Eurosonic 2008

January 13th, 2008 by J-One

Traditionally a new music year kicks off with the “Noorderslagweekend” in Groningen. First two days of Eurosonic followed by the saturday for the incrowd dutch music business at the Noorderslag festival itself. For the real music pioneer the Eurosonic festival is the thing to look for. With over 200 bands playing at 30 venues, it is the ultimate wet dream of every music sn0b. Below you can find the route which I and my brother in music have followed.

Eurosonic: Thursday
Eurosonic: Friday
Eurosonic 2007

Eurosonic: Thursday
As In Rebekkamaria (Huis ‘De Beurs’)
Cocorosie that is the first thing that jumps in your mind when you hear RebekkaMaria Andersson with her solo project As In Rebekkamaria. Where Cocorosie is more on the dreamy side, RebekkaMaria throws more power into her electropop tracks. Live the She-Lion performs with a band featuring a Gunther look-alike. Impressive performance which screams for more. Luckily the debut album of RebekkaMaria will see daylight just before spring.

MySpace

Olafur Arnalds (De Spieghel, main)
‘De Spieghel’ for once was turned into a sitting area. Silently the listeners let them dwell into the beautiful world Olafur created. With minimal electronics blend with classic instruments Olafur built up a tension of something to come. For half an hour ‘De Spieghel’ was the most quiet place on earth. A big thumbs up for the audience for their respect to keep their mouths shut! Music for a lazy/drowny sunday afternoon.

Homepage | MySpace | 3voor12

Hanne Hukkelberg (Stadsschouwburg)
When we waked up out of the icelandic dream, we went to the Stadsschouwburg to see a few tracks of norwegian singer/songwriter Hanne Hukkelberg. This was some hit and run event, but the moments we were there it was good. No, better the music directly gets you. The voice of Hanne and the atmosphere was just perfect. Unfortunately we had to leave to see the next gig, otherwise this was another highlight in the early stages of this Eurosonic. Thankfully 3voor12 has put the concert online.

Homepage | MySpace | 3voor12

Adept (Simplon, Up)
The first time I saw Adept, it was at Lowlands in the X-Ray when the sun was shining bright. Not the right conditions for an Adept performance. No, this time it was the small dark Simplon venue and what a difference this made. The music of Adept, pumps, sucks and crushes every good intention out of you. There is only one option, you have to deliver your soul to the devil and worship Adept. It is only a matter of time, within half an hour you are completely reborn put back on earth!

MySpace | 3voor12

Krakow (De Spieghel, Up)
Full of adrenaline we went to the next gig: Krakow out of Belgium. This was another piece of cook. Maybe it was not a good idea to make such a switch music wise, because Krakow couldn’t impress me much. Well played, but the madness of Adept was still tolling in my head. Sorry girl and guys of Krakow, I heard from others that the performance was well received.

Homepage | MySpace | 3voor12

Lykke Li (Grand Theatre, Up)
A Swedish *sigh* girl! Exciting, sensual and attractive. Lykke Li has it all. As a bonus the tracks sounds nice as well. The perfect act to clear your mind after the Adept-assault! Forget France, Sweden is the new country to sigh! Approved by Filles Sourires. (audio)

Homepage | MySpace | 3voor12

Hooverphonic (Grand Theatre, Main)
Nothing on the hand popmusic, that’s what Hooverphonic is up to. Started as trip hop the sound of Hooverphonic evolved through the years more to the nowadays sound of psychedelic pop. Hooverphonic is a no risk act to visit. You get what you want, nothing more, nothing less. Damn, just forget what I just said. It is not about the music of course, it is the front lady Geike Arnaert who drews all the attention to her. Hooverphonic on stage = Geike! And I love Geike. Fat dot. (audio)

Homepage | MySpace | 3voor12

Si Schroeder (Grand Theatre, Up)
For a threesome I would invite Lykke and Geike and put up a cd of Si Schroeder. That would make up to an almost perfect evening. Candlelights and the somewhat dark folktronica of Si in the background. What more does a man want! What more does a man need! Impressive set of this Irish man, a little bit let down by the clothing of the band around him. But hey, I’m fly-shifting here.

MySpace | 3voor12

Slagsmålsklubben (Simplon, Up)
Some people fall at sleep after a portion of buttsecks or two. But I like to play with my good old joystick any further. So after the tension in Grand Theatre it was time to release all the urges of man and jump into the gameworld called Slagsmålsklubben. This is Scandinavian weirdness at their best. The techno-bit-gamepop turns out to be very danceable and for the second time the Simplon Up venue went totally balloonies. When the last bits were squeeshed out of the controllers, the innermind said it was game over for the first day of Eurosonic.

Homepage | MySpace

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