music – droog

Body Electric

An evening of music, comedy and spoken word

Body Electric presents special guest musicians, plus performances from some of our favourite comedians and spoken word artists.

LINE UP:

Emily Higgson is an American comedian known for her twisted, high-energy comedy. Emily has toured across Europe and the UK, opening for acts like Olga Koch, Lara Ricote, and Derek Mitchell, and is a a cast member at Club Haug.

Comedian Adi Parmar was born in India in the 90s but reborn after Lana Del Rey released the Ride music video in 2012. He has a crush on Emmanuel Macron but he doesn’t always agree with his politics. He may have ADHD but there’s a lot going on in his life right now so we can’t get into all that.

Amsterdam-based storyteller, stage performer, and prospective clown Phillip Melchers describes himself as a Human Labrador Retriever. Born in the snowy wastes of Canada, he holds to the belief that even in the coldest of times, a little love is enough to break the ice.

Fer is an Argentinian storyteller with over 14 years of experience writing, performing, and directing theatre in Buenos Aires. He is also a screenwriter, with credits for HBO, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. The sketch comedy show Ctrl+Jeta, which he co-created, was nominated for three Martín Fierro Digital Awards in Argentina.

In 2020, Fer moved to the Netherlands, where he teaches and performs comedy. He completed the professional course at Mezrab Storytelling School. He co-created Training for the End of the World, which was presented at Boslab Theater Festival, Brainwash Festival, and Oerol Festival. He also wrote and directed What Happened to Mark?, which premiered at the Amsterdam Fringe; Pampa’s Pride, performed at the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival, Amsterdam Fringe, and Edinburgh Fringe; and Fer Is on a Deadline, currently touring in the Netherlands and internationally.

St. Abel is a Malaysian-born singer-songwriter, based in Amsterdam. Her sound is warm, lucid, moody, and punctuated by lyrics that explore the dark depths of human longing. Her latest album, ‘Dancing Feels A Lot Like Dying’, takes the listener on a journey through heartbreak and mortality via. electric beats and haunting vocals.

Amsterdam based Irish singer-songwriter and producer MAGMELL makes soulful, guitar-driven alt-folk music inspired by his close personal relationships and experience of life outside of Ireland.

A history of making alternative hip-hop and working full-time as a chef are giving way to a new wave of creativity; serving the listener endearing and thoughtful songs that pull you closer to the mythical realm of the Celtic Otherworld.

Having released his anticipated second album last year, Data Kiss keeps creating all around. From releasing inescapable catchy songs, to playing at Paradiso in Amsterdam and Seoul, Data Kiss’ understanding of groove keeps him moving forwards. Basing his sets on French electro, old and new disco, and anything else that will get your feet dancing, a Data Kiss set is sure to keep you moving all night long.

Body Electric is a festival in a night: an event blending music, comedy, poetry and spoken word with DJs and visual artists, plus the occasional dancer. Founded in 2022, Body Electric is returning to venues across Amsterdam, bringing fresh voices to new audiences, while building a growing community for performers who want to take to the stage and hone their craft.

Program

Wednesday, April 29th

Start: 7pm

End: 10pm

Red Space

Claudia Bloom & Sean Hauser: Amor, Duelo i Cel

Claudia Bloom and Sean Hauser present a try-out of their new Spanish-language album Amor, Duelo i Cel.

Claudia Bloom & Sean Hauser form a musical duo from Amsterdam and Barcelona. In their collaboration, they create Latin folk-pop. A warm, loving, meditative, and groovy sound.

On the album Amor, Duelo i Cel, Claudia and Sean feel the need to express the full spectrum of love: falling in love, losing a loved one, and everything in between. The songs come straight from the heart and give the audience the space to feel what it means to love, to mourn, and to connect with the beauty of life.

Claudia Bloom is a Catalan singer-songwriter, therapeutic voice coach, and actress. After her acting training in Barcelona, she embarked on a healing journey in which music became her medicine. She has been performing throughout Europe since 2021. In 2024, she released her debut album “Mariposas Blancas,” known for the song “Rios de Mujeres.”

