20 May - Vera, Groningen

This Atlanta outfit took some time off after 2010’s excellent Halcyon Digest to focus on other projects: frontman Bradford Cox on Atlas Sound’s 2011 album, Parallax; guitarist Lockett Pundt on Lotus Plaza’s 2012 album, Spooky Action at a Distance. They redeveloped their singular obsession with Deerhunter long enough to record a new full-length, Monomania, and if history’s any indication its release should ignite a mass hysteria of the indie rock variety.

20 May - Paradiso, Amsterdam

On Woods’ latest album, 2012’s Bend Beyond, they’ve groomed their sweet but occasionally sloppy folk/rock, trimming away the outlying fuzz and brushing up their songwriting just enough to reveal their most refined and appealing album yet.

21 May - Doornroosje, Nijmegen

In their live performances, British garage outfit Palma Violets play off the obvious chemistry of Samuel Thomas Fryer and ‘Chilli’ Jesson’s musical partnership – running around stage together and barely moving five feet apart during a set. The duo were first launched by their loyal social media following, and now they’re being hailed as Britain’s next big thing.

23 May - Rotown, Rotterdam

Since dropping ‘Ffunny Ffriends’, a nifty little psych-pop ditty with an indelible hook that was embraced by the world at large, Unknown Mortal Orchestra has been anything but unknown. The outfit’s self-titled debut was beloved by the blogosphere and beyond, and recent follow-up II’s genre-bending smoky and soulful gems have caught the ears of hip hop, pop and soul luminaries alike.

24 May - EKKO, Utrecht

Mysterious producer Slow Magic compares his music to ‘the sound made by an unknown imaginary friend’. Apparently that friend likes squeaky-cleanly produced, dreamy chillwave. He/she/it wears a colourful zebra mask while playing live, so guessing which wildly famous celebrity might be hidden underneath should add to the fun.

24 May - De Brakke Grond, Amsterdam

Take a theatrical trip to a psychedelic world where music, dance and art collide. Cult legends The Residents have released over 60 albums since 1971, but famously prefer to hide their individual identities, appearing onstage in disguises ranging from giant eyeball helmets to bunny suits. Barkley is a choreographer who has previously worked with Sonic Youth and now collaborates with the iconic band to produce a show which promises to be an eruption of strange images, absurd characters and undoubtedly bizarre costumery.

26 May - Paradiso, Amsterdam

Multi-instrumentalist Chris Cohen has performed with high-profile acts including Haunted Graffiti, Deerhoof and Cass McCombs, but went on his own last year with album, Overgrown Path. 

27 May - Melkweg, Amsterdam

Animal Collective's new found popularity hasn't affected their production of quality electro-pop. New album Centipede Hz may be slightly more accessible than AnCo of old, but still contains a harsh and chaotic quality which should silence the critics.