the station. The bus ride took about five hours since once we got right outside the festival we literally moved 50 meters in an hour but finally around 16:30 we were at our campsite and the party began. I got to reunite with my friends, some of which I hadn’t seen in over two years, and some for the first time in person! Fast-forward to the main event of the night- the Gathering!
First off, when the gates opened I ran immediately to the Yellow Stage (duh) for the silent disco. If you want to laugh your @$$ off this is the place to be. Just picture 200 ravers going crazy to terrorcore but with no sound. Tharoza opened the Yellow stage, it was my first time seeing him live and he crushed it! The other highlight of the night was definitely Angernoizer who closed out the stage with some brutal beats. Following the performance there was a small firework end show on the “Around the World” ride (big swing), which was totally unexpected. Overall day one of Defqon was both fun and exhausting but everything was falling into place for an awesome weekend.
Saturday-Day 2
Despite not having slept at all we were all ready for day two! I had promised my friends that this weekend I would check out the other stages and not just spend all my time at Black, Yellow, and Gold like I did in 2015. That being said, walking by Chaotic Hostility at the Yellow Stage that morning was hard but I wanted to actually check out the entirety of the festival especially because since I live here now I have the opportunity to see all of these DJs often. First up for the day was Pyra at the White stage, I had never heard of her before but am always excited to see female hard dance DJs since there are so few of them and us female hard dance lovers have to stick together! Between Pyra and Power Hour we had a few hours to just wander around the festival and explore. In doing so, I noticed there was a station where people were giving people massages on red beanbag chairs. I made a mental note to come back to them later.
Now it was time for Power Hour! For those of you who have never been to Defqon or who are living under a rock, Power Hour is one hour of all different types of hard dance on the main stage (Red) and it is CRAZY. Basically everyone from the festival is there (probably around 50,000 people but who knows I’m bad at math), there are inflatables being thrown into the crowd, people throwing trash from the floor in the air (yes its as gross at it sounds), confetti, fire, mutli-colored smoke, marriage proposals, people crowd surfing, etc. This was my first Power Hour since in 2015 I went for about five minutes, decided that it was too crowded and went back to the Yellow Stage. This year I was determined to fully experience Power Hour and boy I did. Words cannot explain the insanity of this set. The highlight for me by far was the Thunderdome segment. As we all know, Thunderdome is returning this year and they did a special dedication to it during Power Hour and it was epic.
Feeling exhausted after Power Hour I determined that we should go find those red beanbag people and get massages. After wandering around the festival for an hour we found people in red shirts however we were informed that they were not giving massages they were helping people apply sunscreen- WHAT!?! NOOOOOOOOOOO. We decided with our spirits low to just sit down in the chill area for a bit. We found a nice swing and finally I thought I could relax and recharge before the next set. As I rested my weary head upon the swing, my friend yells “AMY WE HAVE TWENTY MINUTES TO GET TO DR PEACOCK IN CONCERT AND WE NEED TO GO TO THE CAMPSITE FIRST LETS GO NOW!” AH! Dr Peacock in Concert was one of my “cannot miss” sets! Basically, Dr Peacock, one of the kings of Frenchcore was doing a special set with live violinists, Sefa on the piano, my boy Mouth of Madness on the mic, and live singers. Thankfully my friend is a marathon runner and managed to drag me from the chill area, to campsite one, all the way to the Black stage and we made it just in time! Out of breath, panting, sweating, and exhausted, I mustered up the strength for Dr Peacock and it was incredible. I felt like I was watching the New York Philharmonic but better, because duh Frenchcore makes everything better.
Finally after Dr Peacock in Concert we went back to the chill area where we found this amazingly comfortable fishing net and got some rest. I then got my unicorn onesie and sprinted to Noisekick at the Yellow stage. Although exploring the other stages on Saturday was fun I needed my extreme fix. Noisekick as always did not disappoint. After, we headed to the Red stage to get a good spot for the end show. The end show was bittersweet because I knew that at this time tomorrow the festival would be over but nevertheless the fireworks, lasers, music, and energy were incredible.
Sunday-Day 3
Today was the day I was most excited for because it was the Final Terror Sitdown! We sprinted over to the Black stage right when it opened but all of the chairs were already taken! Basically, the terror sitdown is a “sit down set” so everyone grabs a chair or a spot on the floor and then Noisekick plays terrorcore. I got a great spot on the floor to the left of the middle aisle and it was epic. First of all, Noisekick came in on a unicorn, A UNICORN! Can I borrow that sometime? He rode down the middle aisle to the stage to “Final Countdown” then everyone went crazy. He played a mix of classic rock like Queen with straight up ruthless terrorcore. It was so funny to see everyone going crazy while sitting down. Unfortunately the set was only about thirty minutes but I could have totally stayed there all day, terrorcore and you get to sit? Sounds perfect!
