Amsterdam Dance Event Set To Kick Off 2024 Edition With Four Official Opening Concerts
With two months left until ADE 2024, the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) presents an extraordinary lineup of one-off Opening Concerts on ADE Wednesday. The series offers unique and immersive experiences that embody the spirit of electronic music in unique locations including Van Gogh Museum, Door Open Space, Bimhuis and Melkweg. The opening specials feature the likes of Eefje de Visser, Nick Verstand, Cello Octet Amsterdam, Greetje Bijlma, Oceanic, LUXE, Metropole Orkest and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
Eefje de Visser (unplugged) | Van Gogh Museum
Kicking off the series of Opening Concerts is an intimate, unplugged performance by the acclaimed and award winning Dutch singer-songwriter Eefje de Visser. Set within the serene, glass-walled atrium of the Van Gogh Museum, Eefje's music is stripped back to its purest form accompanied only by guitar, piano, and vocalists, creating an ethereal atmosphere offering a unique blend of visual art and music.
COCON II by Nick Verstand x Cello Octet Amsterdam | Door Open Space
In a stunning fusion of classical music and cutting-edge technology, audiovisual artist Nick Verstand and Cello Octet Amsterdam present a truly one-off performance. Hosted at the vast Door Open Space warehouse, COCON II will feature a captivating interplay between musicians and eight robotic arms, which will create dynamic three-dimensional light shapes. This second iteration of the COCON project is custom-designed for ADE, promising an immersive and trance-inducing experience that blurs the lines between art and technology.
Greetje Bijma X Oceanic + LUXE (live) | Bimhuis
Bimhuis will host an extraordinary collaboration between legendary free jazz singer Greetje Bijma and electronic music artist Oceanic, for a meeting of improvisational jazz and leftfield techno set to create a sonic landscape that defies genre boundaries. Following their set, London-based producer LUXE will take the stage, delivering a live performance that blends classical music with contemporary electronic sounds.
50 Years of J Dilla x Metropole Orkest | Melkweg
Concluding the series is the previously announced tribute to one of the most influential producers in hip-hop history, J Dilla. Celebrating 50 years of his legacy, the renowned Metropole Orkest, in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, will reinterpret J Dilla's groundbreaking work in a way that's never been heard before. Held at Melkweg, this concert marks the eighth consecutive year that Metropole Orkest has opened ADE.
The complete program will be announced in the coming weeks. Individual tickets are available through ADE’s program, and the ADE Pro Pass is available here.
The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing electronic music, its culture and its industry worldwide. The organisation devotes itself to stimulating development, innovation and talent, gathering the global industry and laying a foundation for future generations.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of Buma, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, featuring over 2,500 artists and 600 speakers in almost 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 146 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive Arts & Culture programme, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam. More information about ADE can be found here.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation. Founding partner: Buma
Contact
For more information or media partnerships contact Nikki McNeill.
A Greener Future’s Industry-Leading Sustainable Events Training – Autumn 2024
A Greener Future (AGF), the not-for-profit company committed to helping events, festivals and venues around the world to become more sustainable, announce their Autumn training schedule with events taking place in London and Manchester.
As the global events industry seeks to become sustainable and government bodies such as DCMS in the UK calling for environmental standards for festivals, what better place to turn to for training than the founders of the world's first green standards and certification for festivals and events – A Greener Future.
On 7th October, AGF is introducing a brand-new course – Creating a Sustainability Policy & Strategy for your Organisation – which will take place in Manchester hosted by Major Events International (MEI).
Many organisations realise that having a sustainability policy and strategy is imperative, whilst those that already have them in place may need to update or rewrite current policies as knowledge and legal requirements are wont to rapidly change. But where do you start? What’s the difference between policy and strategy? How do you put together a sustainability action plan? What should you focus on? How do you set target goals? What should you avoid putting into your policy and strategy, and why?
This one-day interactive course is designed for organisations, local authorities, or anyone tasked with writing or updating sustainability policies and strategies. Participants will learn to create impactful sustainability policies, develop strategies for positive environmental change and network with industry leaders.
Meanwhile, on 14th and 15th November, AGF’s highly acclaimed Assessor Training Course returns with a two-day, in-person course hosted by Major Events International (MEI) in London. Participants will gain insights from industry experts with over a decade of experience, learn through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical case studies and collaborate with industry experts and fellow participants.
The Assessor Training Course is also relevant for those who want to work in event sustainability, upskill, or improve their understanding, including event organisers, local authorities, suppliers, academics and researchers, as well as those who are passionate about developing their knowledge of event sustainability. The course is an invaluable opportunity to enhance skills and contribute to a greener future for events worldwide.
All those who successfully complete the course will become Stage 1 Certified A Greener Future Assessors and will receive a certificate of completion from AGF. Online trainees will receive a joint certificate from AGF and the relevant university. Trainees are then eligible to move onto Stage 2 of our training programme, which will involve event site visits and the completion of assessments under the supervision of one of our senior assessors, and in future, to become senior assessors themselves.
