Search: peter br��tzmann
Caspar Brötzmann Massaker
Caspar Brötzmann has embraced a similar vocation as his father, free jazz legend Peter Brötzmann: disrupt conventions through the virtues of noise, innovation, and chaotic physical performan...
Peter Brötzmann & Han Bennink
Saxophonist Peter Brötzmann and drummer/percussionist Han Bennink will forever be linked by Brötzmann’s 1968 fearsome album ‘Machine Gun’. Since then, both musicians have f...
Brötzmann/Leigh
Over the span of two albums, the dynamic of pedal steel player Heather Leigh and brass/woodwind maestro Peter Brötzmann has become truly transcending: a continually evolving high-energy exchange...
Alexander von Schlippenbach & Han Bennink
Alexander von Schlippenbach is the founder of the famous free jazz super-ensemble Globe Unity Orchestra, which at different points featured Peter Brötzmann, the late Jaki Liebezeit, Paul Rutherfo...
Kali Malone - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
US-born, Stockholm-based minimalist artist and apprenticing organ tuner Kali Malone gave a special organ performance in TivoliVredenburg's Grote Zaal as opening performance of Le Guess Who? 2019. The performance was part of The Bug's curated program for the festival. We can now share two exceptionally beautiful pieces from the perf...
Usta/Olgun/Ekincioglu
Representing the cutting edge of Istanbul’s vibrant improvisational music scene, this brand new trio tells stories of humanity, spirituality and community. Through the tension of jazz experiment...
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom
Six years ago, Peter Kember, or Sonic Boom, traded his England home for Portugal. Partly, his move was to be closer to Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, with whom the Spacemen 3 founder had forged...
Listen & relive: Ice Balloons live at Le Guess Who? 2021, curated by Matana Roberts
Brooklyn-based noise/rock band Ice Balloons features Sean Kennerly (Samiam) on bass and vocals, Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio) on synthesizers and modules, and Lyla Vander (Habibi) on drums and vocals. According to the band itself, it was a ‘common misinterpretation of psychosis’ that led Ice Balloons to start making music. The...
Bent Arcana
Does OSEES leader John Dwyer ever sleep? The prolific musician has added a new entry to his never-ending catalog this May - Bent Arcana’s sophomore effort, ‘Moon Drenched’, courtesy...
Efterklang - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Whether it’s the early, more electronic-driven beginnings or excavating field recordings at an abandoned settlement in the Arctic Circle, Danish pop adventurers Efterklang express boundless enthusiasm with each radical new undertaking. The band performed on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2019, following the release of their new...
De Saffier & Kaffeetaria Presents
De Saffier en Kaffeetaria will get wild! Together, they are showcasing their most valuable gemstones on their own stage. They will host an extensive and eclectic collection of singer-songwriters, DJs,...
LGW Hangout
Utrecht's independent print workshop Kapitaal, once again hosts the official Le Guess Who? Hangout through all things print and sound. The program is a culmination of print, live music, DJ's, pizza's...
COSMOS x Refuge Worldwide
Since 2021, Berlin’s Refuge Worldwide has grown into an important community radio and cultural hub, spreading cutting-edge music with a clear mission of solidarity and social activism. As such,...
COSMOS x Refuge Worldwide
Since 2021, Berlin’s Refuge Worldwide has grown into an important community radio and cultural hub, spreading cutting-edge music with a clear mission of solidarity and social activism. As such,...
Ongehoorde Geluiden
‘Ongehoorde geluiden’ hands the mic to people who courageously, and sometimes barely, brave daily life in the city of Utrecht. They’ve been homeless for some time and make little or...
Opening Celebration: IYKYK
If you know, you know. Digital natives, hyper divers, self-educated and tuned all the way in. This exhibition gives insight into the thriving and divers world of subcultures and scenes of Utrecht...
Lunetten Shadow Banking
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Lunetten Shadow Banking
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Arts of Resistance x Linangan
Linangan and Arts of Resistance are hosting a multi-media exhibition combined with a public program in Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht as a part of U?, the free program connected to Le Guess Who festival....
