It’s quite a mild and pleasant Thursday in Groningen, but the entire country is apparently under a ‘Code Red’ weather warning. Flights to Schipol Airport are being cancelled or diverted, and most of the trains have stopped running. No problem to the bands and music industry professionals who’re already at Eurosonic, but a major headache to those still en route.
Thankfully, although a couple of keynote speakers can’t make it, it’s largely business as usual at De OOsterpoort conference centre throughout the day. The live music kicks off at 8pm, and most of the gigs go ahead as planned.
But only just. First on Hot Press’ checklist is young Dublin hip-hop artist Jafaris, who’s playing Platform Theatre. Although it’s one of the furthest venues away from the main conference centre, he’s still managed to draw a decent crowd. The Sing Street star explains that he’s just endured a five-hour drive from Frankfurt (his flight was diverted from snowed-in Amsterdam), but the mad dash doesn’t affect his performance.
Backed by a drummer and a DJ, Jafaris is at his most entertaining when he’s singing angrily – that’s when his raps start hitting Eminem-like speeds. Slower tracks like ‘Better’ demonstrate a slightly more soulful side to the Dubliner, but when he’s at his best it’s ‘Like Drugs’ (sorry, couldn’t resist). The audience response is really positive – especially at the finale when he and the drummer let loose – so hopefully the five-hour drive won’t have been in vain.
There’s a venue directly across the street called Simplon with a Eurosonic flag flying so we decide to check it out. A Danish act called School Of X are already onstage when we enter the room. They turn out to be a solo project from Rasmus Littauer, normally the drummer for artists MØ and The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. Their set ranges from angsty indie pop to smooth trip-hop reminiscent of Portishead.
There’s another Danish act playing at the Grand Theatre in the Main Square. Electro-pop trio Off Bloom picked up an EBBA Award last night, and their eccentric and edgy set – influenced by the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Baauer and Major Lazer – demonstrates exactly why they deserved the gong. Backed by producers Alex Flockhart and Mads Christensen, sexy singer Mette Mortensen has an amazing stage presence (undoubtedly honed by last year’s European tour with Dua Lipa). Songs such as ‘Love To Hate It’ and ‘Shut Up And Let Me Walk’ totally electrify the room. Their stated ambition is to become “the biggest band in the world.” Judging by tonight’s performance, Off Bloom are at least in with a chance.

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The night ends with a kickass noise-fest courtesy of Dublin rock trio Bitch Falcon, who’ve totally packed out Huis de Beurs. Fronted by the gutsy Lizzie Fitzpatrick, the band make a raw sound that blends grunge, hardcore and metal with occasionally melodic electro-pop. Pulsating tracks such as ‘Clutch’, ‘TMJ’ and ‘Wolfstooth’ provoke the observation that if Kim Deal had been the singer with The Pixies, this is exactly how they would have sounded.
Keep an eye on hotpress.com for our exclusive backstage interviews with Jafaris, Off Bloom and Bitch Falcon.

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