Sean Hauser is a musician, songwriter, singer, and theater maker from Amsterdam. He moves between the theater and music worlds. He composes his own songs for theater companies such as Het Markttheater and collaborates with other musicians. Drawing on his Curaçaoan background, he strives for a fusion of Latin American/Caribbean music and pop in his music.

Amsterdam All Inclusive

Are dutchies not warm enough or are the newcomers too lazy to adapt?

How can we make Amsterdam all inclusive?

Amsterdam is often celebrated as a city of openness, diversity, and coexistence. But what does that actually mean in everyday life? Who adapts to whom, and where do we draw the line between integration and individuality?

Amsterdam All Inclusive invites you to the table, literally. Join us for an evening of food, conversation, and shared perspectives, where different cultures, experiences, and opinions come together.

Hosts: Sarriel Taus & Alya Yumrukçal

Guests: a.m.o Marjan Ippel, Paulami Joshi

Music: Abigaël Ama, Tijdelijk Toon

Abigaël Ama is a musician and composer, a graduate of the Berklee Conservatory. Her music is a refined blend of Brazilian rhythms and neo-soul, where groove and intimacy come together. She plays both violin and guitar, creating a warm, layered sound with international influences. Her new album will be released online on June 6, 2026, with the debut presentation on May 31 at De Salon in Ruigoord.

Program:

17:30 – Aperitivos

18:00 – Dinner

20:15 – Show

Pistache

Pistache is een Amsterdams collectief van vrienden dat de tijdloze klanken van jazz Manouche en Franse chansons op een geheel eigen wijze nieuw leven inblaast. Geïnspireerd door grootheden als Django Reinhardt, Stéphane Grappelli, Jean Sablon, Billie Holiday en The Mills Brothers brengen ze de swingmuziek uit die tijd met veel liefde over. Daarbij maken ze gebruik van vocale harmonieën en een zessnarige viool.

De leden van Pistache hebben jarenlange ervaring met optredens op nationale en internationale festivals, zoals March Manouche, Nuremberg Guitar Festival, Birmingham Jazzfest, Breda Jazz, Dokter Jazz en Django Amsterdam. Ook werkten ze samen met gerenommeerde artiesten uit de gypsyjazzscene, onder wie Tcha Limberger, Fapy Lafertin en Robin Nolan.

Een optreden van Pistache voelt als een avond met goede vrienden: intiem, energiek en vol speelse improvisatie. Of het nu op een groot festival is of in een knusse jazzclub – altijd vol groove, charme en precies de juiste hoeveelheid crunch.

English:
Pistache is a collective of friends from Amsterdam who decided to bring the timeless energy of jazz Manouche and French chansons to life through their shared passion for the music of Django Reinhardt, Stephane Grappelli, Jean Sablon, Billie Holiday, The Mills Brother and many more. With their fresh and playful style, they create unique arrangements including vocal harmonies, a six-string violin, and a deep love for jazz Manouche.

The members of Pistache have years of experience performing at national and international festivals (March Manouche, Nuremberg Guitar Festival, Birmingham Jazzfest, Breda Jazz, Dokter Jazz, Django Amsterdam). They have also collaborated with renowned artists in the gypsy jazz scene such as Tcha Limberger, Fapy Lafertin and Robin Nolan.

Pistache delivers intimate yet energetic performances. Whether at a festival, a jazz club or a cozy soirée, they bring the groove, the charm, and just the right amount of crunch.

Pluis is a monthly evening dedicated to discovering fresh sounds and rising talent. Every third week of the month, Droog transforms into an intimate stage where musicians, vocalists, and performers share their craft in a warm and welcoming setting.

Body Electric

EVENT POSTPONED, NEW DATE TBA

An evening of music, comedy and spoken word

Body Electric presents special guest musicians, plus performances from some of our favourite comedians and spoken word artists.

LINE UP:

Tsóka (цока) is the musical project of Sofia Gkaits. Named after a childhood nickname given by her grandparents, the project carries traces of elsewhere: Balkan roots and a life shaped between countries after moving to the Netherlands at six. She wrote her first song on homesickness before she knew what to call it. Her first album is to be released on April 3rd.

Kelly (they/she) is a poet/worker organizer who exists in Amsterdam. They like to write poetry in dialogue with their dreams, their community, and the real housewives.