The Accessor Training Course is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the key operational issues that impact the environment before, during, and after events take place. Drawing on over 18 years of experience in assessing global festivals and events, the course covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Legal Framework & Policy
- Local Impacts & Risks
- Sustainable Procurements
- Travel & Transport
- Event Power
- Solid Waste & Recycling
- Water Usage, Wastewater & Sewerage
- The Circular Event
- Behaviour & Communication
- AGF Assessment Familiarisation & Post-Event Reporting
INFO:
7th October 2024
Creating a Sustainability Policy & Strategy for your Organisation
Attendance: In-person
Venue: Emirates Stadium, Manchester
Hosted by: Major Events International (MEI)
7th October 2024
Assessor Training Course
Attendance: Online
In association with: Falmouth University
14th & 15th November 2024
Assessor Training Course
Attendance: In-person
Venue: TBC, London
Hosted by: Major Events International (MEI)
ADE and Eventix present the upgraded ‘Festival Access Map’
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and Eventix present the upgraded ‘Festival Access Map’, which gives ADE Pro Pass Holders a real-time overview of the entire range of ADE Festival events in one glance. The new map provides insight into which events ADE Pro Pass Holders can walk right into and claim reserved spots for without any wait.
ADE and Eventix have realised this upgrade through innovative work on the dashboard released last year. The ‘Festival Access Map’ now leaves its pilot stage and will display all participating ADE venues this year. That means that over two hundred venues will show which events are happening in the dashboard that can be reached via the ‘MyADE’ domain, next to live indications of the event’s accessibility with an easy-to-read colour system.
The results from last year’s pilot show that 90% of events were already easily accessible for Pro Pass Holders, but that number will increase this year. Amsterdam Dance Event will assign ‘ADE Pro Hosts’ to venues to offer Pro Pass Holders a friendly face at the door and to ensure your arrival is hassle-free, making you feel supported and cared for throughout your ADE experience. These hosts ensure the map is updated in real-time through a scanning structure that relies on Eventix’s ticketing system.
Elevating the Pro experience
Eventix is an innovative ticketing platform that provides cutting-edge solutions for events of all sizes. With a focus on user experience and technological innovation, Eventix has quickly become one of the most trusted names in the industry. The ‘Festival Access Map’ is part of a three-year strategic partnership between Amsterdam Dance Event and Eventix, which is meant to elevate the level of convenience and service that ADE Pro Pass Holders were already used to.
The ‘Festival Access Map’ is one of the many benefits ADE Pro Pass Holders can access. Besides viewing all ADE Festival events in real-time at a glance, ADE Pro Pass Holders have access to all ADE Pro workshops, talks, panels, and all ADE Lab programs. This includes the sub-conferences ADE Startups, ADE Green, Buma Music In Motion, and ADE Beats. Next to being able to visit every program part of Amsterdam Dance Event, Pro Pass Holders have access to three exclusive Business Hubs, where they can meet and network with thousands of other professionals. The exclusive benefits of the ADE Pro Pass also include live experiences such as one-off showcases and performances, as well as the ADE x G-Star 2024 Bag.
ADE Pro Pass tickets are on sale via the website of Amsterdam Dance Event.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of BumaStemra, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, with last year’s edition featuring over 3,000 artists and 600 speakers in more than 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 150 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive arts & culture program, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam.
About Eventix
Eventix offers a versatile global ticketing solution designed for event organisers of all sizes. The system emphasises flexibility and innovation, ensuring seamless management for everything from intimate gatherings to major festivals. Setting up an online ticket shop is quick and easy, with customisation options to meet specific needs and smooth integration with preferred tools. With Eventix, it's not just about selling tickets - it's about elevating the entire event experience for both organisers and attendees.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation.
Founding partner: BumaStemra
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music PR | Event PR | Festival PR
European Festival Summit: Become part of the future
YOUROPE – The European Festival Association invites all festival organizers, event professionals and other interested stakeholders to participate in the European Festival Summit, Nov 18-20. The event in Karlsruhe, Germany, will explore the future of festivals with the leading European festival creators and brightest minds from sectors like AI, cyber security, and climate research.
YOUROPE, the most important organization representing popular music festivals in Europe, has dedicated an entire conference to making festivals fit for the future. The first European Festival Summit is your opportunity to meet like-minded people from all over Europe in a relaxed atmosphere to find out how to improve the festival sector together.
The brightest minds from the festival industry will share their knowledge, internationally renowned scientists will provide insights into relevant research, and experts from various fields will supply our participants with their specialist expertise. Together with them and you, we want to find out what the resilience, responsibility and relevance of popular music festivals looks like today and tomorrow.
Panels, presentations, interactive sessions, keynote interviews, excursions, networking and leisure time events complement each other to create a valuable program in which everyone should find something interesting.
