Christmas Trees are rotting on a street corner, the queues have died down in Pandora and you’re already regretting your decision to only drink juice in January. Welcome to the New Year. We don’t want to alarm anyone, but it’s also the start of festival season. Yeah, we know.
After last weekend’s Rockaway Beach blew off the cobwebs, we’re now heading to Eurosonic Nooderslag in the Netherlands to dive into the world of buzzy, hypey and next-big-thingy.
Taking place in Groningen from the 15th-18th January, the festival is the biggest European showcase of music and alongside our desire to eat a whole load of hagelslag, we’re expecting big things from the following artists.
That’s right, it’s a Festival Preview. Yay?
The sort of band that should be on the covers of magazines (oh, what a coincidence), Inhaler’s Large Rock Songs are purpose-built for big sing-alongs. There’s already a touch of the arena in the open road drive of ‘Ice Cream Sundae’ while ‘My Honest Face’ is a ready to go anthem.
FFO: Being able to say “I saw that band before they were massive”
See them: WED 15 Jan | Huize Maas, Main | 23:45 – 00:20
Aren’t Pip Blom the best? If debut album ‘Boat’ is anything to go by then, yes. They are. They’ve spent the past few months in the studio working on new stuff, which you should already be excited for and, in our humble opinion, Eurosonic is the perfect chance for them to show it off. Expect rugged indie-emo bangers with loads of heart and even more fun.
FFO: Hometown-ish heroes
See them: SAT 18 Jan | De Oosterpoort, Kleine Zaal | 22:50 – 23:35
According to the BBC, she’s the Sound Of 2020 after winning their prize of the same name and for once, the news coming from the BBC isn’t full of horrible lies and propaganda designed to make us turn on each other.
New song ‘Stop This Flame’ is a fiery declaration of want and determination, AKA the perfect lead up to her debut album which is due in the next few months. Fearless and with loads of heart, watch Celeste smash 2020.
FFO: Making good decisions
See them: THU 16 Jan | Stadsschouwburg | 21:25 – 22:10
Taking the everyday and making it sparkle, Sinead O’Brien cuts the bubbling excitement of the new wave of punk and twists it around something more buoyant. Wide-eyed but never sugar-coated, the likes of ‘A Thing Called Joy’ and ‘Limbo’ are impossible to ignore.
FFO: Having songs stuck in your head for days and days and days
See them: WED 15 Jan | Vera | 20:45 – 21:30 OR WED 15 Jan | Martinikerk | 22:10 – 22:30
Gritty, ragtag but definitely brilliant, Friedberg’s decadent rock is supercharged with an open-armed spirit. Superstars in the making, the gang are the perfect antidote to a bleak winter.
FFO: fun (the activity, not the band)
See them: THU 16 Jan | Hooghoudt Barn | 21:10 – 21:50
