People of Groningen (and its environs), you are lucky! Because on 16 August, the 22nd edition of the 10-day Noorderzon Performing Arts Festival kicks off and the line-up of the music menu alone promises lots of delicacies. Noorderzon is a combination of a cutting-edge art festival, with modern performing arts from all corners of the world and it is our pleasure just to share here a few of the Nordic musical artists who will be playing. Many of the gigs in the festival arena are free but there are also paid-for gigs that you’ll need to sort a ticket out for whilst you can. There is also a series of intimate mini-concerts in the ‘living room container’ on the Leliesingel (organised by the wonderful wishfulmusic).

Fri 17 Aug @ 19.30 Lars Ludvig Löfgren (SE)
The living room container is where you can meet our first Nordic performer, Lars Ludvig Löfgren (SE). Löfgren promises to deliver a perfect performance of indiepop songs in this intimate setting, if the video of his show in 2010 is anything to go by.
(location: Leliesingel; ticket required, 4 EUR)

Fri 17 Aug @ 20.30 Nordic (SE)
The folk trio Nordic (nice name!) offers up traditional Swedish folk music featuring a multitude of stringed instruments including cello, mandolin and nyckelharpa (a traditional Swedish button-violin).
(location: Spiegeltent; ticket required, 11 EUR)

Sun 19 Aug @ 22.30 Of Monsters and Men (IS) (pictured)
Yes, we are fans of Of Monsters and Men here at Nordic Vibes (see here). This Icelandic folk-pop band’s popularity is sky-rocketing at a crazy rate. And if you are able to but you don’t get along to see this FREE gig, we’d have to say you are ‘een beetje gek’ too! 😉
(location: Het Dok Dommelsch Muziekpodium; FREE)

Sun 26 Aug @ 19.30 Hjálmar (IS)
We first came across Hjálmar when they played at another of Groningen’s fantastic festivals, Eurosonic, at the start of this year (see our article here). A merry band of (mostly) bearded blokes who play Icelandic reggae. Never knew there was such a thing? Well there is. And Hjálmar is one of the best at it.
(location: Het Dok Dommelsch Muziekpodium; FREE)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw12mvz4Ai4