Team
Supervisory Board Hans van Soelen – chairman (end first period March 2026)Jorien Waanders – audit committee (end first period June 2026)Mark Laagewaard – audit committee (end first period January 2027)Nancy Poleon – member (end first period January 2027)Ilayda Hagens – member (end first period January...
Dance with Ping Pong
Finish off your U? journey with Ping Pong Club's all-day Sunday event. Visit one of Utrecht's last bars in the iconic train maintenance buildings around the city. They will have some of their local se...
Listen: Pankisi Ensemble live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Georgia's Pankisi Ensemble performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the Hidden Musics program. Now, you can relive this touching performance with the full audio of the show, recorded at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during the festival. AboutThe Pankisi Ensemble goes against the typical 'ethno-fusion' grain in two ways. First, by not res...
Hof van Cartesius Side Program
The Hof van Cartesius is a unique circular work spot for more than 100 makers and entrepreneurs. It is also an incubator for new talent, a hub for experiment and a meeting space for the local communit...
Public art: Opening Walk
The tour if full. You can sign up for the waiting list via this form.Le Guess Who? and Triomf invited nine artists to present their work in the public space of Utrecht during Le Guess Who? 2021....
Video portrait: 'Through The Eyes of Lonnie Holley: A Weekend in Utrecht'
During Le Guess Who? 2018, we spent a weekend with musician and visual artist Lonnie Holley in Utrecht. On the opening night of the festival, Lonnie performed with expressive trombone & drums duo Nelson Patton; the next day, he gave us a guided tour through the city of Utrecht, showing the many unique ways of how Holley experiences hi...
Watch: Vrije Geluiden sessions at Le Guess Who? 2024
VPRO Vrije Geluiden once again teamed up with Le Guess Who? the festival to capture several intimate sessions with festival artists - recorded at restaurant De Klub, just opposite of TivoliVredenburg. All sessions are now available to watch below. Eli Keszler NY-based artist, composer, and percussionist Eli Keszler has garnered...
Exhibition: Dianne Verdonk, Michelle Vossen & Roald van Dillewijn
Dianne Verdonk, Michelle Vossen and Roald van Dillewijn present and perform their new interactive installation bromwol. Literally meaning humming wool, they have mainly experimented with carded wool m...
Stranded FM
Having become somewhat of a mainstay in Utrecht, Stranded FM celebrate and share music from all over the globe, becoming the city’s bastion for discovering fresh sounds. During their four-year r...
U? Mega Jam
Prepare for a giant meeting of improv artists. The copper horns of Stichting BUI, a celebrated gathering of titans of improv, will come shoulder to shoulder with poetry performer Wordbites and beatbox...
COSMOS Embassy Announcement: UMA (Detroit, USA)
COSMOS x Underground Music Academy announce their 2024 Embassy in Detroit, USA A place to learn about the past, present, and future of dance music. With the Underground Music Academy, Detroit’s own Waajeed has created a utopian space for the city's aspiring musicians. Among music fans, few places occupy a similar space in the coll...
Photo series: Backxwash at LGW23 by Melanie Marsman
Rapper and producer Ashanti Mutinta, aka Backxwash gave a life-affirming performance at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda during Le Guess Who? 2023. Our residential photographer Melanie Marsman was present to capture some of the special moments, on stage as well as backstage. View the full photo series "Stark warnings of viewer discretion mark...
Playlist: LGW24 curated by Arooj Aftab
Each year, Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting their inspirations, emerging acts and fellow like-minded artists, with an emphasis on discovery and exploration.Three years after her last Le Guess Who? performance, Brooklyn-based singer, composer, and producer Arooj Aftab is back...
Music Moves: Making the dance floor more accessible & inclusive
This year, U?, the freely accessible city program of Le Guess Who?, starts a new collaboration with Music Moves to make the dance floor more accessible and inclusive. Music Moves is a training program in which young adults (17 - 27 years) organize their own music event for people who do not naturally have access to music events. "We bel...
De Klappermobiel
New at Museum Speelkok, a museum that houses a phenomenal, unique collection of self-playing musical instruments, is the freely accessible art space, where talented artists can exhibit their music and...
