#amsterdamcentrum — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #amsterdamcentrum, aggregated by home.social.
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French II (live) - ADE
Paradiso, Friday, October 23 at 10:00 PM GMT+2
Live show by electronic producer from TilburgFrench II combines wobbly bass, breaks, and driving techno with detailed sound design. His releases on labels such as Unknown - Untitled, Nerve Collect, and Intercept show his versatile approach to electronic music. Alongside his more club-focused tracks, he also explores darker and more melancholic sounds, leaving room for experimentation.
Together with Alberta Balsam, Bastian Benjamin, and Milio, French II performed live as part of ‘A#’ at renowned stages including Draaimolen and Speedy J’s STOOR Live at Pink Noise in 2025. At Draaimolen 2026, French II debuted his new live set, which became one of the most memorable performances of the festival. During ADE, he brings this new live set to Paradiso.
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Autobiography of Light
Splendor, Saturday, October 10 at 08:00 PM GMT+2
Felix Schlarmann presents:Book launch / Concert / TalkAn Evening of Awareness, Listening and Composition.
What happens when a book is not simply presented, but experienced?Join us for an evening with Dorian Matei and The Autobiography of Light, a newly published book exploring awareness, perception, and the subtle ways we experience the world around us. Dorian’s work grows out of a long-standing exploration of awareness, perception, and the relationship between inner experience and the world we inhabit. Rather than approaching these questions purely as intellectual subjects, he is interested in how they can be encountered directly, through attention, listening, sensation, and presence.
This will not be a lecture, nor a conventional book presentation, but an encounter between words, sound, attention and the people in the room. Dorian will offer a glimpse into the landscape of the book: a world in which awareness is fluid, and perception is not merely a window onto reality, but a living medium through which reality takes shape. From there, these ideas will move into music.
Four accomplished international artists: clarinetist, Golden Calf-winning composer and improviser Alex Simu; pianist, musician, communicator and researcher Folkert Oosting; double bassist and creative facilitator Lucas Dols; and drummer, composer and educator Felix Schlarmann, come together to explore this landscape through spontaneous composition and improvisation.
Their practices extend beyond performance: into composition, education, theatre, creative research, communication and new forms of participation. Together, they bring different ways of listening, responding and making sense of what happens in the moment.
The moment will belong to everyone in the room. The music will not simply be performed for the audience. The awareness of the audience, its attention, presence, stillness and movement, becomes part of the musical experience, subtly shaping how the musicians perceive, respond and improvise. Listening is no longer passive; it becomes a form of participation.
There will also be space for conversation: to ask questions, to reflect, and to explore the ideas of The Autobiography of Light together with Dorian and the musicians.
Come to discover the book, listen to the music, and notice what happens when your own awareness becomes part of the experience.
Dorian Matei - author
Alex Simu - clarinet
Folkert Oosting - piano
Lucas Dols - double bass
Felix Schlarmann - drumsAlex Simu & Folkert Oosting op Spotify
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Autobiography of Light
Splendor, Saturday, October 10 at 08:00 PM GMT+2
Felix Schlarmann presents:Book launch / Concert / TalkAn Evening of Awareness, Listening and Composition.
What happens when a book is not simply presented, but experienced?Join us for an evening with Dorian Matei and The Autobiography of Light, a newly published book exploring awareness, perception, and the subtle ways we experience the world around us. Dorian’s work grows out of a long-standing exploration of awareness, perception, and the relationship between inner experience and the world we inhabit. Rather than approaching these questions purely as intellectual subjects, he is interested in how they can be encountered directly, through attention, listening, sensation, and presence.
This will not be a lecture, nor a conventional book presentation, but an encounter between words, sound, attention and the people in the room. Dorian will offer a glimpse into the landscape of the book: a world in which awareness is fluid, and perception is not merely a window onto reality, but a living medium through which reality takes shape. From there, these ideas will move into music.
Four accomplished international artists: clarinetist, Golden Calf-winning composer and improviser Alex Simu; pianist, musician, communicator and researcher Folkert Oosting; double bassist and creative facilitator Lucas Dols; and drummer, composer and educator Felix Schlarmann, come together to explore this landscape through spontaneous composition and improvisation.
Their practices extend beyond performance: into composition, education, theatre, creative research, communication and new forms of participation. Together, they bring different ways of listening, responding and making sense of what happens in the moment.
The moment will belong to everyone in the room. The music will not simply be performed for the audience. The awareness of the audience, its attention, presence, stillness and movement, becomes part of the musical experience, subtly shaping how the musicians perceive, respond and improvise. Listening is no longer passive; it becomes a form of participation.
