#amsterdamcentrum — Public Fediverse posts

Beyond Punishment

SPUI25, Tuesday, September 29 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

International criminal justice is under pressure. Powerful actors, from Washington to Moscow, have launched virulent attacks on its institutions, while liberal and progressive forces increasingly defend them as essential to a rule-based international order. At the same time, international criminal law has become a particularly powerful language through which demands for justice are articulated in response to mass violence, war and genocide around the world. However, critical voices also question the scope and impact of this legal discourse in terms of structural societal transformation. What might justice look like when approached through repair and restitution instead of punishment and retribution?

This panel explores the possibilities and limits of imagining justice primarily through the language and institutions of criminal law. We will discuss what international criminal justice can do and what it leaves unresolved. Through an abolitionist lens, we will question how capable it is to address structural conditions to mass violence, such as international complicity. Lastly, we will discuss forms of political practice, repair, and resistance that are needed alongside or beyond legal accountability, notably by inviting the Israeli-Palestinian NGO Combatants for Peace to present their work.

Speakers

Marta Pinto da Cruz is a PhD fellow at the University of Amsterdam and researcher at the Amsterdam Center for Criminal Justice, whose doctoral research questions the centrality of carceral punishment in international criminal law, in light of the nature and context of atrocity crimes, as well as the goals of international criminal justice. In addition to her research, she also lectures on several topics ranging from comparative criminal law and procedure, to the procedural law of international criminal courts and tribunals.

Lysan Boshuyzen is a facilitator, coach, and advisor of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in humanitarian and (post-)conflict contexts with a special focus on collective and generational dimensions of trauma and victim-perpetrator dynamics. Over the last decade, she trained groups in protracted crisis and conflict areas, worked at the Dutch MFA, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, ARQ Centre of Expertise on War, Persecution and Violence, and alongside three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr Scilla Elworthy, humanitarian workers and peacebuilders worldwide. She serves as director of Netherlands Friends of Combatants for Peace, co-founded DAYF, a foundation supporting resilience and mental health worldwide, contributed to the book The Business Plan for Peace: Building a World Without War (2017) and coauthored Taking Action Towards Sustainable Peace: Integrating Peacebuilding and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (2023). In her work she integrates 15 years of meditation and somatic practice and combines in-depth knowledge of trauma fields with political and practical experience.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/beyond-punishment

Spike Fuck

Paradiso, Sunday, November 29 at 09:00 PM GMT+1

Melancholic glam rock from Australia

For almost ten years, there has been more mystery than certainty surrounding the Australian artist Spike Fuck. In 2015, he emerged on Melbourne’s alternative music scene with ‘The Smackwave EP’, on which he explored themes such as drug use, gender identity, religion and existential doubt through melancholic pop-rock. His unexpected success took him from illegal warehouse parties to fashion shows and magazine features, but just as he was on the verge of a breakthrough, he suddenly disappeared.

After four years of silence, Spike Fuck returned in 2024: sober, clear-headed and with a new line-up. No longer just using a backing track, but as the frontman of a rotating live band. Together, they move between 1970s glam rock, soul and rock ’n’ roll, all carried by his poetic voice.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/spike-fuck

Fleetmac Wood

Paradiso, Thursday, November 5 at 11:59 PM GMT+1

Een DJ/AV-show die Fleetwood Mac-klassiekers vertaalt naar elektronische muziek

Not a tribute, but a party and DJ AV show that reworks the classic-rock sound of the Mac into a spectrum of electronic genres. Remixes of the hits and plenty of deep-cuts ready for the chiffon-filled dance floor. This is a tunnel-visioned, all-night journey. If you don’t like Fleetwood Mac, Stand Back, Stand Back.

Since 2012, DJs Roxanne Roll and Alex Oxley have been hosting their tunnel-visioned event and celebrating the extensive back catalogue of Fleetwood Mac. With a curated and created assortment of remixes and edits they’ve shared their passion with like-minded hedonists at some of the best festivals and clubs in the world. Glastonbury to Robot Heart (Burning Man), from Printworks to Kantine am Berghain. 

