It started out back in 1986 as a battle between Belgian and Dutch bands.
Twenty-four years on and EuroSonic Noorderslag has become the most important convention of the European live-music industry and is the place to discover the acts and facts of the upcoming festival season. This otherwise peaceful student-outpost is flocked with bookers, agents, promoters, press and other animals who mingle under the influence of a well-know alcoholic beverage which comes in flashy green cans. Their sole purpose is to engage in a verging-on-the-fringes-of-ludicrous venue-hopping around town in order to attend more than 250 gigs spreading over the course of three evenings. This year there was a special focus on the Norwegian music scene and industry which means that along with the standard-themed panels, delegates were treated with offerings such as ‘The Truth about Norwegian Black and Extreme Metal’.
While outside snow was still present on the fringes, resulting in a rather chilly setting, über-hyped Marina and the Diamonds took to the stage at Huize Maas. Welsh-born Marina showcased her impressive vocal capabilities but the audience was hard to please.
German post-hardcore/alternative kids Sometree made good noise, but Swedish band-of-the-moment Name The Pet didn’t come across very convincingly.
To the contrary Anne Lise Frøkedal won over all impressions later on in Vindicat. The mastermind behind Oslo-based Harrys Gym beamed a weird type of elegance in her white renaissance-styled shirt. She seemed delicate and fragile, but Harrys Gym bit back with an impeccably executed set, full of intense and melancholic melodies.
I had no expectations from French skinny pop-sensation Sliimy but his set in the Grand Theatre was rather entertaining and in great contrast with The Megaphonic Thrift’s loud and tight Dinosaur Jr.-influenced alternative rock mix. A noisewave of fuzz doing which comes complete with the odd Nirvana-styled gear-smashing at the end.
Opening up the Friday evening bill at Vera Icelandic Agent Fresco translated algebra into music. A 4/4 time signature seemed like an unknown concept to them. They delivered their progressive tendencies with Swiss-watch precision, but were a rather tedious affair to non-lovers of the genre.
Choir of Young Believers unfolded their retro, phychedelic pop in a beautiful theatre called Stadsschouwburg resulting in an almost ecclesiastical atmosphere.
4AD shoegaze/noisepop darlings Serena Maneesh made an impact with their brilliant self-titled 2005 debut. With new material finally in the pipeline their EuroSonic appearance was highly anticipated. The venue was a tad too big for them and they seemed somehow daunted by the task. Still, their dreamy soundscapes were imposing, making them the perfect crossover between Sonic Youth and Slowdive.
Rounding off the festival were Iceland’s newest hot tip FM Belfast who brought a whole circus of underwear-wearing lunatics onstage. Who knows by next year I might even be able to spell Noorderslag by heart!
Words and Photos by Vasilis Panagiotopoulos
