Groningen is a city of music, and the artists on the boards are often just from the neighbourhood. Musical delights from their own pond. Some were born here, others found their heart here later. From jazz to hip-hop and americana: city and countryside are home to all kinds and styles. See where they play and listen for yourself. Keep an eye on them: today's local talent is tomorrow's big name.
Fred Goverde | Dutch-language guitar pop
Making catchy music is something they can do at Fred Goverde. Writing playful lyrics. Inspired by bands like the Dandy Warhols, they put a twist on guitar pop. And just in Dutch. Sometimes with quiet songs, but more often with a good dose of pace. They sure know how to get you moving. And although the band bears the name of its lead singer, the whole thing makes the music so good. With a tambourine as a surprising addition.
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Rommy Gabay
At 22, she is young, but no longer a rookie in the music world. For several years now, she has been making sounds that stick. A kind of mixture of jazz, pop and soul. Backed by an excellent band, she hits all the right notes. And even though Rommy is small in stature, her voice is big. But also subtle, sultry. A performance leaves you momentarily still as you are taken into a dreamy world.
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The Vices
From group of friends to boy band. A scenario from a book, but also just reality. The boys are making quite a name for themselves and have now outgrown small venues. You have probably heard their energetic pop somewhere, for instance at 3FM. With several tours and even their own festival in SPOT, you can't ignore The Vices anymore. And you don't have to, because the music is far too good for that.
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" city and surrounding area host all types and styles "
Kraantje Pappie
You can find him in the pub, in the club, in the disco or in the pub; it is impossible to imagine the Dutch music landscape without Alex van der Zouwen. Alias Kraantje Pappie, the Groningen-raised hip-hop artist now has many a hit to his name. With songs such as De manier, Feesttent and Pompen, many a festival will have the feet off the floor. His love for the city comes out in Lil Craney, which has quickly become a Groningen classic. The music lingers, sticks and always gives you a good dose of energy.
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Steeby and the Better Days
Hip-hop like you haven't heard it before. Uplifting and with influences from jazz and soul. Good-humoured frontman Jesse takes you into his musical world from minute one. He moves from front to back, left to right. Don't be surprised if he is suddenly in front of you. The music is often in Dutch with a hint of English here and there. Armed with a blistering saxophonist and Jesse's father on the drums, the band is a unit you must have seen and heard once.
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Blanks
From playing guitar in front of the webcam in your bedroom in Harkstede to sitting on the sofa next to Jan Smit in the Best Singers of the Netherlands. It happened to Simon de Wit, better known by his stage name Blanks. In 2013, he started uploading music videos on YouTube. Especially the StyleSwap, in which he performed well-known songs in a different style of music, quickly became popular. At lightning speed, he managed to reach an audience of millions and to top it all off, his debut album Nothing Lasts Forever And That's Ok was released in 2021. You can hardly ignore him already.
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" musical delights from our own pond "
Inge van Calkar
Some call her the Dutch Kylie Minogue. Her energetic electro-synthpop sounds like music to your ears. At 15, she already had her own band. That tasted like more. Over the years, she has built up quite a repertoire. And experimented with different styles. Then more in the direction of singer-songwriter, now she is on stage with a big band and full of energy.
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Them Dirty Dimes
This group puts a new spin on pre-war music. From jazz to blues and gypsy, the quirky gentlemen give it their own modern twist. The five-piece formation is well attuned to each other and you can hear it. They have only been around for two years but can already be admired in many places. The guys from Groningen have already released their own album and are working on their second. So keep an eye on them.
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What Aans!
As they say themselves: the most Groningen music formation. The trio also calls themselves 'Team Sjomp', freely translated to 'weirdo'. The gentlemen's music is different, a tad apart. The Dutch language and the Groningen dialect intermingle, but at the same time complement each other well. The result: songs with a wink and a good dose of self-mockery. With references to Oude Pekela and other gems of the North. They have already gone viral several times and the success seems unstoppable for the time being.
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" today's local talent is tomorrow's big name "
Dope D.O.D
The harder stuff. This group plays on your feelings, but with strong vocals and aggressive beats. Sort of a combination between hardcore rap and dubstep. Without even listening to them, their countenance already gives you a pretty good taste of what to expect. The gentlemen gained international fame with their 2011 hit What Happened . Today, they are still touring: go see them sometime if you have the time and courage.
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The Desmonds
A fast pace, slashing guitars and densely lubricated vocals. In recent years, The Desmonds have become an interesting player in the Dutch rock underground scene. On and off stage, they seem to be constantly reinventing themselves. It is an exciting combination of the whimsical aesthetic of American garage punk with the distinctly Dutch rock sound. This is something you want to keep listening to.
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Marlene Bakker
Romantic, cinematic and brimming with longing and wistfulness. This is how Marlene Bakker's music is described. In 2018, her Groningen-language debut album RAIF (Gronings for tools) was released. She received the regional language award from Dagblad van het Noorden for this. The singer hails from Smeerling (Westerwolde), tells stories about town and surrounding area with her songs. Inspired by the area she comes from. She has already performed at festivals such as Grasnapolsky, Oerol, Festival der Aa and Noorderslag and went on a national theatre tour. Even if you don't understand the Groningen dialect, she knows how to touch you with her voice. So keep an eye on her, because this autumn she will release her new album and go on theatre tour again.
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Giving local talent a voice
So Groningen is home to quite a few musical talents. There are so many that we could never name them all, some already bigger than others. But what they all have in common: they once started small. And to get them started, sometimes a little help is needed. Think talent projects and showcases. To literally give artists a stage. For instance, Hit the North, a development project of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS), among others, organises an annual trajectory with coaching, workshops and showcases in pop venues throughout the north of the Netherlands. The participating acts conclude their trajectory with an official showcase at ESNS. During the festival in January, discover even more Groningen acts at Grunnsonic, POPGroningen's freely accessible stage. A time when the whole city breathes music. And don't forget smaller initiatives like MOZY Music, with performances by local heroes at different venues. Whatever you like: enjoy all the talent from local ponds.
