Meters of cable are being rolled out, the European music industry is on its way to Groningen and posters about Eurosonic are everywhere. What does the festival actually entail and what should you take into account if you go (for the first time)? We asked experts and festival veterans for tips and explanations.
What is ESNS and how important is it?
ESNS (this year from January 17 to 20) consists of the Eurosonic and Noorderslag festivals. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are for Eurosonic. “At Eurosonic you don’t see bands that have already released six CDs. It really is a festival for new talent,” says Eurosonic fan Richard Ridder from Groningen. Festival manager Peter Sikkema, who has been involved with ESNS for over thirty years, explains that the festival is intended to kick-start the careers of young artists.
Programmer Joey Ruchtie of Eurosonic: “Groningen is the capital of European pop music this week. The entire music industry is moving here. There are managers and bookers around who work with bands like Coldplay and artists like Dua Lipa.”
At Eurosonic, new talent can present themselves to the public, professionals and the media. “During the day there is a large conference for professionals about the ins and outs of the music world. That conference is really for the professionals,” says Ruchtie.
Noorderslag is in De Oosterpoort on Saturday. It’s all about Dutch music there. The important Pop Prize will be awarded, among other things.
Okay, so ESNS is actually for the music industry. Are ordinary music lovers also welcome?
Ruchtie: “Certainly. ESNS is not like Lowlands or Pinkpop, but without a regular audience you really don’t get any atmosphere in the room. The professionals stand in the back with their arms folded. It is the fans and music lovers who make the performances unforgettable.”
According to Ridder, the ‘normal visitors’ are outspoken, fanatical music fans from all over the country. And beyond. “I have friends from Belgium who are coming for the umpteenth time.”
Mariska Berrevoets, director of the Grasnapolsky festival in Scheemda, is a great music lover and part of the professionals. The fact that the city is buzzing with music fans for four days is what she finds charming about the festival. “There are all people with the same interests and that creates a very good atmosphere. I’m not necessarily going to Eurosonic to scout bands for Grasnapolsky, we have finalized the program for our festival in March. It’s good to meet other professionals who are part of the world. That makes it interesting for students who want to work in the music world, for example.”
Where is it?
Almost unnoticed, ESNS takes over the entire city. The official program takes place at the following locations: Forum, Grand Theater, Huize Maas, Simplon, All Round Pool Center, Der Aa Theater, Lutheran Church, Machine Factory, the Vindicat building, Stadsschouwburg, Vera, The Social Hub, WeNutButter and the Grote Market.
Ridder thinks the Lutheran Church and the Grand Theater are the most beautiful locations. The Stadsschouwburg is beautiful because the roles are reversed there: the audience on stage and the acts in the audience.
Then there is the free program on the Grote Markt and in many catering establishments.
Wherever you go, it’s likely to be busy. Between 10,000 and 12,000 people visit Eurosonic every day. Noorderslag attracts thousands of people and the conference about four thousand. Quite a few numbers.
How do you choose which one you want to see from all those potentially great bands?
Every year, list man Richard Ridder lists which acts can be seen and which ones he recommends. His lists, which he shares on Twitter, are a good start to making informed choices. 3voor12 and BBC Sounds also provide tips.
Do you have the performances listed? Then it is important to plan. When do those musicians play? Where? Are the locations close to each other? “It is a festival that you have to prepare well for,” says Ridder. “With my tips I take some work off your hands, because I don’t expect everyone to listen to three hundred tapes. Put yourself in the position: I will be surprised.”
Are two of your wish list playing at the same time? Then check whether one of the two is not somewhere in the peripheral program. Then check whether they are with the entire band. Suppose the drummer does not participate, then the concert may be less fun.
Since programmer Ruchtie knows exactly how the program works, he also gives a few tips. “Accept that you are going to miss things. More than you would like. At the same time, you will discover more than you would suspect.”
Ruchtie and Berrevoets, like Ridder, listen to many bands via Spotify. A bit of browsing through what they like and don’t like to see. Ruchtie: “ESNS means that you stand in line a lot. I always ask people: what is your plan? This way you hear new tips. That makes it fun. How often do you stand in line with people from Spain, Greece and Iceland in Groningen?”
What else is useful to know?
There are two types of access wristbands: one that allows you to enter anywhere very quickly and a normal one that often requires you to stand in a line. That fast is mainly for professionals, Sikkema explains. “They have to see the acts, often only stay a few minutes and then hop on to the next location.”
The funny thing about this festival is that sometimes there are acts that are, well, not fantastic. Ending up with a band like that is a risk you take when you go to Eurosonic.
You can avoid missing a band by going to the concert before it. Then you are already in the hall. Ridder: “You will see fewer acts, but you will be inside instead of outside in the cold.”
You also need a bicycle to race from one location to another. Berrevoets: “Do you want to rent a public transport bicycle? Then be on time. Those bikes are often gone quickly.”
Take an old coat with you so it doesn’t matter if it gets dirty or lost. There are no cloakrooms at many locations. Or you just don’t have enough time to put your coat away at every stage.
Good earplugs that filter out loud noise are also important.
You probably don’t have time to eat at home in between. Options are: eating something quickly, planning time to have a quiet dinner or putting snacks in your bag.