Rewire, which just celebrated nine years as one of the few remaining independent music festivals in the Netherlands, is itself a world unto its own. With dozens of performances, talks, workshops, film screenings and tech showcases spread across three days and more than ten venues, it can feel like a daunting task on paper. But in reality it was a breeze, partly because the venues are comically close together and partly because nearly all the music I saw was in some way provocative, riveting or inspiring. Rarely have I enjoyed so much choice in such a concentrated area. The only downside was not being able to be in three places at once.
Here are some key performances from the weekend.
In his review of Laurel Halo's recent DJ-Kicks mix, Ray Philp wrote that "Halo now seems as confident in the booth as she is in the studio." This line rattled around my head in the early hours of Sunday morning at Paard I, a large rectangular room with a stage and two upper tiers that wrap around the space like in a theatre. The US artist was in devastating form, throwing down percussive bombs heavy on bassweight and personality, tracks like "5 Min feat. C.A.R." by Red Axes and the new one on Version. A set this good would've worked almost anywhere, but it felt particularly powerful in Paard I, magnified by the throbbing soundsystem and spectacular light show. Going by the long applause that rose up when she finished, I wasn't the only one who thought so.
Lightdesign : Nico de Rooij
