In the second of two panel discussions focused on gabber and hardcore, Groove writer Alexis Waltz will speak to Marc Acardipane, a pioneer and “godfather” of the genres, and to three producers at the forefront of a fast-tempo revival. 

Acardipane’s Frankfurt-based label PCP, widely considered the first hardcore label, was established in 1989, three years before Rotterdam Records started in Holland. This was almost 30 years ago – before the internet, before social media, and before many CTM audience members were even born. Meanwhile, New York-based Kilbourne, Stockholm-based HAJ300, and Berlin-based HD Mirror are all flagbearers in the celebration and reappropriation of 140+ bpm bangers for today’s millenial underground dance music landscape.