There will also be space for conversation: to ask questions, to reflect, and to explore the ideas of The Autobiography of Light together with Dorian and the musicians.
Come to discover the book, listen to the music, and notice what happens when your own awareness becomes part of the experience.
Dorian Matei - author
Alex Simu - clarinet
Folkert Oosting - piano
Lucas Dols - double bass
Felix Schlarmann - drumsAlex Simu & Folkert Oosting op Spotify
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Raoul & Gast dubbelen zich suf
Theater de Richel, Wednesday, March 10 at 08:15 PM GMT+1
Raoul Heertje en zijn gast gaan met z’n tweeën een aantal theaters in om aan hun nieuwe voorstelling te werken. Dus je bent bij de geboorte, de dood en het opgroeien van nieuwe gedachten, oprispingen en nu al vlijmscherpe rants.
Comedy zoals het ooit bedoeld was.https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/raoul-and-gast-dubbelen-zich-suf
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National Design Debate 2026
Waag, Friday, October 23 at 03:00 PM GMT+2
How can Europe redesign itself, from infrastructure to imagination?
We design with American software, train on global AI models, and communicate through platforms developed outside Europe. While Europe leads the way in regulating technology, an important question remains: are we also leading in shaping our own future?
On Friday, October 23, designers, artists, thinkers, and technologists will gather for the National Design Debate 2026: Shaping Europe, live in the iconic Philips Hall of the Evoluon in Eindhoven. The event is organized by Next Nature and Waag Futurelab.
Can Europe develop its own design culture—one that offers a genuine alternative to both American Big Tech and China’s state-driven model?
Shaping Europe is a call to rethink the role of design in Europe—not merely as an aesthetic discipline, but as a cultural and political force that helps shape our digital future. The question is not only what we design, but with which values, using whose tools, and for whom.
Programme
15:30 hrsKeynote by Kristel Baele, Chair of the Council for Culture 16:00 hrsShort statements:
- Tinkebell, artist and provocateur
- Moktar Nabil, cultural entrepreneur
- Constant Dullaart, artist
- Roosje Klap, director Noorderlicht & desinger
- Erwin Blom, journalist & digital innovator 16:30 uurArtistic intermezzo door Urland16:40 uurDesign debat - moderated by Marsha Simon17:00 uurClosing discussion with Marleen Stikker, director Waag Futurelab en Koen van Mensvoort, director Next NatureThe Nationaal Design Debat is a place for both friction and imagination. It is for everyone who believes that design is more than solving problems—it is also about questioning, provoking, and dreaming. Join us. Think along. Make yourself heard. The future starts with a good conversation!
Speakers
Kristel Baele
Kristel Baele is Chair of the Council for Culture. Drawing on her background in public administration and higher education, and her love for the arts, she is committed to the future of art and culture in the Netherlands. She connects cultural policy with societal issues and the role of creativity in a changing society.Tinkebell
Tinkebell is a Dutch artist known for her outspoken and provocative work. Through her projects, she challenges ideas about ethics, consumerism, animal welfare, and social norms. Her work sparks public debate about the values that shape contemporary society.Moktar Nabil
Moktar Nabil is an experienced cultural entrepreneur with a strong background in both the creative and business sides of the cultural sector. He is Executive Director of the 40Worldwide Foundation, founder of Garage Noord and kanaal40, and formerly served as Creative Director of both organizations.Constant Dullaart
Constant Dullaart is a visual artist whose work explores the influence of the internet, social media, and digital platforms on society. His practice exposes the hidden power structures behind online visibility, data, and algorithms, and has been exhibited internationally.Roosje Klap
Roosje Klap is a mixed media designer, researcher, and director of Noorderlicht in Groningen, and project manager of THEA, the new art gallery for culture and technology in Groningen. She is known for her experimental, investigative approach within visual culture. She works at the intersection of art, design, and technology.Urland
URLAND is a Dutch theatre collective that brings together technology, performance, and digital culture. Their productions explore how artificial intelligence, algorithms, and virtual worlds are reshaping what it means to be human. Combining theatre, film, and digital media, they create bold and immersive experiences.Erwin Blom
Erwin Blom is a Dutch journalist, author and digital innovator exploring the intersection of media, technology and culture. Through vibecoding and vibedesigning, he investigates how AI enables people to turn ideas into working products and designs without traditional technical skills, lowering the barrier between imagination and creation.Marleen Stikker
Marleen Stikker is Director and co-founder of Waag Futurelab in Amsterdam. She is a pioneer in digital rights, open technology, and social innovation. Through Waag, she advocates for a more democratic, transparent, and equitable technological future.Koert van Mensvoort
Koert van Mensvoort is an artist, philosopher, and Director of Next Nature. He explores how technology is evolving into a new form of nature and how humans can learn to live with it. Through his work, he inspires audiences worldwide to rethink the relationship between nature and technology with curiosity and optimism.Marsha Simon
Marsha Simon is a moderator, presenter, and program maker. Driven by curiosity about what moves people and what is at stake, she makes complex subjects clear and tangible, so that what seems big and distant can come close. With fifteen years of experience at the intersection of creativity, science, policy, and transition issues, she asks the questions that make you re-examine your own role. -
Rosa Vendel - Silhouettes
Splendor, Friday, October 16 at 08:00 PM GMT+2
VENUE RENTAL CONCERTDebut EP release concert — with support from JIERVASinger-songwriter and pianist Rosa Vendel presents her debut EP Silhouettes. Rooted in alternative pop-folk, her music blends raw emotion with poetic melodies that unfold gradually. Acoustic instruments, subtle electronics and spacious arrangements give the songs an intimate, cinematic quality.
