Seven years after The Last Formation, Hard Bass is returning to the GelreDome. While the comeback will undoubtedly bring plenty of nostalgia for many visitors, B2S deliberately looked at how the concept could remain relevant in 2026. That means the event won’t solely be looking back at the past. “You’ll definitely hear classics from as far back as 2012, but an unreleased new track could just as easily be played.”
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In 2019, The Last Formation appeared to mark the definitive end of Hard Bass. However, ideas for a possible return gradually started to emerge within B2S. The organization’s 25th anniversary ultimately proved to be the right moment to turn those plans into reality, explains Jort, booker at B2S. “That’s when everything came full circle for us and we decided to bring Hard Bass back. Especially now that classics events are absolutely booming, we thought: this is the moment to bring this legendary event back.”
“Are we going to focus entirely on new music?”
With the comeback came an important decision for B2S. The hardstyle scene has changed considerably since the last edition, so several different directions were discussed during creative sessions. “Are we going to focus entirely on new music? Are we going to book artists who have never played at Hard Bass before? We thought about that for a long time. We also wanted to bring back the legacy of Hard Bass.”
That approach is reflected in the line-up. B2S chose artists who have all been part of Hard Bass before, while giving them the freedom to look far beyond just their older music. “All the sets and live acts will be complete journey sets. You’ll definitely hear classics from as far back as 2012, but an unreleased new track could just as easily be played. It’ll be a bit of a mix.”
An edition consisting entirely of classics was also considered. Ultimately, however, the organization wanted the comeback to appeal to a new generation as well. “The people who experienced Hard Bass before 2019 will probably be most excited about the classics. But we also wanted to attract newer fans who have never been to Hard Bass before, or who thought: I’ll only go if there’s going to be some new music as well.”
New music was also part of Hard Bass
According to Jort, that choice also fits the role Hard Bass used to play within the scene. The event wasn’t solely about the biggest tracks of the moment. “Hard Bass has always been an event where artists could showcase their new music to a huge crowd. We didn’t want to lose that either. So artists can genuinely premiere new tracks here, but at the same time, we don’t want to forget the legacy.”
The familiar musical progression will remain intact. After General Operators Deepack, Luna and Zany, Team Blue, Green, Yellow and Red will take over one after another, with the music gradually getting harder throughout the night. Each team gets two hours, with a live act taking over for the final half hour.
When putting those teams together, B2S also looked for combinations that might not immediately seem obvious. Team Yellow, for example, consists of D-Block & S-te-Fan, Rebelion and Sub Zero Project, followed by Gunz For Hire LIVE. “You don’t always want the most obvious combinations. You can play around with that a little. That team can create a transition where there’s still some euphoric music, but you might also suddenly get a heavy Rebelion track. From there, you move into Team Red, where things really start hitting hard.”
“We wanted to bring back the full Hard Bass feeling”
It’s not just the musical progression from the past that is returning. Hard Bass will also remain a proper overnight event, once again continuing until 07:00 in the morning. It’s a decision B2S thought about extensively. “We know that nowadays it isn’t necessarily the time to simply throw overnight events into the calendar. But we’re willing to take that chance because of the legacy Hard Bass has. We wanted to bring back the full Hard Bass feeling.”
The interest shows that the combination of old and new has struck a chord: the comeback is completely sold out. Seven years after what seemed to be the definitive farewell, the four teams will once again take over the GelreDome. Not only with the music that made Hard Bass what it is, but also with the hardstyle of today.
In the latest episode of PLAFONDDIENST, we take an in-depth look ahead to the return of Hard Bass. Besides Jort from B2S, we call Niels on behalf of B-Freqz, Coone and Crypsis on behalf of Minus Militia to talk about their history with the event and what they have planned for Saturday at the GelreDome. The full episode is available to watch and listen to now via your favorite podcast platforms.