The rest of the day was a whirlwind but my highlights were: Re-Style at the Gold stage, Braindrillerz and SRB at Yellow. I spent the day catching up with some friends, wandering around, watching my friend bungee jump (maybe one day when I have more extensive health insurance I’ll try it), and enjoying some delicious Dutch French fries with mayo. I cannot reiterate how fast that this day went by. I checked my phone and it was already 20:00, the end show was about to begin! SAY IT AINT SO WE JUST GOT HERE! I was nowhere near ready for this weekend to be over. With my head hung low we walked to the Red stage. The next three hours were filled with all different types of emotions. There was certainly a lot of nostalgia because the set was entitled Defqon 1 Legends: 15 Years of Defqon. Headhunterz made his official return to hardstyle, Showtek dropped a few classic tracks, and there were sets from Pysko Punkz, Dana, Wildstylez, and Noisecontrollers, among others. The festival then concluded with an incredible firework and laser show. It was the perfect cherry on top of an epic weekend.
Unfortunately there were a bunch of sets I missed. Sorry Partyraiser, Sickest Squad, F. Noize, and Bass-D! I will see you guys at Dominator!
Reflecting back on the weekend, even though the weather wasn’t the greatest, I would not have changed a thing. That being said I have a few friendly suggestions to make next year’s Defqon even better:
The Yellow stage should be bigger, hey just make it the main stage! 😉 [Note from 4 July 2018: This year the Yellow stage was bigger so thank you!]
Terror Sitdown should be at the Red stage. A ton of people couldn’t even get in it was so crowded!
The water refill stations should be able to fill up camelback backpacks and not just the water pouches.
As I now have been to three editions of Defqon (2015, 2017, and 2018) and countless of other camping festivals, I feel as though I am qualified to provide my tips to those of you making the epic pilgrimage to Defqon next year. My advice is directed primarily to Americans, because this is an American publication and I’m from the US, but it can be applied to anyone traveling to the Netherlands for Defqon!
1. Three Months Before Defqon
Buy your flight (if applicable) and festival tickets early and start making plans as soon as possible. I cannot emphasize this enough. Tickets usually sell out close to the event so get yours as soon as they go on sale in March to be safe! Moreover, arrange with your friends in advance what camping option you plan on doing.
How long should you stay in Holland?
If you’re coming from the US I would suggest at least a week. Your best bet is to arrive in Holland on Wednesday to rest up and explore. Then on Thursday get all the supplies you need for Defqon then later that night come to the QSA meet up in Amsterdam to meet our amazing group of Americans (shout out to QSA!). Then, Defqon goes from Friday to Monday, which leaves you with at least a day and a half to recover.
How should I get to Defqon?
If it’s your first time in Holland, Amsterdam is probably your best option. Getting to Defqon from Amsterdam is easy and you have a variety of options. However that being said, if it’s not your first time in the Netherlands go somewhere else, I live in the Den Haag area which is awesome, but Utrecht and Rotterdam are two other major amazing cities!
If you’re traveling in a large group I suggest renting a car. This past year my friends and I rented a car from Sixt from Schipol Airport. WARNING to Americans: cars are a LOT smaller here than in the US. You might think you are getting a seven person car but in reality it really only fits four people with all the camping supplies in the back (we stuffed six people and all of our camping supplies but it was a very tight fit). Also this might be obvious but please do not forget your credit card and passport when you go to pick up the car (this happened to my group of friends don’t let it happen to you!).
If you’re traveling solo or in a small group your best options are to either: (i) take public transportation to Dronten station then the Defqon shuttle; or (2) take the bus from Amsterdam (or wherever you are staying) to Defqon.
If you choose option (i) book your shuttle ticket online from the Defqon website. The shuttle buses leave throughout the day starting at 13:00 on Friday. Definitely get that shuttle ticket in advance because it fills up and increases in price. Additionally public transportation is very easy in the Netherlands, although a bit pricy. There is a very handy app/website that provides you with all the information you need (https://9292.nl/en). You can change the language to English after you download the app by clicking the wheel (settings) then click “Taal” and change it to “Engels”. If you plan on using the train, tram, or bus in the Netherlands you should purchase an OV chipcard. You can buy an OV chipcard from any train station just look for the large yellow machine, then you can load money on the card and travel anywhere in the Netherlands. This is cheaper than buying individual tickets.
For option (ii), you can book a bus trip from Event Travel (https://www.eventtravel.nl) from most cities in the Netherlands. I did this in 2017 from Den Haag and it was about 30 euros round trip. The only issue with the bus is its extremely slow, it makes a lot of stops, and then you are sitting in the bus line traffic at the entrance to Defqon. The bus we took in 2017 left Den Haag at 9:00am and we arrived at Defqon sometime after 13:00.
