“You heard it first at ESNS!” is the slogan of the double festival “Eurosonic/Noorderslag”, which will take place for the 20th time in the northern Dutch student and administrative city of Groningen from January 17th. The Dutch-Flanders segment “Nooderslag” has existed for 37 years now. A lot of experience and tradition in the alleys and canals around the legendary live club “Vera”.
As soon as the sun sinks behind the dikes, over 260 European acts will perform in 40 clubs, open-air stages and even churches. The saga goes like this: the booking teams of the big summer festivals recruit material for their side stages here.
ESNS 2024: Poland in focus
Awards such as the “European Border Breaker” prize honor bands that have played in most countries on the Old Continent after the ESNS. And according to the principle of the book fair in Frankfurt, “Eurosonic/Noorderslag” focuses on a different country every year.
This year the focus is on Poland. Under the motto “Focus on Poland”, Berry Galazka, who is also nominated for the “Music Moves Europe” award, will be on stage. The entire spectrum of pop music between the Oder and the Belarusian border with Artificialice, Ciśnienie, Immortal Onion, Izzy and the Black Trees and LASY. For most people, this is new territory where there is a lot to discover.
The music export organizations from Iceland (with Arny Margret, gugusar, Vévak ioder Lón) or Portugal (Ana Lua Caiano, Bateu Matou or Lina_) are also making a big splash locally. When commuting between venues, Groningen’s suburban fans are just as on the hunt for the new Björk as the ripped-off industry sharks.
Betterov was there in Groningen
Coming from Germany: The Mannheim band Clock Clock (with a German tour in April), who are also competing for a European Cup, or the Berlin songwriter Betterov, the songwriters Brockhoff, CATT and Güner Künier and the German- international twosome Amistat Duo.
With Anna van Nunen, who was born in Groningen, a new proven specialist is taking up her position as manager. “As I grew up in Groningen and have a big heart for the music industry, it is a great honor for me to work as the new ESNS director. (…) In the coming years, I would like to ensure a future-proof organization and a rock-solid positioning of ESNS in Europe,” said the CEO in the run-up to the festival.