Session topics include:
- The future of the festival sector
- Festivals and Generation Z
- Festivals’ role in society
- Independent festivals
- Extreme weather at festivals
- Festivals and AI
- Festivals and cyber safety
- The social responsibility of festivals
- The impact of festivals on the climate and vice versa
- European funding for festivals
- The importance of “live”
- and many more
These are the first speakers – more to be announced soon:
- Mika Christoffersen | Roskilde Festival (DK)
- Kara Djurhuus | Roskilde Festival (DK)
- James Drury | IQ Magazine (UK)
- Eugenie “EJ” Encalarde | Festival Productions Inc., New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (US)
- Eric van Eerdenburg | Mojo Concerts / Lowlands Festival (NL)
- Prof. Dr. Sascha Frühholz | Universität Zürich (CH)
- Sabine Funk | IBIT GmbH & YES Group (DE)
- Christof Huber | Gadget abc / YOUROPE (CH)
- Michal Kaščák | Pohoda Festival (SK)
- Mariana Macedo | Boom Festival / Good Mood (PT)
- Arnaud Meerssemann | AEG presents France (FR)
- Claire O’Neill | A Greener Future (UK)
- Achim Ostertag | Summer Breeze Open Air (DE)
- Holger Jan Schmidt | YOUROPE (DE)
- Lea Stöver | Creative Europe Desk, Germany (DE)
- Prof. Dr. York Sure-Vetter | KIT – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
- Linnéa Svensson | GO Group (NO)
- Max Thinius | Futurneo (DE)
- Daniel Vollmer | AppSphere AG (DE)
- Manfred von Hebel | Jugend für Europa / Erasmus+ (DE)
- Martin Wacker | Karlsruhe Marketing & Event GmbH / DAS FEST (DE)
- Prof. Ian Woodward | SDU – University of South Denmark (DK)
The European Festival Summit will take place in Karlsruhe – in the very heart of Europe. The event will take place in the creative quarter of the city in the southwest of Germany, which offers excellent connections with various means of transport.
Tickets for the European Festival Summit cost €150. YOUROPE members get a discount of €50. YOUROPE is happy to offer a special rate at their partner hotel Achat as well as a discount on train rides within Germany in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn.
The European Festival Summit is organized by YOUROPE in cooperation with Karlsruhe Marketing und Event GmbH (KME) as part of our joint European project “3F – Future-Fit Festivals”.
Program, hotel offer & travel tips: https://europeanfestivalsummit.eu
Registration: https://tickets.hoemepage.com/event/european-festival-summit-0nbq39
Holger Jan Schmidt, YOUROPE’s General Secretary:
“Within our network, we have spent the past three years looking at the resilience, responsibility and relevance of festivals from a variety of perspectives in our project ‘3F Future-Fit-Festivals’. Now is the perfect time to bring the European festival family and experts from the wider sector to the same place to delve deeper into these topics and also to set a path for the future together. We are looking forward to 48 fantastic hours in Karlsruhe with leading professionals from live events, science, and specialized areas. The summit’s program is coming along excellently and will be exceptional and inspiring.”
About YOUROPE
Since 1998, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association has evolved into the most important association for popular music festivals in Europe. As of August 2024, YOUROPE counts 125 festivals and associated organizations from 30 European countries among its members. The overall aim of the association is to strengthen and improve the European festival scene as a whole, and promoting arts and music while connecting different cultures.
In its working groups YOUROPE focuses on different topics at the heart of festivals: sustainability, climate action and environmental protection in the GO Group (Green Operations Europe) and security and crowded spaces management in the YOUROPE Event Safety (YES) Group.
Further, YOUROPE hosts the biannual European Festival Conference (EFC) and organizes the annual European Festival Awards (EFAs).
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music PR | Event PR | Festival PR
ADE reveals the new ADE x G-STAR 2024 Bag
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and G-STAR introduce the new 2024 edition of the rave-friendly bag. This multi-purpose accessory, with a built-in messenger bag, is as versatile as the ADE Pro Pass, as it is suited for the ADE Pro Conference by day and the hundreds of ADE events by night.
G-STAR is known for its contemporary designs and innovative outlook on fashion. The denim brand returns as the creator and supplier of the official ADE Pro 2024 Backpack, with a design that shows the company's sustainable and creative values at the core. Wear the backpack on the go from one panel to another session, or take the built-in messenger bag off when you get ready to dive into Amsterdam’s best events.
G-STAR has been a partner of ADE since 2019, and organised some much-discussed events. From a rave under the Rijksmuseum to an exhibition with legendary Berghain bouncer Sven Marquardt. Next to that, G-STAR’s HQ, RAWFACTORY, is once again the exclusive home of Audio Obscura during ADE.
CARISTA
This year, G-STAR teams up with DJ and label head CARISTA as the face of the new ADE backpack. The Dutch artist runs her own label, United Identities, while playing multiple shows every week. CARISTA's stardom reaches far beyond Amsterdam, but her schedule always allows a free spot for ADE in October, staying true to her roots. CARISTA will bring her best and most frequently sought-after tracks to the RAWFACTORY this year on Friday, 18 October.
Join the club
The ADE x G-STAR backpack is an ADE Pro Pass exclusive and included with the five-day ADE ticket. Along with the 2-in-1 bag, the Pro Pass grants access to the entire ADE Conference and all its tracks, plus the upgraded business hubs, the matchmaking hub, networking events, exclusive live performances, and Festival events.