Having performed mostly solo until now, Rosa brings Silhouettes to life at Splendor with a small band. An evening about what lies hidden in the dark, about being seen, and about the strange beauty and foolishness of being alive.
With support from JIERVA.
Click here for Rosa's new single on Spotify.
Music & lyrics: Rosa Vendel
Band:
Rosa Vendel – vocals, piano & guitar
Javier Wallis – electronics
Jane Butler – fiddle
John Simm – drumsSupport act:
JIERVA (listen on Spotify)VENUE RENTAL CONCERT
At Splendor, you can hear the 55 musicians who are part of Splendor, as well as the guests they invite. This is reflected in the title, for example: ‘Felix Schlarmann presents...’ or 'Splendor presents...'.
But Splendor is also a space for musicians from outside our community. They can rent our spaces for concerts, releases, try-outs, and other events. This concert is one such venue rental: a performance by external musicians, organised on their own initiative. -
Animals and Politics: The State, Authoritarianism and Multispecies Assemblies
SPUI25, Tuesday, October 13 at 08:00 PM GMT+2
What does it mean to include nonhuman animals in politics? How to think about animal representation, citizenship, and deliberation? During this event, speakers will evaluate traditional and alternative political concepts and practices from the standpoint and needs of other animals.
Recently, there has been a growing interest in political models of representation, citizenship and deliberation that are expansive enough to include animals as constituents. Tonight, Dinesh Wadiwel and Eva Meijer will each reflect on the possibilities, challenges, and limits of multispecies politics. They will evaluate liberal democratic frameworks of the State from the standpoint of animals, and suggest transformative ways of living amongst and with other species. They are joined by Carolina Trujillo who will read a column. Moderation: Yolande Jansen.
Speakers
Dinesh Wadiwel is an Associate Professor in human rights and socio-legal studies, with a background in social and political theory. He is author of The War against Animals (Brill 2015) and Animals and Capital (Edinburgh University Press 2023), and co-editor, with Matthew Chrulew, of Foucault and Animals (Leiden: Brill, 2016). Dinesh is also a disability rights researcher and was part of a team who produced two reports for the Australia Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Eva Meijer is a philosopher, visual artist, writer and singer-songwriter. They write novels, philosophical essays, academic texts, poems and columns, and their work has been translated into over twenty languages. Recurring themes are language including silence, madness, nonhuman animals, and politics. Meijer’s latest book, Antropofacisme, Voorbij de echte mens is published in October 2026.
Carolina Trujillo is a novelist and writes columns for NRC. Her latest novel, De instructies, focuses on a group of animal activists who prepare to burn down a slaughterhouse.
Yolande Jansen (moderator) is Associate Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at the UvA.
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Pezhvakha-ye Shiraz / De weerklank van Shiraz / Echoes of Shiraz
Perdu, Saturday, November 7 at 08:00 PM GMT+1
This entire recital is dedicated to the poetry of Hafez and Saadi, both from Shiraz. Their poems, written in the 13th and 14th centuries, are still very popular in Iran and surrounding countries. The recital begins with an introduction into the characteristics of the ghazal, the type of poem that we recite. Subsequently the poems will be recited: first the Persian original, then the Dutch translation. All poems will be accompanied by one or more musicians, on various instruments including setar, trumpet and double bass. Between the poems there will be interludes of various musicians.
