ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the key exchange for emerging European music, has announced new showcase acts and conference speakers for its 39th edition line-up of the annual four-day showcase festival and music conference.
Thousands of industry pros and passionate music fans travel to Groningen each January. Wandering between venues, there’s enough to discover from the handpicked selection of talents curated from almost every European country.
Today, ESNS has announced 77 new acts for its showcase festival lineup, bringing the total to 247 best-emerging and new talents confirmed for ESNS25, spanning a wide range of genres from niche to popular. More acts will be revealed in the coming weeks. Discover the line-up at ESNS.nl
The newly confirmed acts are: Aircraft (ua), Annie-dog (ie), Astrid & The Scandals (si), Bratři (cz), Bea Stewart (uk/nor/ie), Benjamin Amaru (ch), Berre (be), Big Special (uk-eng), Bon Jour (at), Bonnie Banane (fr), Bradley Simpson (uk-eng), Brògeal (uk-sco), Canblaster (fr), Carpetman (ua), Cavolo Nero (nl), Chicos Y Mendez (be), Chloe Slater (uk-eng), Ciao Lucifer (nl), Clutter (se), Cocobolo (nl), COLLIGNON (nl), Corella (uk-eng), Cruel Sister (ie), CUT_ (nl), CVC (uk-wal), Delara (no), Donbasgrl (ua), Ella Marie (no), Fay Wildhagen (no), Fiona Lee (uk-eng), Flammer Dance Band (no), Florence Sinclair (uk-eng), Getdown Services (uk-eng), Goldielocks (fi), Grande Mahogany (fi), HEAL (es), Isaac Roux (be), Joulie Fox (pl), Kaktus Einarsson (is), La Chica (fr), Laryssa Kim (be), Lionstorm (nl), Lucy Dreams (at), Lukas Oscar (at), Luna Kills (fi), Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige (dk), Mar Pujol (es), Meagre Martin (de), Mitsune (de), Morpheus (nl), Muireann Bradley (ie), Murda (nl), Musspell (ro), Nemeček (hr), One eat One (it), Overpass (uk-eng), Paula Dalla Corte (ch/de), Postman (ua), Qbanaa (ie), Robin Kester (nl), ROSEYE (nl), Sirens of Lesbos (ch), Sophie Jamieson (ie), Sophye Soliveau (fr), st. Pedro (es), Stockholm Noir (se), Sunna Margrét (is), Tarta Relena (es), Texoprint (nl), The Anahit (hu), The Family Battenberg (uk-wal), Travo (pt), VAAGUE (be), Wizthemc (de), Yaeger (se), Yndling (no), and ZEP (nl).
Acts on the ESNS line-up also immediately join the European Talent Exchange program, increasing their chances of getting booked at major European festivals after showcasing at ESNS.
Multisensory live events at ESNS25
ESNS, in collaboration with Revelland, presents five multisensory showcases at ESNS25, promoting a sustainable, diverse, and inclusive music sector where music is accessible to everyone. Bratři (cz), CUT_ (nl), Lyra Valenza & Signe Dige (dk), One eat One (it), and The Anahit (hu) are set to perform fully accessible and immersive shows that engage audiences through taste, smell, vibrations, sound, and visuals.
The programme will kick off at the ESNS Conference, where ESNS Delegates explore how festivals and venues can go beyond basic accommodations to create truly inclusive spaces. The Revelland project aims to elevate live music performances by transforming them into multisensory events, making them more immersive and inclusive.
ESNS Conference exploring bright spots in music industry
In the groundbreaking ESNS Science – Bright Spots program, co-funded by Regieorgaan SIA, industry leaders and researchers will explore positive futures for the music industry beyond today’s doom-and-gloom headlines. This innovative series at the ESNS Conference showcases existing solutions and inspiring alternatives to current industry challenges, ranging from new economic models to the positive impact of cultural exchange.
Led by the premise that “we don’t need a crystal ball—the future already exists in the now,” ESNS Science will showcase real-world examples of sustainable, equitable, and innovative practices transforming the music landscape. Through four focused sessions, participants will explore alternative economic models challenging the superstar economy, examine the pioneering influence of queer music culture, celebrate the cultural contributions of migrant communities, and work on future-forward solutions with music industry startups. This forward-looking program offers a vital counterpoint to prevailing industry narratives, providing practical pathways toward a more diverse, equitable, and sustainable music industry future.
Confirmed ESNS Science speakers include purpose-economist Kees Klomp (Windesheim University of Applied Science), Kristina Kolbe (Erasmus University Rotterdam), and Luis Manuel Garcia (University of Birmingham). ESNS Science is curated by Frank Kimenai (Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication).
Earlier, ESNS announced Sumit Bothra (SB3 Artist Management), Seth Dodson (Pitchfork), Alex Hardee (Wasserman Music), Jess Iszatt (BBC), Katie Melua (artist), and Victoria Oakley (IFPI) as speakers for the ESNS Conference, amongst many others, including tastemakers from Dekmantel, EMMA, MMF, and many more.
