The Origins of Italo Disco

Following up on last year's packed talk, DJ Rimini Express (Daniël Mol) returns to the festival with new insights and another deep dive into the origins of italo disco.

How did the colourful, electronic disco sound of the 1980s first come to life and who were the people behind it? In this record-packed session, Rimini Express traces the genre from its earliest beginnings to the massive hits of Ryan Paris, Baltimora and Sabrina that swept across Dutch dance floors at lightning speed. He'll also tackle the ultimate collector's question: what was the very first italo disco track ever made?

Expect vinyl, video and plenty of stories about one of the most wonderfully strange corners of music history.

Hailing from Utrecht, Rimini Express grew up with italo disco passed down by his dad and has since shared his passion at venues and festivals across the Netherlands, including Best Kept Secret Festival, the Kunsthal in Rotterdam and, of course, Haarlem Vinyl Festival. He also hosts DISCOTECA, a monthly show on Utrecht's Birdcage Radio.

The Origins of Italo Disco
Date & Time: Saturday October 3, 14:30
Location: PHIL, Warmerdamzaal
Tickets: €7,50, available here. This session is included in the Weekend Pass.

Sound System — hosted by BarcaNova
Speakers: Blumenhofer BHC 1743
Phono stage: Ypsilon VPS 100
Preamp: Ypsilon PST 100 MKII
Record player: BNS 2828 turntable with Ikeda tonearm and cartridge

Hall: Warmerdamzaal