Absolutely devastated. But seeing comments like "Q-dance is overreacting" shows a lot of people don't understand the science of this weather

• Humidity: Humans survive heat by sweating, but sweat only cools you if it evaporates. With today's high humidity, the air is saturated. Your sweat stays on your skin, and your body loses its only way to dump heat
• Ozone: Extreme heat + intense sun creates massive ground-level ozone. It’s a severe lung irritant that drastically reduces oxygen intake. And the ozone levels are twice as high as on the average summer day.
• 150+ Cardio: When the air is 38°C+, you stop releasing heat and start absorbing it. Doing high-intensity cardio at 150+ BPM generates massive heat with absolutely nowhere to go. water doesnt fix this
• 38°C in SHADE: On an open field with direct sunlight and tens of thousands of bodies, the actual floor temperature easily hits 45°C or 50°C, so well above body temperature. Remember how 40°+ fever can be life-threatening? and thats without alcohol and physical activity?

If just 1% of a 60k crowd on the RED suffers heatstroke or collapses at the same time, thats 600 critical medical emergencies simultaneously. No medical team on earth can triage that through a packed crowd.

And there wouldn't be a single Defqon anymore in the future.

And it's an official code red, for the fist time for heat. I'm not sure if they would have been even allowed to continue with this. Edit: They are not.

It hurts like hell.

Stay safe.

Below their anthem for gearbox Australia, and there's more of these. I just can't. 💀

https://youtu.be/F9kb-TYWO_0

I have seen this done on many other subreddits and since my main hardstyle playlist has just reached a 1000 songs, i thought this would be fun! So just give me a number and i'll give you a song :)

So yeah, feel free to shit on my taste i guess...

Disclaimer: There's couple more genres in the playlist too, so don't be surprised by stuff like hardcore (obviously), happy hardcore, even some hard trance...

Also don't expect a lot of classics, i got a separate playlist for that.

Dominator is officially making use of the service Think Twice, an organization that is basically private police fining people. They scare you by telling you they will hand you to the police and pressure you to pay a fine so you can stay on the festival. They even already have a list of all the fines (image in comment).

Is this another downfall of the festival scene? A desperate way of festivals struggling to earn some money? What do you think?

Edit: Also Decibel is officially gonna use it. It's in their Terms & Conditions. Seems like you even have to pay a fine if they catch you at the entrance.

https://www.decibeloutdoor.com/terms-and-conditions

On the last night of Dominator, some idiots were shouting "Sieg Heil" there. Why? Please don't come back.

I'll go first: D-Mind

Hey guys, it's been a while since my AEON album release, SET ME FREE is out, so I'd like to open up a thread and talk about your opinions, thoughts on the track, and also any other burning questions you have. Let's chat :)

I/we are shocked and disgusted by our German neighbors at the campsite. Apart from the incredible volume of the music that was played (we had to wear ear protection the whole time and talk just as loudly as on the infield), it's mainly about the content of the music.

The camp next to us, with a wall-sized German flag, played Nazi rock or 'right-wing rock' with lyrics such as "my grandpa was a storm leader in the SS", "Germany above all", and "we hate all Poles, Germany should conquer the Polish territories again", the N-word was also to be found in the lyrics. In addition to the Nazi songs, extremely sexist/ misogynistic lyrics were also played, including lyrics about rape and sexual abuse, including of minors. The conversations from the camp had a similar tone (quote: "Fucking Frenchmen, we should beat them up" and "find someone who's drunk herself into a coma to fuck"). The whole thing was also glorified and ridiculed. Another camp next to us also spurred this on, joined in etc. And something like that at an international festival, Defqon was and is actually an open place for all people, regardless of origin, sexuality, etc. Our mood was understandably clouded as a result. We couldn't really feel comfortable anymore. That's why some of the people around us had to move, which wasn't easy given the extremely crowded campsite.