Amsterdam based Irish singer-songwriter and producer MAGMELL makes soulful, guitar-driven alt-folk music inspired by his close personal relationships and experience of life outside of Ireland.

Micah Graves is a pianist and composer from Philadelphia. A classically trained artist, grad student, and teacher with multiple releases to his name, Micah has studied at Berklee and Temple University, and represented the Philadelphia Clef Club as a city music recipient. His music is inspired by jazz standards, incorporating his own soulful styles into modern song, mixing jazz harmonies with modern and old-school gospel.

Program

Sunday, April 5th

Start: 5pm

End: 8pm

Red Space

Surrealism Re-Scored

A synthesis of film, music, performance, and all things surrealist!

Droog is opening the doors of its Red Space to the world of surrealist cinema, brought to life by an ensemble of Amsterdam-based live musicians. Forming a collaboration between CUT and Dormsessions, film and live music committees of Amsterdam University College, the night will be split into two visually and sonically distinct parts:

The first part focuses on classical surrealist actor cinema, paired with a live jazz performance, and the second includes visually experimental avant-garde animations accompanied by live electronic music. Spanning several decades and locations, the movies screened highlight the legacy of surrealism, with the experimental score interpretation amplifying its ever-present impact.

This event aims to put the surrealism of the past into conversation with the surrealism of the present.

Simone Alessandro Tavoni & Idlir Shyti

This one-hour recital for piano and cello brings together lyrical intimacy, folk-inspired colour, and virtuosic passion across Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and South America.

The program opens with Bach’s serene Sheep May Safely Graze, reimagined in a warm dialogue between cello and piano, before moving into the poetic world of Schumann’s Five Pieces in Folk Style. Albanian folk songs add a deeply personal and regional voice, followed by the vibrant contrasts of de Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares Españolas.

Italian opera and Russian romanticism appear through Verdi’s dramatic Preludio da I Masnadieri and Rachmaninov’s expressive Op. 21 No. 7. The evening concludes with the unmistakable sound of Buenos Aires in Piazzolla’s Oblivion and the fiery Gran Tango.

Duration: 60 minutes

Doors Open: 19:30

Show Starts: 20:15

Program

J.S. Bach – Sheep May Safely Graze (arr. for cello & piano)
R. Schumann – Five Pieces in Folk Style
Two Albanian folk songs
M. de Falla – Siete Canciones Populares Españolas
G. Verdi – Preludio da I Masnadieri
S. Rachmaninov – Op. 21 No. 7
A. Piazzolla – Oblivion & Gran Tango

Artists

Simone Alessandro Tavoni, piano

Italian pianist Simone Alessandro Tavoni has performed extensively across Europe and the United States, appearing in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, St Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Victoria & Albert Museum. A BBC Pathway Scheme winner, he has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with broadcasts on BBC Radio 3.

A Parklane Group Artist and former Aspen Music Festival fellow, Simone trained at the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, the Royal College of Music, and Trinity Laban Conservatoire. He is the founder and artistic director of the Paisajes Piano Festival in Spain and a Trustee of the Kensington and Chelsea Music Society.

Idlir Shyti, cello

Albanian cellist Idlir Shyti, based in London, holds the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste from the École Normale de Musique de Paris, where he studied with Anssi Karttunen. His training also includes the Royal College of Music in London and the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Idlir has appeared with orchestras such as the Südwestdeutsche Kammerorchester Pforzheim and Southbank Sinfonia, and at festivals across Europe and the UK. Deeply engaged with contemporary music, he has premiered works at Cheltenham Festival and performed with ensembles including Chineke and IXION. He regularly collaborates with major UK orchestras and performs on a cello made by Peter Beare (2007).

Not a Bollywood Masala Show

Bollywood (from Bombay Hollywood) is the Hindi-language film industry based out of Mumbai (Bombay)
Improv (from Improvisational theatre) is a form of theatre, in which most or all of what is performed is unplanned or unscripted, created spontaneously by the performers.

After years (at least 2) of trying to bring these 2 loves of theirs together, the creators realised it is not possible to showcase what an entire film-industry has to offer within a show (or 2, or even 3).

