No ticket? No problem!
Eurosonic for free
Door Giulia Fabrizi
By Giulia Fabrizi
The holidays have long since passed, while winter is really only just beginning. But in Groningen, there’s light at the end of the tunnel: ESNS! For four days, everything in the city will revolve around the pre-eminent European showcase festival. No matter where you go, you’ll hear music.
Hundreds of relatively unknown artists will come here in the hopes that music bigwigs will book them for festivals, tours, and other gigs. And while you need a ticket to see what’s on the main stages, there are more than enough free events where you can enjoy music.
While the free programme is obviously available on the ESNS website, we like to make it easy for you. Below, you’ll find a selection from the free programme, featuring three-day events where you can listen to lots of music or experience other art forms.
We refer to the events’ timetables and websites and provide a direct link to the location. Just to make it easy on you.
Platosonic
From Thursday to Saturday, record store Plato and coffeeshop Coffee Company at the Oude Ebbingestraat will host intimate concerts by well-known artists. More than forty acts from the official ESNS line-up will be doing mini concerts throughout the day. Check the timetable to see who plays when and make sure you’re on time, because when they’re full, they’re full.
Plato & Coffee Company – Oude Ebbingestraat 41 and 39
Eurosonic Air
That big tent in the middle of the Grote Markt? That’s for ESNS Air! From Thursday to Saturday, you can attend gigs by artists like The Vices, Roxeanne Hazes, and Karsu. They’ll be playing 45-minute sets, which are all free. Check the timetable to see who plays when.
Eurosonic Air – Grote Markt
Grunnsonic
Grunnsonic is the place to check out talented Groningers during ESNS. It’s spread out over four locations: Het Pakhuis, Warhol, Het Concerthuis clothing store Klup de Dag. From Wednesday until Friday, Grunnsonic will play host to more than twenty artists from the North, and you can see them all for free.
Het Pakhuis – Peperstraat 8-2
Warhol – Papengang 6
Het Concerthuis – Poelestraat 30
Klup de Dag – Oosterstraat 27
Penguin Showcases
One of the biggest alternative programmes during ESNS, the Penguin Showcases take place at De Drie Gezusters pub. From Wednesday to Friday, you’ll find more than 250 artists, spread out over ten stages. Free access to such an extensive programme means you can spend the whole night wandering De Drie.
De Drie Gezusters – Grote Markt 36
Jagersonic in Vera
No ticket for Saturday’s Noorderslag? Don’t worry! The now infamous Jagersonic in Vera is sure to entertain the hell out of you from 1.30 until 10.30 p.m. With no entrance fee, you’ll find entertainment, DJs, singers, and beer.
Vera – Oosterstraat 44
HyperTrove
If you’re looking for some different art after three days of music, drop by HyperTrove, hosted in project space SIGN, on Saturday. As part of ESNS Art and in collaboration with Talent van Hier, Groningen artists Radina Kordova and Enrica Arbia have created a programme full of unexpected art. It ranges from theatre to music and from collage art to installations. Between 2 and 8 p.m., you can discover young artists such as Ruggero di Luisi, Vieze Meisje, and Ether Infinity.
SIGN – Winschoterkade 10