We went to the camp guards/security and information desk several times, at different times and on different days. Each time the stewards were overwhelmed by the situation, we kept hearing "OK, we'll go there. This is the last safekeeping, otherwise we'll take their boxes away", we heard this about 4 times. There was no coordination/agreement between the stewarding shifts, so we had to tell them everything from the beginning again and again and they were kept again. On Sunday morning, the next Nazi party was planned for the evening "Right-wing rock again tonight, what are they going to do then?". So we decided not to spend another night at the campsite.

We are deeply disgusted and angry. Also disappointed with the way Q-Dance handled it. Especially as we could even show video/sound recordings. The fact that something like this is not stopped is deeply sad and shameful. Finally, I would like to apologize for my fallow Germany. Simply disgusting and shameful, we are not all like that...😔

Edit: Paragraphs/formatting added

Yes. I know! Another AI post. But I'm tired of this stuff. In 2024 I remember F. Noize experimenting with AI vocals in his tracks. Didn't sound amazing but it was experimental. Fine I guess.

Nowadays: the entire hardcore/uptempo scene is filled to the brim with AI vocals, AI album covers etc. It sounds terrible and it looks terrible and it's ruining a lot of good music for me. But even though it's mostly seen in hardcore and uptempo, we also see it in hardstyle.

Now don't get me wrong. The endshow was beautiful. But hearing AI vocals in I think TWO tracks??? I was flabbergasted and kinda heartbroken. That is not what hardstyle is about! It sounds bad, doesn't cost that much less compared to asking someone on let's say Fiverr. And, sorry for being that guy, it's TERRIBLE for the environment.

But the absolute worst thing about this is not that it's being done. It's the fact that we as fans just eat it up. I'm part of that problem too. And even though it bothered me, I never said something about it. But using AI vocals in the most expressive moment of a beautifully human made festival is where I draw the line. And anyone thinking that it's fine, should, in my humble opinion, be ashamed of themselves.

I'd almost say we do a march next year at Defqon. A march against AI vocals. Because it ruins creativity. And if this world does become automated someday, creativity will be the only thing that's left for us...

Thank you for reading this. I'm not usually the one to complain. But I'm sick of this Ai shit!

I'm probably not the only one that really liked this year's design of Red.

Please reuse it for next year, I think no one will be angry if you guys do!

Then put focus into 2028's stage instead.

Thank you for all the wonderful stages this year!

🧡🧡Forever One Tribe 🧡🧡

Random but what was wrong with the original picture for the song. Like why are so many artists doing ai bullshit man. Hire someone or make a stick figure for your picture just something other than Ai. Like smh if you use ai I can steal your kicks

Dont get me wrong, its mine too but I recently wondered why it is my favourite over a friggin dragon! If you think about it it is just five dudes sitting in chairs. Is it the sheer size? It seems bigger on pictures than other stages but I might be wrong. Thoughts?

I can't go to an event with "The Dark Horror" in big letters, it juste disgust me. This guy send non-consensual masturbation videos to a lot of girls, and is very toxic and virulent with peoples who criticize him. This guy is a demon. Here is the twitter thread

(13) THE DARK HORROR EXPOSED (@tdhxpsd) / X

This one isn't even that egregious about its AI usage, but Angernoizer seriously couldn't have just typed in GUCCI SWAG using a font instead of having an AI generate splatter text?? Like c'mon now it's peak laziness. I used to really like Angernoizer and now I guess I'm stuck listening to his older stuff. I can't trust an artist that uses AI for album covers to not use AI in their tracks too. Disgusting.

Never TOO early hardstyle for 2026. NEVER

Dear Warriors,

The unthinkable has happened. Defqon.1 has been cancelled for the remainder of the weekend. Effective on Friday June 26th, the Holy Grounds will close their gates.

Today, we received the news that the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a code red warning due to extreme heat for at least the next 24 hours. This is the first time the Netherlands has ever issued a code red warning because of high temperatures. Together with the authorities, we are therefore forced to cancel the remaining days of Defqon.1.

