It has become a must for those who love to scratch the turntables. Undoubtedly one of the largest events of its kind on the Old Continent, and one of the most prestigious in the world, I Love Techno is less showy than Tomorrowland, but more legitimate by seniority. In the last twenty years I Love Techno has become a clubbing rendezvous where all the big names parade themselves. It’s now a recognizable brand which keeps it promoters, Herman Schueremans and Peter Decuypere very happy.
The first of these two names is fairly well-known. Schueremans also runs Rock Werchter, and until recently was a member of the Flemish Parliament, representing OpenVLD. He left political office earlier this year to concentrate on his activities in the flagship promotion company Live Nation. And the man certainly knows what he’s doing. He launched I Love Techno in 1995 – at Vooruit – with barely 700 spectators – it now fills the concrete vastness of Flanders Expo in Ghent with more than 35,000 fans.
For three years now, France has put on its own I Love Techno. The first French edition was sold out, the second attracted more than 20,000 people, and part 3 will shake Montpellier on December 14 . Suffice to say that the label sells.
Writ large on the poster for this edition, in 72 point type, is ‘pope’ Laurent Garnier, who has never failed to make an adoring public dance. From 2am to 7am Marcel Dettman, Len Faki & Chris Liebing will take over the Red Room for a marathon on the grooves. Three Americans appear this time to represent the ‘trap’ scene, namely Baauer, Flosstradamus and Dillon Francis. Don’ miss Jackson and his Computerband, Disclosure and gifted Frenchman Gesaffelstein.