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/fleetmac-wood

De Natuur Bestaat Niet

Arti et Amicitiae, Monday, September 21 at 08:15 PM GMT+2

(58 min) | Regie: Nathalie Faber

De relatie tussen mens en natuur verkeert in een crisis. Zeg maar gerust een relatie-crisis. Dus wat is logischer dan relatietherapie? In de nieuwe film van Nathalie Faber, wordt het conflict voorgelegd aan de Vlaamse psychiater en relatietherapeut Dirk de Wachter.

De Natuur Bestaat Niet (58′) is een romantische documentaire waarin de verstoorde relatie tussen mens en natuur centraal staat. Vier personen, elk met een compleet andere relatie met de natuur, nemen plaats bij relatietherapeut Dirk de Wachter ‘op de bank’. Jasmijn woont buiten in een dorp en neemt de natuur voor lief. De New Yorkse ‘Plantmom’ Monai ziet de natuur het liefst in de stad. Rinus is in de zomer biologisch akkerbouwer en in de winter filosoof. Benjamin heeft een traumatische ervaring met de natuur. Daarna doen ze oefeningen met kunstenaar PJ Roggeband om nieuwe perspectieven op hun relatie met de natuur te ontdekken.

De film is een oefening in hoe we weer dichter bij elkaar kunnen komen, in hoe de verbeelding ons kan helpen de natuur weer te zien zoals zij is. Lukt het ons mensen, met de klimaatverandering die boven ons hoofd hangt, deze relatiecrisis te overwinnen? Want scheiden is geen optie.

De vertoning wordt ingeleid door cameraman Matthijs Immink en PJ Roggeband, die in de film te zien is en momenteel exposeert.

Programma
20.00 uur: Inloop
20.15 - 20.30 uur: PJ Roggeband over zijn werk en introductie van de documentaire door Matthijs Immink
20.30 uur: Vertoning documentaire
21.30 uur: Einde

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/de-natuur-bestaat-niet

We Refuse to Be Broken

Pakhuis de Zwijger, Wednesday, November 4 at 08:00 PM GMT+1

Sudanese voices showing the strength of community in times of crisis

For over three years, Sudan has been affected by conflict. Occasionally, it makes the news; more often, it doesn’t. What receives even less international attention are the personal stories of people living through this conflict. On November 4th, their stories are in focus.

In the documentary 10 times 74, Sudanese photographer and filmmaker Hassan Kamil shows his homeland through the people he meets. Their stories go beyond fear and suffering. More so, it’s about strength and community. During a panel discussion we dive deeper into the topic, discussing the role of the local narrative in the depiction of Sudan.

In this programme Mandy Woelkens Journalist, host, moderator Hatoon Sudanese-Dutch singer-songwriter Alessia Barbiero Lead Creative, Makmende Media Ivan Mikulić Lead, Makmende Media Yassir Abdallah Project Manager, Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Fatima Zainelabdin Executive Director, Sudanese Refugee Organization Mekka Abdelgabar Sudanese-Dutch activist & founder of the Darfur Women’s Organization in the Netherlands (VOND)

When was the last time you heard a story about Sudan told by Sudanese people themselves? As one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises continues, much of what we see and hear about Sudan is reduced to headlines. But behind those headlines are people navigating daily life, supporting their communities, caring for loved ones and holding on to hope. ‘We Refuse to Be Broken’ is an evening of film and conversation that offers a different perspective. Through the eyes of a Sudanese filmmaker and the stories of Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers, teachers, community members, and others living through the crisis, the documentary brings audiences closer to the realities of life in Sudan today.

Following the screening, we will explore the power of human-centered storytelling, why perspective matters and what becomes possible when people are given the space to tell their own stories. Join us for an evening that invites us to look beyond the headlines and see Sudan through the people who know it best.

Programme schedule 19:30 - 20:00 | Walk-in 20:00 - 20:10 | Welcome & Opening Remarks 20:10 - 20:40 | Documentary Screening: 10 times 74 20:40 - 20:55 | Q&A Following the Documentary Screening 20:55 - 21:00 | Live Musical Performance by Hatoon 21:00 - 21:30 | Panel Discussion: What We See When We Listen 21:30 - 21:45 | Closing Remarks & Closing Performance by Hatoon 21:45 – 22:15 | After-programme drinks & Exhibition

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/we-refuse-to-be-broken

Filmvertoning: About Our Journey

Pakhuis de Zwijger, Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

Hoe eerlijk zijn mooie verhalen over specialty coffee?

