Carlos Valdes
Carlos Valdes has been a key figure of Amsterdam’s nightlife for well over two decades. His vital contribution to the city’s electronic music scene and LGBTQ+ community as a DJ, promoter, label owner, and all-round inspirator is indisputable. Always on the lookout for new gems to add to his vast house and techno collection, new venues to explore with his illustrious IsBurning nights, and new talent to support, Carlos is consistently pushing the envelope of club culture. His mesmerising sets and endless likeability have made him an in-demand DJ in all corners of the globe.
Carlos’ success did not come overnight, but has been underway since 1999, when he bought his first techno record. It’s the culmination of many years of hard work and utter devotion to creating the best possible vibe. As one of the founding fathers of the famous IsBurning nights, he helped lay the groundwork for the Dam’s now thriving LGBTQIA+ club scene. What started as a night with quality dance music for all gender identities at the legendary club Trouw, is now a worldwide phenomenon. Never communicating lineups, but always staging the best in house and techno, IsBurning has set venues ablaze from Munich to London, and from Barcelona to São Paulo. Carlos also co-owns Pamela, one of Amsterdam’s most popular queer bars.
The rest of it — one more paragraph
As a DJ, Carlos has built a loyal following through his sheer love and extensive knowledge of music. Some worry that his apartment will one day collapse under the weight of his enormous vinyl collection. But luckily for his ever-growing fan base, that hasn’t happened yet. Decades of dance music’s finest cuts come together in spellbinding narratives, keeping dancers on their tippy toes throughout the night, and into the early morning. Whether he’s slaying the floor at Panorama Bar, Blitz, or Bassiani, bringing the heat at Glastonbury, Dekmantel Selectors or Lighthouse Croatia, or creating magical journeys like his 6-hour set at Wildeburg, Carlos Valdes remains a musical force to be reckoned with.
Their Resident Advisor profile, in full and unedited.
Records out on Studio Soulrock. — their own list on Resident Advisor
The nights
- Sat 3 Oct 2026KlubnachtBerghain | Panorama Bar | Säule · their 3rd night · OstGut GmbH
- Fri 1 May 2026LAUNDRETTEBerghain | Panorama Bar | Säule · their 2nd night · OstGut GmbH
- Fri 27 Mar 2026POLARIBerghain | Panorama Bar | Säule · first time · OstGut GmbH
Their rooms
One tick a night, on the one axis this page has — Aug 2025, where the listings start, to Jan 2027, the last night anybody has announced. The shaded end has not happened yet.
- Berghain | Panorama Bar | SäuleMar 2026 – Oct 20263 nights
Who they play with
Counted from the bills themselves, over bills of twelve names or fewer. A pair's count includes a night that is announced and not yet played; where there is one, the row says when.
- Panorama BarBerghain | Panorama Bar | Säule ×2 · Mar 2026 – May 20262 nights
The nights, the rooms and the bills are the listings themselves. The biography, the labels and the photograph are Resident Advisor's. Nothing on this page was written for it.