By Stefan Godin · · 2 min read · guide · techno · culture · debutants
Techno glossary: b2b, peak time, after and the scene lingo
Lineup, b2b, peak time, warm-up, after, open air, live or DJ set, free party, BPM: the glossary to decode a techno night and never be lost in an after-hours conversation again. Every scene word, explained simply, for first-timers and seasoned ravers alike.
Contents
🎧 Reading a lineup
Before you even set foot on the dancefloor, it's all on the bill. Here are the words to decode a techno night's lineup and know when to show up.
Lineup
The list of booked artists, in playing order when it's given. Spanish ravers say "cartel". It's your first tool to size up a night: look less at the number of names than at who plays, and above all when.
B2b
Short for "back to back": two DJs (sometimes more) mixing together on the same setup, trading tracks. A good b2b is a conversation: each one bounces off the other's record. Often the best moments of a night.
Live vs DJ set
A DJ set is the artist chaining other people's records (and their own). A live is the artist playing their own music in real time, on machines and hardware. On a flyer, a "(live)" next to a name changes everything: you're seeing a unique performance, not a selection.
Warm-up
The opening set. The DJ heats the room at a lower tempo, builds the energy gradually and sets the table for what's next. Underrated: a good warm-up makes the whole night. If you want to understand the night, arrive early.
Peak time
The peak of the night, the most intense slot, usually saved for the headliners. That's when hard techno brings out the artillery: tempo and kicks maxed, dancefloor full tilt.
Closing and all night long
The closing is the final set, often longer and more free. And when a flyer announces an artist "all night long", it means they play the whole night, alone behind the decks: a demanding format that truly reveals a DJ.
🌍 The language of the night
Beyond the bill, the scene has its own words for places, formats and gear. Enough to never be lost in an after-hours conversation again.
Open air
An outdoor party, often in daytime, from spring to autumn. The open air has its own energy: natural light, sound system out in the wind, a looser mood than a club. You'll find plenty on the open airs in Spain and France pages.
After
The party that takes over when the club closes, often at dawn and into broad daylight. The after is for the committed: a tempo that doesn't drop, a hand-picked crowd, and that moment when you no longer know whether it's early or late.
Free party and teknival
A self-run, non-commercial rave, often free and off the official circuit, driven by a collective sound system. The teknival is its large-scale version, over several days. It's the rawest root of rave culture, where a good chunk of hardcore and frenchcore comes from.
Sound system
Strictly, the audio rig (speakers, subs, amp). By extension, the collective that owns and runs it. "The sound system was huge" talks about the sound; "that's their sound system" talks about the crew.
BPM
Beats per minute, a track's tempo. Useful markers: techno usually sits around 130 BPM, hard techno climbs to 150 and up. For the tempo of each style in detail, see our guide to electronic music styles.