Soundtrack #1: Groningen — 40 Years of Eurosonic Noorderslag

Every city has a sound.
Some have an entire soundtrack.

Soundtrack is a new series of curated urban walks dedicated to discovering cities through their musical history, stories, venues and cultural impact. Not just concerts and names, but the places, the anecdotes, the forgotten stages and the moments that shaped the musical identity of a city.

The very first edition takes place in Groningen, during a truly special moment: the 40th anniversary of Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) — the most important showcase festival and music conference in Europe for emerging artists.

Since 1986, Eurosonic has been one of the main European launchpads for new talent. Over the years, artists such as Dua Lipa, Franz Ferdinand, Fontaines D.C., Bastille, Milky Chance, Ben Howard, Royal Blood and many others have performed here at the very beginning of their international careers.

But Eurosonic is not only a festival — for a few days every January, it becomes the city itself. Venues, cafés, theatres, former concert halls and unexpected corners of Groningen turn into stages, creating a unique atmosphere where music, people and stories blend into the urban fabric.

What we will do

We’ll walk through the city following its musical footprints — about 5 km of stories, anecdotes and places that shaped Groningen’s musical soul:

• legendary venues and former concert halls
• unexpected places where historic gigs happened
• bars and cafés that became after-show legends
• artists who lived, played, broke through and left their mark on the city
• forgotten episodes, strange stories and cultural turning points

This is not a “festival schedule tour”, but a musical urban narrative — a way to read the city through sound, memory and cultural identity.

After the walk

We’ll end the afternoon at Het Concerthuis, a perfectly themed spot offering an interesting selection of beers from microbreweries across Europe — a relaxed moment to exchange impressions, share stories and keep the conversation going.

Soundtrack is about listening to cities.
Groningen is where we start. 🎧