Metropolis Festival

This free festival has long served as a spring board for upcoming bands that go on to make a big splash (Wu Tang Clan, Radiohead, Interpol and The Strokes). This year’s line-up features a diverse mix of new and established Dutch and international acts, with a particular penchant for garage rock. Not only that, we’re teaming up with Metropolis for the official Pre-Party on the eve of the fest.

 

PARQUET COURTS
parquetcourts.wordpress.com

 

 

On 2012’s Light Up Gold, these New York punks invited doppelgangers of the Modern Lovers, the Velvet Underground, Television and Pavement over for a party at their place, get everybody drunk and stoned, then let the spirits possess them for a jam sesh that ended up sounding sloppy, loose and fun, but above all smart in the way that only drug-addled genius can.

 

 
 

BOMBINO
bombino.bandcamp.com/

Bombino (derived from ‘little child’) brings his protest music from the Niger desert, expertly cutting dry riffs behind a soulful voice. His latest album, Nomad, has found its place atop the world music charts.

 

 
 

STELLAR OM SOURCE
soundcloud.com/omsource

 

 

Stellar OM Source, aka Christelle Gualdi, just released her eighth album, Joy One Mile, on cutting-edge label RVNG Intl., a fill of acid house couched in blaring synths and grooving bass lines. She headlines our Metropolis Pre-Party at BAR, Rotterdam on the eve of the festival.

 

 
 

SIC ALPS
sicalps.com/

Their line-up may have changed a lot since 2000, but Sic Alps have consistently pushed out unapologetic pop through their Woodsist and Siltbreeze channels, and now bring their notoriously energetic live show our way.

 

 
 

WARM SODA
warmsoda.bandcamp.com/

 

 

Bare Wires frontman Matthew Melton’s new band combines fuzzy production with bubbly melodies and bittersweet lyricism, pouring out glammy power pop that’s far from flat. Adding to it, the Oakland quartet’s pastel pants and infectious hooks remind us it’s not quite time to grow up and drink our Fanta straight out of the fridge.

 

 
 

MOZES AND THE FIRSTBORN
soundcloud.com/mozes-and-the-firstborn

They’ve been called the Netherlands’ answer to the Black Lips and Ty Segall, but comparisons are E-Z to make and this kind of energy-laden garage pop is not.