For four days a year, the sleepy town of Tilburg in The Netherlands is overrun by thousands of music fans, all obsessed with sounds that exist only on the fringes. Hardcore, stoner, noise, goth, post-everything, and even more in between fill venues and churches for Roadburn festival; a celebration of the weird and wonderful side of rock. But there’s more to it than music. The side programme features panels, Q&As and more, but it’s the artistic community that make Roadburn a true embodiment of alternative culture, not just music.
“Visual art has always been extremely important at Roadburn; we have championed artists for many years now - in our posters, exhibitions and more,” says founder and promoter Walter Hoeijmakers. “Even down to the digital backdrops on the stages when bands play and between sets – we put a lot of care and attention in to the visual aesthetics of Roadburn. For me, it is a way to communicate the care and attention that goes into creating a creative and vibrant environment at the festival.”
“The foundations that Walter laid over the years have meant that Roadburn audiences are very receptive to creativity in all its forms,” agrees side programme coordinator Becky Laverty. “The worlds of art and music are so linked that it has made more and more sense over the years – especially when we have had people like Jacob Bannon (Converge) and John Baizley (Baroness) participating, as both are just as much at home on stage as they are exhibiting in a gallery space.”