Join the club of the lucky few by securing the ADE Pro Pass and wear the ADE x G-STAR backpack to Amsterdam Dance Event to join the club of music professionals. The fashion brand has more in store for those who can’t secure a Pro Pass, which will later be revealed.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of BumaStemra, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, with last year’s edition featuring over 3,000 artists and 600 speakers in more than 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 150 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive arts & culture program, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam.
About G-STAR
G-STAR is dedicated to the cloth, the craft and the culture of denim since 1989. It has a unique position as a progressive denim brand, creating the future of denim. G-STAR is driven by creativity, constantly turning ideas into denim, while consistently following their own distinctive path. The premium denim brand operates worldwide with a focus on the United States, Europe, Japan and South Africa. The brand has been working for decades with true originals such as Pharrell Williams, Marc Newson, Stephen Jones, Burna Boy, Maarten Baas, Cara Delevingne, Snoop Dogg, Anton Corbijn, Walter Van Beirendonck and Rem Koolhaas.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation.
Founding partner: BumaStemra
Contact
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
New NTIA Listen for Life Charter Launches to Safeguard Workforce and Consumer Hearing
Half (50%) of regular gig goers think that loud music has damaged their hearing, a figure that climbs to an astonishing 92% for those who work in venues, a new poll reveals.
It comes as a new Night Time Economy Charter launches to help music venues better look after the hearing health of colleagues and customers.
The charter, developed by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the trade body which represents the UK’s clubs, bars and pubs, is only one element of the NTIA’s Listen For Life Campaign. This campaign was launched last October to raise awareness and advocate on the importance of hearing protection, and to advise and provide resources to achieve safer listening environments.
The charter sets out a 10-point-plan for businesses, which is in accordance with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Standard on Safe Listening Venues and Events. It includes supplying employees with hearing protection, raising awareness of hearing health, and creating quiet zones designed to give people a break when they need one.
Partnering with Specsavers, the NTIA has launched this charter as part of a new report called ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’, saying it’s worrying how common hearing loss and tinnitus are for those working in the night time industries.
Mike Kill, CEO of the NTIA, says: “We want those who enjoy going to festivals, gigs, pubs, bars and clubs to be able to enjoy them without damaging their hearing – and for those who work in loud environments to be given the knowledge and tools to take care of themselves. This charter can play a massive part in doing that.”
The charter is being backed by DJ’s Nicky Blackmarket – who lives with hearing loss and Woody Cook – who suffers from tinnitus, as well as music legend Lulu who has recently been diagnosed with moderate hearing loss.
Nicky has been playing drum and bass all over the world for more than three decades and is regarded as one of the pivotal figures in the early jungle and drum and bass scene. But after a considerable amount of time in loud environments, he realised that hearing assistance would help restore his hearing loss and improve his quality of life.
Nicky says: ‘My wife would complain that the TV was blasting at full volume. Then at gigs, people would say, ‘mate, turn that sound monitor down’. I’d have it right at the max. I’ve now got some great tech in my hearing aids – it’s unbelievable the difference it makes - and I can hear everything so much clearer again.
‘The thing is, hearing loss is very gradual and, without you realising, your body tries to adapt. You just don’t appreciate all the things you’ve been missing. I wish I’d done this sooner. One of the big positives is that I can continue to enjoy the sounds and things that I love doing – including my music.’
Woody, still a relative newcomer to the scene, says he wishes he’d taken steps to protect his hearing earlier.
He adds: ‘Without doubt, the tinnitus I suffer with today is a result of listening to loud music. Sometimes it makes me feel like I have a continual electric buzz or high-pitched noise in my head which makes me feel really disorientated.
‘I love music – and obviously, I work as a DJ – so my tinnitus has a massive impact on my personal and professional life. I wish I had known about the risks earlier. I’m now taking steps to protect my hearing from any further damage and recommend others to do the same.’
Lulu says: ‘After being on stage nearly all of my life, I have always noticed ringing and muffled sounds, but never really thought much of it. Music has always been a cornerstone of everything I do, so it’s incredibly important that I can still enjoy it. Using hearing protection is also such a simple and easy thing to do when around live music and I’d urge other people to wear it.’
Rob Shepheard the NTIA’s audiologist, Chair of the Listen for Life Campaign, and a member of the World Health Organisation’s Make Listening Safe initiative says: ‘After decades of work on this aspect of injury to our hearing health, we are proud that the NTIA are leading the way in how this global issue is addressed and how we support all those working in or enjoying music.’
The new poll, commissioned by Specsavers, found that 42% have noticed a negative impact on their hearing immediately after a gig – with 58% experiencing ringing in their ears, 45% buzzing and 35% a muffled sensation. Nearly a quarter (23%) said they had suffered temporary hearing loss, while over one in five (22%) experienced pain in their ears.
Despite this, nearly half (46%) of those planning to attend a live music event this summer are unlikely to wear hearing protection. Of these, 44% said they avoid ear plugs because they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the experience as much, and over a third (36%) thought they would alter the quality of the music, which is not the case.
