Groningen is a city of music. There are many places where concerts and jam sessions are organised, and live music can be heard somewhere every day. From pop stages to the café around the corner. From grand to intimate. And City & province are also the stage for many festivals throughout the year. Sounds like music to your ears, right?
Beautiful pop venues
Groningen's city centre is home to many pop venues. Every fan scores his or her favourite music here. Stand at the front or grab a comfortable spot at the back of the hall. From classical to jazz and hard rock: you can hear everything here. Enjoy the grandeur of De Oosterpoort or the small-scale character of Simplon. Something new every day.
De Oosterpoort | Several days a week
Trompsingel 27 - Groningen's largest music venue. With over 600 performances a year, there is always something to see or hear. There are several halls with plenty of room for musical talent. From concerts to festivals. From world-famous artists to local talent. Moreover, you can also come here for a nice evening of theatre or dance.
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VERA | Several days a week
Oosterstraat 44 - This music venue is known as one of the best in the country. This is because of its keen eye (and ear) for emerging talent, established bands and music that is often just a little bit different. Fun fact: it once started as a student association and an association it still is. You can tell by the nice, cosy atmosphere. Fans of blistering guitars get their money's worth here. Enjoy performances in the main hall or intimate, often loud (punk) bands in the Basement Bar.
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EM2 | Weekly, monthly
Suikerlaan 6 - At de Suikertuin, you'll find EM2. A place where you can enjoy live music as well as homemade pizzas. It regularly hosts local artists, but also big international names. From rock to jazz and everything in between, every music lover will find a place here.
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Simplon | Several days a week
Boterdiep 69 - A small-scale pop venue with innovative and varied programming. Mainly focused on electronic music. From dance to urban. But you should also come here for an evening of punk, jazz or folk. Here, you mainly listen to new talent, mostly from the region. The excellent programming sometimes includes big names.
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" Local and international talent on Groningen stages "
Music in pubs, bars and more
Prefer to look for it on a smaller scale? Even then, there are plenty of places for you. Several pubs, bars and other tents play live music every week. From jam sessions to jazz performances and swinging guitars: there is something great to be heard on every street corner. Order your drink at the bar and sit back and relax.
Brouwerij Martinus | Monthly
A more than unique place to enjoy jazz. Since 2017, in collaboration with the Jazz in Groningen Foundation, regular jazz performances have been held here. The nature of jazz varies and keeps surprising you every time. From mainstream to impro and everything in between. All in a living room-like atmosphere. And while enjoying the fine sounds, you taste the tastiest and freshest beers from Brouwerij Martinus. An excellent combination.
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Kroeg van Klaas | Every Saturday
Oosterweg 26 - Kroeg van Klaas is a real old-fashioned brown neighbourhood pub in de Oosterpoort, one of the city's liveliest districts. Every Saturday there is a different band on stage. African, jazz, rock: it all comes along. Come here to dance, eat and drink, play and sing.
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Roodehaan food & drink | Various weekend days
Kosterijweg 10A, Westeremden - After 12 great years in Warfhuizen, the Roodehaan stage has moved to Westeremden. At Roodehaan live, you will discover talented artists who generally just haven't made it to the big stages. Almost every Saturday or Sunday, concerts are organised here by musicians from home and abroad. Keep an eye on the concert agenda, which is regularly updated.
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Buckshot Café | Every Sunday
Gedempte Zuiderdiep 58 - Buckshot stands for live music, which has been here every Sunday since it opened in 1999. Hundreds of bands have played at Buckshot over the years. During big events like King's Day, there is invariably an outdoor stage in front. From jazz to soul and funk: this is the place to be every week.
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Eetcafé De Smederij | Every Tuesday
Garden Street 2 - Here they know what making music is. And they've been doing it for a while. For more than 30 (!) years, there has been a live jazz session at the Forge every Tuesday night - a popular spot for advanced jazz musicians and music students, but also for enthusiasts who just want to get out and about on Tuesday nights.
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Café The Crown | Every Monday and Sunday
Gedempte Zuiderdiep 2 - Start your week off right with live music at The Crown. With a varied selection. Every Monday you can listen to fine jazz here. Crazy about bands? Then The Crown on Sunday evenings is totally your thing. Every week a different band takes to the stage. So enjoy two days in a row.
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Harbourclub | Every Friday
Havenkade West 3, Winschoten - For the true jazz lover. In cooperation with the Prince Claus Conservatoire, jazz performances were held here for many years and you can still come here for cosy evenings full of world music. A fine place to have a dance.
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" on every street corner there is something beautiful to hear "
Unique festivals
Whatever you love: you'll find your festival in Groningen. Using the city centre, a village or the countryside as a stage. From quirky discovery festivals to big-name festivities. Stroll around the grounds or take in all the beauty these unique festivals have to offer.
Eurosonic Noorderslag | January
Inner city - The year is off to a good start with Eurosonic. In mid-January, the entire city is the stage for musical talent from Europe. More than three hundred artists, in fact. Naturally, they play in big halls. But you also enjoy guitars, singing and more in churches, schools, cafés and shops. You run into musical delights everywhere. Here you can see the bands that will fill summer festivals later in the year. Here you hear music that will soon be heard on every radio station. Here you are at small-scale concerts by the world stars of tomorrow. And with Grunnsonic as part of it, you'll also enjoy local talent.
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Hongerige Wolf | July
Hongerige Wolf - Where? Yes indeed, Hongerige Hongerige Wolf is the name of a Groningen village. During the arts festival of the same name, wayward young artists are given a stage. For their music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts and literature. In the broadest sense of the word, in other words. Listen to a concert on the sheep field, watch theatre on the dike and dance in the backyard. The place to discover new talent.
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Noorderzon | August
Noorderplantsoen - The green Noorderplantsoen is transformed into a fairytale setting. Walk through the park and go exploring. You can do this during the day, but also in the evening when the atmospheric lighting is switched on. A surprise behind every tree. With a motley collection of stage performers and artists. But also terraces, food stalls and so hundreds of lights that show you the way. Visit performances, concerts or get creative yourself. A festive start to the cultural season and an excellent end to the summer holidays.
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Stadspark | Alternate
Where horses used to race down the lanes, large groups of people now regularly stand to enjoy worldly music. This is because the grounds in the Stadspark have been transformed into an event location. With a capacity you could say hello to. Artists regularly perform here, some of them world-class. Think Guns 'N Roses, Green Day and Rammstein. But festivals such as Kingsland and Hullabaloo also take place on the large lawn. Every music lover gets his or her money's worth here.
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" From quirky discovery festivals to big-name festivities "
