Classic trance festivals.
The short answer
The big events of the classic trance era were Berlin's Love Parade (from 1989), Dance Valley in the Netherlands (from 1995), ID&T's Trance Energy (from 1999), and the outdoor events run by British superclubs, including Gatecrasher's 1999 event at Lotherton Hall and Godskitchen's Global Gathering, launched by 2001.
At a glance
The main events.
| Attribute | Event | Where | Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Love Parade | Berlin | 1989 | Street parade for all electronic music; Berlin until 2003, again in 2006 | |
| Dance Valley | Spaarnwoude, NL | 1995 | 8,000 people at the first edition | |
| Trance Energy | Netherlands | 1999 | Run by ID&T; renamed Energy in 2011 | |
| Gatecrasher outdoor events | Lotherton Hall, near Leeds | 1999 | 10,000-capacity event | |
| Global Gathering | UK | By 2001 | Launched by Godskitchen |
UK
Superclub events.
In Britain the biggest trance events grew out of club nights. See the profiles of Gatecrasher and Godskitchen for dates and sources.
Frequently asked
What was the biggest trance festival?
Love Parade drew the largest crowds, but it was a street parade for all electronic music. Of the trance-only events, ID&T's Trance Energy in the Netherlands was the best known.
Is Trance Energy still running?
Not under that name. ID&T renamed it Energy in 2011 and opened it up to other genres.
Research & sources
These references support the factual claims on this page. Editorial interpretation is identified as such; a source link is not an endorsement by its publisher.
- Love Parade
Wikipedia
Started 1989 in West Berlin; held in Berlin 1989–2003 and 2006.
- Dance Valley
Wikipedia
Spaarnwoude, Netherlands; first edition 1995 with 8,000 people.
- Trance Energy
Wikipedia
ID&T event held since 1999; renamed Energy in 2011.