The Eurosonic Noorderslag musical showcase will take over Groningen starting on Wednesday. While most of the concerts for the hottest European bands require paid tickets, Here & Now Groningen has made a helpful overview of dozens of free performances across town.
Eurosonic Noorderslag, more casually known as ESNS, is the biggest showcase of up-and-coming and established European bands. There will be performances by around 350 musical acts during the 2019 edition at venues across the city of Groningen between the 16th and 19th of January.
Each year, hundreds of musicians descend on the city, and it seems like every square centimeter of Groningen is buzzing with songs from a stunningly diverse range of genres. Even public transportation gets in on the act: Bus Sessions on the Qbuzz lines in the city feature busking musicians.
Artists from all over the continent come to the city for Europe’s closest equivalent to South by Southwest, hoping to catch a programmer’s ear and get booked for the festival circuit over the summer.
The first three days are the Eurosonic component, which will primarily focus on bands from outside of the Netherlands. Each year’s festival has a different featured country or region with an especially high number of performers, and in 2019, the Czech Republic and Slovakia will be in the spotlight. Noorderslag on Saturday is a showcase for Dutch acts.
The three day Eurosonic portion also features conferences for professionals from all levels of the music industry, and a number of industry awards are handed out, including the Music Moves Europe Talent Award (previously known as the European Boundary Breakers Award). Former winners of the award, which recognises emerging European artists, include Adele, Lykke Li, Mumford and Sons and Dua Lipa. One Dutch band – Pip Blom – is among the 2019 nominees.
In addition to performances at more than 50 official venues on the programme, 20 different bars, cafes and record stores in the city will be putting on their own showcases. Check out this overview of free shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday curated by Here & Now Groningen.
AnimalSonic (Thursday)
Location: Het Pakhuis
For the second year in a row, De Pakhuis (The Warehouse) will rock out during ESNS with performances by four Dutch rock bands:
10 p.m: Rhinorino
10:45 p.m.: Boskat
11:30 p.m.: Grim Tim
12:15 p.m.: Certain Animals
EchtErik Regiosonic (Friday)
Location: Cleopatra ASG
Northern Dutch acts will take the stage at student association Cleopatra on Friday night during a four-hour radio broadcast, EchtErik:
DOR
Feral Tides
A Liquid Landscape
Blackbriar
Eurosonic Air (T, F, S)
Location: Grote Markt
This epic stage inside a tent on the Grote Markt is an open air venue and always gets the party going, featuring upbeat up-and-comers and (international and Dutch) household names:
Thursday:
8:25 p.m: Je Broer 4 Life
9:50 p.m.: Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions
11:15 p.m.: Reykjavíkurdætur
Friday:
8:25 p.m.: Brides of Lucifer
9:50 p.m.: Jett Rebel
11:15 p.m.: San Holo
Saturday:
2:00 p.m.: Inge van Calkar
3:15 p.m.: Blackbird
4:30 p.m.: Douwe Bob
De Garage van Klaas (Thursday, Friday)
Location: Kroeg van Klaas
For the night owls, Kroeg van Klass will be hosting gritty throwback rock acts in the wee hours on Thursday and Friday morning between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.:
Thursday:
fuck fuck fuck
Mark Lada’s Golden Arches
J.C. Thomaz & The Missing Slippers
Friday:
Tony Clifton
Ploegendienst
Canshaker Pi
Grunnsonic (W, T, F)