Mooie verhalen over koffieboeren aan de andere kant van de wereld: wie van goede koffie houdt, ziet ze zo’n beetje elke dag. In specialty koffiezaakjes zien we overal foto’s vol groene heuvels, lachende gezichten en de belofte van een duurzame, eerlijke handelsketen. Het doet denken aan fair trade, maar lijkt persoonlijker, authentieker. Zijn deze bedrijfjes echt begaan met het lot van die ‘arme’ koffieboer in Colombia of Indonesië? Of is dat een stereotype, en zien we hier een nieuwe vorm van greenwashing?

Met in dit programma Leon Cronie Documentairemaker Cerianne Bury Global Quality Manager, Trabocca Sven Peetoom Documentairemaker Dr. Sjors Witjes Universitair hoofddocent, Radboud Universiteit

Meer over het programma

Antropoloog en documentairemaker Leon Cronie vroeg zich af hoe de verhalen werden ervaren aan de andere kant. Gaan boeren er echt op vooruit, of zijn we getuige van een nieuwe vorm van greenwashing? In de film About Our Journey: Inside Coffee Origin Stories gaat hij op zoek naar ‘de waarheid’ achter koffieverhalen, en reist hij af naar het Indonesische Sumatra. Maar de feiten op tafel krijgen blijkt moeilijker dan gedacht. In dit programma vertonen we de film (30 minuten) en gaan we daarna in gesprek over de thema’s met verschillende experts: dr. Sjors Witjes, duurzaamheidsonderzoeker aan de Radboud Universiteit; Cerianne Bury, kwaliteitsmanager bij koffie-importeur Trabocca; en Sven Peetoom, filmmaker die in zijn werk focust op relaties tussen Nederland en haar voormalig koloniën.

Meer over de sprekers

Dr. Sjors Witjes doet onderzoek op het gebied van duurzaamheid aan de Radboud Universiteit. Hij houdt zich bezig met hoe bedrijven kunnen verduurzamen, en wat het effect is van bepaalde keuzes op de complete waardeketen. Daarnaast deed hij onderzoek naar de manier waarop er door stakeholders over duurzaamheid wordt gesproken in bedrijfsteksten en rapportages. Op dit moment begeleidt hij promovenda Mónica Bernal Montero bij een onderzoek naar de koffieketen tussen Colombia en Nijmegen. Als assistant professor strategic management is hij verbonden aan het Institute for Management Research van de Radboud Universiteit, en daarnaast is hij extraordinary professor Corporate Sustainability aan de Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Colombia. Zijn transdisciplinaire aanpak brengt wetenschap en praktijk samen, met als doel toekomstige generaties de kennis en vaardigheden te geven om duurzaamheidsvraagstukken aan te pakken.

Cerianne Bury is Global Quality Manager bij koffie-importeur Trabocca. Haar focus ligt in Ethiopië, waar ze gesprekken voert en tests doet met boeren, coöperaties en belanghebbenden als vertegenwoordiger van Trabocca. Ze begon haar koffiecarrière als barista, en raakte geïnteresseerd in het hele proces: van koffieboon, tot verwerking, tot het uiteindelijke kopje. Als Global Quality Manager beheert ze het kwaliteitsteam en runt ze het voedselveiligheidssysteem, met verantwoordelijkheid voor de sensorische en fysieke beoordeling van koffie en het certificeringsbeheer. Daarnaast is ze sinds 2016 gecertificeerd jurylid voor competities van de Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) en zet ze zich, als Chair voor van het Competitions Strategic Committee van de SCA, in voor de toekomst van de koffiesector.

