Conference: The Culture Hub returns with MC Culture at the heart of ADE Saturday
This year's theme at the Culture Hub
This year, the Culture Hub puts a spotlight on MC Culture and the voices that have shaped dance music alongside the dancefloor. Across genres and generations, the mic has been a tool for expression, storytelling and community, shaping how scenes develop and sounds travel.
That relationship runs throughout dance music history. Hip hop and electro influenced each other throughout the 80s. Two decades ago, grime emerged through the meeting of garage, dancehall, jungle and hip hop, before reaching far beyond its underground roots.
The Role of the MC
On ADE Saturday, the Culture Hub traces that history and brings together the voices carrying MC Culture forward today. The day opens with ‘Sonic Journey: A History of the MC as Voice of the Community’, an immersive listening experience tracing the role of the MC, followed by conversations, screenings and cyphers throughout Felix Meritis.
Ongepolijst – the premiere at ADE Beats
To kick off The Culture Hub's MC Culture theme, ADE Beats will host the official premiere of a documentary film on the history of grime in The Netherlands on ADE Friday.
Over 20 years ago, original grime music with Dutch vocals was pioneered by NoizBoiz and other members of the NEBULON collective. In "Ongepolijst", the official documentary premiering at this year’s ADE, the story of Dutch Grime (NL GRIME) is told. Over the years, a small group of artists and grime enthusiasts kept the NL Grime flame burning, building strong connections with the UK and the rest of the European scene, as well as looking at its ongoing musical influence and universal impact and appeal.
Events covering MC Culture include:
- Film Premiere & Drinks: 20 years of Grime in The Netherlands followed on Saturday by Q&A and Cypher | 20 Years of Grime in The Netherlands
- Q&A and Cypher: 5 Year Anniversary Rafting Goods
- Q&A and Cypher: House of Knowledge presents ‘Unsigned Hype’ with Rotjoch, Latifah and 4Shobangers
ADE Beats highlights:
This year's theme at the Culture Hub
This year, the Culture Hub puts a spotlight on MC Culture and the voices that have shaped dance music alongside the dancefloor. Across genres and generations, the mic has been a tool for expression, storytelling and community, shaping how scenes develop and sounds travel.
That relationship runs throughout dance music history. Hip hop and electro influenced each other throughout the 80s. Two decades ago, grime emerged through the meeting of garage, dancehall, jungle and hip hop, before reaching far beyond its underground roots.
The Role of the MC
On ADE Saturday, the Culture Hub traces that history and brings together the voices carrying MC Culture forward today. The day opens with ‘Sonic Journey: A History of the MC as Voice of the Community’, an immersive listening experience tracing the role of the MC, followed by conversations, screenings and cyphers throughout Felix Meritis.
Ongepolijst – the premiere at ADE Beats
To kick off The Culture Hub's MC Culture theme, ADE Beats will host the official premiere of a documentary film on the history of grime in The Netherlands on ADE Friday.
Over 20 years ago, original grime music with Dutch vocals was pioneered by NoizBoiz and other members of the NEBULON collective. In "Ongepolijst", the official documentary premiering at this year’s ADE, the story of Dutch Grime (NL GRIME) is told. Over the years, a small group of artists and grime enthusiasts kept the NL Grime flame burning, building strong connections with the UK and the rest of the European scene, as well as looking at its ongoing musical influence and universal impact and appeal.
Events covering MC Culture include:
- Film Premiere & Drinks: 20 years of Grime in The Netherlands followed on Saturday by Q&A and Cypher | 20 Years of Grime in The Netherlands
- Q&A and Cypher: 5 Year Anniversary Rafting Goods
- Q&A and Cypher: House of Knowledge presents ‘Unsigned Hype’ with Rotjoch, Latifah and 4Shobangers
ADE Beats highlights:
Focus Regions at the Culture Hub
Electronic music moves across borders, shaped by local scenes and the exchange of sounds, ideas and communities. Across this year’s regional focus, the Culture Hub creates space for people working within these regions and their diasporas to share perspectives on their own scenes. On ADE Saturday, confirmed highlights include conversations around Brazil, Subsaharan Africa, and the MENA region.
Alongside talks and panels, ‘Meet the Professionals from the Focus Regions’ brings these conversations into the Culture Hub's networking program, connecting professionals from across the focus regions with peers from the international electronic music industry.
Brazil
Brazil's dance music landscape brings together distinct regional sounds, histories and communities, with baile funk, bass and brega funk increasingly travelling far beyond their local scenes. From the music itself to the industry developing around it, the Culture Hub looks at the people and movements shaping Brazil's place within electronic music today.
Events covering Brazil include:
- Brazil: Musical Engine of the World?