About the book Pezhvakha-ye Shiraz / De weerklank van Shiraz / Echoes of Shiraz
This book, a short anthology, was specially written for this recital and everyone in the audience will be given a copy. In the book you will find twelve ghazals by Hafez and Saadi, both the original Persian text plus transliteration and the Dutch and English translations. The translations were written by Daniel Gerdes and Ghazaleh Alimardani together. Frans Poolen and Guus de Vries also participated in this cheerful project by commenting on the draft translations.
About this recital
Above all, we hope to create a colourful performance, devoted entirely to the beauty of the ghazals that we recite. There will be a lot of music in order to enjoy the beauty of these poems even more. We also hope to make Dutch readers more familiar with the poems of Hafez and Saadi. And finally, our performance is meant as a cheerful plea for cultural openness.
About the performers
Ghazaleh Alimardani studied dramatic literature. She worked for a long time as a storytelling teacher for minor refugees who have no access to education. She is passionate about photography and literature such as Persian poems and in particular poems of Hafez and Saadi.
Daniel Gerdes works in the field of alternative dispute resolution. Translating poems is one of his hobbies. His book In de roes van liefde en wijn (In the ecstasy of love and wine), with translations of poems by Hafez, was published in 2024 and launched at Theater Perdu in Amsterdam.
Victor Gerdes, internist by profession, has enjoyed music all his life and plays the cello. He has played in various orchestras and bands. He is classically trained but open to all kinds of other music.
Micha Hes focuses in his work on issues relating to waste management and sustainability. His passion is theatre. He acted in several plays in the past and has enjoyed theatre ever since.
Egbert Jas plays the double bass and has been active in jazz and improvised music for several decades. How many decades is information he prefers not to disclose. He studied for some time at the Amsterdam conservatory. He toured with Frans Vermeersen’s All Ears, Stormy Weather, Ingram Washington and the band of Melvin Rosbief. In order to reach even more elevated levels of music, Egbert built his own instrument, an electric bass called The Singing Bookshelf.
Arash Mahdavian, born in Kermanshah in the west of Iran, is a civil engineer. He has been living in the Netherlands since 2011. He loves Iranian classical music. He has played tar and setar (instruments used in Iranian classical music) for more than thirty years.
Frans Poolen, who works as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, is passionate about literature. He is the author of several short stories and translations of prose and poems. Quite special about his translation activities is that he has translated poems by Hafez and Saadi into Maastricht dialect. As far as we know he is the first person in the world ever to do so.
Markward Smit plays the trumpet, the tuba and the trombone. He played in a large number of bands, including the Vivos, the Funfare, the High Society Jazz Band, Piece of Cake Jazz Band, Rainbow Jazz Valentines, Yezz Thats Jazz, Les Finesses, the Amstel Bigband, the Herb Spectacles and the Non Melting Ice Cream Band. He not only plays jazz but also other genres like soul, mariachi, klezmer and classical music.
Guus de Vries, who works as a piano teacher, studied French and conservatory (piano). More recently he studied literary translation at the vertalersvakschool (translation academy). He likes many types of art. In particular music, poetry and other types of literature because all these art forms, each in its own way, tell us a story.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/pezhvakha-ye-shiraz-de-weerklank-van-shiraz-echoes-of-shiraz
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Pezhvakha-ye Shiraz / De weerklank van Shiraz / Echoes of Shiraz
Perdu, Saturday, November 7 at 08:00 PM GMT+1
This entire recital is dedicated to the poetry of Hafez and Saadi, both from Shiraz. Their poems, written in the 13th and 14th centuries, are still very popular in Iran and surrounding countries. The recital begins with an introduction into the characteristics of the ghazal, the type of poem that we recite. Subsequently the poems will be recited: first the Persian original, then the Dutch translation. All poems will be accompanied by one or more musicians, on various instruments including setar, trumpet and double bass. Between the poems there will be interludes of various musicians.
About the book Pezhvakha-ye Shiraz / De weerklank van Shiraz / Echoes of Shiraz
This book, a short anthology, was specially written for this recital and everyone in the audience will be given a copy. In the book you will find twelve ghazals by Hafez and Saadi, both the original Persian text plus transliteration and the Dutch and English translations. The translations were written by Daniel Gerdes and Ghazaleh Alimardani together. Frans Poolen and Guus de Vries also participated in this cheerful project by commenting on the draft translations.
