Hiigo
Hiigo is a Dutch pop band from Zwolle, formed by Koen Gardebroek, Dion van der Geest, Aart de Gier, Peter Terluin and Hans van der Werf. What started as a group of friends with a shared love of music has grown into a band bringing fresh energy to Nederpop. Their songs mix Dutch lyrics with modern influences from The 1975 and Bon Iver, exploring the joys and mild terrors of growing older in music that makes you think while you dance. Since their start in 2021, they have worked with producer Rob Peters, known for Bløf, Typhoon and Flemming, to release their debut EP Thuis in 2024. Singles like Tankstation became a Radio 2 TopSong and reached number one in both De Verrukkelijke 15 and the 3FM Verlanglijst, while their self-organised Tankstation festival has already hosted artists such as Lucky Fonz III, Wies, Droom Dit, Jet van der Steen and Gerson Main.
Nienke Leone
Dylan van Dael
Born in Bogotá and shaped by Berlin’s underground, Dylan van Dael is a boundary-pushing producer, artist, and musician. Since 2018, he has been crafting soundscapes that cross borders, producing for international artists and blending styles inspired by global encounters. His music serves as a meeting point of cultures, genres, and raw emotion. Whether in the studio or on stage as a guitarist, Dylan builds bridges between creative communities. Now, he brings that energy to Altstadt. Expect hypnotic textures, cinematic intensity, and a performance that speaks every language of feeling. At Hit The City, Dylan also unveils his first solo project as part of the music innovation program. A deeply personal release brought to life alongside Pokka, a 3D character reflecting the project’s immersive and imaginative world.
High Hi
Emerging from Belgium's fertile underground with the quiet assurance of those who know exactly what they're doing, this trio has methodically carved out a space where atmospheric experimentation and razor-sharp pop sensibilities coexist in perfect equilibrium. The Antwerp-based trio debuted with a dreamy, shoegaze-infused style that evolved across releases into a nuanced balance of introspection and accessible hooks.
Julia Adriana
What started in a student room in Rotterdam with just an acoustic guitar has grown into a warm blend of indie, pop and folk. Inspired by artists ranging from Joni Mitchell and The Eagles to Dutch legends BLØF, singer-songwriter Julia Adriana crafts songs filled with melancholy tones and enchanting harmonies. Her single Where R U Now was featured in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Her new EP Homemade Love is coming soon, and you can experience it live at Hit The City!
IDER
IDER is the London singer-songwriter duo of Lily Somerville and Megan Markwick, blend moody indie rock and sleek electronics with haunting vocal harmonies rooted in their folk origins. The result? Raw, clever, emotionally charged pop that cuts deep and lifts high. Expect plenty of new material at Hit The City, as IDER’s third album ‘Late To The World’ dropped in February. Its tongue-in-cheek title reclaims the power of late blooming, doing things on your own terms, in your own time. Early singles ‘You Don’t Know How To Drive’ and ‘Know How It Hurts’ hint at a richer, bolder sound: cinematic, minimal, and laced with defiance. Live, IDER is intimate yet fierce. A spellbinding mix of softness and strength, heartbreak and humour. Come for the harmonies, stay for the honesty.
Joya Mooi
Singer-songwriter Joya Mooi creates music for the fearless blending R&B, indie and pop with soulful depth and introspective lyrics. Drawing from her South African heritage and Amsterdam roots, she delivers a sound that’s both rich in identity and emotionally resonant. With her EP ‘Open Hearts’ (Aug 2024), Mooi enters a fresh chapter: groove-driven, disco-tinged tracks crafted with producer duo Easy Freak and Bastian Langebæk (Olivia Dean, Jessie Ware). It’s a vibrant evolution of her signature style. Having toured South Africa and supported Benny Sings across Europe, Joya is no stranger to the stage. Now she brings her magnetic live energy to Hit The City. Expect soulful melodies, bold storytelling, and a live show that stays with you long after the final note.
LYVIA
LYVIA’s sound cuts through with raw, soulful melodies and sharp spoken-word verses, blending honesty and grit in equal measure. From busking on Nottingham’s streets to viral stripped-back street performances, she turns shy reflections into powerful anthems inspired by Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill. With sold-out UK tour under the belt, it’s clear that Lyvia’s live shows have become a charged space where being unapologetically yourself is the real power move.
Vampire Boyfriend
Vampire Boyfriend serve up dreamy alt-pop with a bite. Think jangle guitars, gloomy aesthetics, and lyrics that flirt with darkness but always land somewhere tender. It’s the sound of a grown-up teen goth making peace with her past, wrapped in sixties shimmer and deadpan charm. Led by Janine van Osta, the Rotterdam-based four-piece bring introspective songs to life on stage with a wink and a ritual, offering a soundtrack for self-acceptance that knows the power of a well-placed ABBA reference, or a Satanic chant.
De Toegift
A suitcase full of sounds, eyes fixed on the horizon. De Toegift is on the move. This poetic six-piece from the Dutch coast blends spoken word, indie, and electronics into intimate dreamscapes of love, youth, and loss. They’ve captured hearts across the Low Countries; from Popronde and Noorderslag to sold-out club tours in venues like Paradiso and De Roma, and major festivals such as Best Kept Secret and Into The Great Wide Open. With their new album kleine auto, grote hot wheel, they once again push the boundaries of Dutch pop. Melancholic, magnetic, and full of wonder. Experience De Toegift live at Hit The City.