Elmer
Filled with humor, self-mockery, and sharp lyrics, Elmer consciously plays with expectations surrounding gender, sound, and appearance, thereby challenging the norm. Expect a show which moves between confrontation and tenderness, demonstrating that love and reckoning can coexist perfectly well. No redemption, but as a hand on your shoulder with room to doubt.
TJE
Belgian trio TJE turned the Dutch diminutive suffix “-tje” into a striking band name. With minimal gear, they create a powerful, atmospheric sound that pushes their instruments toward dissonance and friction. Their debut EP, IDOLS, blends off-kilter electronica, melancholic avant-pop, and experimental post-rock, drawing comparisons to Portishead and Fever Ray. Versyck’s voice has been described as balancing “between childlike naivety and brooding intensity.” TJE has already made a strong live impact in Belgium and the Netherlands and will show why at Hit The City!
Alice Olsthoorn
Emerging from internet and queer rave culture, Alice Olsthoorn thrives on pushing boundaries with unapologetic humor and unapologetic extravagance. Her signature sound fuses hyperpop and high-energy club music into a futuristic sonic explosion that feels like stepping into tomorrow’s dancefloor. With sharp, playful yet powerful lyrics and an undeniable presence, she has earned her crown as the hyperpop princess of the Netherlands. After blowing away crowds at Milkshake, the Amsterdam Pride mainstage, and as opening act for Pabllo Vittar, Alice is ready to turn Hit The City into her glittering playground.
S10
Sharing her most personal stories through song, rap and spoken word, S10 has established herself as the crown princess of Dutch alt pop. With millions of streams, collaborations with the biggest artists of our country she knows how to touch all of our hearts with her vulnerable and impressive stories.
Silver Lake
The Hague’s indie duo Silver Lake returns with nocturnal, melancholic art-pop. After a year of writing and recording, they offer a nuanced sound that blurs indie and ’60s-inspired folk-pop. Marleen Hoebe’s intimate vocals explore life’s tender moments while Jesse Koch’s lush arrangements expand their sonic world. With singles like Put Me Under, Beaches, and Don’t You Waste Our Time, Silver Lake has captured Dutch radio attention and supported artists including Rufus Wainwright and Son Mieux.
Automatic
Balancing irreverence with sharp commentary, L.A. band Automatic serves perky grooves and pop melodies with a dark sense of humor and a renewed sense of momentum. Izzy Glaudini (synths, vocals) and Halle Saxon (bass, vocals) believe messages of change land best with a backbeat and a cheeky groove - and on their new album Is It Now?, they ask us to confront the world’s oppressive structures with fresh urgency.
Blair Davie
This Scottish singer-songwriter is one of the UK’s most compelling, emerging talents. With his rare voice and songwriting that blends intimacy and emotional honesty, Blair Davie explores different themes. Drawing deeply from personal experiences and the stories of others who deserve to be heard, fans of Alex Warren, Dermot Kennedy and Tom Odell shouldn’t miss this one!
VALS ALARM
With their genre-blurring songwriting and pure chaos on stage, VALS ALARM tears up the rulebook. The Dutch band is a riot of energy, catharsis and joyful disorder, which leaves you breathless and wanting more. On their collaboration with BUBU (Boaz from Goldband) you hear country influences clashing with synths and noise which sounds like nothing else in today’s scene, but is unmistakably theirs.
Fit
Utrecht’s own Fit delivers a high-voltage cocktail of post-punk grit, shoegaze haze, and hip-hop swagger. With every performance, they craft a one-of-a-kind sonic experience, igniting the stage with infectious energy that sweeps the crowd into a wild, unstoppable frenzy. Expect nothing less than a show where boundaries blur and the music takes over
Michael Ekow & May
Michael Ekow is a versatile, boundary-pushing artist who effortlessly blends indie, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and house into a distinctive sound of his own. With poetic lyricism layered over infectious beats, he transforms raw emotion into immersive musical experiences. Of Ghanaian heritage and raised in Germany and England, Ekow now calls the Netherlands home. His multicultural background deeply informs both his sound and storytelling, drawing inspiration from a wide range of artists, including Rod Stewart and Florence Welch.