About this recital
Above all, we hope to create a colourful performance, devoted entirely to the beauty of the ghazals that we recite. There will be a lot of music in order to enjoy the beauty of these poems even more. We also hope to make Dutch readers more familiar with the poems of Hafez and Saadi. And finally, our performance is meant as a cheerful plea for cultural openness.
About the performers
Ghazaleh Alimardani studied dramatic literature. She worked for a long time as a storytelling teacher for minor refugees who have no access to education. She is passionate about photography and literature such as Persian poems and in particular poems of Hafez and Saadi.
Daniel Gerdes works in the field of alternative dispute resolution. Translating poems is one of his hobbies. His book In de roes van liefde en wijn (In the ecstasy of love and wine), with translations of poems by Hafez, was published in 2024 and launched at Theater Perdu in Amsterdam.
Victor Gerdes, internist by profession, has enjoyed music all his life and plays the cello. He has played in various orchestras and bands. He is classically trained but open to all kinds of other music.
Micha Hes focuses in his work on issues relating to waste management and sustainability. His passion is theatre. He acted in several plays in the past and has enjoyed theatre ever since.
Egbert Jas plays the double bass and has been active in jazz and improvised music for several decades. How many decades is information he prefers not to disclose. He studied for some time at the Amsterdam conservatory. He toured with Frans Vermeersen’s All Ears, Stormy Weather, Ingram Washington and the band of Melvin Rosbief. In order to reach even more elevated levels of music, Egbert built his own instrument, an electric bass called The Singing Bookshelf.
Arash Mahdavian, born in Kermanshah in the west of Iran, is a civil engineer. He has been living in the Netherlands since 2011. He loves Iranian classical music. He has played tar and setar (instruments used in Iranian classical music) for more than thirty years.
Frans Poolen, who works as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, is passionate about literature. He is the author of several short stories and translations of prose and poems. Quite special about his translation activities is that he has translated poems by Hafez and Saadi into Maastricht dialect. As far as we know he is the first person in the world ever to do so.
Markward Smit plays the trumpet, the tuba and the trombone. He played in a large number of bands, including the Vivos, the Funfare, the High Society Jazz Band, Piece of Cake Jazz Band, Rainbow Jazz Valentines, Yezz Thats Jazz, Les Finesses, the Amstel Bigband, the Herb Spectacles and the Non Melting Ice Cream Band. He not only plays jazz but also other genres like soul, mariachi, klezmer and classical music.
Guus de Vries, who works as a piano teacher, studied French and conservatory (piano). More recently he studied literary translation at the vertalersvakschool (translation academy). He likes many types of art. In particular music, poetry and other types of literature because all these art forms, each in its own way, tell us a story.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/pezhvakha-ye-shiraz-de-weerklank-van-shiraz-echoes-of-shiraz
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Samuel Welten
Paradiso, Thursday, February 11 at 07:30 PM GMT+1
Utrecht-based singer brings pop-folk to the big stageThe 20-year-old singer Samuel Welten from Utrecht has made great strides in Dutch pop music in a short space of time. His number-one hit ‘Echte Liefde Is Te Koop’ has now racked up 65 million streams and was the most-streamed Dutch track of 2025 on Spotify. Welten has also enjoyed great success with ‘Alles Kan Kapot’, ‘Uitslover’ and his most recent single ‘BOEM!’, a collaboration with Russo. His rapid rise to fame has been recognised with, amongst other things, two Edisons, several Buma NL Awards, a Qmusic Live Award and a YouTube Award.
Following performances with his live band at Noorderslag, Paaspop and during the Liberation Festivals, Samuel Welten is ready for the next step: his first solo club tour, ‘Geef Mij De Kroon’. On 11 February, he will be performing with his live band in the Main Hall at Paradiso. With this, Welten is taking the energy from the festival marquee to the pop venue and demonstrating that Dutch pop-folk music is increasingly finding its place on the big stages.
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Marlon Pichel’s Grand Soul Revue
Paradiso, Sunday, March 14 at 08:30 PM GMT+1
Soul and rock ’n’ roll from a singing drummer from RotterdamMarlon Pichel may be from Rotterdam, but his music takes you straight to the southern United States. The singing drummer grew up in a musical family, was already performing on stage at the age of nine and developed a love for the southern soul of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Add to that some blues and a generous dash of rock ’n’ roll, and you get music that makes it hard to sit still.