Sven Peetoom is regisseur en scenarioschrijver van Nederlands-Indonesische afkomst. Hij maakt documentaires, fictiefilms, theater en video-installaties. Na Film- en Literatuurwetenschap in Leiden studeerde hij af als documentaireregisseur aan de European Film College in Denemarken, met de Obel Scholarship. Vanuit Amsterdam maakte hij films en webseries voor onder meer IFFR, NFF en NPO. In 2022 regisseerde hij met Juliette Dominicus “Indisch Zwijgen”, dat landelijke aandacht kreeg. Hij werkt aan nieuwe fictie- en documentaireprojecten, studeert aan de Scenariovakschool en maakt daarnaast opdrachtwerk, waaronder een prijswinnende documentairetrilogie voor TU Delft.

Leon Cronie is antropoloog en documentairemaker. In zijn werk komen veel verschillende thema’s samen, van koffieverhalen tot de Palestijnse zaak, altijd met een dekoloniaal perspectief als uitgangspunt. Gewapend met een camera focust hij op de strijd voor rechtvaardigheid, niet als neutrale fly-on-the-wall maar als actieve deelnemer. Zo werkt hij op dit moment aan een documentaire over het diepe wantrouwen onder jongeren van kleur tegenover de politie. Op Instagram en YouTube uploadt hij korte, uitgesproken video’s over alles wat hem boos maakt, van de staat van het demonstratierecht tot aan racisme in het voetbal.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/filmvertoning-about-our-journey

The Magic City: Birmingham according to Sun Ra (2025)

Melkweg, Wednesday, November 25 at 07:00 PM GMT+1

Together with Amsterdam music platform we will go back to the early years of Sun Ra. Before the world (and the cosmos) came to know him as the Afrofuturist pioneer of "space jazz", he was born Herman Poole Blount in Birmingham, deep in the heart of Alabama. The Belgian documentary The Magic City - Birmingham According to Sun Ra sheds light on how this often-overlooked yet magical music city helped shape the enigmatic visionary in his formative years. Filmmakers Guillaume Maupin and Pablo Guarise closely involved the city and its residents in telling not just Sun Ra's story, but that of their community. Inevitably, that story is marked by a legacy of slavery, segregation, and racism. Yet Sun Ra's gaze remained fixed on a more harmonious future. As he says at the start of the film: "My story is not part of history. Because history repeats itself, but my story is endless."

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/the-magic-city-birmingham-according-to-sun-ra-2025

Miles (2026)

Melkweg, Wednesday, December 16 at 07:00 PM GMT+1

Together with the Amsterdam music platform Steppin’ into Tomorrow we will watch a new documentary about jazz legend Miles Davis, who would have turned 100 this year. Numerous films have already been made about him, but director Patrick Savey is taking a different approach. MILES does not attempt to explain who Miles Davis was, but explores how he created. Through the stories of musicians who played with him – including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Marcus Miller, John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana – a picture emerges of a radical approach to his work: without fixed frameworks, without certainties, driven by risk and innovation. Miles did not provide answers. He created situations. The result is a mosaic-like documentary about creation in motion — and about an artist who, time and again, let go of the familiar to embrace the unknown.

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/miles-2026

Thee Marloes

Paradiso, Tuesday, February 16 at 07:30 PM GMT+1

Dreamy soul from Indonesia

Thee Marloes began in Surabaya, Indonesia, with guitarist Sinatrya Dharaka and drummer Tommy Satwick, who found common ground in hip-hop, soul and reggae. When singer and keyboardist Natassya Sianturi joined them, everything fell into place. Together they create soul music with smooth basslines, organ, guitar and plenty of space for Sianturi’s warm voice. She sings in Indonesian and English about love, loss and everything that doesn’t always fit into words.

On their 2024 debut album ‘Perak’, their love for classic soul came through clearly. That remains the foundation on the follow-up ‘Di Hotel Malibu’, but the trio now alternates between understated ballads and light-hearted, danceable tracks with greater ease. Their Indonesian background also comes through more distinctly. For instance, ‘Boru’ is sung entirely in Batak, a language from North Sumatra, whilst ‘Under the Silver Moon’ and ‘I’d Be Lost’ are clearly aimed at the dance floor. The album was created following two years in which Thee Marloes toured the world, yet remained close to where the band began: Surabaya.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/thee-marloes

AMN x wysiwyg: Can you hear the objects speak?

