Music Meeting Festival celebrates its 40th edition with a new setup in the city center of Nijmegen. Presenting a program full of international artists, stories, films, workshops and encounters for music adventurers of all ages, in a new collaboration with pop venue Doornroosje, St Stephen’s Church, LUX Cinema and Concertgebouw De Vereeniging. On February 4 the organization announced the first names. Early bird ticket sales are on sale.
Worlds and stories
Music Meeting brings together music and cultures from all over the world. The festival is known for its focus on global music and jazz: music that is deeply rooted in specific cultures and traditions. At Music Meeting, it’s not just about the performance, but also about the story behind it. Who are the creators? What context resonates? And how does this music relate to the world today? This approach has been at the heart of Music Meeting for forty years and will take on a new form during the anniversary edition.
Back to the heart of Nijmegen
“Music Meeting is ready for a next step. After many unforgettable open-air editions in Park Brakkenstein, we are moving back to the heart of the city,” says director Sophie Blussé. “Together with Doornroosje, St Stephen’s Church, LUX and De Vereeniging (where Music Meeting started in 1985) we invite a broad and new audience to embark on a musical adventure. We want to bring worlds together and create encounters, and these iconic venues add new dimensions to that.”
First names
In Doornroosje: Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Mádé Kuti, who follows in the Afrobeat-footsteps of his famous father and grandfather, Femi and Fela Kuti. A first in the Netherlands! (May 22)
In St Stephen’s Church: renowned singer, musician and storyteller Parvathy Baul from Bengal, as part of an Indian classical Ragamala night (May 23)
De Vereeniging: baritone saxophonist Esdras Nogueira, a leading artist in Brazilian instrumental music, will be part of a special triple bill in the main hall of De Vereeniging: the birthplace of Music Meeting! (May 24)
In LUX: jazz trumpeter from Ghana, based in the Netherlands, Peter Somuah (May 23), French ‘ethno jazz’ collective Lagon Nwar (May 24), and Belgian saxophonist Mattias De Craene, who blends his sounds with traditional gnawa music by Black Koyo (May 25)
“In 40 years of Music Meeting, there has been a lot of courage, energy, and passion in presenting premieres, creating special projects, and providing a stage for underrepresented music, genres, voices, cultures and people. In doing so, generations of audiences have been brought together and unknown talents have grown into audience favorites. With this anniversary edition, we proudly look back and also give the festival new energy, with the city as a stage,” adds artistic director Miriam Brenner.
Ticket Sales
The early bird ticket sales start in February. Early bird rates range from €29 / €57. In March, the organization will announce the full program. www.musicmeeting.nl