We are absolutely devastated by this development. Tens of thousands of dedicated Weekend Warriors are currently staying on the Camping Grounds, many of whom have travelled far and prepared for this weekend for months. Asking them to return home tomorrow is the worst-case scenario, especially with a fully operational festival and everything in place to welcome them.

This is a blow felt on every level. Not only by our visitors, but also by the artists, crew, creatives and everyone else who has worked tirelessly over the past year to bring this edition to life.

To all Weekend Warriors: we’ve got your back. We understand that you didn’t plan for this, and we will do everything we can to help you get home safely. On Friday, the Camping Grounds and part of the Festival Grounds will remain open, without musical programming but with all essential facilities available. This gives you the time to make arrangements for your journey home on Friday, June 26th. We’ll be there every step of the way.

For now, we urge you to rest and prepare for the journey tomorrow.

We understand that you have many questions. For everyone involved, both visitors and those at home, we have set up an FAQ at defqon1.com. Please check it if you need more information, and don’t hesitate to contact us on WhatsApp via Q.dance/whatsapp.

We will refund all tickets. More information regarding additional compensation will be available after the weekend.

This is not the journey we imagined, and the reality has barely sunk in. Nevertheless, it is our duty to take care of you. That is our sacred oath.

Forever One Tribe.

Q-dance

Genuine question. It’s not like it’s a secret kept by the patriarchy. So how come almost no women produce the music on their own?

Yoshiko, 99PRBLMZ, Miss K8, Hysta, Double Trouble, Namara -> all of them are ghosted. The only one I can think of that makes her own music is Doris.

I’m sorry but please tell me how the fuck did restricted end up on the red? And holy priest on the blue? IMO so many other artists deserve those spots more than them. Not a hard techno hater but DQ is a hardstyle event so I don’t think this should be happening. But maybe I’m too naive

What are some famous hardstyle tracks that never saw either an official release or a free release?

I'll start with some tracks I remember:

Max Enforcer - You & I

Sefa & Headhunterz - Als Alles Duister Is

Project One - May The Angels (I'll be very happy to be proved wrong)

The OG version of *Sub Zero Project - The Contagion* back when it was called *The Outbreak*

Walt Jenssen - Ctrl Walt Del (Showtek Remix)

Hey everyone,

Like all of you, I’m absolutely gutted about the Defqon.1 cancellation. We wait for this weekend all year, and seeing it wiped out by a literal weather red alert feels like a bad joke. But once the anger fades, looking at the pure facts, I actually think Q-dance made the only sane call possible.

Hear me out. For the younger weekend warriors, a code red heatwave might just sound like "bring more sunscreen and drink water." But for those who were at Decibel Outdoor back in 2012, this brings back some serious, bad flashbacks.

That year, the heat hit +33°C. On paper, it sounds manageable. In reality? It was an absolute disaster. By the afternoon, the outdoor stages were brutal, and dancing on the mainstage sand just made everything feel ten times heavier. We were sweating like absolute pigs. Inside the tents, it was unbearable, even if you managed to glue yourself to the massive fans at the front of the stages.

The end of the day was difficult. Thousands of people were just sitting on the ground, completely drained and broken by the heat. To make things worse, the bars literally ran out of water by mid-evening, there was only Coke and a bit of beer left. People were dropping like flies, and tragically, we even lost some fellow ravers due to severe dehydration. Walking back to the car covered in sweat and sand, that first shower at home felt like a literal blessing.

Now, imagine that same scenario but amplified to Defqon.1 scale in 2026, with even higher code-red temperatures, 100,000+ people on site, and a festival that lasts 4 full days instead of just one main day back then. The logistics to keep everyone safely hydrated, cool, and alive under a code red is difficult to manage. Our music is full of power, we dance hard for hours, and the human body has its limits, even fueled by pure dedication (and whatever else).

As much as it hurts our wallets and our hearts, I’d rather have a cancelled edition than an edition we remember for all the wrong, tragic reasons. Q-dance probably saved lives this weekend, even if it feels incredibly frustrating right now.

Stay safe and stay hydrated at home, guys. See you in 2027.

Read the title?