The Haunted Youth, the band of 29-year-old Joachim Liebens, has become a Belgian indie sensation in no time. The songs, often about the struggle of life coated in gloriously dreamy guitars and synths, are therapy to Liebens and strike a chord with indie lovers all over Europe and even the US. Every single is a hit and debut album Dawn Of The Freak is enthusiastically received by the critics and adored by the fans. With a red-hot live reputation to boot, The Haunted Youth are here to stay.

Ão is a young and exciting Belgian four-piece blending saudade, indie and subtle electronica, topped off with the phenomenal voice of frontwoman Brenda Corijn. Drawing on her Mozambican-Portuguese roots, Corijn sings in Portuguese and English, her lyrics entwining with Siebe Chau’s southern guitar, the ambient sounds and production of Jolan Decaestecker and the eclectic percussion of Bert Peyffers. Their intoxicating sound is now evolving into something deeper and danceable, much like FKA Twigs, Lhasa de Sela, Arooj Aftab, Çeu and James Blake. Expect nothing short of a mind-blowing, unique and exhilarating live-experience.

The opening show – which is also free entrance – is in Belgian hands this year. The popular psych pop band The Haunted Youth around Joachim Liebens, was already an up-and-coming talent at Hit The City two years ago. Since then, he has played at all major festivals such as Pinkpop, Lowlands, Werchter, Sziget, Pukkelpop and Best Kept Secret. His Dutch club tour in 2013 was completely sold out. The night will be opened by support act Ão. This Belgian quartet mixes Portuguese saudade with indie rock and subtle electronica.

On Friday 30 August and Saturday 31 August, you can discover new names throughout the city center of Eindhoven. For example, the latest generation of hip-hoppers is coming to Dynamo with Chardy, Narco Polo, ADF Antje and Crystal Chanay. The adventurous hip-hop concept Nebulous Forms also announces two new names with the Berlin rapper/artist Kabeaushé and the female duo H31R. Further afield we find the festive psych band Takeshi’s Cashew, up-and-coming indie bands Swim School and Malice K, refined soul of Facesoul and Yellowstraps and the hard-hitting British punk of Knives.

Dutch and Belgian talents are also present at the festival. After an impressive show at ’t Rozenknopje during Hit The City 2023, singer-songwriter Porcelain id returns for a show at Muziekgebouw. You can dance at night with house/IDM DJ Subfiction and the “Neue Niederländische Welle” of Staatseinde, you can headbang with the punks of Maria Iskariot and PEUK, and it is also impossible to stand still with indie pop acts such as FIEP, Min Taka and Housepainters. Punk poppers Vals Alarm, singer-songwriter Iris Jean and post-punk sensation BOWL complete this announcement.

While everyone slowly returns to daily life in late summer, Hit The City invites the residents of the Brainport region – and beyond – to celebrate the city of Eindhoven together. With a recognizable, and accessible free music festival, an important impulse is given to the cultural offerings of the region.

Hit The City 2024 will take place from Thursday 29 August to Sunday 1 September at various indoor and outdoor locations in Eindhoven. Entrance is entirely free. Hit The City has been around for 11 years now and was the place where you could first discover acts such as Loyle Carner, Phoebe Bridgers, Viagra Boys, Fontaines DC, The Haunted Youth, Khruangbin, Joost, S10, Zwangere Guy, Alex G, Baauer, Wolf Alice, Glass Animals, Lander & Adriaan, Hak Baker, DITZ, Nusantara Beat and more.

Hit The City is programmed by Effenaar and Friendly Fire, and is made possible by ASML and Gemeente Eindhoven.

Info:
Hit The City 2024
Thursday 29 August – Friday 30 August – Saturday 31 August – Sunday 1 September
Eindhoven
Free entrance

Line-up announced so far:
MEROL / Sampa the Great / The Haunted Youth

Bokoesam & The Fam / Idaly / Mula B / Polyphonic / SPRINTS / Sylvie Kreusch / The Vices

Another Taste / ADF Antje / Ão / BLUAI / BOWL / Brintex Collective / Bumble B. Boy / CaitC / Carsick / Chardy / CHARLOT / Cherym / Crystal Murray / Debby Friday / Durry / FaceSoul / FIEP / Gespuys / Gustaf / H31R / Housepainters / Iris Jean / Iskander Moon / Julia Sabaté / Kabeaushé / Kans / Kirin J Callinan / Knives / Madster / Malice K / Maria Iskariot / Maryn Charlie / MC Drivah / Meltheads / milolaathetlukken / Min Taka / Narco Polo / PEUK / Porcelain Id / Promis3 / Sky Feliz / Snõõper / Somebody’s Child / Staatseinde / Talk Show / Tantron / The Royston Club / Vals Alarm / ViceByLara / Walt Disco / Yellowstraps / Zimmer90 + many more to be announced