De Uitkijk, Thursday, October 15 at 09:00 PM GMT+2

In recent years, the Dutch government has launched a series of critical inquiries into the ethics of restitution—addressing looted artifacts and even human remains held in the national collection. Moving beyond straightforward provenance tracing, these investigations have raised more fundamental, open-ended questions about value, ownership, and justice.

Derived from Beyond Provenance, a transnational collaboration between art collective Indeks from Bandung and screening platform wysiwyg from The Hague, this interdisciplinary film program, Can you hear the objects speak? by Asian Movie Night and wysiwyg, seeks to reclaim the living worlds of displaced heritage. Rather than focusing solely on material significance—a logic that often mirrored colonial frameworks of preservation—the program foregrounds the emotional, cultural, spiritual, and communal values these objects hold for the communities from which they were taken, as a gateway to understand the animist and relational cosmopraxis shared by many Indigenous nations in the present day Indonesia.

Through film, conversation, and performance, we will listen to the voices of ancestral beings held hostage in museums, mineral stones extracted for AI technology, as well as the ghostly presence in the streets of Amsterdam built by looted wealth. In doing so, it challenges the Western ontological impulse to turn living beings into static objects, and instead reawakens a sense of liveness, agency, and wisdom in the beings we connect with, thus learning different ways of relating—ways that may help us not only rethink restitution, but also reimagine worlds and futures beyond the crisis we are facing.

• Language: Indonesia, English
• Subtitles: Engels
• Duration: 90 mins.
• Country: Indonesia, the Netherlands, Australia, India

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/amn-x-wysiwyg-can-you-hear-the-objects-speak

Van de Illias tot nu: verhalen van oorlog herzien

De Balie, Monday, October 12 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

Terwijl de wereld zich in rap tempo herbewapend, ontmantelen we met theatergezelschap Zuidpool en de Ilias als startpunt de taal van oorlog. Waarom grijpen we telkens terug naar dezelfde verhalen om oorlog te begrijpen?

Al zo lang de mens verhalen vertelt, vertelt de mens verhalen over oorlog. De oertekst van de westerse literatuur is een oorlogsverhaal. De Ilias verhaalt over de Griekse strijd tegen Troje. Een epos dat als blauwdruk dient voor alle oorlogsverhalen erna.

Terwijl de wereld zich in rap tempo herbewapend, ontmantelen we met theatergroep Zuidpool en de Ilias als startpunt de taal van oorlog. De retoriek die Homerus beschreef, klinkt vandaag onverminderd door: in oorlogstaal die geweld normaliseert, in de framing van ‘onvermijdelijke’ conflicten, in de manier waarop wapens en veiligheid worden verkocht als vooruitgang. Waarom grijpen we telkens terug naar hetzelfde verhaal om oorlog te rechtvaardigen? Valt een wereld zonder oorlog überhaupt voor te stellen?

Met fragmenten uit de nieuwe theatervoorstelling van Zuidpool, NO MORE WARE MUSIC, door Kaat Hellings.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/van-de-illias-tot-nu-verhalen-van-oorlog-herzien

Svmerion (MEX) + How To Disappear (MEX) + Nebelstørm (NL)

The Cave, Friday, September 11 at 09:00 PM GMT+2

Svmerion (MEX)

Fri September 11, 2026 starts at 23:00

Hailing from Gómez Palacio, Durango Mexican extreme metal force Svmerian delivers a savage blend of thrash and black metal fueled by themes of war, hatred, and violence. Formed in 2018, the band combines razor-sharp riffs, relentless aggression, and raw underground intensity into a sound that’s both chaotic and crushing. With a fierce DIY spirit and uncompromising energy, Svmerian continues to carve its name into the modern extreme metal scene.

How To Disappear (MEX)

Fri September 11, 2026 starts at 22:00

Emerging from the underground with a bleak and emotionally charged sound, How to Disappear blends atmospheric black metal, post-metal, and haunting melancholy into an immersive sonic experience. Formed in 2022, the project explores themes of isolation, loss, and existential despair through crushing riffs, ethereal textures, and emotionally raw songwriting. Balancing aggression with cinematic atmosphere, How to Disappear crafts music that is as introspective as it is devastating.