Listen to Richard Dawson perform 'Museum' and 'Two Halves' at Le Guess Who?
Richard Dawson performed live at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Slauson Malone 1. You can now listen to the British folk master performing Museum (from the 2022 album The Ruby Chord) and Two Halves (from 2020). "The next song is from the point of view of a robot or an AI, somethin...
Playlist: LGW24 curated by Crystallmess
Each year, Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting their inspirations, emerging acts and fellow like-minded artists, with an emphasis on discovery and exploration.Paris-based artist and producer/DJ Crystallmess introduces her curation at Le Guess Who? 2024 with a playlist that she...
Boomhut & Friends + Noordzee
Visit two art installations at Hof van Cartesius.Boomhut & FriendsBoomhut is an Utrecht-based collective and they focus on interactive and immersive art installations. Their works are not only abu...
LGW & Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht collaborate for sustainable roof at Hof van Cartesius
Since 2022, Le Guess Who? partners with the Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht to offset CO2 emissions from international air travel by artists and visitors. Thanks to collaboration in 2023, a sustainable roof at Utrecht’s Hof van Cartesius, a unique circular workspace for creative entrepreneurs, has now been realized. Hof va...
The story of the Ellendigenkerkhof (city walk)
Outside the Catharijnepoort, where today you’ll find the Smakkelaarsveld, the Ellendigenkerkhof (the churchyard of the wretched) was situated between 1402 and 1664. A burial ground for those who...
COSMOS Embassy: Slemani, Kurdistan-Iraq
In partnership with Space21Hardi Kurda, a sound artist and curator of Kurdistan-Iraq’s first experimental festival, Space21, takes us on a listening journey to the city of Slemani and its cultural and art activities. Here, the view of the mountains and nature mix with the urban sonic environment. The sound of power generator noises...
COSMOS Embassy: Bethlehem, Palestine
In partnership with Radio AlharaRadio Alhara presents an unprecedented collaboration between Beirut-based multi-instrumentalist and puppeteer Yara Asmar, electronic musician Sary Moussa, and Bethlehem-based tenor of the Greek Orthodox chorus of the Nativity church Laurence Samour. The experiment is as much an attempt to apprehend an unfor...
COSMOS Embassy: Bethlehem, Palestine
In partnership with Radio AlharaRadio Alhara presents an unprecedented collaboration between Beirut-based multi-instrumentalist and puppeteer Yara Asmar, electronic musician Sary Moussa, and Bethlehem-based tenor of the Greek Orthodox chorus of the Nativity church Laurence Samour. The experiment is as much an attempt to apprehend an unfor...
Chebedajha
Operating in the vicinity of intense states of anxiety and pleasure, discomfort and relief, the experimental sound of Chebedajha challenges perception and sensitivity to become part of the collective...
Film: United Screens for Palestine
United Screens for Palestine is an open and decentralized collective of programmers, cultural workers and venues, responding to the paralysis brought about by the ongoing genocide as well as the incre...
Raziyah Heath
Raziyah Heath is an independent curator (a.o at Metro54), programmer, curious cat, hater, organizer, killjoy, lover, DJ and artist. At the moment she mainly delves into sonic realms/dimensions, and us...
Beverly Glenn-Copeland - Live at Le Guess Who?
New Age & Folk Jazz pioneer Beverly Glenn-Copeland gave a rare performance on the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2018 together with five-piece ensemble Indigo Rising. The performance was curated by both Devendra Banhart and Moor Mother. Now, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Transgressive Records have officially released the full recording of...
Film: Everybody in The Place: An Incomplete History of Britain 1984-1992
In ‘Everybody in The Place: An Incomplete History of Britain 1984-1992’ (2018), Jeremy Deller explores the socio-political history and contemporary legacy of the ‘Second Summer of Lo...
COSMOS Embassy Films + Q&A
Each year, COSMOS – Le Guess Who?’s global music community – partners up with eight new Embassies to showcase their music scene. For this, we commission local filmmakers to portray t...
