The bags are packed, the boarding passes printed and we’re almost ready to go…

Yep, Hot Press is swapping balmy Dublin – it’s 13° today on the Costa del Capel Street – for Groningen in northern Holland where the canals are frozen and long-johns mandatory for visiting music journalists such as our man Stuart Clark.

Over three action-packed days, dozens of Europe’s brightest young things will get to showcase their wares in front of radio stations, festival bookers, ladies and gentleman of the press and much crazy Dutch persons.

In previous years, the likes of Fontaines D.C., Imelda May, Arlo Parks, Franz Ferdinand, English Teacher, Villagers, First Aid Kit and Phoenix have all come back with dozens of tasty gig bookings and the knowledge that Groningen is one hell of a cool city.

The 2025 Irish contingent includes Kingfishr, Cardinals, Niamh Bury, Ellie O’Neill, Search Results, Soft Launch, Cruel Sister, QBanna, Sophie Jameson, Muireann Bradley and Annie Dogg who will all be looking to impress their continental cousins.

As well as cheering them on, we’re looking forward to catching international newbies like Jasmine.4.t who’s the first signing to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records and has already collaborated with her boygenius bandmate Julien Baker.

The Manchester artist’s debut album, You Are The Morning, is out on Friday and is an early Mercury Music Prize contender,

Here are five more Eurosonic acts we can’t wait to catch. For a full festival lineup see https://esns.nl/en and keep tuned to https://www.hotpress.com for Mr. C’s ringside reports.