Schouwburg Ogterop, the Vegafabriek in Kolderveen and the Meppel Music Cooperative launched the websitemuziekinmeppel.nl on Wednesday, where you can see at a glance which concerts are planned in Meppel in the near future.
The site also links to ticket sales. Linked to this, poster campaigns are being launched, drawing attention to the music offering on triangular boards in the municipality of Meppel. The first signs will be placed from January 22. Muziekinmeppel.nl mainly focuses on concerts by professional bands.
Good environment for pop music
The three stages have been working together on their music programming for some time. The idea is that by coordinating the concerts, they can complement each other instead of compete. Partly because of this, a good climate for pop music has emerged in Meppel in recent years. This season, music lovers could already enjoy artists such as Jett Rebel, Elephant and Ruben Block (Triggerfinger). In the near future, Her Majesty, Johan, Robin Kester, The Kik and Matteo Myderwyk will be on the bill.
To combine forces
During the launch of the website in the Vegafabriek in Kolderveen, director Natalie Straatman of Schouwburg Ogterop explains that the idea for collaboration arose when the plans for the renovation of the theater discussed the addition of a music venue. “Then I thought: why don’t we start a collaboration now?” says Straatman. “This way we can join forces and get to know each other better as an organization. And once the renovation has started, we would like to organize some things at alternative locations. Good contacts with partners such as the Vegafabriek and the Music Cooperative are very important.”
Reach each other’s audience
Chairman Michiel de Boer of the Music Cooperative also recognizes the importance of good cooperation. “Of course it is good to decide which artists we bring to Meppel, with what program and on what date,” says De Boer. “But the added value of this collaboration is also that we reach each other’s audiences. I still meet people who don’t even know that the Music Cooperative regularly programs nationally known bands. This website can change that.” Fellow board member Frans ten Veen adds that the triangular signs along the road will also have an important function. The other attendees agree.
‘Meppel has two unique stages’
Bort Hartog, who took the initiative for the Vegafabriek together with his partner Janneke Molenhuis at the end of 2018, points out that Meppel has two unique stages with the attractive bonbonnière hall of Ogterop and the industrial charm of the old Cheese Hall in Kolderveen. “The fact that we actively work together is great news for all people in our municipality with a musical beating heart,” says Hartog. “It also appears professional to the booking agencies if we coordinate things well and a number of appealing bands can be seen every season. This allows us to expand our possibilities. With this we really position Meppel as a music city.”