Instead, in this run of 3 shows (which are categorically NOT Bollywood shows), we will provide a taster for what makes (and breaks) some genres of Bollywood (and Tollywood, Kollywood).

Prepare to fall in love in `Not a Bollywood RomCom show` taking inspirations from Imtiaz Ali and Aditya Chopra – 15th May 19:30

Then re-prepare to fall, off a cliff?, a tower?, a moving helicopter? — in `Not a Bollywood Action show`, inspired by Siddharth Anand, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Atlee – 16th May 15:00

And finally, prepare to fall for anything and everything, all at once in `Not a Bollywood Masala show`, drawing from Farah Khan, Rajinikanth and Vijay movies. – 16th May 19:30

Featuring: Angel Pelaez, Emil Struijker Boudier, Fer Rodil, Jenny Hasenack, Kiki Miller-Hohnen, Liron Barre, Niharika Iyengar, Kelly Agathos

Co-director, lights and effects: Tanine Dunais
Director and music: Gurbakshsingh Khalsa

Not a Bollywood Action Show

Instead, in this run of 3 shows (which are categorically NOT Bollywood shows), we will provide a taster for what makes (and breaks) some genres of Bollywood (and Tollywood, Kollywood).

Prepare to fall in love in `Not a Bollywood RomCom show` taking inspirations from Imtiaz Ali and Aditya Chopra – 15th May 19:30

Then re-prepare to fall, off a cliff?, a tower?, a moving helicopter? — in `Not a Bollywood Action show`, inspired by Siddharth Anand, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Atlee – 16th May 15:00

And finally, prepare to fall for anything and everything, all at once in `Not a Bollywood Masala show`, drawing from Farah Khan, Rajinikanth and Vijay movies. – 16th May 19:30

Featuring: Angel Pelaez, Emil Struijker Boudier, Fer Rodil, Jenny Hasenack, Kiki Miller-Hohnen, Liron Barre, Niharika Iyengar, Kelly Agathos

Co-director, lights and effects: Tanine Dunais
Director and music: Gurbakshsingh Khalsa

Not a Bollywood RomCom Show

Instead, in this run of 3 shows (which are categorically NOT Bollywood shows), we will provide a taster for what makes (and breaks) some genres of Bollywood (and Tollywood, Kollywood).

Prepare to fall in love in `Not a Bollywood RomCom show` taking inspirations from Imtiaz Ali and Aditya Chopra – 15th May 19:30

Then re-prepare to fall, off a cliff?, a tower?, a moving helicopter? — in `Not a Bollywood Action show`, inspired by Siddharth Anand, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Atlee – 16th May 15:00

And finally, prepare to fall for anything and everything, all at once in `Not a Bollywood Masala show`, drawing from Farah Khan, Rajinikanth and Vijay movies. – 16th May 19:30

Featuring: Angel Pelaez, Emil Struijker Boudier, Fer Rodil, Jenny Hasenack, Kiki Miller-Hohnen, Liron Barre, Niharika Iyengar, Kelly Agathos

Co-director, lights and effects: Tanine Dunais
Director and music: Gurbakshsingh Khalsa

Fernando Oliveira – “Vem Vem Vem” (Live Concert)

Brazilian singer-songwriter Fernando Oliveira presents Vem Vem Vem, a special concert preview of his upcoming release. While the album recordings are still in progress, this live show introduces the new songs alongside a heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian music that has shaped the project since 2018.

Blending original compositions with classic bossa nova and Brazilian popular music, the concert celebrates the roots, rhythms, and influences behind Fernando’s sound — intimate, vibrant, and deeply connected to Brazilian culture.

Line-up:
Fernando Oliveira – vocals & guitar
Gabriel Timar – bass
Lucas Caetano – flute
Michiel Brinkmann – piano
Felipe Duarte – drums

Doors Open: 19:45

Show Starts: 20:15

Het Nationaal Piano Collectief

Het Nationaal Piano Collectief presenteert drie baanbrekende componisten/pianisten (Jaron Hommes, Jeroen Granneman en Hermane) in een fantastisch gezamenlijk concert van 90 minuten. Elke pianist presenteert zijn favoriete composities in twee uitvoeringen van vijftien minuten, wat garant staat voor een kleurrijk en gevarieerd programma: van zachte, rustgevende klanklandschappen tot bulderende epische passages, met nergens een saai moment tussendoor! Kom genieten van dit pianospektakel op vrijdag de 13e, de “gelukkigste” dag van het jaar!