Nebelstørm (NL)

Fri September 11, 2026 starts at 21:00

Their performances are more rituals than concerts. Shrouded in smoke and minimal lighting, the band often literally disappears into the mist on stage, their silhouettes only vaguely visible as the music induces an almost trance-like state. The audience is immersed in a world where time fades and only the feeling of chill, darkness, and ecstasy remains. Although the band consciously remains independent of labels and commercial influences, they distribute their music through digital platforms and exclusive physical releases (often on limitededition cassette or vinyl). Each work is an incantation, a snapshot of inner turmoil and natural transience. NEBELSTØRM is built on mist, melancholy, and pure artistic conviction. In a world that is constantly getting louder, NEBELSTØRM whispers in stormy silence.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/svmerion-mex-how-to-disappear-mex-nebelstorm-nl

Molton Grove (NL) + Horizon Tide (NL) + RC Sullivan (NL)

The Cave, Saturday, September 12 at 09:00 PM GMT+2

Molton Grove (NL)

Sat September 12, 2026 starts at 23:00

Discover Molton Grove, the alternative rock sensation from Amsterdam! With their powerful riffs and melodies, they are gaining significant ground in the alternative rock scene. Although they draw inspiration from virtually every genre, the band’s sound is primarily rooted in the distinctive style of the 90s. Think of the energy of bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam, blended with a contemporary twist that puts Molton Grove’s own stamp on the genre.

Horizon Tide (NL)

Sat September 12, 2026 starts at 22:00

Horizon Tide (formed in 2015) is an alternative metal band with progressive influences, hailing from the Amsterdam/Utrecht region. The band consists of Daan Romein (vocals, guitar), Tom van der Schaaf (guitar), Hasan Işik (drums), and Lex de Vries (bass guitar). The impression Horizon Tide’s music leaves on the listener is one of an unexpected blend of various (progressive) elements drawn from the metal palette. It is like a story filled with surprising plot twists—music that makes you headbang one moment, drift away in a reverie the next, and occasionally catches you off guard with a sharp, unexpected turn. The band and its music are constantly evolving, yet they always manage to retain their own unique sound.

RC Sullivan (NL)

Sat September 12, 2026 starts at 21:00

R.C. Sullivan is rough and harmonious. It's familiar, yet exciting. The beat is fast and energetic, still variably so. The lyrics are introspective, though inviting. The music is chaotic but catchy. It's melodic hardcore. Expect melodic riffs, vehement vocals and pounding rhythms.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/molton-grove-nl-horizon-tide-nl-rc-sullivan-nl

Ukrainian New Wave

Splendor, Friday, October 30 at 07:00 PM GMT+1

Antonii Baryshevskyi presents:SplenDoor to Ukraine: CINEMA

More info soon

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/ukrainian-new-wave

Ontworteld: W.C. Handy en Leadbelly + Music by Friends

Splendor, Friday, October 2 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

River Adomeit presents:

First edition of the new roots-focused series begins with two vital early American Blues musicians, W.C. Handy and Lead Belly. Siebren Smink will play an opening guitar set, celebrating fellow Amsterdam composers.

First set:
Siebren Smink - guitar

Second set:
Cem Karayalçin - guitar
France Amado - voice
River Adomeit - bass

radio=1radio=1

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/ontworteld-wc-handy-en-leadbelly-music-by-friends

The Mary Wallopers

Paradiso, Saturday, January 30 at 07:00 PM GMT+1

Irish folk with a punk attitude

This is the concert on Saturday, January 30. The Mary Walloppers is also giving a concert on Friday, January 29.

The Mary Wallopers breathe new life into Irish folk songs, without smoothing out the rough edges. The band from Dundalk began during the COVID-19 lockdown with live streams from the living room of brothers Charles and Andrew Handy. What started as a trio grew into a six-piece band, featuring banjo, accordion, tin whistle, uilleann pipes and drums. Traditional songs and protest tunes are given driving rhythms and loose harmonies, ensuring the music remains true to the Irish folk tradition whilst retaining the directness of punk.

