Summertime festival
16 Jul - 18 Jul
From 16 to 18 July, the Summertime Festival will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on the Grote Markt in The Hague. For three days, the rich musical culture of Latin America and the Caribbean – including Suriname and the Antilles – will take centre stage in a festival programme that is free to attend. For a while, The Hague will become Rio on the North Sea.
Latin jazz, salsa, samba, kaseko, reggae and modern fusions
The Summertime Festival presents a rich programme featuring both up-and-coming artists and established names; ranging from traditional folk music to Latin jazz, salsa, samba, kaseko, reggae and modern fusions. The genres at the heart of the festival have emerged from the convergence of African, European and indigenous traditions, and carry stories linked to migration, colonial history and cultural exchange. In this way, the festival combines artistic quality with accessibility and social significance.
Twelve concerts on the Grote Markt
This anniversary year is dedicated to passing on musical traditions. Young professional musicians are given the opportunity to collaborate with experienced masters of the genre. One example is the big band Reyes del Mambo, in which young professionals perform alongside renowned musicians. Mid-career artists such as the Cuban singer Evelyn Dupuy and the internationally diverse group Jabuticaba are also part of the programme.
For the youngest audience members, there is Koló, an interactive family show in which children are introduced to South American music through play. Another highlight is the performance by flautist and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders, who is celebrating his 75th birthday during the festival with the Bigi Yari project.
Just like last year, there will be public dance workshops ahead of various concerts. Local dance schools will be running introductory sessions linked to the live programme and inviting visitors to take an active part.
With twelve concerts on the Grote Markt, Summertime expects to welcome around 15,000 visitors once again. The festival provides a platform for artists from The Hague, young professionals and performers from the Netherlands and abroad, and contributes to an inclusive and culturally diverse city.
Free children’s show
KOLÓ is a free musical children’s show by Drumdrumdrum during the Summertime Festival. On Saturday 16 July, children will be whisked away into a colourful world full of percussion, drums, boomwhackers, group singing and body percussion. KOLÓ means ‘colour’ in Papiamento and introduces young visitors to music, rhythm and joining in in a cheerful way.
More information and program Summertime Festival
