The sun is shining, the ferry is sailing and DGTL is upon us once again – there are times when being young and in Amsterdam is heavenly indeed. As we approached the gate, it started raining, but this didn’t dampen the spirit of festival goers, who had plenty to get excited about – with DJ Koze, John Talabot, Dixon, Joy Orbison and George Fitzgerald poised to play. With festivals becoming more and more about the experience rather than the line-up, it’s refreshing to see one that balances the two so well.
Sunday opened with grey sky and new music, beginning with Move D and Gerd Janson entertaining on the Amp stage. Crossing the bridge to the other side, it was Talaboman’s time at the Modular stage. Having first met in the midst of the hectic club and festival DJing circuit, John Talabot and Axel Boman soon discovered they were kindred musical spirits. Talaboman’s engrossing deep house hypnotised the crowd, the chemistry palpable and cutting through the drizzly day like a musical smile.
As the sun goes down, the energy rose, and Midland, one of the most respected names in the electronic music world, played at the Filter stage. Midland had a successful year, and an excellent set to sum it up, with one of the most played songs in the festival circuit (Final Credit) teasing the crowd with minimal beats and meaningful progressions. Mind Against played a symphony of dark, melodic techno, warming the hungry crowd with chocolatey synths and interesting musical accents.
Our favourite set of the day was DJ Koze, closing Modular stage. Dropping his remix of Operator was a much anticipated moment, with everyone either hugging their friends or with their hands up in the air singing. Ending in light and chaos, this was a satisfying end to a weekend which exemplifies why DGTL is continually lauded as one of the best inner-city festivals in Europe. The bar is set.
