- As is often the case following a successful one-day festival, DGTL decided to double up this year, spreading their programme over a full weekend. Taking place at an industrial site next to a river in Amsterdam, punters arrived by boat and were immediately presented with an upcycled DGTL Festival sign, which set a nice boutique tone from the off. Huge rusty containers littered the disused shipyard, creating a raw, unfussy feel that belied the festival's scrupulous attention to detail.
The music ran from midday to 11 PM each evening. Every stage was well appointed with killer sound. The brands on-hand made for a who's-who of the contemporary house and techno landscape, with RBMA hosting their own stage along with labels like Kompakt and Innervisions. Highlights on Saturday included playful selections from Axel Boman and more bass-heavy house and techno from Midland. The newly formed Crew Love collective (featuring Soul Clap and Wolf + Lamb) made sure not a single ass wasn't shaking when they did their sultry, R&B-flecked slo-mo house thing.
The following day was even more vibrant, despite the fact everyone had been at it all night. One of the main draws was the Innervisions stage, where deep house dons Âme headlined. Their serene, slow-burning selections wormed their way under our skin, while Floating Points opted for a much more rough-and-ready selection of funk, disco, classic house and old 45s on his own rotary mixer. DGTL isn't particularly niche, but as a festival that caters to fans of many musical persuasions, it's hard to fault it.