The songs deal with working-class life, the housing crisis and resistance to exploitation. Humour and politics blend effortlessly: old Irish folk tunes are not treated as museum pieces, but as stories that still have something to say. On 18 September, their third album ‘Paddywhackery’ is released, recorded in two weeks with James Skelly of The Coral. On tracks such as ‘Landlord’s Demise’, ‘Crowns of England’ and ‘The Big Mixer’, The Mary Wallopers sound fuller and more powerful. At the same time, the core remains the same: using songs from the Irish tradition to say something about life today.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/the-mary-wallopers-1

The Mary Wallopers

Paradiso, Friday, January 29 at 07:30 PM GMT+1

Irish folk with a punk attitude

This is the concert on Friday, January 29. The Mary Walloppers is also giving a concert on Saturday, January 30.

The Mary Wallopers breathe new life into Irish folk songs, without smoothing out the rough edges. The band from Dundalk began during the COVID-19 lockdown with live streams from the living room of brothers Charles and Andrew Handy. What started as a trio grew into a six-piece band, featuring banjo, accordion, tin whistle, uilleann pipes and drums. Traditional songs and protest tunes are given driving rhythms and loose harmonies, ensuring the music remains true to the Irish folk tradition whilst retaining the directness of punk.

The songs deal with working-class life, the housing crisis and resistance to exploitation. Humour and politics blend effortlessly: old Irish folk tunes are not treated as museum pieces, but as stories that still have something to say. On 18 September, their third album ‘Paddywhackery’ is released, recorded in two weeks with James Skelly of The Coral. On tracks such as ‘Landlord’s Demise’, ‘Crowns of England’ and ‘The Big Mixer’, The Mary Wallopers sound fuller and more powerful. At the same time, the core remains the same: using songs from the Irish tradition to say something about life today.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/the-mary-wallopers-2

Squeeze

Paradiso, Sunday, March 21 at 07:30 PM GMT+1

A mainstay of British pop

Squeeze are the British band formed around songwriters Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. Since emerging in the late seventies, they have become a defining presence in British pop, with songs such as 'Cool for Cats' and 'Up the Junction' now regarded as classics. Between 1978 and 1996, 11 singles reached the UK Top 40. Their influence can be heard in artists including Lily Allen and The Killers. More than five decades on, Tilbrook and Difford are still making music together. In 2026, they released 'Trixies', an album first conceived during their teenage years.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/squeeze

Karate Boogaloo

Paradiso, Saturday, February 13 at 10:00 PM GMT+1

Instrumental funk and soul from Melbourne

The four members of Karate Boogaloo have been making music together since their school days. In Melbourne, bassist Henry Jenkins, drummer Hudson Whitlock, organist Callum Riley and guitarist Darvid Thor began by covering songs by Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Meters. Almost twenty years on, they have distilled those influences into their own brand of instrumental funk and soul. Hammond organ, guitar, bass and drums form the foundation for playful melodies and the tension of an old film soundtrack. The music is recorded live without overdubs, clearly demonstrating just how well the quartet plays together.

Their new album, ‘Access All Areas’, is due for release on 9 October. For this new album, Karate Boogaloo stripped away everything that made the tracks more complicated than necessary. Recorded on four tracks and with as little embellishment as possible, the album showcases how Karate Boogaloo have fully made the instrumental funk and soul of their heroes their own.

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/karate-boogaloo

Herres op woendag

Maloe Melo, Wednesday, September 30 at 09:00 PM GMT+2

Allicht + Lots of Parking + DJ Sjaak

Allicht

Allicht is een Nederlandstalig synthpop-duo, opgericht omdat er te weinig Nederlandstalige synthpop wordt gemaakt. Muziek over het leven, want tot dusver zijn we onsterfelijk gebleken, nietwaar? Binnenkort te zien op een podium bij U in de buurt. Vanzelfsprekend, natuurlijk, vrijwel zeker, Allicht.

Lots of Parking

Parking Lot (Amsterdam): Een vierkoppige band die rauwe en energieke hardcore punk speelt. Je kunt hun muziek beluisteren via hun Parking Lot Bandcamp.

