WIN A PAIR OF DAS AUDIO ALTEA-412
UNTOLD FESTIVAL REVEALS FIRST PHASE OF 2021 LINE-UP
Romania's largest festival returns for another year
Romania's largest festival, UNTOLD, is set to return this summer, and it's now been revealed that the likes of Afrojack, David Guetta, Jamie Jones B2B Loco Dice and Tale of Us will be performing at the event.
Taking place across four days and nights from the 9th to the 12th September in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, UNTOLD hopes to welcome over 300,000 guests from 120 different countries, and is one of the only festivals to take place this year with unlimited capacity.
Alongside the aforementioned acts, Amelie Lens, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Paul Kalkbrenner will play across the mainstage, Galaxy stage, and Alchemy stage, as well as rominimal favourites Rhadoo and Raresh, and UK drum & bass duo Chase & Status.
There are still a number more stage lineups to be revealed and more names to be added across each stage on site. Find out more information and buy tickets here, and check out the first wave line-up below.
GIVEAWAY | DAS AUDIO
ALTEA-412A
P/N. 10404915
ModelP/N
ALTEA-412A10404915
Features
Lightweight multi-purpose system with monitor position
Ultra lightweight Class D amplifier with SMPS
User definable 24-bit DSP with LCD screen
Presets: Live, Dance, Vocals, Bass Boost, Vocals & Mode
Stackable 3-band EQ
Standby Mode
Rigging points
Applications
Live sound reinforcement
Speech and vocals
Music playback in entertainment
A/V, and institutional venues
The ALTEA-412A is a powered portable P.A. system with a multi-angle polypropylene enclosure that allows for use as a stage monitor.
On board is Class D two channel amplifier of exceptional quality providing a total of 800 Wpeak power. of the provides extended bandwidth, wide dynamic range and exceptionally low distortion-features hard to find on other systems in this market segment. Digital Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters are used in the signal processing of the ALTEA-412A system. User configurable voicing, filter and EQ modes, and gain control are achieved by way of a rotary-knob interface and LCD screen on the rear of the cabinet.
The 12MI4 loudspeaker provides accurate low frequency reproduction with a deep, powerful bass. High frequencies are handled by the M-32 FEM optimized compression driver with 1″ exit offering excellent performance.
TOMORROWLAND 2021 CANCELLED BY BELGIAN OFFICIALS
Several Belgian politicians are reportedly working on solutions to overturn the decision
Update 18/06/2021: Tomorrowland have shared a statement with DJ Mag clarifying the circumstances surrounding the local government's decision to not allow the festival to go ahead this year. Read it below.
Tomorrowland 2021 has been cancelled by Belgian officials.
Just weeks after Tomorrowland's organisers told Billboard they were feeling "very positive" about its 2021 real world events, the mayors of Boom and Rumst — where Tomorrowland is held annually — have placed a ban on this year's event happening amid concerns over rising coronavirus cases internationally.
In a press conference in Belgium on Thursday (17th) officials told reporters that while they regretted the decision to force the ban on Tomorrowland, they would need to follow "current law", and after considering the dangers of the recent COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak, they had decided that Tomorrowland was too great a risk to public health and safety.
Speaking yesterday, Jeroen Baert (N-VA), mayor van Boom, said: "We are concerned about the health situation. We bear a great moral responsibility. I would find it difficult if there were victims due to a local corona outbreak. That is why we cannot approve this application now. The experts have been very clear to us, we can't ignore that."
Tomorrowland's 2020 instalments were cancelled due to the pandemic, and 2021's edition had already been moved to later in the year to try and avoid postponement. Speaking with VRT news, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said: “We have just been informed that the mayors of Boom and Rumst will announce a ban on Tomorrowland 2021. That hits like a sledgehammer, very hard and unexpected.
"We haven't had a festival for two years, which is very hard both financially and emotionally for our entire team," she continued. "We were so keen on this, and it all looked positive. After 15 years of intensive cooperation with the municipalities of Boom and Rumst, this feels very wry. We find this very unfortunate after the many constructive preparations and discussions. We do not know what is happening to us for a while."
Following the announcement, The Brussels Times reports that several politicians are working on solutions to overturn the decision, including Flemish Minister for Home Affairs, Bart Somers, who is set to meet with Tomorrowland organisers to discuss the cancellation. In a press release, Somers said: “This sector has suffered heavily from the corona crisis and we have supported them with financial means to get through it, but from 13th August onwards it should be possible again to organise larger festivals. If Pukkelpop can go ahead, I am convinced Tomorrowland can too." Belgian festival Pukkelpop is currently scheduled to take place from the 19th - 22nd August in Hasselt, with organiser Chokri Mahassine telling Studio Brussel the event was aiming for "full capacity" at "66,000 people a day."