On his debut album ‘Good Ol’ Loving’, released in 2023, the horns, organ and drums sound just like they do on his favourite old soul records, with Pichel’s weathered voice taking centre stage. Live, he performs with a seven-piece band and plays the drums himself. He has since appeared at festivals including North Sea Jazz and signed to Danny Vera’s label. On his latest album, ‘Took You To The Movies’, soul, love and rock ’n’ roll come together in tracks that exude the atmosphere of the southern United States, yet are unmistakably Pichel’s own.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/marlon-pichels-grand-soul-revue
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Marlon Pichel’s Grand Soul Revue
Paradiso, Sunday, March 14 at 08:30 PM GMT+1
Soul and rock ’n’ roll from a singing drummer from RotterdamMarlon Pichel may be from Rotterdam, but his music takes you straight to the southern United States. The singing drummer grew up in a musical family, was already performing on stage at the age of nine and developed a love for the southern soul of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. Add to that some blues and a generous dash of rock ’n’ roll, and you get music that makes it hard to sit still.
On his debut album ‘Good Ol’ Loving’, released in 2023, the horns, organ and drums sound just like they do on his favourite old soul records, with Pichel’s weathered voice taking centre stage. Live, he performs with a seven-piece band and plays the drums himself. He has since appeared at festivals including North Sea Jazz and signed to Danny Vera’s label. On his latest album, ‘Took You To The Movies’, soul, love and rock ’n’ roll come together in tracks that exude the atmosphere of the southern United States, yet are unmistakably Pichel’s own.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/marlon-pichels-grand-soul-revue
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Mackenzy Mackay
Paradiso, Friday, September 25 at 10:00 PM GMT+2
Heartfelt alt-pop from ScotlandMackenzy Mackay writes about the things that usually just pass us by: waking up with a certain feeling, missing an old car, or just not being able to get someone out of your head. The singer-songwriter was born in York, grew up in Scotland and had to fend for himself from a young age. Whilst earning a living through all sorts of jobs and sometimes having no fixed abode, he tried to figure out what sort of music he wanted to make. Those years resurface in lyrics about love, adversity and learning to see what’s special about everyday life.
His music blends the soulful vocals and guitar of Jack Johnson with the raw storytelling of the Arctic Monkeys and the hip-hop beats he grew up with. For his upcoming debut album, he worked in London and Nashville with artists including Fraser T Smith, Tayla Parx and Mikky Ekko. The record centres on who he is, where he comes from and what is dear to him.
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In Color
Paradiso, Monday, February 15 at 07:30 PM GMT+1
Alternative pop-rock from NashvilleIn Color came into being during a snowstorm in Nashville. Holden Coltz, Matthew Hastings, Val Hoyt and Miles Laderman found themselves snowed in together for a few days and came to a fairly logical conclusion: they had to start a band. The four had been friends for years and had played in various bands separately, but had never made music together.
For a year, they kept In Color to themselves. They rehearsed, wrote songs and developed a sound that straddled alternative pop and rock, featuring grand choruses and plenty of guitar work. Influences such as Coldplay, Kings of Leon and U2 are audible, without the band clearly leaning in any one direction. In 2025, their debut single ‘Headlights’ was released, followed by tracks including ‘Jet Lag Mouth’ and ‘High’. That same year, In Color released their first EP, ‘Snow Day’, named after the weekend when it all began.
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Hohnen Ford
Paradiso, Friday, December 4 at 07:30 PM GMT+1
Artist at the intersection of folk and jazzHohnen Ford is a North London-based singer-songwriter with a keen sense of melody, atmosphere, and storytelling. Drawing on her background in jazz vocals at the Royal Academy of Music, she blends influences from jazz, folk, soul, and classic songwriting to create a distinctive, layered sound. Her music is defined by emotionally charged lyrics, rich harmonies, and powerful vocal expression. She has already garnered attention from the international music industry with her debut EP, *I Wish I Had A God*.
With her latest single "A Lot To Give"—a duet with British singer-songwriter Birdy—Ford begins a new chapter with the label Giant Music. The song explores themes of growth, identity, and female resilience, highlighting her talent for introspective, atmospheric songwriting. She has previously toured with acts such as Wasia Project and Orla Gartland, and will soon be performing as a special guest supporting FINNEAS.
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Funk Baptism
Felix Meritis, Saturday, October 10 at 04:00 PM GMT+2
Part II
Funk Baptism returns to Felix Meritis – bigger, bolder and funkier than ever. Get baptized in the funkiest sounds, wildest dance battles, groovy cyphers, unique showcases and tasty food. Rooted in the legacy of funk and reimagined by Amsterdam’s Ghetto Funk Collective, we honour the foundations while exploring what funk can be today. From the raw energy of James Brown and the soul of Aretha Franklin to Betty Davis and the otherworldly grooves of Parliament-Funkadelic, the groove continues.