According to Specsavers, it is not uncommon for sound levels at live music events to reach between 115 and 120 decibels (dB) – which could damage hearing if exposed to it for long enough without hearing protection. The survey found over three-quarters (76%) of people didn’t know that the volume of sound was that high.
In a second poll of those working in venues with loud music, 92% have experienced a negative impact on their hearing, with a third reporting tinnitus (34%) or hearing loss (31%). Nearly a third (32%) rarely or never wear hearing protection at work – with over half (53%) saying that’s because their employer has not provided them with it.
Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, said: ‘It is crucial that music lovers protect their hearing. Repeated exposure to high decibel levels can lead to permanent damage, such as sound-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
‘In fact, hearing damage can start at around 85 dB if you are exposed to it for eight hours plus – such as at a festival or club night – if you don’t wear hearing protection. Each additional 3 dB of volume cuts that exposure time in half, so by the time the volume reaches 100 dB, which is still less than the average gig, it could only take 15 minutes for your hearing to be damaged – which is quite scary.
‘What might start as a minor annoyance after a gig can lead to long-term consequences. It’s never too late to start protecting your ears. Wearing hearing protection, not standing too close to speakers, and taking breaks from loud environments can all help preserve your hearing.’
You can read about more about hearing protection in the ‘It’s time to talk about hearing’ report here: www.specsavers.co.uk/reports/hearing-health-2024, and more about ‘Listen for life’ and the NTIAs 10-point charter for businesses here: https://ntia.co.uk/listen-for-life-campaign/.
The World Health Organisation standard on safe listening venues and events can be found here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240043114
Find out more about hearing protection at Specsavers at specsavers.co.uk/hearing
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music Festival PR | Festival PR | Event PR
YOUROPE release 'Festivals for Ukraine' - a toolkit on raising funds and awareness
YOUROPE – The European Festival Association together with Music Saves Ukraine, the humanitarian initiative created by Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME), released a new toolkit. It is titled “Festivals for Ukraine” and provides information about various measures and activities festival organisers can employ to use their festivals as a platform for raising funds and awareness for important causes.
The Festivals For Ukraine Toolkit was developed as part of YOUROPE’s three-year project “Future-Fit Festivals” (3F). The tools featured in this publication have been tested, iterated upon and successfully implemented by Music Saves Ukraine since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Based on cooperation projects with YOUROPE and many of its member festivals as well as other European music festivals and events thousands of people were reached and significant funds were raised, which were used responsibly and effectively by Music Saves Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
The toolkit contains step-by-step guides, case studies and advice on how to implement various schemes and activities within events and festivals It is public and free to use for any festival or cultural event and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF.
Transferable to other charitable purposes
While the toolkit is based on case studies related to Music Saves Ukraine, the tools described possess a high degree of transferability and can easily be used to advance and raise for any other charitable cause: refugee aid, environmental action, inclusion and diversity, etc.
The Toolkit’s Structure
The toolkit provides background on YOUROPE, its social awareness initiative Take A Stand as well as on UAME’s Music Saves Ukraine initiative and their mission. The main part features sections on fundraising and awareness-raising tools like artist bookings, discussion panels and speeches, special performances, bottles recycling, cup deposit and guest list donations, charity merchandise, auctions and raffles and others. The last part tells about special projects like Music Ambassadors Tour and Pohoda Loves Ukraine, which together with the festival collaborations helped Music Saves Ukraine further in their mission of raising funds and awareness for Ukraine.
The team behind the toolset
The toolkit is the result of a collaboration between the teams of YOUROPE’s 3F project and the Music Saves Ukraine initiative. It also features quotes and materials provided by various YOUROPE member festivals among those ARTmania (RO), Das Fest (DE), Les Eurockeennes de Belfort (FR), OpenAir St.Gallen (CH), Pohoda Festival (SK), Superbloom (DE), Sziget (HU).
The Toolset can be found here: https://yourope.org/project/festivals-for-ukraine-toolkit/
Please find visuals and a photo selection here.
Holger Jan Schmidt (General Secretary YOUROPE):
“YOUROPE is committed to helping our Ukrainian members, partners and friends for well over two years now. So that they can be heard, do humanitarian work and reach the right people on their mission. It feels good to see, despite the serious situation, how successfully our network has provided and continues to provide this urgently needed help.
Because of the relevance of this topic, this defining activity of our network during the past years has now also become part of our European project 3F. In this respect, this toolkit is several things in one: a documentation of successful work, another public communication tool for the important cause of our Ukrainian partners Music Saves UA and Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME), and an inspiration for everyone who wants to raise awareness and funds with their festival and cultural events.”
Oleksandr Sanchenko (President of UAME | Music Saves Ukraine)
“We would like to express our immense gratitude to YOUROPE and its members for the opportunity to work on this toolkit with them and for their unwavering support of everything we have done since our very first days. Together, they helped us raise hundreds of thousands of Euros, which translated into dozens of thousands of people helped. They cordially invited us to their festivals, where we could collect donations and bring Ukrainian artists, culture and our experiences to their visitors. All this support enabled us to continue to do our humanitarian work non-stop while working on ever more ambitious projects to help people in Ukraine and to promote the Ukrainian culture and cause abroad.