DJ Sjaak

De Amsterdamse DJ Sjaak (@bootlegsjaak) staat al ruim zeven jaar achter de draaitafel. Ze is een bekende in de Amsterdamse alternatieve muziekscene. Haar sets zijn altijd dansbaar en energiek, variërend van post/egg punk en darkwave tot de meest dansbare rock-‘n-roll en goth.

Poster door @bootlegsjaak Tickets 12,50 /  7,50 voor de kleine beurs

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/herres-op-woendag

Live jazz with Ron Cha

Contra, Thursday, October 1 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

Inspired by legendary venues like New York’s Blue Note, London’s Ronnie Scott's we introduce Amsterdam’s Contra: the place to enjoy intimate jazz concerts from your dinner table. A chef's menu is served, accompanied by our wide selection of wines. To keep the balance between the listening experience and sharing the moment, the concert consists of 3 sets of 35-40 minutes, each followed by a break to enjoy your table, your company, and the atmosphere.

This edition we welcome Ron Cha quartet!

Ronojit Chaliha aka. Ron Cha is Pianist, Producer, Composer and Educator from Assam, India. Ron has had a Western Classical Piano background for 15 years and then crossed over to Jazz, RnB and Gospel music. Ron is the recipient of the 1st A.R. Rahman 100% Full Scholarship to Berklee College of Music. He has toured America, Europe and Asia with artists suchas Lizzy McAlpine, Ferenc Németh, Gregory Tardy, Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Stephanie McKay and his own projects as a bandleader. This time he will bring his own quartet of rising stars in the Dutch jazz scene.

Ron Cha - piano
Joan Fort - Guitar
Omer Govreen - Double Bass
Florian Marka - Drums

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/live-jazz-with-ron-cha

Groove sessions with Giuls

Contra, Sunday, October 18 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

Inspired by legendary venues like New York’s Blue Note, London’s Ronnie Scott's we introduce Amsterdam’s Contra: the place to enjoy intimate jazz concerts from your dinner table. A chef's menu is served, accompanied by our wide selection of wines. To keep the balance between the listening experience and sharing the moment, the concert consists of 3 sets of 35-40 minutes, each followed by a break to enjoy your table, your company, and the atmosphere.

This edition we welcome Giuls!

Giuls is an Italian R&B artist currently based in Amsterdam. She is bringing honesty and vulnerability to the stage, delivering soulful vocals and a captivating performance. Expect a dynamic live show where pianist Micah Graves and drummer Prayanswer interact with one another, creating a rich musical dialogue driven by groove, improvisation, and soul. Their chemistry on stage transforms each performance into an immersive experience, where rhythm, emotion, and spontaneity come together in a unique way.

Vocals Giuls
Piano Micah Graves
Drums Prayanswer

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/groove-sessions-with-giuls

Friday Night Live - ADE edition - ft. Ikigai

Contra, Friday, October 23 at 08:00 PM GMT+2

Friday Night Live is the long awaited late night jam session refuge for jazz players and lovers alike! Steamy jazz, dimmed lights, bold cocktails, a delicious chef's menu and Europe’s finest musicians letting loose; Friday Night Live seeks out to become both an inspiring as well as highly entertaining institution of Amsterdam. Opening set from 20:00-21:30, jam session from 21:30-23:00, free entry if you bring your instrument. 

To celebrate ADE we organise a week of eclectic, futuristic but above all insanely groovy electronic jazz! Inspired by the NU Jazz movement that has taken over the USA, UK and Europe we invite artists that blend jazz with electronic music, hiphop and other influences. 

IKIGAI is an Amsterdam-based collective built around groove, improvisation and interaction. Founded by D!ma Loginov and Justin Maas, the project brings together musicians from different backgrounds and scenes, creating music somewhere between jazz, soul, electronic and grove based music. 

Dima Loginov - Trumpet
Kitano Hernandez - piano/keys 
Agus Fulka - Guitar
Justin Maas - Bass 
Max Sergeant - Drums

https://offbeat.amsterdam/event/friday-night-live-ade-edition-ft-ikigai