Paul van Dyk unveils new live show concept, The Essence of Acid

Paul van Dyk has been working on a new live show concept, titled The Essence of Acid, due to premiere in November.

The Essence of Acid will make its debut at Long Beach trance festival Dreamstate SoCal 2026 on 21st November and feature a live electronic set-up using gear such as the TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909, as well as various other synths.

The show will explore "acid as an influence across electronic music" and reflect the festival's spirit of "celebrating the sounds that have shaped trance culture while championing the artists and innovations defining its present and future", according to a press release.

Dreamstate takes place at Queen Mary Waterfront in Long Beach on 20th and 21st November. Find out more here.

Van Dyk's Roland TR-808, used to make tracks like the classic 'For An Angel', was recently on a one-year loan to the Synthesizer Museum Berlin. Watch our interview with the trance supestar about the making of 'For An Angel' here.

Last year, Van Dyk – voted No. 39 in our Top 100 DJs poll 2025 – unveiled a new immersive live show last November, titled CORE360, bringing the show to 99 Scott in New York City.