Preview Eurosonic 2016

Go Dutch as we preview the annual new band meet-up in Groningen.

Words: Emma Swann
10th January 2017

While the UK freezes to a standstill this week (or so the weather predictors would have us believe), a literal LOAD of bands new, newer and nearly-new are heading from across Europe to the relatively small city of Groningen in the Netherlands for Eurosonic - think of it as The Great Escape without the pier and a whole load of canal.

While we’re hoping to point at bands at random in order to find a new fave or three, here’s who we’ll be definitely queueing to see…

The Magic Gang

13th January, Minerva Art Academy, Zuiderdiep, 9:45pm

Do these four need an introduction? With that oh-so-long-awaited debut album in the near distant future, the Brighton boys and their irresistible melodies are guaranteed to warm the icy-cold hands / feet / hearts (delete as appropriate; it’s an industry event after all).

Declan McKenna

12th January, Vrijdag, 10:50pm

Fresh-faced and fresher still from our Class of 2017 (though we hope he’s dried off now), 2017 is bound to be Declan’s to grab - he’s already done ‘the telly thing’, after all.

Sløtface

13th January, De Spieghel, Main, 11:45pm

Another Class of 2017 alumni (can we call them that yet?! Good.), the Norwegian rabble’s deliciously infectious pop-punk will have even the most suited of industry bods toe-tapping through the night. Take ‘em dancing, alright.

Hare Squead

12th January, Huize Maas, Main, 10:15pm

“Kaleidoscopic tendencies” are what we dubbed Hare Squead’s sound when premiering single ‘Herside Story’ back in November - while the video for that track was filmed down the road in Amsterdam, we’d imagine Groningen’s masses will fall for this Irish hip hop trio’s charm.

Skott

12th January, Minerva Art Academy, Zuiderdiep, 9:45pm

Scandi electro-pop bangers ahoy with a difference - Skott claims via growing up in a commune, she didn’t have access to the Pop World at large (or Popworld on the telly, for that matter - poor Miquita). She’s still buzz-tastic, mind.

Tags: The Magic Gang, Festivals, Features