Location: Het Pakhuis, Cleopatra, Warhol, De Walrus, Idenza, O’Malleys, Buckshot, Sunny Beach
This mini festival within ESNS is all about Groningen bands and will take place at nine different venues across the city:
Wednesday:
Het Pakhuis:
10:30 p.m.: Shabby Cabs
11:45 p.m.: The Mudd
Cleopatra:
9:30 p.m.: Long Way Down
10:45 p.m.: Hackberry
12:00 a.m.: ATGMC
Warhol:
9:30 p.m.: Van Marban
10:45 p.m.: The Desmonds
Thursday:
De Walrus:
9:45 p.m.: 000
11:00 p.m.: The Monroes
12:15 a.m.: Chief of Smoke
Idenza:
9:30 p.m.: Joost Idema
10:45 p.m.: Willie Darktrousers
O’ Malleys:
10:05 p.m.: The First Wolf
11:10 p.m.: Lesley Baker
12:15 a.m.: Martijn van der Zande
Warhol:
9:30 p.m.: Small Town Bandits
10:45 a.m.: The Vices
Friday:
De Walrus:
9:45 p.m.: Cirrus Minor
11 p.m.: Super Star Gods
12:15 a.m.: Onhou
Buckshot:
8:30 p.m.: Marlene Bakker
9:35 p.m.: Waiting for the Sun
10:40 p.m.: Meadowlake (downstairs)
11:45 p.m.: Maaris (upstairs)
Warhol:
10:30 p.m.: Hollow Men
10:50 p.m.: Audio Adam
Het Pakhuis:
10:30 p.m.: OES
11:45: 70 Mile House
Sunny Beach:
10 p.m.: Cloudy Diow
10:45 p.m.: Revo
11:30 p.m.: Ro$$abarba
12:15 a.m.: Rooks
HiphopSonic (Friday)
Location: Café De Zolder
Even though ESNS is primarily focused on European talent, a number of American and Canadian lyricists will be performing at Café De Zolder during Hiphopsonic starting at 8 p.m. on Friday night:
Veteran Eye
D.O. Gibson
HotRox & Harvey Dentist
Victor Fataal
Mat Cooper
Dylamic Music
Fhillybadass.com
Flowëtisch
Beatbox by William
DJ Waxcat & Teip Dopa
House of the North 2019 (W, T, F, S)
Location: Brouwerij Martinus
This is the second time that the Martinus brewery is hosting its own northern-oriented music line-up.
Wednesday:
8:00 p.m.: Lester Blackfield
8:50 p.m.: Mary Confurius
9:40 p.m.: Cirrus Minor
10:30 p.m.: Esther de Jong
11:40 p.m.: Hollow Men
Thursday:
8:00 p.m.: Meadowlake
8:50 p.m.: YVI
9:40 p.m.: Daisy
10:30 p.m.: Pendants
11:40 p.m.: THE HECK
Friday:
8:00 p.m.: Nadua
8:50 p.m.: Woe Blind Birds
9:40 p.m.: Small Town Bandits
10:30 p.m.: Sorry John
11:30 p.m.: CloudyDiow
12:40 a.m.: FENN
Jagersonic (Saturday)
Location: Vera
On Saturday, Groningen’s iconic music venue Vera will host a ten-hour block of bands on three stages (with a German theme):
Jagers Halle:
3:00 p.m.: Afterpartees
4:00 p.m.: Tusky
6:00 p.m.: Douwe Bob
8:00 p.m.: Haken met de Heinoos
10:00 p.m.: Jacques Herb
Jagers Hol:
12:00 p.m.: Zero Zero Zero
1:00 p.m.: Charlie & The Lesbians
2:15 p.m.: Dawn Brothers
3:15 p.m.: Savage Beast
4:15 p.m.: Dead Loyalty
5:15 p.m.: Mooi Wark
6:45 p.m.: Willie Darktrousers & De Splinters
8:15 p.m.: Cartiez
8:45 p.m.: Verwoed
Katersonic (Thursday)
Location: Poeslief
The “pawesome” cat café Poeslief will put on a show on Thursday afternoon featuring fairly low keys acts:
2:00 p.m.: Launchable Socks
3:00 p.m.: The Samuels
4:00 p.m.: Huub Prins
5:00 p.m.: F.L.E.U.R.I.
Magners Music Sessions (W, T, F)
Location: The Dog’s Bollocks
Inside this pub, food will be served with a side of music during the Magners Music sessions between 4 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:
The Ragtime Rumours
HoppaH!
Luminize
Yevgueni
Aïcha Cherif
SweetGodAnimals
Barely Autumn
Ziggy Splint
MasMasSonic (Friday)
Location: MasMas
The popular student coffee shop will be transformed into a music venue on Friday afternoon:
1:30 p.m.: Mijke Eryng
2:30 p.m.: De Nachtwinkel
3:30 p.m.: The Vices
4:30 p.m.: Stadspiraat
5:30 p.m.: Subterranean Street Society
Le petit sonic Jazz (Saturday)
Location: Le Petit Theatre & The Sugar Shack
This event has no specifics about times or bands, but given the name, jazz seems to be on the menu.
