MICHAEL CANITROT LIGHTS UP NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL IN PARIS FOR ITS REOPENING

DJ, producer and founder of the Monumental Tour project, Michael Canitrot, brought the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris to a brilliant close with a breathtaking show featuring his musical productions and a breathtaking visual performance.

With over millions of people watching the show on French TV channel mondovision, the event helped people rediscover the cathedral's unique architecture, while spreading a message of inspiration, sharing and celebration across the world.

Passionate about heritage and an ambassador for French electronic music, Michael Canitrot presented a ‘Monumental’ sequence combining his latest compositions, digital art and light design, celebrating the magnificence of Notre-Dame in a new light. He comments about the historical performance: "I drew inspiration, both musically and visually, from elements unique to the cathedral: the sound of the bells, the artworks inside, the voices of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame choir, and the classical style." Canitrot adds: "I want to convey a universal message, so that everyone can connect with my music and feel inspired to say, 'I want to come back and visit Notre-Dame."

Through his ‘Monumental Tour’ concept, he fuses electronic music and heritage to offer unique immersive experiences. Having thrilled audiences in iconic locations such as the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, the top of the Eiffel Tower for Gustave Eiffel's centenary, and most recently in front of the Basilica del Pilar in Zaragoza, where he drew a crowd of over 45,000, his art continues to make an impact around the world, with videos and social media broadcasts reaching tens of millions of views.

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VERKNIPT ARENA RETURNS IN 2025 WITH GROUNDBREAKING 360-DEGREE STAGE, UNITING 40.000 HARD TECHNO FANS FOR AN UNPARALLELED IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

The 360-degree stage in an arena is the first of its kind for the hard techno scene, set to host epic b2b sets with the world’s top hard techno artists.

Following its record-breaking debut in 2024 as the largest hard techno rave on the planet, Verknipt ArenA is set to make history once again in 2025, this time featuring the world's first hard techno arena show with a 360-degree stage. Verknipt ArenA’s unique stage setup will transform the Johan Cruijff ArenA into an immersive rave that amplifies the synergy between DJs and the crowd to create an entirely new kind of rave experience. 

Last year’s inaugural Verknipt ArenA show set a new standard for hard techno events by hosting 40.000 ravers as well as an immersive 10-minute experience show. Now, the 2025 edition promises an even more immersive atmosphere, with Verknipt dedicating itself to creating an experience that isn’t just innovative but transformative. The 360-degree stage design breaks down traditional boundaries, allowing every fan in the ArenA to connect directly with the impressive lineup of DJs, ensuring that no one is far from the action and that the collective energy resonates across the entire venue. 

“The 360-degree stage is our way of reimagining how hard techno is felt and shared,” says Mer Hajbarati, co-founder of Verknipt. “It’s designed to bring fans closer to the music and to one another, creating a powerful energy loop that pulses through everyone in the ArenA. This setup isn’t just about doing something new — it’s about uniting people in an unforgettable, heart-pounding and dynamic celebration of sound and connection.”

A Lineup That Defines Hard Techno Excellence
This year’s edition boasts an electrifying lineup featuring both global heavyweights and rising stars, showcasing the diversity and depth of the hard techno scene. The night will feature spine-tingling performances from artists like Nico Moreno who is sure to bring his heavy basslines and pounding kicks to the show. 

The ArenA show will also feature a series of killer back-to-backs like Cloudy b2b NOVAH who will deliver hard driving techno, while the DYEN b2b Fantasm will bring raw, industrial energy to the stage. The CARV b2b Holy Priest and Basswell b2b Onlynumbers promises pulsating, all-out rave anthems to keep the crowd moving into the early hours. The lineup also features cutting-edge performances from acts like APHØTIC b2b NYCO b2b XRTN, and Karah b2b KLOFAMA, as well as hardcore legend Paul Elstak b2b Cynthia Spearing and the visually stunning experience show. This lineup is truly a testament to Verknipt’s unparalleled curation of hard techno talent.

Established in 2012 in the Netherlands, Verknipt has spent over a decade cultivating its reputation in the dance music industry. Initially focusing on techno and house music, Verknipt later evolved into a trailblazer in the hard techno events space. By embracing a new sound and employing an exceptional social media strategy, Verknipt swiftly ascended to the forefront of one of the industry's fastest-growing genres.