- Female DJs in Brazil: Breaking Beats, Breaking Barriers
- The Brazil Boom
- Meet The Professionals from the Focus Regions | Brazil, Africa and Middle East
MENA
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, local scenes continue to develop their own sounds, communities and music industries. The Culture Hub looks at these developments from the perspectives of the people working within them, while exploring how music and ideas travel between the continent and the wider international scene.
- Egypt’s Electronic Music Scene: Building Culture Without the Infrastructure
- Morocco & the Amsterdam Diaspora
- No More Borders: The Global Future of Electronic Music
- Culture and Ownership: A Conversation With 2Shoes
Subsaharan Africa
Focus Regions at the Culture Hub
Electronic music moves across borders, shaped by local scenes and the exchange of sounds, ideas and communities. Across this year’s regional focus, the Culture Hub creates space for people working within these regions and their diasporas to share perspectives on their own scenes. On ADE Saturday, confirmed highlights include conversations around Brazil, Subsaharan Africa, and the MENA region.
Alongside talks and panels, ‘Meet the Professionals from the Focus Regions’ brings these conversations into the Culture Hub's networking program, connecting professionals from across the focus regions with peers from the international electronic music industry.
Brazil
Brazil's dance music landscape brings together distinct regional sounds, histories and communities, with baile funk, bass and brega funk increasingly travelling far beyond their local scenes. From the music itself to the industry developing around it, the Culture Hub looks at the people and movements shaping Brazil's place within electronic music today.
Events covering Brazil include:
- Brazil: Musical Engine of the World?
- Female DJs in Brazil: Breaking Beats, Breaking Barriers
- The Brazil Boom
- Meet The Professionals from the Focus Regions | Brazil, Africa and Middle East
MENA
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, local scenes continue to develop their own sounds, communities and music industries. The Culture Hub looks at these developments from the perspectives of the people working within them, while exploring how music and ideas travel between the continent and the wider international scene.
- Egypt’s Electronic Music Scene: Building Culture Without the Infrastructure
- Morocco & the Amsterdam Diaspora
- No More Borders: The Global Future of Electronic Music
- Culture and Ownership: A Conversation With 2Shoes
Subsaharan Africa
New talent, new music
The Culture Hub also creates space for the next generation to put their work in front of the wider electronic music industry.
ADE Lab Incepted: EP Showcase
After an intensive week of workshops, studio sessions, and collaboration under the guidance of Sony Music and SAE Institute Amsterdam, twelve emerging producers and performing artists are ready to share their work. Together they’ve created an original EP, released on Sony Music and premiered live at Felix Meritis. Join this exclusive showcase for a first listen to the future of the music industry. Access to the Culture Hub is included if you are part of ADE Lab On Track!
Demolition
Demolition returns for its 29th edition, giving producers the opportunity to hear their tracks played and discussed in front of an audience. Dave Clarke and Ivan Markovic lead the session, with Joseph Capriati, BT, Pooja, Louisahhh, and Aroha Harawira joining the judging panel.
Make it your own
The HOMECOMING™ x ADE Customisation Workshop also returns to Felix Meritis, this time taking over the Concertzaal. Starting with a HOMECOMING™ x ADE shirt, attendees can choose from a selection of patches and create their own design, with customisation powered by Nike.
From conversations and cyphers to new music, networking and hands-on creation, the Culture Hub brings the different sides of ADE together under one roof on ADE Saturday.
New talent, new music
The Culture Hub also creates space for the next generation to put their work in front of the wider electronic music industry.
ADE Lab Incepted: EP Showcase
After an intensive week of workshops, studio sessions, and collaboration under the guidance of Sony Music and SAE Institute Amsterdam, twelve emerging producers and performing artists are ready to share their work. Together they’ve created an original EP, released on Sony Music and premiered live at Felix Meritis. Join this exclusive showcase for a first listen to the future of the music industry. Access to the Culture Hub is included if you are part of ADE Lab On Track!
Demolition
Demolition returns for its 29th edition, giving producers the opportunity to hear their tracks played and discussed in front of an audience. Dave Clarke and Ivan Markovic lead the session, with Joseph Capriati, BT, Pooja, Louisahhh, and Aroha Harawira joining the judging panel.
Make it your own
The HOMECOMING™ x ADE Customisation Workshop also returns to Felix Meritis, this time taking over the Concertzaal. Starting with a HOMECOMING™ x ADE shirt, attendees can choose from a selection of patches and create their own design, with customisation powered by Nike.
From conversations and cyphers to new music, networking and hands-on creation, the Culture Hub brings the different sides of ADE together under one roof on ADE Saturday.