‘As Live As Possible’: ESNS Gears Up For Physical & Digital 35th Edition
Bart Heemskerk – ESNS is usually one of the most bustling gatherings of music professionals in the world, certainly in Europe.
The 35th anniversary in 2021 is set to take place online to some extent.
When Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) returns to Groningen, Netherlands, Jan. 13-16, it will go down as a hybrid edition.
The extent to which visitors will be able to enjoy live concerts and conference sessions at the 35th edition of ESNS will depend on government mandates in place at the time.
As its organizers acknowledge, “the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the music sector have been disastrous. The worldwide shutdown of almost every live event means an unprecedented blow for everyone working in this sector.”
– Robert Meijerink
ESNS Creative Director.
To creative director Robert Meijerink, the situation is “all the more reason to get together again in Groningen in January 2021 and to review and anticipate the future.
“It is precisely these uncertain times that call for an opportunity to open the dialogue, to support and inspire, to learn from each other and ultimately to regain trust for hopeful times ahead.
“Last but not least, ESNS wants to organize an event that does justice to its mission; stimulating and promoting the circulation of new European music. The necessity has never been so great.”
ESNS 2021 will be preceded by the so-called European Music Week, a digital platform, on which “a large number of partners join forces to promote (new) European music and give the European live music sector centre stage,” according to the announcement.
The 35th edition of ESNS will be different from previous years. The current restrictions on public life and employment in the live events sector have made adjustments to the event concept necessary.
Both for the conference and the showcase elements of ESNS will move online to an extent that’ll depend on the restrictions closer to the time.
Instead of highlighting one focus country as in previous years, the upcoming ESNS edition will focus on all of Europe. The presentation of the EU’s Music Moves Europe Talent Awards and a Saturday dedicated to Dutch artists (Noorderslag) remain part of the program.
Bart Heemskerk – ESNS lives off networking.
It remains to be seen how much of that will be possible in January.
Networking has always been ESNS’s strong suit, and organizers have vowed to provide delegates with extended business opportunities and ways to engage in dialogues about the state of the industry and how to deal with the current crisis – all with the safety of visitors, delegates and artists as the highest priority.
Details are to follow in the coming month and will be announced as soon as possible.
ESNS director Dago Houben commented: “The music sector has been hit hard. But we feel strengthened by the hundreds of music professionals from home and abroad who have still bought a registration for ESNS 2021 in recent months, despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
“We feel that as a call from the sector. In addition, we receive tremendous support from a large number of partners, not to mention the authorities who indirectly supported us to let us do what we are good at; stimulate the circulation of European music. This extra support gives us the opportunity to drastically reduce the price of our event to make it as accessible as possible for everyone.
“We are developing an accessible digital edition for people who are not yet allowed to, or who are otherwise not able to travel.”
Tickets for the 2021 edition of ESNS will be substantially discounted compared to previous years.
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