With friends and partners like these, we are confident that, no matter how long it takes, we will see a day when we no longer need to save lives and rebuild what has been destroyed, but when we celebrate our freedom together in a peaceful, European Ukraine.”
Vlad Yaremchuk (partnership manager of UAME | Music Saves Ukraine & editor of the Toolkit):
“For us, this toolkit is proof of the power of music and an opportunity to give something back to the wonderful festival community that has supported us. We hope that our experience and advice on how to work with festivals to raise awareness and funds for Ukraine will inspire even more action across the industry and result in an even bigger positive impact on the world we live in.”
About YOUROPE:
Since 1998, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association has evolved into the most important association for popular music festivals in Europe. As of June 2024, YOUROPE counts 124 festivals and associated organisations from 30 European countries among its members. The overall aim of the association is to strengthen and improve the European festival scene as a whole, and promoting arts and music while connecting different cultures.
In its working groups YOUROPE focuses on different topics at the heart of festivals: sustainability, climate action and environmental protection in the GO Group (Green Operations Europe) and security and crowded spaces management in the YOUROPE Event Safety (YES) Group. In 2027 YOUROPE initiated the social awareness project TAKE A STAND, which unites more than 150 supporters from 25 countries behind a set of important European values.
Further, YOUROPE hosts the biannual European Festival Conference (EFC) and organizes the annual European Festival Awards (EFAs).
About Music Saves Ukraine:
Music Saves Ukraine is a non-profit fundraising initiative created by the Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME) to provide immediate humanitarian help to those who need it most right now in Ukraine, as well as to support the national musical product as a means of countering hostile propaganda through music.
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music Saves Ukraine Documentary Shows Life And Destruction In Ukraine
Documentary shows life and destruction in Ukraine
Music Saves Ukraine just released a video documentary of their second Music Ambassadors Tour through war-torn Ukraine. The humanitarian aid organization of the Ukrainian music industry had invited music industry professionals from other European countries to experience life in the country – and the consequences of the Russian invasion – first-hand.
Earlier this year, six YOUROPE members were part of the Music Ambassadors Tour in Ukraine. Our friends and partners at Music Saves Ukraine and UAME hosted 12 ambassadors from the European music industry for five days. They visited Kyiv, Borodyanka, Irpin, and Chernihiv to see with their own eyes the consequences and scale of Russia’s war in Ukraine that has been going on for two and a half years now.
Among the ambassadors were these six representatives of YOUROPE member festivals:
- Christof Huber (CH) – chairman of YOUROPE and director festivals at Gadget Entertainment (e.g. OpenAir St. Gallen, Summerdays Festival, Seaside Festival)
- Girts Majors (LV) – promoter and founder of Positivus Festival
- József Kardos (HU) – programming director of Sziget Festival
- Markus Wiersch (DE) – deputy director at KME, the promoting organisation of DAS FEST in Karlsruhe. Member of YOUROPE Event Safety Group (YES Group)
- Michal Kaščák (SK) – festival director and founder of Pohoda festival, musician, and actively supporting Ukraine since 2014
- Ville Koivisto (FI) – festival director of Provinssi, also a chairman at Jyväskylä Live Music Association
The remaining ambassadors were Within Temptation-guitarist Robert Westerholt, Rupert Vereker (CEO of DIY Music, publisher of DIY Magazine), Tomek Hoax (co-founder of Coastline Northern Cuts label, co-curator of Up To Date Festival), Steen Jorgensen (CEO of Copenhagen’s venue VEGA, steering committee member of Liveurope), Eva Dudaskova (Slovak music enthusiast based in France with rich experience in developing brand strategies), and Michal Berezñák (director of Bratislava's Nová Cvernovka cultural center, founder of LALA - Slovak Music Export, co-founder of Sharpe Festival).
YOUROPE’s chairman Christof Huber said after the tour: “The Music Ambassadors Tour was very intense and emotional for me. I won’t forget these reports from eyewitnesses and pictures of destruction and damage. On the other hand, I was amazed by the strength of Ukrainian people, their connection and loyalty to their beloved country. We must stand with Ukraine!”
On the first day, when some of the participants were already in Kyiv, there was an attack on the city with hypersonic missiles. Air raid alarms continued throughout the day as the hosts were trying to show the guests the city and how it is to live in it. On the second day, the group went to Borodyanka and Irpin to see the Borodyanka Palace of Culture, which is being rebuilt after heavy damage during the Russian occupation and bombing of the town, as well as the Central House of Culture in Irpin, which was also destroyed to a point where it still cannot function. They visited the Kyiv Institute of Rehabilitation, which Music Saves Ukraine supports by acquiring necessary equipment, to show how those who suffered as a result of the war are being treated for free.
The original plan was to go to Kharkiv, but the situation there got so critical that the hosts could no longer guarantee an acceptable level of safety, so the group went to Chernihiv instead. There, they heard the story of how the city had resisted at the beginning of the war, thwarting Russian plans to occupy it, and witnessed the destroyed cultural infrastructure, including the result of a missile attack on Taras Shevchenko Chernihiv Theatre.
