Joe GallopESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) has opened its 37th edition in Groningen today, 18 January, the first in-person edition of the event since 2020.
The sold-out event will feature more than 300 emerging European artists and 200 conference activities, from panels to network events and from workshops to mixers.
The edition welcomes a large number of new visitors, alongside longstanding audiences and delegates. The winners of the European Festival Awards are to be announced in the evening.
In the evening, the ESNS Festival line-up will showcase more than 300 European acts across locations in the heart of Groningen. Together with The Spanish Wave, this year’s Focus on Spain project showcases 16 acts, a conference focus and mixer.
In the day, the ESNS Conference programme will include more than 200 panel discussions, interviews and keynotes covering industry-leading topics and innovation, geared at guiding the music industry towards a sustainable future.
Keynotes this year include learning all about transforming the music industry with Scott Cohen, exploring Spain’s music scene with Robert Gríma, a look at music history with the exclusive Sub Pop keynote interview featuring Jonathan Poneman, and an exclusive Keynote with Dua Lipa and her manager Dukagjin Lipa, in conversation with IQ Magazine Editor Gordon Masson, about their Sunny Hill Festival and Sunny Hill Foundation.
The European Festival Awards (EFA) will take place this evening, 18 January, at De Oosterpoort in Groningen. This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award has already been announced, being awarded to Roskilde Festival, its full team and volunteers in Denmark.
The winners of the 2023 Music Moves Europe Awards will be announced tomorrow, 19 January. 3FM’s Vera Siemons and Justin Verkijk are to present a live Noorderslag broadcast by NTR on 21 January.
For the first time since its founding in 1986, ESNS is organising a night programme for three consecutive nights. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after the end of Eurosonic and Noorderslag, the festival will move to a number of venues in the city for a night programme that will give the stage to emerging electronic acts.