Pinguin Radio Showcase (W, T, F)
Location: Drie Gezusters
The line-up is still to be announced, but the biggest bar in the Netherlands will have 140 new musical acts performing on six different stages.
Platosonic (T, F, S)
Location: Plato
Dozens of bands will be playing either between the crates at the Plato record store, next door at Coffee Company or House of Chambers (featuring hip hop acts). There are honestly way too many acts to name them all here, so check out Here & Now for all the details on Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s line-ups.
Pleurop&OfficeSonic (W, T, F, S)
Location: Proeflokaal ‘t Kantoor
At the intimate Tasting Room on the CiBoGa terrain, there will be live performances every afternoon and night from Wednesday through Saturday:
Wednesday:
4:00 p.m.: Moon Almighty
5:00 p.m.: Carmen Hamer
7:00 p.m.: Hangover Paradise
9:00 p.m.: Ilja’s Playhouse
11:00 p.m.: Mr Knowhow
Thursday:
2:30 p.m.: Wouter Marije
4:00 p.m.: Sunroots
8:00 p.m.: Stingers rock & Blues & Jump
10:00 p.m.: Skapiche?!
11:30 p.m.: Noint
12:45 a.m.: Flashbang
Friday:
2:00 p.m.: Bottle Cap
3:15 p.m.: Brauwsing colletion
4:45 p.m.: Roos Galjaard & Sebastiaan Wiering
6:15 p.m.: Bluescloud
9:00 p.m.: Evil Mr Sod
10:30 p.m.: Marvin Dee Band
12:00 a.m.: Kaizer Crow
Saturday:
1:00 p.m.: Slamgang
2:00 p.m.: Wanton
3:15 p.mm: Braindrive
Strik Beats Sonic (Thursday)
Location: Benzine Bar
It’s all about guitar-driven bands at Benzine Bar’s Strik Beats Sonic:
Drive By Wire
Switch Bones
Tony Clifton
I against I
MAGNETIC SPACEMEN
Black Monsoon
Ravenna
Rebel Radio
Synagogue Showcase (W, T)
Location: Synagogue
The programme inside the synagogue on the Folkingestraat promises to be “serene sounces in spectacular surroundings”.
Wednesday:
7:30 p.m.: The First Wolf and Town of Saints
8:45 p.m.: Roosmarijn
10:00 p.m.: Subterranean Street Society
Thursday:
7:30 p.m.: Cast Glass
8:45 p.m.: Mevrouw Tamara
10:00 p.m.: Vikings in Tibet
Toetersonic (Thursday)
Location: De Toeter
This event is keeping it short and sweet with two performances at a beloved Groningen bar famous for its specialty beer selection:
8:00 p.m.: Wouter Maryne
9:00 p.m.: DOR
TSH LIVE: (W, T, F, S)
Location: The Student Hotel
The Student Hotel is like an advent calendar during ESNS with different surprises behind each door.
Wednesday:
Kadepop
Thursday:
ROC Roadtrip
Friday:
Ableton
Lessons in LIVE
Music City Networks
Bedtalks
Saturday:
Surprise Surprise
Wolfsonic (W, T, F, S)
Location: Metal Café De Witte Wolf
Rock out for four days in a row at De Witte Wolf:
Wednesday:
8:30 p.m.: Silent Bishop
9:35 p.m.: This Ends Today
10:40 p.m.: Mouflon
Thursday:
8:30 p.m.: Infantry
10:40 p.m.: Torrential
Friday:
8:00 p.m.: Hvalross
9:00 p.m.: The Ballet Bombs
10:00 p.m.: Black Fuse
11:00 p.m.: Atomic Vulture
Saturday:
8:00 p.m.: Radiathor
9:00 p.m.: Overruled
10:00 p.m.: In Manus Tuas
11:00 p.m.: Morvigor
Photo source: Rene Keijzer/Wikipedia
