20 Years of techno integrity: ADE marks anniversary of 'Dave Clarke Presents' at Melkweg

'When I first started doing ADE nights, the word techno wasn’t even that popular,' says Clarke. 'Minimal shifted the focus away from the rawness I loved in techno. But I still loved the genre, and I kept going.' The very first edition of Dave Clarke Presents happened in 2004, at Club 11. 'It was a tiny club with the worst acoustics known to mankind,' he laughs, 'but it was packed, and it worked.'

Clarke quickly made the move to Melkweg, where he found a kindred spirit in the venue’s approach to music. 'There’s a real understanding of passion there,' he reflects. 'It’s not about politics or backroom deals, it’s about putting on a night for the love of the music.'

This year marks the 20th year of 'Dave Clarke Presents'. It’s a milestone Clarke curates with care. 'I approach every lineup as a fan. There’s no scratching backs. If I love your music, I want to book you', much in line with how Clarke approaches techno as a scene, community, and overall genre.

The result is an eclectic program across three rooms. From Trentemøller’s post-punk-tinged DJ set with TOM And His Computer, to electro legend Anthony Rother, to long-time Clarke favourites like Digital 21 & Stefan Olsdal (of Placebo), the night is a full-spectrum dive into Clarke’s musical world. Electric Indigo, Helena Hauff, Imogen, Dopplereffekt, Afra, FJAAK, Radioactive Man, Veronica Vasicka, and Lizz V complete the bill. 'There are legends, people who may become legends, and every one of them has a deep passion for what they do,' Clarke says. 'Again: no filler.'

A scene that shifts

Over the years, Dave Clarke Presents has become a steady presence amidst a rapidly changing scene. 'Other techno festivals have hopped on and off of trends', Clarke notes. 'But we stayed the course. I’ve been offered my own festival. I’ve been offered big partnerships. But I’ve said no to all of them because I’d lose my freedom.' That freedom, and Clarke’s unshakable standards, have built a rare kind of loyalty. Not just from fans, but from artists too. 'Melkweg has always given us that room to grow and experiment,' he says. 'It’s a cultural institution.'

Lévi Smulders, Melkweg’s club promoter and programmer, echoes Clarke’s sentiment. 'Techno has been one of the most consistent threads in ADE’s history,' he says. 'And Dave Clarke Presents is a cornerstone of both Melkweg and the festival, this year even more because of its versatile nature.'

The collaboration between Melkweg and Clarke has expanded over the years to include post-punk, new wave, and even visual programming. 'We don’t chase hypes,' says Smulders. 'We’re lucky to have a steady relationship with Dave’s night every year, which gives us the freedom to curate purely on taste. It’s what makes this night different.' This fact extends into the crowd as well. 'It’s a very international audience,' says Smulders. 'They're loyal fans who come back every year. Many don’t even know the lineup, they just trust Dave.'

Despite being one of ADE’s longest-running nights, Clarke remains focused on evolution. 'We’ve got three rooms this year, and a cinema,' he reveals. 'I hope it feels like a mini cultural festival. See it as a place for ideas, freedom, and discovery.' In an industry increasingly driven by algorithms and trends, 'Dave Clarke Presents' remains defiantly human; built on gut instinct, long conversations, dusty records, and a hunger for the unknown, according to Melkweg's Lévi Smulders.

'Good music helps life,' Clarke says. 'That’s what this is about.'