Where should I stay at Defqon?
This is obviously dependent on your personality and festival style. In 2015, I chose the regular ticket including a Defqon sleep package (tent, sleeping bag, etc), in 2017 I did friends camp with my 2015 tent, and this year I did regular camping with my own tent. If you’re interested in camping and do not live in the Netherlands your best option is probably to do either the regular camping option including the tent or friends camp including the tent. If you’re traveling in a large group friends camp is a great option because you get a designated camping area with picnic tables, a much faster check in and security line, and we even got Defqon power banks which we could charge at the stations! Personally, camping is my favorite part of Defqon because the party never ends and if you need anything throughout the day you could always just go back to the campsite to get it then the next day all you have to do is walk right into the festival!
Another great option is the tipi. Tipis come in different sizes and my friends always get them. It’s a great after party spot, its rain resistant, has electricity, and cots to sleep on. I also saw for the first time this year a Yurt (not sure if they had them in years passed), this is a large tent with electricity, beds, and is easily lockable. We walked past some pretty wild after parties in the yurts this year!
For those who like the convenience of staying at the festival but don’t want to camp can choose the comfort camping option. With this you are in a cabin with electricity, have access to an exclusive bar; chill area, bbq, breakfast and more. So if you have the money and are someone who needs privacy, sleep, or electricity this is for you.
If you’re not one for constant loud noise, getting disgusting, and large crowds (not sure why you wouldn’t like that-lol) there are also hotels, cottages, and apartments. However, if you do decide to stay outside of Defqon just keep in mind that you have to be on time to take the bus back to your accommodations and are subject to wait in long lines in both directions. However, three nights of camping (especially in the rain and it ALWAYS rains at Defqon) can be brutal so if you’re someone who needs to sleep, shower, and have access to Wi-Fi this is a good option for you.
Regarding showering at the Defqon campsites the lines can be long especially in the mornings. One of my friends always brings this great dry shampoo, Lush No Drought. Lush is a popular chain in the Netherlands so you can get it here or order it online.
One other thing to keep in mind is that a lot of places in the Netherlands do not take international credit cards, so bring some cash with you. The major places especially in Amsterdam take credit cards but smaller stores, cafes, restaurants, and grocery stores don’t.
2. One Week Before Defqon
As previously mentioned if possible you should arrive in the Netherlands a week before Defqon to get everything you need and get situated!
If you’re looking for camping supplies your best options is Decathlon (Americans, its like Sports Authority or Modell’s) and Action (Dutch version of a dollar store but better! Note: they do not take international credit cards). This year I just got a tent lock at Decathlon but they have tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, etc. Decathlon is your go to for the higher quality larger camping needs. From Action I got baby wipes, protein shakes, a collapsible cooler, and in the past an air mattress. Both of these stores are located all over the Netherlands and will come in handy a week before the festival.
A new essential camping item I discovered this year (shout out to Anne!) is the Wegwerp BBQ, this is a one-time disposal BBQ that you can easily use at the campsite. This is great for sausages, chicken, etc. and can be found at Hema (Dutch version of Target) or Gamma (Dutch equivalent of Home Depot).
With regard to food and drinks, Jumbo is a great grocery store that takes American credit cards (most don’t). The main grocery store in Amsterdam and in the Netherlands is Albert Hejin and for liquors its Gall & Gall. Your best bet for Defqon depending on your personal dietary needs is getting boxed wine, canned beer (bottles are prohibited), protein shakes, yogurt, granola/protein bars, juice, bread, meat, cheese (to make sandwiches), and some things to grill. Food at the festival is expensive although I always make sure to buy fries and a smoothie there because they are really good. If you do have dietary restrictions (such as celiac disease or a religious restriction) try to get a note from your doctor so you can bring in your own food and drinks onto the festival grounds. I usually pack at least four protein shakes and coordinate with my crew so we have enough food and drinks to share. Then I usually set aside 40-50 euros for tokens at the festival. Unlike in the US, Dutch festivals do not accept any other currency except for tokens meaning you have to visit the token area (they are all over the camp grounds and the festival, they take international cards and cash) if you plan on eating or drinking that weekend. As for water, I recommend bringing a camelback backpack and just filling it up at the festival. They sell them for 25 dollars now on Amazon.
If you are looking for some good vitamin shops for some pre and post festival supplements while you’re here, Holland and Barrett (similar to GNC in America) is a great one. They have a discount card you can sign up for and always have specials.
3. At Defqon
You made it to Defqon, good for you! Try to arrive as early as possible and coordinate with your friends to secure your campsite. When I get there I usually set up, get tokens, get a program/timetable from the information then hang out at the campsite for a while until the Gathering starts. The Gathering is the official start of Defqon and it starts at 20:00. This past year the only two stages that were open were the Blue and Black stages (bring back the Yellow Silent Disco please!). This year there was also a small area in the sculpture garden where Dr. Peacock played under his Saint Benhard alias dropping some funky, psychedelic and dubby beats. This past year they also had a silent disco but not at yellow but that was still pretty cool! Then after The Gathering is over the party moves to the campsite!
