Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), an annual conference and festival, kicked off on Wednesday October 15. Irish artists such as Matador, Mano Le Tough, Mark Greene, Gavin Boyce and myself are all participating in the “night” programme.

My first trip was in 2006. Friends convinced me to go to the I Love Techno festival in Belgium. Ironically, there was little or no techno at I Love Techno. I took a look at the ADE website and saw open discussion panels with key industry figures such as Kevin Saunderson and Dave Clarke.
That was accompanied by an extensive night schedule which seemed to take in all my favourite DJs. So I booked my flights, packed my bags and went over on my own. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life. I have gone every year since.
Since then a lot has changed. From humble origins, the 2014 conference will host 220 speakers and 5,000 visitors across five venues. The night schedule will encompass 85 performance spaces with 2,200 performers. In all, some 350,000 will attend more than 300 parties.
There have been many great panels over the years. The D25 panel, marking 25 years of Detroit Techno, was moderated by Derrick May. Speakers included Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Stacey Pullen and Kenny Larkin. Derrick May also interviewed Frankie Knuckles, one of my personal favourites. Dave Clarke shooting the breeze with Boy George was another great one. Richie Hawtin has done a number of interesting and intelligently programmed panels. Last year Ali Demirel delivered a lecture on his visual work for Hawtin.
There is a decent Irish contingent in 2014. On October 17 Gavin Boyce plays with Nordic Trax in Club 8. Mark Greene plays a Gate Null showcase in the Comedy Theatre, alongside Tom Hades and Irregular Synth. Your humble correspondent, meanwhile, is at Cafe Schuim. On Sunday October 19 Matador is at Awakenings in Gasouder, alongside Gaiser, Carlo Lio, Dubfire and Paco Osuna. He recently won the award for Best Live Set at the Ibiza DJ Awards. Mano Le Tough is at Trouw alongside Omar S.
If you haven’t been and want to learn about the inner workings of the industry, the conference is worth checking out. Be sure to buy your tickets in advance as everything sells out.  
On home turf, we have a busy bank holiday weekend on the way – especially in Dublin. On Friday 24 Wunderground and Abstract have Skream in Opium Rooms. Pleasurekraft are in the Button Factory with Jack. On October 25 Hidden Agenda have Erol Alkan and Ghost Culture in Opium Rooms. On October 26 Radio Slave plays Pygmalion with Division. Joris Voorn is playing in the Button Factory. Robert Hood is in the Grand Social; Krystal Klear are in the Academy.
Outside Dublin, Hot Since 82 play the Savoy in Cork. In Waterford Re:Publik celebrate their 9th Birthday with DJ Tennis & Daniel Bortz. It all goes down at Crystal Night Club.