“Do you really expect me to come all the way to Groningen to see some unknown bands from Portugal and Poland?” Eurosonic Noorderslag founder Peter Smidt laughingly recalls the scathing reaction of most journalists and promoters when he first staged a music festival in his native city in 1986. “People called us naïve idiots.”
Smidt doesn’t seem so naïve now. It’s typically cold and wet in Groningen at the moment but, with the four-day Eurosonic Noorderslag now in full swing, the only real reason to be outdoors is to scurry between gigs. Now in its thirtieth year, the internationally renowned Dutch music festival is bigger, better and louder than ever.
The entire place is rocking as more than 41,000 visitors – 330 journalists and representatives of 34 European radio stations amongst them (Dan Hegarty and Ian Wilson are flying the RTE flag), descend on Groningen to catch as many of the 350 acts playing as their schedules will allow.
Meanwhile, during the day, the De Oosterpoort conference centre hosts various panels, keynotes, interviews and workshops about the latest developments in the music industry. There’s a serious buzz around the place as deals are being done, contacts are being made, and friendships forged.
Ultimately, though, it’s all about the live music. There’s more than 50 stages scattered around the city centre, in venues ranging from small and intimate pubs to large and spacious theatres.
Situated right beside each other, Plato record store and Coffeecompany on Oude Ebbingestraat are two small but highly significant venues. Yesterday (Thurs) they played host to free acoustic gigs by Irish acts Pleasure Beach, The Young Folk and young Dublin singer-songwriter Craig Gallagher (pictured).
A good buddy of former schoolmate Gavin James, this is Gallagher’s first visit to Eurosonic. “I’ve played Holland a good few times supporting Gavin,” he explains, “but this is my first time doing my own shows over here. Eurosonic really only came up at the last moment for me because a big Dutch promoter, based in Amsterdam, is interested in putting on some shows in March and he wanted me to showcase my stuff here. It’s brilliant – going really well.”
A folk-influenced five-piece, The Young Folk are another Dublin act. However, although this is also their first Eurosonic, the band are already a lot better established in Holland than they are on their home turf. “Things really took off for us over here when we were asked to feature in this Dutch reality TV show,” explains singer Anthony Furey. “It was to do with bands trying to make it in the music industry. We appeared on the show and things just took off over here almost immediately.
“So much so that our second album, First Sign of Morning, is actually coming out in Holland next March before being released in Ireland. Eurosonic is definitely a great place for us to play.”
Stay tuned to hotpress.com for video interviews with The Young Folk, Craig Gallagher and Pleasure Beach.