Dekmantel Festival 2019

The two days that kick-start local powerhouse Dekmantel Festival capture the basis of the creators intentions. Stay open-minded and turn your ears in the right direction. Dekmantel has been pushing the envelope and bringing music from the fringes intact for everyone to enjoy for a while now, with this year being no exception to that rule. Taking place in various locations along ‘t IJ, these opening days feature living legends, cult-heroes and superstars-in-the-making. We made a few picks of the lineup to help you navigate and explore within these two days. It doesn’t quite stop there – check out who to see/hear/feel on the other days here.

Subbacultcha members get free access on either 31 July or 1 August. Spots are VERY limited for both days, so please RSVP by filling out the form for 31 July OR 1 August. Not a member? Sign up here.

31 July

Loma Doom

Redlight Radio mainstay, Loma Doom’s hazy and hypnotic take on electronic music is certainly one for lost souls, framed by a slightly tangy psychedelia. Local legend!

Pharaoh Sanders Quartet

Pharaoh Sanders, is a saxophonist who marked his own way in the development of free jazz. Known for using his instrument in unconventional ways to produce unique sounds, he’s worked with Sun Ra and the Coltranes. The only way to experience free jazz is live.

Cybotron

Formed in the 1980s by Juan Atkins with Richard Davis, the pioneers of a now well developed sound serve classic synth driven electro and Detroit techno, being created right in front of you. Music for bopping and for admiring. Classic!

1 August

De Ambassade

Such is the moniker taken by Pascal Pinkert and Timothy Francis, the former who also releases music as Dollkraut. DIY. Drenched in reverb. Very catchy. De Ambassade will be performing their gooey, viscous post punk and new wave in Tolhuistuin 01.30 – 02.30.

Yves Tumor

Yves Tumor is difficult to coin. Having just released Safe in the Hands of Love, Noid is his own nuanced, version of ‘fuck the police’, set to an appropriately anxiety inducing chaos of electric-guitar-esque screams, leaving us to latch onto familiar rock beats. Dramatic and lush art pop, flirting with industrial music, ambient and noise. He’ll be performing from 21.30-22.30 in Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ.

Demdike Stare

Re-appropriating samples from all corners of the sonic universe and re-interpreting them through new technology, the duo from Manchester creates avant-garde, half-dismantled club music. Demdike Stare created quite the legacy for themselves with their genre-bending Testpressing series. Hellish, yet banging and pulling you in with an unbearable pace. They will be performing at Shelter 23.30 – 00.30.

Caterina Barbieri

Caterina Barbieri creates ethereal, indescribable music. A pulsing aura? Able to be experienced but actually on a parallel astral plane? the Italian modular synthesizer composer, explores the “psycho-physical effects of repetition and pattern-based operation in music”. Caterina disorientates and plays its the listeners sense of perception – till ecstatic effects. Really, just listen and catch her at Bimhuis from 23.00 to midnight.

Oceanic, Mattheis & Oberman (Nous’klaer Audio Showcase)

Rotterdam label’s showcase includes a light hearted DJ set from Oberman to get the blood flowing, then live shows from Oceanic and Mattheis. They’ll be performing from 22.30-01.00 at Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ.

Dekmantel Festival runs from 31 July – 4 August. Full timetable here.