On the next day, back in Kyiv, the group visited the premises of TAVR Media group, to see how the biggest radio stations operate during the war and how ticketing and production companies continued to innovate despite the war. The day ended with another event in Kyiv with discussion panels, where the guests reflected on the tour, and they discussed how to continue supporting Ukraine together.
You can find photos of the tour here.
This was the second edition of the Music Ambassadors Tour – the first tour covered 1800km and visited 8 cities at the end of 2022.
In the coming days, YOUROPE together with Music Saves Ukraine, will also release a toolkit on raising funds and awareness that is free to use for everyone who wants to support a good cause.
About YOUROPE
Since 1998, YOUROPE – The European Festival Association has evolved into the most important association for popular music festivals in Europe. As of July 2024, YOUROPE counts 123 festivals and associated organizations from 30 European countries among its members. The overall aim of the association is to strengthen and improve the European festival scene as a whole, and promoting arts and music while connecting different cultures.
About Music Saves Ukraine
Music Saves Ukraine is a non-profit fundraising initiative created by the Ukrainian Association of Music Events (UAME) to provide immediate humanitarian help to those who need it most right now in Ukraine, as well as to support the national musical product as a means of countering hostile propaganda through music.
Contact:
Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
Nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Amsterdam Dance Event Announce First Wave With 300+ Confirmed Artists For ADE 2024
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world's largest festival and business gathering for electronic music, today reveals the first wave of confirmed artists for ADE 2024. Among the confirmed artists to perform are Benga (GB), Brutalismus 3000 (DE), FJAAK (DE), Four Tet (GB), Honey Dijon (US), Indira Paganotto (ES), Jeff Mills (US), KlangKuenstler (DE), Major League DJz (ZA), Marlon Hoffstadt (DE), Martin Garrix (NL), Miss Monique (UA), Peggy Gou (KR), Rebekah (GB), The Martinez Brothers (US), and 300+ others.
Over 300 artists and DJs have now been confirmed throughout 100+ events, marking the first 10% milestone of the ADE program — including special concerts by Awakenings Upclose, over 20 events at A’DAM Toren, a packed DGTL roster with 7 events, Tomorrowland presents Our Story, alongside AMF, HE.SHE.THEY., Into the Woods, Verknipt, straf_werk, Loveland, Speedy J’s STOOR, Dave Clarke presents, and much more.
The five day gathering runs from October 16—20, 2024 and is the world’s most extensive festival and conference program for electronic music, representing all electronic subgenres and subcultures throughout 1,000+ events in 200+ locations spread across Amsterdam.
Among the first 10% of artists and DJs are:
EJOU (FR), 999999999 (IT), ALCATRAZ (DE), Anetha (FR), Anz (GB), Avalon Emerson (US), Azyr (GB), Barry Can't Swim (GB), BELLA (NL), Ben Klock (DE), Benga (GB), Benwal (NL), Berkan V8 (NL), Bolis Pupul (BE), Bonobo (GB), Boys Noize (DE), Brutalismus 3000 (DE), Caribou (CA), Carista (NL), Carlita (TR), Chlär (CH), Cincity (NL), Cinthie (DE), Colin Benders (NL), Colyn (NL), Daria Kolosova (UA), Dave Clarke (GB), Dax J (GB), Dee Diggs (US), DJ Europarking (NL), DJ Fuckoff (DE), DJ Mell G (DE), DJ Spit (DE), DJ Tennis (IT), DMX Krew (GB), Doppelgang (NL), Estella Boersma (NL), Fafi Abdel Nour (NL), FJAAK (DE), Four Tet (GB), Funk Assault (DE), Gabrielle Kwarteng (US), Gerd Janson (DE), GoldFish (ZA), Honey Dijon (US), I Hate Models (FR), I. Jordan (GB), Indira Paganotto (ES), Jamie Jones (GB), JEANS (NL), Jeff Mills (US), Jennifer Loveless (AU), Kikelomo (GB), KiNK (BG), KlangKuenstler (DE), Kobosil (DE), Lola Edo (NL), Mahmut Orhan (TR), Major League DJz (ZA), Malugi (DE), Marcel Dettmann (DE), Marco Carola (IT), Marie K (NL), Markus Schulz (US), Marlon Hoffstadt (DE), Martin Garrix (NL), Mary Lake (NL), Mathame (IT ), MCR-T (DE), Mila Black (NL), Miss Monique (UA), Mochakk (BR), Motor City Drum Ensemble (DE), Narciss (DE), Nico Moreno (FR), NIKS (GB), Nils Frahm (DE), Octave One (US), Ogazón (LU), Olympe (IT), Pangaea (GB), Patrice Bäumel (DE), Patrick Mason (DE), Paula Tape (CL), Paula Temple (GB), Peggy Gou (KR), Philou Louzolo (NL), Rebekah (GB), Rødhåd (DE), Röyksopp (NO), Roza Terenzi (AU), Ruby Savage (NL), Sally C (IE), Salome (GE), Sama' Abdulhadi (PS), San Holo (NL), Sarkawt Hamad (NL), Sasha (GB), Sedef Adasi (DE), Seth Troxler (US), Shanti Celeste (CL ), Shimza (ZA), Shlømo (FR), Skream (GB), Speedy J (NL), SPFDJ (SE), Spray (IE), Suze Ijó (NL), Tereza (DE), The Blessed Madonna (US), The Martinez Brothers (US), Tiësto (NL), Timmy Trumpet (AU), Tita Lau (GB), Todd Terry (US), Twiena (NL), Vuur (NL), Wade (ES), Yazzus (GB), Young Marco (NL) and many more.
