Awakenings is a name you will hear often if you dabble in the electronic music scene in The Netherlands. It stands for a collective of events held throughout the year, in a variety of locations and event spaces, and highlighting some of the world’s best underground and electronic music artists. A name known globally for its outstanding parties, I knew I could not attend ADE without exploring one of their events. I found myself at their daytime Joris Voorn & Friends showcase at the Gashouder, it was nothing short of extraordinary.
The Gashouder in Amsterdam has been home to all indoor Awakenings events since the beginning of their party legacy. It was the location used for their first techno night in 1997, and it has remained so since because, well, they have not ever needed to move! After experiencing the Gashouder it was pretty self-explanatory. From the outside in, the notorious dome-shaped building is rugged and industrial. The building itself could not be more fitting of underground music, it looks like techno feels: dark, raw, and edgy. An already impressive structure which is transformed into an elevated 360-degree experience of techno.
World-class production does not even do them justice, this was really something else. From the giant disco ball in the centre of the room from which the laser beams projected off of, to the fireworks (yes, I said fireworks!) being set off mid-performances, to the grand stage design standing proudly to one side of the room.
What really stood out was how unpredictable it all felt — the kind of show where every time you thought you’d seen it all, something else would take you by surprise.
Near the back, there’s a raised spot you can climb onto, giving you a clear view of the whole setup. From up there, you could take it all in — the lighting, the movement, the atmosphere. Everything worked together to turn the night into more than just a gig. It was a full-on spectacle, designed not just to showcase the artists but to make you feel something in the moment.
It goes without saying, the music was absolutely phenomenal. Joris Voorn, an Awakenings resident, pooled together an unforgettable line-up of artists that included Boris Brejcha, Agoria and Âme (Live). All were exuding this infectious and vibrant fervour. Show-stopping upbeat sets one after the other that kept people dancing the whole event through, for a tremendous ten hours. Scheduled on the second to last day of ADE, a point at which most people are running on their last sleep reserves, the music needed to be amazing…and let me tell you, it was better than anything I could have expected. The atmosphere never wavered; the music carried the crowd through from day into night.
You can tell Awakenings has been around for over two decades — everything about the night ran like clockwork, but never felt mechanical. What stood out to me most was the crowd. It wasn’t just twenty-somethings letting loose for the weekend. You had veteran ravers who clearly knew every beat, dancing alongside younger faces experiencing it all for the first time. That mix gave the night a certain weight — like being part of something that’s grown with its audience.
At one point I just stopped and soaked it all in — the sound, the people, the way the lights cut through the haze. Everyone around me was there for the same reason: the music. No phones in the air, no one trying to impress — just people fully in it. You don’t always get that.
Coming from Asia, where the underground scene is still carving out its identity, this hit differently. Awakenings isn’t just about throwing a party. It’s about building a world around the music. Being there shifted my perspective completely.
Safe to say, one night wasn’t enough. I’ll be back.
2 thoughts on “Reviewing: Awakenings x Joris Voorn & friends by Day at Gashouder”
Amazing write up Charlotte !!!
Thank you lovely ❤️ More to come ?