June 20, 2016 · Team HG
Last June 16 to 18, Groningen was once again the stage for crossover music during the 22e edition of Swingin’ Groningen. Thousands of people have been able to enjoy (inter)national jazz, soul, and other crossover music styles such as dance, funk, and groove from the stages in the city center. New this year was the stage at Broerplein: a beautiful, atmospheric setting for both musicians and the audience.
The stages at Waagplein, Ellebogenbuurt, Uurwerkersplein, and Zuiderdiep also attracted many music lovers.
At the Waagplein, the public could enjoy the Prins Claus Conservatorium Big Band featuring Lou Leeuw, The Houdini’s & Anton Goudsmit, Will Nuruwe, Julia Zahra, and Berget Lewis, among others.
The stage at Dinercafé Soestdijk In the Ellebogenbuurt, many people flocked to CP Sessions, Lefthand Freddy, and the successful performance by Senna Black.
On Friday and Saturday, the Uurwerkersplein was dedicated to Spinnin’ Groningen, where various DJs entertained the crowd with combinations of disco, soul, house, funk, boogie, jazzy stuff, bossanova, and hip hop.
The Zuiderdiep provided a stage for, among others, the funky Jimmy Glasmacher Band, Maurice White (the force behind ‘Earth Wind & Fire’), and Electric Siësta.
Talent Contest
During the Local Pre Round on Wednesday, June 15 in Café Buckshot It became clear which of the candidates chosen by the Prins Claus Conservatorium would represent Groningen at the Northern European Jazz Talent Contest. The eventual winner was Vladislav Psaruk.
During the Northern European Jazz Talent Contest, young ‘light music’ talents compete for the Energizing Future Talent Award. The conservatories of Aarhus (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), Tallinn (Estonia), Hamburg (Germany), and Groningen have sent talents to this competition. In The Club of the Newscafé The competition remained exciting, but the Swede Oskar Lindström from Stockholm walked away with the Energizing Future Talent Award.
During the day
First on the schedule for Saturday, June 18, StadsKabaal was scheduled. Dozens of children and young people from the city and province were dancing on Broerplein in the afternoon, led by Anne-Lie Persson.
In addition, shopping was once again a pleasant experience between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, as various shops such as Boekhandel van der Velde, De Schoenenfabriek, and Plato surprised their visitors with a program full of crossover jazz music.
Brother Square
This year for the first time, a stage was built on the Broerplein near the Academy Building of the University of GroningenThe facade, the stairs, the tower: it formed a beautiful backdrop for a new stage.
On Friday, there were performances by the Groningen Student Big Band, Bombay Connection, and the British PBUG. “This funk sensation was added to the program last, and what a fantastic decision that was! Bandleader Pete Ray Biggin, who has drummed for Level 42, Amy Winehouse, Chaka Khan, Mark Ronson, and various other world-class artists, set the crowd on fire together with his nine-piece band.” According to the organizers of Swingin’ Groningen. On Saturday evening, attendees could enjoy the spontaneously formed dance floor on the square during performances by Jon Tarifa and Tristan & The Heavy Horns, among others.