The complete program will be announced in the coming months. Individual tickets are available through ADE’s program, and the ADE Pro Pass is available here.
The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing electronic music, its culture and its industry worldwide. The organisation devotes itself to stimulating development, innovation and talent, gathering the global industry and laying a foundation for future generations.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of Buma, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, featuring over 2,500 artists and 600 speakers in almost 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 146 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive Arts & Culture programme, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam. More information about ADE can be found here.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation. Founding partner: Buma
Contact:
For more information or media partnerships contact Nikki McNeill | Global Publicity
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music Festival PR | Festival PR | Event PR
ADE Pro reveals top minds at EMPIRE, Spotify, Believe, SoundCloud, alongside Chris Stussy, Sama’ Abdulhadi, Miss Monique and more
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) reveals its second wave of ADE Pro speakers. Highlights include the president of EMPIRE Tina Davis, Global Head of Music at Believe Romain Vivien, Grimes’ manager Daouda Leonard, top-level strategic experts at Spotify and SoundCloud, alongside artists Miss Monique, Chris Stussy, and Sama’ Abdulhadi. They join the recently announced conference roster of Timbaland & Martin Garrix, Laurent Garnier, fabric London, Grace Ladoja, heavyweights at Armada Music, WME, UTA, and more.
Tina Davis, president of independent record label EMPIRE, headlines with a Keynote Q&A on her transformative role in EMPIRE’s global influence as an independent label, including its expansion into Afrobeats and Latin music. Daouda Leonard, manager of Grimes and co-founder of CreateSafe, will explore the intersection of music, AI, and technology, strategic insights into the future of artist management, and offering artists control over their career and business. Phiona Okumu, Spotify's Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, will share her expertise on elevating African artists and Spotify’s initiatives like RADAR and EQUAL to support emerging and female artists, ensuring that diverse voices are heard worldwide.
Essential Insider Knowledge
Following last year’s huge success of the Insider Knowledge series, its first 2024 entries have rolled in: Romain Vivien, Global Head of Music at Believe, and Andreea Gleeson, CEO at TuneCore, bring their combined expertise to empower independent artists with the cutting-edge digital solutions and distribution models of Believe and TuneCore. Their ‘Insider Knowledge’ keynote dives into driving success for artists and navigating the evolving music landscape. SoundCloud has entered into a global partnership with ADE and presents an in-depth session on the most lucrative opportunities and valuable strategies for independent artists, with one of the visionary minds from SoundCloud’s top strategic team.
Pioneers in electronic music
Miss Monique reaches numbers well into the millions on YouTube, and in this masterclass, she will be demonstrating how she makes her videos and shapes her YouTube success. Chris Stussy, one of the top four most-touring Dutch artists internationally, will share his experiences of balancing underground and mainstream success, maintaining a healthy lifestyle during hectic tours, and supporting emerging talent. Sama' Abdulhadi, a rising star in the global techno scene, will discuss her journey and the unique sound that has taken her to major festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury. Sama' continues to inspire, bringing her distinctive style to dance floors around the world.
Attend ADE Pro 2024
The ADE Pro Pass grants access to the full conference program, alongside networking events, the ADE Festival program and more. The last tickets are available at the current Early Bird rate through ADE’s website.
The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing electronic music, its culture and its industry worldwide. The organisation devotes itself to stimulating development, innovation and talent, gathering the global industry and laying a foundation for future generations.
ADE Pro Conference
ADE Pro is the ultimate annual business gathering for the global electronic music industry. The four-day conference for music industry professionals runs from Wednesday through Saturday and features dedicated programming covering subjects from marketing, publishing and bookings to sustainability, social change and mental health. The additional networking opportunities with fellow ADE delegates and industry leaders provide an ideal and global basis for deal making and career advancement.
About ADE
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an initiative of Buma, has grown into the world’s largest and most influential club-based festival and conference for electronic music. The event continues to grow and develop each year, with last year’s edition featuring over 3,000 artists and 600 speakers in almost 200 venues. The five-day event attracts visitors from over 150 countries and features every conceivable aspect of electronic music culture, with dedicated conference programming, an extensive arts & culture program, live music and DJ/artist performances, all spread across the city of Amsterdam. More information about ADE can be found here.
ADE – Electronic Music Gathers Here
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation.
Founding partner: Buma
Contact
For more information or media partnerships contact Nikki McNeill.
nikki@globalpublicity.co.uk
Music Festival PR | Festival PR | Event PR