The festival's digital offering, Tomorrowland: Around the World, will run on 16th and 17th July 2021, and the event just unveiled its third annual Top 1000 tracks list, decided by global vote.
Update 18/06/2021: Tomorrowland have shared a statement with DJ Mag clarifying the circumstances surrounding the local government's decision to not allow the festival to go ahead this year. Read it below.
"Earlier this month, Belgium's national government announced that large-scale festivals can take place from the second half of August. Yesterday, the local government (Boom & Rumst) has decided that the 16th edition of Tomorrowland cannot take place in 2021.
We are very surprised and puzzled by these contradictory messages from our authorities. In the next few days we will explore all possible options and try to obtain some clarity for our visitors and suppliers.
The grounds cited for the decision are that the Ministerial Decree regarding maximum capacity (75,000 persons) has not been published. For the time being, according to the mayors, only events up to 400 people can legally be allowed.
However, we have understood from the federal government that both arguments would be resolved very quickly with the publication of the Ministerial Decree and the possibility for the ID check to be carried out by private security, as the latter is a general point of attention for the control of the Digital Green Certificate in Belgium.
Finally, reference is made to a local explanation from the GEMS public health advisory group regarding the advice it has made to the Federal government for the summer plan. The federal government has clearly said that festivals can take place after August 13, provided that extra measures are strictly respected, which we intend to follow at all times.
As Tomorrowland, we first and foremost want to organise a safe festival and we have stated several times that we will always continue to evaluate and anticipate the epidemiological situation.
No Tomorrowland for the second year in a row would in any case be a huge disaster for our company, but also for the more than 1500 suppliers involved, many freelancers and our thousands of employees. We are still 100% prepared to organise everything as professionally as possible if the epidemiological situation allows, and to celebrate a great end of the summer together with our visitors.
After 15 years of intensive cooperation, this feels very grim and we find it very unfortunate after the many constructive preparations and conversations and federal commitments that it has come to this point, where we struggle to comprehend what just happened to us and still have to let it sink in a bit. Creating and organising Tomorrowland is our life, and an undertaking on which hundreds of people work every day with great passion for a whole year, day in day out.
We keep looking positively towards the future and strongly believe that music will unite us again."
TOMORROWLAND ORGANISERS FEELING “VERY POSITIVE” AS BELGIUM GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO 75,000 CAPACITY FESTIVALS
"We are very happy to receive this news, but we will wait for the conditions and rules before we will communicate about the organization of the festival"
Tomorrowland's organisers are feeling "very positive" about the their 2021 real world events following the Belgian government's announcement that large scale, outdoor festivals can restart from 13th August, for crowds of up to 75,000.
As per reports in the country's media, including news site HLN, the decision comes with several caveats to keep attendees and staff safe. These include mandatory presentation of a COVID-19 'safety ticket" proving vaccination status, or a negative coronavirus PCR test result.
Currently Tomorrowland is set for two late-summer weekends, 27th - 29th August and 3rd - 5th September. While these now look hopeful, the team confirmed to Billboard that new rules, and what they mean for the event, were still being understood.
“We are very happy to receive this news, but we will wait for the conditions and rules before we will communicate about the organization of the festival,” a Tomorrowland spokesperson told Billboard. “We are very positive, and we look forward to organizing a festival [at the] end of August.”
In May the Belgian government proposed a date of 1st September for a full reopening of the country and society, although it did not confirm what this looks like for event capacities. At the time of writing, only gatherings for a maximum of 400 people outside, or 200 inside, are being authorised to run by health officials.
Tomorrowland welcomes around 400,000 attendees over both weekends, equated to some 70,000 per day. Its 2020 instalments were cancelled due to the pandemic, and 2021's edition has already been moved to later in the year to try and avoid another postponement. If it goes ahead, it will be the first large scale dance festival to be held since the virus hit Europe and the US last spring. Tomorrowland's digital offering, Tomorrowland: Around the World, will run on 16th and 17th July 2021, and the event just unveiled its third annual Top 1000 tracks list, decided by global vote.
COACHELLA ANNOUNCES 2022 DATES!
While this past weekend the internet was ablaze with rumors that Coachella would be announcing an event to take place this Halloween, today Coachella announced officially they will return in 2022.
The dates will be April 15-17 and April 22-24. Stagecoach will be April 29-May 1. No talent was announced. Click here for more info and to register for tickets!
