The program was already packed with names such as Pommelien Thijs, Broederliefde, Ronnie Flex & The Fam, Chloe Slater, and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, but with the confirmation of the final acts, the full line-up of 86 artists is now complete. Among the latest additions to the city program are High Hi, GLINTSAL, Dylan van Dael, Casey MQ, Violent Magic Orchestra, and Grote Geelstaart.

Hit The City is a collaboration between Effenaar, Friendly Fire, and ASML and takes place from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31, 2025, preceded by an opening show on Thursday, August 28. With a large outdoor stage at Ketelhuisplein and various venues throughout the city center, there’s ample space for both established names and exciting newcomers. The entire program is free to attend.

Girls To The Front is a Utrecht-based platform that creates space for female and queer artists from the punk and art scenes. The compilation album of the same name celebrates the diversity of women and sounds within the broad Dutch punk landscape. The same spirit will be showcased on Saturday, August 30 at Café The Jack. In addition to previously announced acts Death Sells and Dear Omen, you’ll see the hardcore punk and riot grrrl energy of Waterschade, the political garage punk of C’est Qui, and Combi Magnetron’s mix of humor and grind/mincecore.

The city program on Friday and Saturday once again emphasizes a broad and varied selection for all audiences—further underlined by the latest additions.
At Café Wilhelmina, Antwerp-based alternative pop band High Hi offers a sound where experimentation and sharp pop sensitivity go hand in hand. For those leaning toward heavier music, Café The Jack is the place to be. There, you’ll find yourself in the mosh pit with EDLP, who deliver a mix of midwest emo and punk. The band Karnabahar takes a different route with unexpected 90s/00s screamo inspired by Balkan, Anatolian, and other traditional folk songs. Rotterdam-based terror punk band Bombstrap dives deep into the strange depths of hardcore, while Torn From Oblivion brings a modern twist to deathcore and hardcore. Violent Magic Orchestra throws black and death metal, industrial, post-rock, and digital hardcore into a blender.

Another notable name: Sad Banana, who completes the line-up of the experimental hip-hop evening Nebulous Forms at Dynamo. With a bold mix of punk, rap, and Dadaism, Sad Banana offers a contemporary tribute to being an overripe banana in a post-capitalist world. At Altstadt, rapper Glints and producer Faisal join forces as GLINTSAL. They deliver a mix of chopped-up soul and 80s samples with powerful drums, heavenly synths, and humorous soundbites. The duo is currently enjoying great popularity in Belgium, climbing the charts and recently performing on the main stage at Rock Werchter.

Colombian-Dutch artist Dylan van Dael was already announced as part of the Music Innovation program, where the audiovisual project centered around digital 3D character Pokka will be featured. In addition, he will bring a special audiovisual show to Altstadt, blending raw samples, melodic vocals, striking visuals, and complex productions.

On the other end of the spectrum, composer and producer Casey MQ presents an immersive sound combining pop and classical piano. He previously collaborated on this year’s acclaimed debut album by Oklou and has also worked with artists like Empress Of, Shygirl, and Vagabon. Armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar, Julia Adriana delivers a warm mix of indie, pop, and folk.

Bombstrap / Casey MQ / C’est Qui / Combi Magnetron / Curling / Dylan van Dael / EDLP
Glintsal / Grote Geelstaart / High Hi / Julia Adriana / Karnabahar / Niels Orens / Sad Banana / Torn From Oblivion / Violent Magic Orchestra / Waterschade

Broederliefde / Pommelien Thijs / Ronnie Flex & The Fam / Bente / BLANKS / Chloe Slater / Circa Waves / DITZ / Fresku / Gotu Jim / KiLLOWEN / Maan / Matilda Mann / Psychedelic Porn Crumpets / Sef / SUPERSTRINGS / The Chisel / The Indien / Tramhaus / Aili / Allman Brown / Angry Blackmen / Babymorocco / Bombstrap / Brunzyn / BUG / Buunshin / CaitC / Casey MQ / C’est Qui / Charlie Avalon / Cliffords / Combi Magnetron / Curling / Dear Omen / Death Sells / De Toegift / Dylan van Dael / EDLP / Emma Hessels / Eosine / Glintsal / Grote Geelstaart / High Hi / Ider / Jawnino / Jerub / Joya Mooi / Julia Adriana / Kaat van Stralen / Karnabahar / KEG / Lézard / Little Moon / Luca St / LULU. / Lusaint / Lyvia / Niels Orens / NOAH / Nymfo / Octave Lissner / Oykie / Parker Fans / Philine / Pol / Sad Banana / Slew / Slow Fiction / SØWT / Teenage Dads / TEUN / Torn From Oblivion / Tukan / Unpeople / Vampire Boyfriend / Violent Magic Orchestra / Waterschade