The day kicks off with the 2vs2 In Funk We Trust Dance Battle, followed by a talk and tasty food. In the evening, everything comes together for the Funk Baptism showcase – featuring the final Dance Battles, live performances and funky tunes, ending the night with a deep groove session and afterparty until late.Check out the full program, practical information and ticket options below.
What to expect + practical information
Day Program — From 4:00 PM
We’re kicking off the day program at 4:00 PM with the 2vs2 In Funk We Trust Dance Battle. All styles are welcome – hip-hop, house, popping, locking, breaking, waacking, vogue, contemporary, or something that doesn’t even have a name yet. It’s your movement, your language, your groove.Want to compete?
Get a Dancer Registration Ticket to sign up for the battle.Just want to watch and enjoy the battles from the crowd?
You can add a €5 Add-on to your regular ticket, or purchase the battle access separately.After the battles, we’ll continue with a talk, live music and dance, films exploring the culture and history behind the groove, and a panel bringing together artists, makers, and voices from the community.
Evening show – From 8 PM
In the evening, we will have our big showcase. With our DJ providing the funky beats, our MC and judges will guide the final battle, where the winners of the day’s battles go head-to-head. We’ll end the night with an afterparty.Ticket information
We didn’t just want to bring you the showcase in the evening – we also wanted to give you the chance to experience the dance battles and talk happening before. Are you a competing dancer, or do you simply want to enjoy the battles from the crowd? Either way, we’ve got several tickets available for you.
Evening Show | €15,00
8PM – 9.30PM + Afterparty till late
Add-on Dancers registration ticket | €5,00
2.30PM – 4PM: Dancer registration
4PM: Dance Battles
6:45PM-7:30PM: Talk
Add-on Audience registration ticket | €5,00
3.30PM: doors open
4PM: start Dance Battles
6:45PM – 7:30PM: Talk
You’re free to decide to watch the battles and/or talk.Line-Up
About Ghetto Funk Collective
Ghetto Funk Collective is an Amsterdam-based crew of dancers, musicians, and DJs united by a deep love for funk. Inspired by the spirit of the ’70s, they give funk a fresh, contemporary twist. Their mission: to keep funk culture alive and get new generations moving. From their signature club night Dancing Machine at Paradiso to collaborations with The Ruggeds performing their hit show Groove, as well as choreographing music videos for artists like Jungle, they carry the legacy of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye into the present.
Would you like to attend this program, but don’t have the means to pay for a ticket? Send an email to [email protected], we can work something out.
Note: By booking this ticket, you agree to potentially be photographed during the event.
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Plein Publiek: Michiel van Erp
De Balie, Friday, November 6 at 05:30 PM GMT+1
Michiel van Erp maakte met Downtown de eerste grote Nederlandse speelfilm over de aidscrisis. Hoe blikt hij terug op deze tijd?
Voor zijn nieuwste film Downtown ging Michiel van Erp terug naar het Amsterdam van 1986. We volgen drie vrienden die ’s nachts feesten in de legendarische nachtclub Downtown. Het is een tijd van vrijheid en avontuur. Maar ondertussen grijpt het aidsvirus steeds meer om zich heen. Ianthe Mosselman gaat met Michiel van Erp in gesprek over zijn film en zijn herinneringen aan de aidscrisis van de jaren 80 en 90.
Over Michiel van Erp
Michiel van Erp is producent, regisseur en schrijver. Hij won verschillende nationale en internationale prijzen met zijn filmwerk. Waaronder de Nipkowschijf, de Prix Europa, een Gouden Kalf, twee Dutch Directors Guild Awards. Eerder maakte hij onder meer een televisieserie over Ramses Shaffy en bewerkte hij I.M. van Connie Palmen tot miniserie. Op 11 oktober gaat zijn musicaldebuut Voor Haar in première, een musical over het leven en werk van Frans Halsema.https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/plein-publiek-michiel-van-erp
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CinéDialoog: The Desert of the Real
De Balie, Friday, August 14 at 07:00 PM GMT+2
In de nieuwe documentaire van Luuk Bouwman, o.a. bekend van Gerlach en De Propagandist, nemen zes mensen die een psychose meemaakten de kijker mee in hun ervaringen en stellen zij vragen over de werkelijkheid en het bewustzijn. Hoe kan je weten of je wakker bent of droomt? Wat is echt?
