Dimitri Vegas’ Vinyl-Only Set at Tomorrowland 2025: A Tribute to the Roots of DJ Culture

In an age where digital innovation dominates the electronic music scene, Dimitri Vegas’ vinyl-only set at Tomorrowland 2025 stood as a bold and nostalgic statement. Taking place on the Mainstage during the Sunday of the second weekend, this unprecedented performance offered not just music, but a message—a powerful reminder of where DJing truly began.

This wasn’t just another high-energy performance from one of EDM’s most recognizable names. Instead, it was a deeply personal and technical journey through the analog world of vinyl records, exploring the essence of hard techno, schranz, and classic trance. With this set, Dimitri Vegas didn’t just entertain a massive crowd—he educated, inspired, and reminded us all of the soul that lies beneath the surface of today’s festival spectacles.

“Before the Downloads”: The Philosophy Behind the Set

In speaking about the performance, Dimitri Vegas explained: “Before the downloads, the rider requests, and the lasers, it was always about records. This set was about going back to that.” These words reflect a yearning for the authenticity of an earlier time, when DJs didn’t rely on pre-programmed sets or digital controllers. Instead, they spent countless hours crate-digging, practicing beatmatching by ear, and building intimate relationships with the music pressed on wax.

This return to roots wasn’t simply about aesthetics—it was a challenge to the modern culture of convenience. In choosing to perform exclusively on vinyl, Dimitri deliberately reintroduced elements of risk, imperfection, and raw skill into his performance. On the biggest stage of one of the world’s biggest festivals, he rejected the safety net of digital technology in favor of the unpredictable, hands-on art of analog DJing.

A Set of Passion, Power, and Precision

Musically, the hour-long set was a punishing ride through high-intensity genres, showcasing Dimitri’s deep knowledge of electronic history and his skill as a selector. The performance seamlessly blended old-school anthems with lesser-known underground tracks, all carefully curated from the vaults of Bonzai Records, Deconstruction, and Southern Fried Records.

Classics like Da Hool’s “Meet Her At The Love Parade”, Jeff Mills’ “The Bells”, and Tiësto’s “Adagio For Strings” weren’t just played—they were transformed. In vinyl format, these tracks took on a new texture, a new life. The warmth of analog sound, the subtle crackles of the needle, and the lack of visual waveform guidance made every transition feel organic and alive.

Operating across four turntables, Dimitri executed complex blends, backspins, and layering that pushed his technical abilities to the limit. For longtime fans of vinyl DJing, it was a refreshing showcase of craftsmanship in an era where many performers rely heavily on pre-synced USB drives and automated effects. For newer fans, it was likely their first time witnessing the tactile, physical nature of a true vinyl set.

Tracklist Highlights and Rare Gems

While no official tracklist was released, attendees and fans have pieced together many of the iconic tracks featured during the performance. Among the confirmed or rumored inclusions were:

• “Back To Earth” – Yves Deruyter (Dimitri Vegas Remix)

• “Big Orgus” – Junkie Kid Remix

• “Adagio For Strings” – Tiësto (VIP Vinyl Rework)

• “Needle Destruction” – Cherrymoon Trax & DJ Ghost (Remixed by Dimitri Vegas & Per Pleks)

• “The Age of Love” – Dimitri Vegas Remix

• “Bonzai Channel One” – Thunderball (Creeds Remix)

• “Calyptus” – Tranceball (Vinyl Re-Edit)

Each track was more than just a crowd-pleaser—it was a carefully chosen piece of history, connecting the dots between past and present, between underground and mainstream.

A Long-Awaited Evolution of a Concept

This set was not Dimitri’s first experiment with vinyl in recent years. In 2024, he performed a surprise vinyl-only set at The Gathering stage, a more intimate Tomorrowland venue. That performance was later released for purchase on vinyl and CD, selling out quickly and receiving acclaim for its nostalgic depth.

However, bringing that same concept to the Mainstage in 2025 took things to an entirely different level. This wasn’t just a side project—it was front and center, in the spotlight of one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world. The move signaled that vinyl culture, long considered a niche or vintage practice, still holds power and relevance even in the era of hyper-production and instant gratification.

An Emotional Experience for Fans

The audience’s reaction to the performance was nothing short of electric. From the moment Dimitri walked on stage holding a crate of vinyl records, cheers erupted across the Mainstage grounds. Longtime fans who remembered the golden days of techno and trance felt a wave of nostalgia, while younger festival-goers looked on with curiosity and admiration.

Throughout the set, camera shots captured not only Dimitri’s intense focus at the decks but also the raw emotion on the faces of the crowd. Each mix was met with waves of applause, chants, and hands raised skyward. By the end of the hour, it was clear that this wasn’t just a musical performance—it was a moment of shared history.

A Moment Worth Preserving

Given the cultural significance of the performance, it comes as no surprise that Dimitri Vegas plans to release the full set as a double CD and vinyl album. Slated for release later in 2025, the album will allow fans to relive the set’s magic and own a tangible piece of the experience. The release is expected to include original versions, live edits, and possibly remastered cuts that highlight the sonic warmth of vinyl.

For collectors, this album promises to be a must-have—a physical artifact that captures a fleeting but monumental moment in Tomorrowland history.

The Revival of Analog: More Than a Gimmick

Cynics might argue that vinyl-only sets are nothing more than nostalgic marketing ploys. But for Dimitri Vegas, the commitment seems deeply personal and artistically sincere. In interviews following the performance, he emphasized how playing vinyl rekindled his original love for DJing. He also hinted at future analog projects, both solo and in collaboration with other artists.

Interestingly, Dimitri spoke openly about these topics during a conversation with Steve Aoki in the debut episode of a new interview series, where the two DJs reflected on their careers, the evolution of the scene, and their personal lives. The topic of vinyl quickly became central, with both artists expressing admiration for the tactile, immersive nature of record-based performances.

Legacy in the Making

In the grand story of Tomorrowland, Dimitri Vegas’ vinyl-only set in 2025 will surely be remembered as a landmark event. Not only did it break new ground by bringing a fully analog performance to the festival’s largest audience, but it also reignited a global conversation about what it means to be a DJ in the modern world.

It challenged expectations, inspired a new generation of artists, and reminded seasoned fans of the genre’s gritty, passionate beginnings. Most of all, it proved that innovation and tradition don’t have to be at odds—in the hands of the right artist, they can coexist beautifully.

Final Thoughts

In stepping away from the screens, the sync buttons, and the software, Dimitri Vegas didn’t regress—he evolved. By embracing the limits of vinyl, he unlocked something deeper: a renewed sense of connection, a return to form, and a set that may very well be remembered as one of the most iconic in Tomorrowland history.

This wasn’t just a performance. It was a manifesto—written in grooves, mixed by hand, and amplified across a sea of believers who, if only for one hour, danced not just to the beat of the music, but to the heartbeat of history.