Regarding the rest of the festival, the majority of the stages this year opened at 11:00. Even though I am sure you have a set list of DJs you must see (I used to be like that) take the time to explore all the stages (especially the Yellow Stage!) and to discover some new artists. Additionally, one of my favorite parts of Defqon is the Big Chill. Trust me at some point in the festival you’ll want to lie down in a large fishing net hammock contraption.
It gets cold here in the summer and rains a lot, so be sure you have a jacket with you and pants. I usually would wear shorts in the morning and then bring pants, my leather jacket, and a sweatshirt to put on later. I kept half of my stuff in my camelback backpack and fanny pack (all my power banks, gum, chapstick, charger, extra clothes, hand wipes, etc.) and the rest in a locker. You can rent the locker either on the website in advance or when you get there. One of my friends had one so we all shared it and it really came in handy!
For the end shows on Saturday and Sunday I suggest getting there early and sitting in the very very front left on the grass on the side of the stage. You will be seeing it from the side but you will have plenty of space to either dance or sit (I personally like to sit on the grass and watch the end show) and can more easily get out than just standing in the middle of the crowd. This is good advice for anyone who is short, the Dutch are the tallest people in the world so unless you are one someone’s shoulders it’s hard to see.
What should you do after Defqon? Go and get a kapsalon! Kapsalon is a Dutch-Turkish dish served usually in an aluminum tray consisting of fries, meat, cheese, and a bit of salad on top. You can find them at any snack bar or döner kebab restaurant.
So there you have it! Reflecting on this past edition, Defqon is by far one of my top three festivals in the world. The production level, the music, the energy, the decorations, and the fact that every year more than 200 Americans go are just a few reasons why Defqon is extremely special. This year my favorite sets were Rob Gee, Dr Peacock in Concert (at the red stage which was insane) and the Sickest Squad. I also personally love Power Hour (even though I am more of a Yellow Stage girl) for its insanity and energy.
My final advice is the most important! Take the time to rest, drink water, and eat, it’s worth it. Even if you can’t properly sleep just lay down in your tent for at least three hours a night, your body needs it. Furthermore, wear earplugs AS SOON AS YOU GET INSIDE THE FESTIVAL. Thunderplugs are great and are only 10 euros (www.thunderplugs.com). Also, always look out for your friends, this may be a once in a lifetime experience but your friends are more important than even your favorite DJ.
Reach out to me if you need any advice! See you at Defqon 2019!
Curious about my 2017 experience check out my party report here: https://af5942a.wixsite.com/mcunicorn/single-post/2016/03/31/Whats-Cooking-Mexico
Disclaimer: The opinions and views in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the artists and organizations I work with or am affiliated with.
After 3 years The Hard Data has established itself as a media outlet for hard electronic music, but numerous challenges have accompanied its growth. Specifically, the demands of the readers have outgrown the staff, and the current and future needs and manifestations of the hard electronic scene need to be identified and addressed.
Joel Bevacqua, aka DJ Deadly Buda, the magazine’s present editor and founder, will host a round-table conversation with the goal of addressing and solving the challenges facing the hard electronic scene and The Hard Data. By soliciting input, perspectives and action from Gabberfest attendees, this round-table will play a major (perhaps the major) role in shaping The Hard Data’s subject matter, editorial, media staff, distribution and financial structure for the years going forward.
The conference meets at 2:30-3:30pm (and perhaps longer if necessary) at Gabberfest’s indoor meeting area. Attendees will be participating in Gabberfest’s first conference panel.
The Hard Data: What’s Next? Gabberfest Conference 1 will address current issues in the hard electronic scene and how The Hard Data can address them.
Here we have an artist who has literally done it all with so much ease and sleaze. Sei2ure has released on nearly every important hardcore record label known today with a repertoire that has stretched from the industrial side of the spectrum, to crossbreed, all the way over to uptempo. He is known more for his elaborate, crispy-crumbly kick drums as well as his sounds that can only be found inside of a steel factory or, perhaps, an airplane crash site. I mention this because his most recent release, ‘Partystarter’, on ‘Footworxx Digital’, isn’t where you are going to find the “top-of-the-line” Sei2ure. Although the second track, ‘Serial Killer’, sits at 175 BPM and has more groove, it is still designed in the same vein as the title track and the final, albeit stronger track, ‘Back the Fuck Up’: typical straight driving bass lines with the occasional vocal sample at the end of every 4 bars. But its Sei2ure’s sound itself that makes this uptempo release more invigorating and worth a rinse out at the next hardcore party.