Ondanks hun verschillende achtergronden – een psycholoog, een filosoof, een muzikant, een psychiatrisch zorgverlener, een kunstenaar – delen de personages van The Desert of the Real een diepgaande reflectie op wat de psychose betekent voor hoe ze naar de wereld kijken.
The Desert of the Real toont hun leven vóór de ingrijpende gebeurtenissen, de ervaringen van de psychose, en de weg terug. De ontwapenende en emotionele herinneringen worden verfilmd in ensceneringen die aansluiten bij het gevoel dat verschillende hoofdpersonen hadden, dat ze zich in een film bevonden: huiskamers en klinieken blijken decors. De bijzondere vormgeving van de documentaire is geïnspireerd door scifi en horror films. Gaandeweg kantelt het perspectief: de hoofdpersonen keren niet terug naar een ‘gezonde’ wereld, maar naar een vervreemdende en ontwrichtende werkelijkheid.
Na de vertoning zetten we onze zoektocht naar de werkelijkheid voort, met hulp van Luuk Bouwman (filmmaker, voormalig muzikant), de Wachowski-zussen (filmmakers, voormalige broers), Plato (filosoof, voormalig leerling van Socrates), Jan Gerrit Schuurman (psycholoog, voormalig psychosepatiënt) en Maya (hindoeïstische godin van de illusie, voormalig niets).
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/cinedialoog-the-desert-of-the-real
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Plein Publiek: Juul Op den Kamp
De Balie, Friday, September 18 at 05:30 PM GMT+2
Vrouwen studeren meer dan ooit, verdienen meer dan ooit. Tot er een kind geboren wordt en slechts negen procent van de heterostellen erin slaagt om zorg en werk nog eerlijk te verdelen.
Programmamaker Sylvia Vegter gaat in gesprek met documentairemaker Juul Op den Kamp, die met haar film Hoeksteen van de samenleving onderzoekt waarom oude ideeën over gezin, werk en zorg nog altijd de boventoon voeren. Hoe vertaal je een structureel, bijna onzichtbaar probleem naar persoonlijke verhalen op het scherm? En hoe zet ze, net als in haar eerdere werk, het verleden in om het heden scherper in beeld te brengen?
Over Juul Op den KampJuul Op den Kamp (1992) is documentairemaker en commercial-regisseur. Haar werk beweegt zich op het snijvlak van maatschappelijke betrokkenheid, visuele zeggingskracht en historische reflectie. Ze studeerde in 2014 af als producent aan de Nederlandse Filmacademie met drie eindexamenfilms en won de FPN producenten award met If Mama Ain’t Happy van regisseur Mea Dols de Jong, die ook in aanmerking kwam voor een Academy Award en vele prijzen won op festivals wereldwijd. In 2022 maakte Op den Kamp samen met Johan Fretz de documentaire Whats Left, waarin ze de teloorgang van de sociaaldemocratie onderzoeken.
Over Plein PubliekPlein Publiek is een reeks verdiepende interviews met toonaangevende makers, geselecteerd door onze eigen programmamakers. Verwacht intieme gesprekken met uitzonderlijke stemmen die je aan het denken zetten.
Start je weekend met een drankje, een goed gesprek en nieuwe inzichten, in de gezellige setting van onze Pleinzaal aan het bruisende Leidseplein.
https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/plein-publiek-juul-op-den-kamp
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Football is Politics
De Balie, Tuesday, June 16 at 07:00 PM GMT+2
From ultras to oligarchs: as the World Cup in North America kicks off, we explore the politics of football. How the game is used and abused as a tool of power and prestige, but also functions as a stage for resistance and representation.
Football and politics go hand in hand. That became clear once again this past year when FIFA presented a ‘Peace Prize’ to U.S. President Donald Trump for his ‘exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace’: corruption captured in a single image.
But football is not just the billion-dollar business of oligarchs and sheikhs. The politics of football can also be seen in the demonstrations against Turkish President Erdoğan led by supporters of Beşiktaş J.K., the role of Cairo hooligans from Al Ahly SC during the Arab Spring or in the Irish national football team as symbol of Irish independence.
During this programme, we explore the football pitch as a stage for resistance and representation. How do governments use the game to project power and prestige? Where do players, fans, and activists push back, and how does football relate to anti-colonial struggles past and present? What does the World Cup reveal about the relationship between sport, nation states, and resistance today?
About the speakersJames Montague is an award-winning author and journalist who writes for The Athletic and Tifo and who reports about football, politics and society for The New York Times, CNN and BBC World Service. He is the author of several books, including Among the Ultras, in which Montague went undercover with hooligan groups worldwide.