Don’t Let Daddy Know 2018 delivers beyond expectations

Don’t Let Daddy Know, known to be one of the most high-end festival concepts in the world, revisited its hometown Amsterdam this past weekend. Gathering from almost every corner of the globe, dance music lovers from all ethnicities, origins and walks of life came together for an extravagant weekend of music, architectural stage marvels, incredible productions, and of course, the greatest DJ’s in the world.

DLDK takes pride in its stage designs, architecture, and overall production of the event. The immense, industrial, yet superbly unique structures of their stages didn’t come across as set designs, but more as art forms and meticulously planned masterpieces. The Ziggo Dome provided a perfect backdrop to this festival and really is the perfect spot for this type of event that conveniently included a very short travel time from the city centre. Overall, there was something about the Amsterdam vibe that attaches itself to Don’t Let Daddy Know as a whole, rather than simply providing a venue for the festival. The main stage was entirely made of perfectly shaped L.E.D. displays, equally distributed across the entirety of the construction that really floored every festival goer as they turned the corner and laid eyes on the giant architecture.

The talent present at the event was unreal, with headliners such as Axwell Λ Ingrosso, Steve Angello, Nicky Romero, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, W&W, Vini Vici and many more, each of whom set the crowd into a frenzy.

Friday evening kicked off with a bang when Vini Vici delivered a performance that undoubtedly shook the crowd to its core from the very first song. The psy-trance act known for their upbeat, energetic and spunky beats began to spin just as the masses were filling up the entire Ziggo Dome, casting a feeling of euphoria onto the crowd.

What really raised the level on the first night of Don’t Let Daddy Know, however, was Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano‘s groovy and vivid performance. The Dutch duo showcased many of their most explosive tracks, including “You Are“, “S.O.T.U.“, “Drums Of Tobago” or their latest release, “I’ll House You“. From their song choices to their notoriously upbeat energy, the set was unique and their crowd work fostered a sense of connection and intimacy among the audience.

The crowd was alive by the time they gathered around the Main Stage for the one and only Steve Angello. The Swedish DJ performed a set packed with originals and mashups of dance music’s greatest hits, many of which had the crowd screaming along to the lyrics. By the time Steve dropped some of the highly anticipated Swedish House Mafia tracks, those in attendance went wild with excitement. Though he is a globetrotting performer, the carefree, loving atmosphere he fostered that night made the Don’t Let Daddy Know performance one for the books.

Saturday evening was not only sold out, but packed with talent from top to bottom. Though the weekend was full of can’t miss sets from the hottest names in dance music, Nervo‘s set stood out in the best way. While the sisters have made a name for themselves for their high energy sets, this offering marked their first-ever performance at Don’t Let Daddy Know in Amsterdam. The duo’s performance was a kinetic, fast-paced affair that frequently returned to their love for their audience.

Aside from completely mesmerizing visuals, scorching beams of fire and bursts of euphoric streamers popping into the crowd, the second day of Don’t Let Daddy Know was marked by the highlight of the night, Axwell Λ Ingrosso. Every single track the Swedish super-duo dropped sent goosebumps down the spines of the masses as nearly everyone knew all the words and belted their hearts out to every original they played.

Fans of the duo are familiar with just how skilled they are, and they put it all on display for the Don’t Let Daddy know crowd with smooth transitions and the perfect song selection. Axwell Λ Ingrosso delivered an emotional, evocative set, as the combination of visual and audio stimulation overwhelmed festival goers in the most touching way.

As a whole, Don’t Let Daddy Know 2018 was a beautiful and wonderfully uniting experience. The talent that spanned across the two days was vast and nearly overwhelming, but each of the artists brought their own unique energy and sound to an audience that was ready to dance and sing along.

Though there are many EDM festivals in this times oversaturated market, Don’t Let Daddy Know’s unique lineup and specific concept make it an unmissable event on any dance music lover’s bucket list.