The free city festival Hit The City is launching a new program segment: Music Innovation. A large part of the music lineup had already been announced, featuring acts such as Pommelien Thijs, Ronnie Flex & The Fam, Broederliefde, Tramhaus, Circa Waves, Chloe Slater, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, and many more. The Music Innovation program, taking place at POPEI, showcases virtual concerts, immersive installations, and cutting-edge musical experiences. You’ll find boundary-pushing projects like Effenaar Living History and OK AI, along with innovative concepts by artists such as Anneke van Giersbergen, CHARLOT, Dylan van Dael, WITT, Mirusi Mergina, YRSA, AURA, and puntjudith.

Hit The City is a collaboration between Effenaar, Friendly Fire, and ASML, and will take place from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31, 2025, preceded by an opening show on Thursday, August 28. With a large outdoor stage at Ketelhuisplein and various venues spread throughout the city center, the festival provides plenty of space for both established names and exciting new talents.

New this year is the Music Innovation program at POPEI, which on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, offers a glimpse into the future of live music. While the festival has always led the way in discovering new artists, this year it also embraces technological innovation for the first time. Visitors can immerse themselves in virtual concerts, immersive installations, and high-tech music experiences. Four pioneering projects – OK AI, HYMNE, Hybrid Music Vibes, and Effenaar Living History – demonstrate how music and technology merge into new forms of experience.

OK AI is a groundbreaking, traveling installation where you can create unique tracks through the interplay of artificial intelligence (AI) and human creativity. Housed in a mobile concert stage, this immersive audiovisual experience offers both professionals and untrained music lovers the chance to collaborate with AI in making music and visuals like never before.

Developed by DOMNIQ (artist Dominique Vleeshouwers) and the WERC Collective, and supported by leading partners such as Adams, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, Effenaar, and ESNS, OK AI is at the forefront of creative innovation.

The HYMNE project presents virtual mini-concerts created in collaboration with four artists, where audio, visuals, and technology come together in AR, VR, or MR experiences. Anneke van Giersbergen offers a VR experience based on her new track Passage of Time, while visitors can step into the virtual worlds of singer-songwriter CHARLOT and Dylan van Dael’s chrome-colored 3D character Pokka. The dreamy world of the electronic music project WITT is also explored.

HYMNE is a collaboration between the CORTEX2 platform, 4DR Studios, and Effenaar Lab, supported by the European Union.

Hybrid Music Vibes gives artists the opportunity to explore and integrate new technologies into their work. Mirusi Mergina, YRSA, AURA, and puntjudith have recently developed innovative projects, some of which will be showcased at Hit The City. Mirusi’s Resonance of the Self is a sound installation that responds live to the artist’s body movements, uniting performer and music. YRSA’s Samen Alleen in het Clubhuis uses visitors’ phones to create light patterns that enhance the connection between artist and audience. AURA’s Tussen eb en vloed makes sound visible and tangible through lasers and smoke, synchronized with her music.

This initiative is a collaboration between Effenaar Lab, Rockacademie Tilburg, Thunderboom Records, Studio Wotto, and Bureau Difficult Things, supported by Cultuurloket DigitALL.

Experience the rich history of pop venue Effenaar through an interactive VR experience. Visitors can virtually walk through nostalgic spaces and discover hidden objects that take them back to the turbulent 1970s and ’80s, when legendary bands like Joy Division, Talking Heads, and Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at Effenaar.

The experience is developed by Effenaar Lab and 4DR Studios and is supported by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.

OK AI by DOMNIQ – Passage of Time by Anneke van Giersbergen – Lost Like Alice by CHARLOT – Insomnia by WITT – Resonance of the Self by Mirusi Mergina – Samen alleen in het Clubhuis by YRSA – Tussen eb en vloed by AURA – PUNTJUDITH – Effenaar Living History by Effenaar Lab x 4DR Studios