Tickets will be on sale this Friday at 10AM and tickets bought for the 2021 event will be honored.
Side note – there is the chance Goldenvoice will announce a smaller event for this fall at the polo grounds – we shall see on this!
Exclusive Interview with SERAFIN & Sammy Slade
By: Darren Bezuidenhout
UFO Network Is Proud To Present Our Exclusive Interview With SERAFIN & Sammy Slade As They Release Their New Single ‘Play’. Its Their First Collaboration Track From A 4 Track EP Coming Out Later This Year.
Often referred to as one of the top 10 remixers of all time, the Los Angeles-based DJ – Serafin got his first set of turntables at age 12, and has been celebrated for his electrifying remixes and savvy technical style ever since. Serafin is well known not only for his mash-ups, but for the esteemed remix website Crooklynclan.net
A well-known rising star and an established performer in the international DJ community, Serafin’s particular mix of hip-hop, house, pop and rock has been wowing audiences throughout the U.S. and has established him as an elite force in the musical world.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
1. Tell us about the first track that put you on the map in the electronic scene and the journey since. How did you get started?
Serafin – First Original Track was WHUT under Peak Hour Records, then got signed with a Major as part of their Remix Team.
Sammy Slade – The first track that put me on the map, I have to say my track “Reasons” that went out on Housesession Records or shortly after my track “Need Your Love” that went out on 418Music.
2. Tell us about your latest project ‘PLAY’
Serafin – Sammy Slade reached out to me for a collaboration, He sent the files over and BOOM ! magic happened.
Sammy Slade – I had been sitting in the instrumental for a few months and I was following Serafin’s productions on social media. I reached out to him sayin I had a dope beat and basically said have fun with it aha. Overall I’m still in shock of how the track turned out.
Listen on Spotify
3. Tell us something we wouldn’t normally find out about you?
Serafin – I was a pro skater & Actor back in the days.
Sammy Slade – I’m extremely detailed, some would say perfectionist or obsessed. I just sat in thorough lol.
4. What single night out has been most memorable for you as a dj and producer?
Serafin – My first International Bookings. I couldn’t believe i was getting paid to see the world and do what I love.
Sammy Slade – New Years Eve 2014, I had played with some local legends(Goodie Crew) in Philadelphia PA for their Anaya warehouse event. To this day it’s still one of my favorites to look back on.
5. Give us the name of one track that never gets old for you no matter how many times you listen to it?
Serafin – I can’t just pick one, but if I have to it’ll be Somebody by Depeche Mode.
Sammy Slade – Doomwork – Favorite pain
6. Dream collaboration and why?
Serafin – Diplo, being able to produce music without limitations, no genres. His bold unique sounds that separates from the rest.
Sammy Slade – EDX/Nora En Pure… aside from being huge fans and releasing on the same labels, I’ve always been a fan of their melodic vibes and what they bring to the scene.
7. If you could play any festival, which would it be?
Serafin – TomorrowLand, UMF, EDC
Sammy Slade – Ultra-resistance, Bpm, burning man.
8. How do you get a track started? tell us about your production process
Serafin – Really depends, but my Drums are the first ones and followed up with the bass lines.
Sammy Slade – I always work on the instrumental first, get my baselines in check. Those to me are the foundation. Ones those seem tuned I head onto the melody and effects are usually edited on the fly. I always save the vocals til last if.
9. Upcoming projects? What are you currently working on?
Serafin – Besides the EP with Sammy Slade, I just launched the first Electronic Record Pool with my Partner Romi Lux. www.pitchthetempo.com
Sammy Slade – Aside from the multiple projects I’m working on with Serafin, my track “Crush” is due to release on Enormous Tunes label “Enormous Chills” June 4th. The track has already been supported by Edx (which had me geeking) lol
10. The relationship between a dj and the audience is crucial, and yet is seems to be a fragile one – how do you see the balance between giving the crowd what they want and treating them to something new?
Serafin – You have to be willing to take that risk when you play out, you can’t play it safe and play the ( known ) I’m known to give them that curveball on my sets.. I think having your own style on how you execute your mix is key, we all have the same tracks, it’s how you play it.
Sammy Slade – I would say from my experience I try to create something the audience didn’t know they wanted to hear. And by that I mean, I picture myself in the audience vibin with them.
From my early days I always believed in a set that took the crowd through progression of sound and basically you’re both along for the ride together.
Connect with Serafin
Connect with Sammy Slade
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
SERAFIN & Sammy Slade – ‘Play’ is out now!
