A Rock'n'Roll Pilgrimage to Amsterdam
CONTENT_NOT_AVAILABLE
BBC music Journalist and former NME Editor Imran Ahmed travelled to Amsterdam with KLM to sample the Dutch rock ‘n’ roll scene. Here he gives his account of Amsterdam’s London calling event, which has quickly established itself as hot property in the world of music.
I visited Amsterdam to check out what has quickly established itself as one of Europe’s premier, new music events - London Calling. It takes place twice a year, at perhaps the world’s best venue, Amsterdam’s Paradiso - an amazing, and extremely impressive, fully refurbished gothic styled church (Weteringschans 6, just off the Leidseplein, one of the city’s nightlife and tourism hubs). Past London Calling’s have seen everyone from Snow Patrol, The Libertines, Kaiser Chiefs, The Zutons and Klaxons play.
CONTENT_NOT_AVAILABLE
This year it ran for three night's for the first time in its history with highlights including New Young Pony Club and The Maccabees (Friday), Jack Penate, Reverend And The Makers (Saturday) and Mark Ronson (Sunday).
The booking is, as the line up above shows, impeccable. The venue - beautiful! The atmosphere is pretty amazing too. Split over two rooms (a tiny upstairs venue and a main hall) and if you’re really dedicated you’ll never miss a second of action. For the lazier people out there you could just pitch up in the main room and in between acts on the main stage, watch the bands in the smaller room without having to climb a single step. How? The action is fed live via video camera onto a massive screen on the main stage!
Bands aside, the Paradiso has other classic rock venue credentials. Smoking is not yet banned in Holland; therefore the venue has that hazy atmosphere associated with classic gigs.
The audience is also very mixed. The front few rows are packed full of crowd surfers and stage divers (who are positively encouraged by the one security man on stage) and the age range is broad.
CONTENT_NOT_AVAILABLE
This event is a must but there’s also much more to Amsterdam’s rock ‘n’ roll credentials, than London Calling. The aforementioned Paradiso hosts gigs all year around, with some of the most popular (Jose Gonzalez) and cutting edge acts (Crystal Castles, Yeasayer) around. An honourable mention should also go to the nearby Melkweg venue.
Founded in 1970, when a Dutch theatre group discovered a deserted dairy factory in the centre of Amsterdam, it’s now a multi-discipline arts venue. It’s still best known as a rock club and has, in the past, hosted gigs by The Cure, U2 and Nirvana.
CONTENT_NOT_AVAILABLE
Bands of this calibre playing Holland shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. A quick look in the Dutch rock history books reveals much about the country's rock ‘n’ roll heritage.
Elvis’ notorious manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was actually born Andreas Cornelis (Dries) van Kuijk in Breda, Holland to Dutch parents. Legendary rock photographer Anton Corbijn, most famously the snapper of U2, and director of recent Joy Division film Control, is a Dutchman. Glen Matlock played his last gig with the Sex Pistols in Amsterdam at the same venue as London Calling. They were never the same band after he left!
In May 1995, The Rolling Stones played two semi-acoustic concerts at Amsterdam’s Paradiso and recorded tracks from these concerts were released on the Stones' Stripped album later that year. Keith Richards once said that the Paradiso concerts were the best live shows the Stones ever did. The Netherlands did also give the world DJ Tiesto, 2 Unlimited and the Vengaboys but, I suppose we can’t hold that against them forever…
Of course, at some point you’ll have to eat. During my stay I flitted between cheap on the go snacks – Maoz’s amazing falafels (Leidsestraat 85) – and high-end restaurants, most notably Envy (Prinsengracht 381). This place is just a 15-minute walk from the Paradiso and is one of the cities finest restaurants, serving up tapas style food as well as full-on meals - I’d totally recommend the Risotto with Clams.
In between eating and watching bands, I found a bit of time to go record shopping. Amsterdam is home to one of Europe’s best record shops. Concerto (Utrechtsestraat 52-60) has the best imports, new releases and second hand vinyl collection in all of Holland. It’s spread throughout a half dozen houses with the walls knocked through and, if you’re in town for London Calling, keep an eye on their website – at least one band on the bill will squeeze in an intimate in-store performance here.
Throughout this review, I’ve taken for granted that you already know what an incredibly accessible city Amsterdam is. Everyone speaks English and with a good map you can walk everywhere. Built on canals, it is an incredibly beautiful, friendly and, yes, sorry to roll out the cliché, but it is an incredibly laid back city to visit. The next London Calling festival coincides with what many consider to be the period when the city looks its most beautiful - springtime and Tulip season.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere to see some of Britain’s biggest bands, in a beautiful and intimate venue, in one of the best cities in the world or, you’re just after a city break with a twist – Amsterdam is definitely calling.
The UK’s London Calling festival will take place in Hyde Park on June 28 and 29.
Check out www.last.fm for the 2009 dates for Amsterdam's next London Calling festival which will take place at Amsterdam’s Paradiso
CONTENT_NOT_AVAILABLE
KLM flies to Amsterdam from as little as £100 return. Depart from one of 14 UK regional departure points with KLM and travel to over 650 destinations worldwide with the airline's SkyTeam partners, via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Click here to book!