Vrijdagmiddagconcert (VrijMiCo)

Sem & Friends

Pianist Sem Krammer brengt een vrijdagmiddag vol improvisatie en spontane muziek. Wat begon op zijn vierde bij oma’s piano, groeide uit tot een eigen stijl waarin klassieke structuur samenkomt met vrije jazz-improvisatie. Van Chopin tot Keith Jarrett – geen twee optredens zijn hetzelfde.

Na optredens door heel Europa en daarbuiten – van Canada tot Italië – speelt Sem nu samen met muzikale vrienden in de Red Space van Droog Amsterdam.

Martin Grozdanoski is een getalenteerde clarinet en saxofoon speler. Met invloeden uit onder andere de Balkan improviseert hij prachtige muziek met Sem, deze staat ook op het album ‘Love Junkie’

Programma:

Deuren open: 17.00

Start concert: 18.00

English:

Pianist Sem Krammer brings a Friday afternoon full of improvisation and spontaneous music. What began at his grandmother’s piano at the age of four has grown into a unique style that blends classical structure with free jazz improvisation. From Chopin to Keith Jarrett — no two performances are ever the same.

After touring venues across Europe and beyond — from Canada to Italy — Sem now performs in the Red Space at Droog Amsterdam, joined by musical friends for an inspiring midday concert.

Pluis: Pistache

Pistache delivers intimate yet energetic performances. Whether at a festival, a jazz club or a cozy soirée, they bring the groove, the charm, and just the right amount of crunch.

Pluis: Bram van Langen en RAGNACHT

Bram van Langen, Dutch songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who studied guitar and bass at the Conservatory, is an avid performer: playing a minimum of 100 shows each year for the past ten years, the stage is his happy place.

Performing his own songs or as a side man in other acts, most recently the indie songwriters Dean Medina (Shaggy Greys), Annabel Laura, The Coo, Mitch Julius and Lewin, he has traveled all over Europe on long tours, discovering new friends and stories in countries along the way.

RAGNACHT (a.k.a. Amsterdam musician Annelies Jonkers) plays her own songs and traditionals on electrified autoharp and keys. Calm and brooding experimental folk with a dark undertone.

Off stage, Bram looks for the calm and quiet – places to collect his thoughts, which are many, and escape from the pressure and pace of our loud modern world. When, on a tour, he discovered the long quiet beaches and overwhelmingly beautiful nature of Sweden, he became a regular visitor, soaking up a culture and language that felt more organic, calm and introverted.

Bram is a thinker, sensitive to the smallest gestures and moments – in his music this translates to carefully weighed notes, and words chosen for their sound and cadence as much as their meaning, wrought into a finely tuned poetic structure that makes one come back to listen even closer. Inspired by artists like Nick Drake, Jan Johansson, Paul Simon and Paul McCartney he has a similar affinity for pleasing melodies and warm, mesmerizing harmonies in which the listener can find a calm place to wander.

Sem and Friends

Pianist Sem Kramer brengt een avond vol improvisatie en spontane muziek. Wat begon op zijn vierde bij oma’s piano, groeide uit tot een unieke stijl die klassieke structuur mengt met vrije jazz-improvisatie. Van Chopin tot Keith Jarrett – geen twee optredens zijn hetzelfde.

Sem speelde recent in venues door heel Europa, van Canada tot Italië. Deze avond staat hij samen met muzikale vrienden in de Red Space van Droog Amsterdam.

Er is gedurende de borrel een drankje en hapjes aanwezig.

Aanwezige artiesten:

Charley El Ranzino

Mark Nieuwenhuis

Sem Kramer

Programma
Deuren open: 16:30 uur
Gezellige borrel: 16:30 – 18:00 uur
Concert: 18:00 – 19:00 uur
Naborrelen: 19:00 – 20:00 uur