Elrow at Melkweg, Amsterdam Dance Event review

Image: Elrow

It’s no surprise Elrow has become one of the most talked about parties on the planet. You’ll be hard pressed to find any other event that provides such a unique, hedonistic experience.

As we continue to crave a frequent escape from normality, Elrow couldn’t really have it any more spot on with its proven ability to combine spectacle and music with energy and people, ultimately for a whole load of fun. The perfect way of course, to spend the final day in Amsterdam for this year’s ADE.  

The suitably titled After Hour Madness began at 7:30am on the Sunday. Most of us were still going from the night before and topic of conversation was by this point led by an all important question – what time do we pull ourselves together and head over to the Melkweg? After plenty of fannying around we finally made it at around 11am. 

Once inside the iconic, former milk factory, we found a dark, dingy room occupied by no more than 20 or so people. There wasn’t much going on. Sure that this couldn’t be the be all and end all for the day, we set about exploring the club, stumbling shortly after in to what was already a packed main room that made a lot more sense. 

Michel De Hey and Benny Rodrigues were firing through bouncy, tech house grooves for the remainder of the morning, whilst inflatable toys, hats, balls and bananas were passed around a delirious yet excitable crowd of like-minded party animals.

As more people arrived, some looking suspiciously fresher faced than others, the recently announced surprise guest Joris Voorn took over with his blend of house and techno, sparking plenty of hands in the air moments courtesy of his recent edit of Fatima Yamaha’s ‘What’s A Girl To Do’ (above) and later Stardust's evergreen classic ‘Music Sounds Better With You’.  

The remainder of the day was a whirlwind of emotions as many saw out their last party, the perfect rounding off of what had been an epic week at ADE. Elrow’s finest residents such as De La Swing shone as usual.

However, it was Secret Cinema who stole the Rowshow, closing the day with an intensely satisfying set oozing deep, raw techno that hooked the crowd into a mesmerising state of euphoria. For the last few hours of the party there was no time for chitchat and we remained locked in until Melkweg spat us out at 6:30pm, just in time for dinner...

Elrow comes to Motion Bristol on Saturday 5th December.