See more of the best in new music and EDM music news by UFO Network >HERE<
NEW YORK VENUES PERMITTED TO REOPEN AT FULL-CAPACITY FOR FULLY VACCINATED AUDIENCES
Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden are among the addresses now focusing on immunized crowds
New York venues will be permitted to reopen at full-capacity, provided they are hosting a fully vaccinated audience, according to an announcement by New York City governor Andrew Cuomo.
Large venues including Madison Square Garden have confirmed reopening plans will offer tickets only to those who have received full vaccinations. This currently accounts for 44.6% of all those living in the city. Radio City Music Hall, with a capacity of more than 6,000, intends on doing the same when it reopens on 19th June.
“Having Radio City back at 100%, without masks, with people enjoying New York, and the New York arts, is going to be not only symbolic and metaphoric; but I think it’s going to go a long way toward bringing back this state,” said Cuomo.
The process of entry under these new rules has not been confirmed, but a report on IQ Magazine suggests the free Excelsior Pass could be used to determine vaccination status. The app was launched by New York State, and uses QR codes to verify proof of either vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests with art and entertainment venues. It was trialled at a Brooklyn Nets basketball game on 27th February, and again at a New York Rangers hockey game on 2nd March.
New York's largest indoor gathering since the start of the pandemic took place on Sunday 23rd May, when 15,000 hit Madison Square Garden for the first round of the NBA Playoffs. According to James Dolan, executive chairman of the parent company, 90% of the crowd were vaccinated and no social distancing or mask wearing was required. "I hope everyone in sports and entertainment is listening because the public has spoken – they are fine with getting vaccinated and want to get back to the experiences they love,” he said.
Currently, venues in New York are subject to strict limits on capacity. Large indoor venues can only operate at 30 per cent, an increase from the 10 per cent maximum in place until 19th May. For outdoor events, capacities are set at 33 per cent.
10,000 CAPACITY COVID PILOT FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE IN JUNE
"Moshing is allowed"
A 10,000 capacity COVID pilot festival will take place in the UK next month as part of the government's Events Research Programme.
Last week, it was reported that Melvin Benn, MD of Festival Republic — the giant behind major gatherings including Leeds and Reading, Latitude and Electric Daisy Carnival in the UK — had announced plans to host a camping festival trial, and organisers have now confirmed the plan will go ahead at Donington Park from 18th to 20th June 2021, and "moshing is allowed".
Passes go on sale Tuesday 1st June for Download ticketholders, with the celebrated rock and metal festival hosting the event. General sale then begins on 3rd June, and Friday 28th May will see the lineup announced.
"Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government's Events Research Programme with the creation of the first three-day camping festival," said Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, which runs Download.
"This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or face masks over a full weekend," he added. "[It's] the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK’s exemplary live music industry."
So far, the UK Government's Events Research Programme has seen a total of 58,000 people attend events ranging from the BRIT Awards and two large club events in Liverpool. As of 21st May 2021, just 15 COVID-19 cases had been detected from the trials.
However, it is worth noting not all attendees returned a PCR test five days after the event as requested, and many scientists are still warning the planned final stage of lockdown easing on 21st June may not go agead due to rising infections driven by the B.1.617.2 variant. And, even if the timeline goes as planned, music and nightlife industry representatives have voiced major concerns over a lack of government-backed event insurance for this summer, leaving many festivals vulnerable to unexpected local or national lockdowns, should they be reinforced.
NEW VIRTUALDJ ADDS CDJ EXPORT, INCLUDING PLAYLISTS AND STEMS
Users can export straight to USB stick without rekordbox
VirtualDJ has announced a new Summer 2021 version, that includes the ability to export both Playlists and individual stems from any song straight to USB to work with any CDJ or XDJ hardware. Last year, VirtualDJ introduced an AI stem separation feature that let users ‘mix’ individual parts of any song, such as isolating the acapella from a mixed stereo file.
The Summer 2021 version introduces the ability to add FX to individual stems, such as reverb to just the vocal within a mixed track. You can also scratch only the vocal while the rest of the track continues to play.
The new version also lets users export straight to USB stick that is then useable with any CDJ model and will include all of your analysis and cue points. Users can choose to export only individual stems from certain tracks such as just the drums from one and just the bassline from another. These stems can then be played back directly on the CDJ or XDJ.
Summer 2021 also introduces a new hashtags feature that lets users group tracks based on tags like #groovy, #deep etc. Find out more about VirtualDJ Summer 2021 here. Watch our video below to learn more about how stem separation works.