The Sounds of Blackness
The Sounds of Blackness
Inspired by the Godfather of House, Frankie Knuckles, his legendary NYC Sound Factory Bar residency and his timeless remix of “The Pressure” by Sounds of Blackness, this movement has blossomed into a powerful night devoted to the Black roots of house, soulful house, and techno. These are the underground sounds that not only shaped global club culture but continue to ignite and unify dance floors across the world.
The Sounds of Blackness (SOB) is more than an event—it is a musical manifesto. It honors the profound legacy of Black artistry in dance music while spotlighting the next generation of boundary-pushing talent. With a lineup of pioneering/trailblazing and up and coming American, European, and African DJs, each artist carries forward the spirit of freedom, resistance, and unity that birthed house and techno, ensuring its story continues to evolve and inspire.
The visionaries behind SOB bring decades of dedication and artistry to this mission. EPM Productions (Elliott Matos & Benjamin Aillery), Curtis Atchison (SoundGroove & Midnight Society), Hugo Hutchinson (HUGO H.), and Manny Ward are the creative force powering this experience. Elliott, Curtis, Hugo H., and Manny—each gifted Black artist—have long championed liberation and self-expression throughout the U.S. Together, with Benjamin’s partnership, they have aligned their talents and passion to create a movement: The Sounds of Blackness.
Blend XL, a spacious bar (275m2) with tables and especially during the ADE we create a big dance floor, located on the Reguliersdwarsstraat 44, one street back from the famous Flower Market. It’s been a while since Amsterdam had such a large new open minded place with so much allure, street arts graffities on its walls. Blend XL will be open to all genders, in harmony and respect for all sexualities. A place to be seen and where you can be who you want to be. Glittery yet sober, groovy yet glamorous, a touch gay oriented but though enough to appeal to almost everybody who can appreciate some good old sophistication, fashion and party time. In a cozy atmosphere you will enjoy your cocktails and drinks. You will dance and groove in a stunning venue until very late night with a funky mix of music that will make your 5 ADE days a unique experience.
Blend XL, a spacious bar (275m2) with tables and especially during the ADE we create a big dance floor, located on the Reguliersdwarsstraat 44, one street back from the famous Flower Market. It’s been a while since Amsterdam had such a large new open minded place with so much allure, street arts graffities on its walls. Blend XL will be open to all genders, in harmony and respect for all sexualities. A place to be seen and where you can be who you want to be. Glittery yet sober, groovy yet glamorous, a touch gay oriented but though enough to appeal to almost everybody who can appreciate some good old sophistication, fashion and party time. In a cozy atmosphere you will enjoy your cocktails and drinks. You will dance and groove in a stunning venue until very late night with a funky mix of music that will make your 5 ADE days a unique experience.
Festival FAQ
The ADE 2025 program is still being announced! View the already announced ADE Festival events and all participating venues and artists.
Check out the ADE Program page to discover the ADE 2025 program.
Get your tickets by clicking on the picture of the event you'd like to attend through this page. This will redirect you to the event page where you can find the tickets sale. Please note that the tickets are sold by the promoters/venues independently.
Click here to dive into the announced Festival program list of 2025!
Not to worry! Make sure to contact the event (or their ticketing provider) you are visiting as soon as possible with as many details about your order; name, email address, amount of tickets, etc. Once they've recovered your order, the tickets can be resent to your email.
Need help to find your event's contact details? Message us at [email protected] and we'll be happy to help.
Most festival events have an age limit of 18+ (and sometimes even 21+ or 23+). These are Dutch governmental rules which state that below the age of 18 you are not allowed to enter a club.
Please double-check the promoter's or venue's website to be sure you can access the event!
Yes, the Pro Pass grants you access to all ADE official festival events. Even if a festival event is sold out, you can still access the event with your ADE Pro Pass wristband. During ADE there are over 500 festival events and hundreds more cultural and conference events you can enter with the wristband. One thing to keep in mind is that there is a limited capacity that each venue can take into account for ADE Pro wristband holders. This means that, for some of the more crowded events, you have to arrive early to ensure attendance. Once capacity is reached, ADE Pro holders will be let into the event on a one in-one-out basis.
We dance together, so please be mindful of yourself and each other. We expect an open attitude from our visitors towards other guests, regardless of their origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion and age. If you see or experience any unwanted attention, harassment or behavior of any kind that makes you uncomfortable, please speak out and notify staff.
Please keep in mind: we love being your annual host, therefore, we would like to ask you to enjoy yourself responsibly.
ADE is proud partner of the Celebrate Safe campaign.
Check out Unity's tips to Celebrate Safe during ADE:
♥ I love my ears
♥ Using alcohol or other drugs is never without risks
♥ Know your limits and respect those of others
♥ Enjoy safe sex without regrets
♥ Love your body
♥ Get home safe
♥ Take care of each other
♥ The crew is there to keep you safe
Have fun and Celebrate Safe!