Since 2020, Verknipt has witnessed a consistent increase in visitor numbers, reaching an impressive peak of 155.000 in 2023, with expectations of nearly doubling in 2024. The organisation has hosted numerous events in its native Netherlands and beyond, including flagship events such as Verknipt Festival and Verknipt AFAS, as well as monumental events during Amsterdam Dance Event over the years.  In July 2024, Verknipt ArenA marked the world’s largest hard techno event to date with approximately 40.000 visitors.

In alignment with its exponential growth, Verknipt is expanding its footprint internationally, venturing into countries such as Spain, Colombia, Germany, Poland, and Hungary, amongst others. Verknipt’s global impact is another testament to the movement the organisation has managed to create. In under four years, Verknipt has managed to expand across borders and even continents, reaching tens of thousands of international fans.

But, Verknipt isn’t stopping there. With the launch of Verknipt Records, the organisation aims to expand the reach of hard techno even further, filling a crucial gap in the genre's record label landscape by offering an extensive platform for emerging artists.

SLANDER AND INSOMNIAC PRESENT STARBASE: A NEW 2-DAY MUSIC AND CAMPING FESTIVAL CURATED BY THE GRAMMY-NOMINATED DUO

Taking place at Lake Perris, CA, on April 25-26, 2025, the duo’s first-ever hosted festival will focus on delivering a unique experience for their loyal community, with a meticulously curated lineup of 35+ artists and an immersive camping experience in a stunning location at its core. 

GRAMMY-nominated electronic music titans SLANDER, in partnership with global live events experience creator Insomniac, announced the launch of their new collaborative music festival, Starbase. The highly anticipated festival, set to take place April 25-26, 2025 at Lake Perris in Southern California, marks the culmination of years of planning and creative collaboration. Fusing the SLANDER signature melodic and bass sounds with Insomniac’s world-class event production, Starbase promises to deliver a transformative experience for their dedicated community. 

Rooted in the SLANDER distinct musical style, Starbase embodies the duo’s diverse sonic palette with a carefully curated lineup of 39 artists, including the duo’s FIVE scheduled sets, SLANDER, SLANDER B2B NGHTMRE, SLANDER B2B Dimension, and two techno sunrise sets on the beach as their side project Before Dawn. Fans can also hear heavy-hitters like SVDDEN DEATH: VOYD, Kill The Noise, and Space Laces, alongside emotive sets from William Black, Trivecta, and Fairlane. Additional acts include rising stars such as A Hundred Drums, FrostTop, and Vastive, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Finally, a host of elite underground Techno artists will keep the energy alive until sunrise each morning at the official lakeside after-parties.

Inspired by their many years attending Burning Man, SLANDER envisioned Starbase as an exclusive, intimate lakeside camping festival with limited capacity, music until sunrise, and in a breathtaking setting at Lake Perris. What will truly set Starbase apart is its unique approach: ZERO SET TIME CONFLICTS, giving fans the chance to experience every single artist on the lineup if they so choose. With only a handful of camping festivals in Southern California, Starbase aims to elevate the region’s offerings by delivering a one-of-a-kind experience featuring unparalleled views, sunrise sets on the waterfront, and a carefully curated lineup that promises unforgettable moments.

Fans can now register at STARBASE.WORLD for presale access to be able to secure priority access to purchase both festival tickets and camping packages. The presale for two-day GA and VIP tickets, along with camping options, opens on Wednesday, December 18. Camping packages are designed to enhance the festival experience, offering options such as Tent Camping ($399.99 + fees) for up to four campers, Car Camping ($599.99 + fees) for up to eight people, and RV Camping with full hookups ($699.99 + fees) for up to eight people. Each package includes lakeside camping spots, an exclusive Thursday night pre-party, exclusive merch item, free water stations, showers, and more.

For those that don’t purchase during the presale, tickets will be available for purchase beginning Thursday, December 19, at 10 a.m. PT, with payment plans available starting at just $9.99. Visit STARBASE.WORLD to secure your spot.

SLANDER, or Derek Andersen and Scott Land, have dominated the global dance music sphere for the better part of the last decade. Known for their emotional, airy, yet pulsating soundscapes and coining their own sub-genre, ‘heaven trap’, SLANDER has graced some of the world’s biggest stages, including EDC (Las Vegas, Orlando, Mexico), Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Nocturnal Wonderland and Ultra Music Festival. Having initially met at their alma mater, the University of California, Irvine, the two went on to graduate from music production school Icon Collective together. They eventually went on to establish the record labels Heaven Sent and Gud Vibrations under Insomniac Music Group. 

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