COSMOS Embassy Films + Q&A
Each year, COSMOS – Le Guess Who?’s global music community – partners up with eight new Embassies to showcase their music scene. For this, we commission local filmmakers to portray t...
COSMOS Embassy Films + Q&A
Each year, COSMOS – Le Guess Who?’s global music community – partners up with eight new Embassies to showcase their music scene. For this, we commission local filmmakers to portray t...
Migrantour
Go on a 2-hour meaningful walking Migrantour through the Lombok district of Utrecht. The tour is co-created and taught by Migrantourguides with a first or second migration background. With the Mi...
LGW? Student Exhibition: Celebrate
At De Havenloods you’ll be able to visit an art exhibition made for the Le Guess Who? Education Program. The exhibition features work made by five classes from three high schools from Utrecht: X...
COSMOS Embassy: Khartoum, Sudan
In partnership with Hassan Kamil & AndariyamagKnown for its strong rhythms, melancholy lyrics, and bittersweet taste, the Sudanese music scene is more active than ever. This Embassy features a sel...
Alex Zhang Hungtai - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Over the years, Taiwanese-born, Montréal-hailing Alex Zhang Hungtai (formerly Dirty Beaches) has dived fully into the role of composer. Tinkering with the saxophone, synthesizers, percussion, and piano, Zhang has embraced the free form, focusing on explorations of improvised music, free jazz, and ritualistic music of liminality....
Pop-Up Radio: Southeast and East Asia Special w/ Anh Phi (Nhạc Gãy)
Anh Phi is a Vietnamese-French music producer, DJ, and filmmaker, co-founder of Saigon-born collective Nhạc Gãy.Raised by Vietnamese parents in the suburbs of Paris, he later moved to Ho Chi Mi...
Rana Ghose x Hardi Kurda x Nikhil Chopra present: String Pulses
Three people. One will be in "character". One may not be. The former will be reacting to what the latter does sonically. The latter will be generating cues for the former to send back to him. The thir...
COSMOS Live: Rana Ghose x Hardi Kurda x Nikhil Chopra present: String Pulses
Three people. One will be in "character". One may not be. The former will be reacting to what the latter does sonically. The latter will be generating cues for the former to send back to him. The thir...
Le Guess Who? & U? present Phantom Wizard
Phantom Wizard is an artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist of Surinamese descent who is born and raised in the Dutch capital. He embarks on a deeply personal yet profoundly universal journey, punctuated by experimentation and improvisation. Nature, afrofuturism, jazz, and hip-hop have come together to form his ethereal work. He use...
Performance: Bromwol
Sounds Like Touch is a springboard for artists, designers and creators who like to make (literally) touching, electronic, performative arts by using their body for interaction. At U?, they present Bro...
Modulation: Elektortek & The Music Machine
Modulation is Utrecht’s own accessible night of live performances and concerts centered around modular synthesizers and other hardware electronic instruments. A place for newcomers as well as ve...
Stream: eclectic London-based collective The Heliocentrics live at Le Guess Who? 2018
For eclectic London-based group The Heliocentrics, musical boundaries are invisible. This collective has the ability to fluently string together a broad spectrum of genres, including free-form jazz, h...
Listen: LGW21 curator John Dwyer talks to Brigid Dawson about songwriting, memories of touring, classical music, and birthday presents
John Dwyer (OSEES, Bent Arcana) is one of the guest curators for Le Guess Who? 2021. His stirring program includes Brigid Dawson, whom he played with for years. Dawson released the debut record of her The Mother’s Network project last year via Castleface Records and will be taking the festival stage with Sunwatchers. Ahead of...
Early Bird 4-Day Passes for Le Guess Who? 2022 are available now
While Le Guess Who? 2021 is still taking place, we have some exciting news for our most dedicated visitors. Early Bird 4-Day Passes for Le Guess Who? 2022 are available now until November 30th or until sold out. The Early Bird tickets cost €128 (including service costs). Le Guess Who? 2022The 15th edition of Le Guess Who? will take...
Hartenoord
Claudia C. ten Hoeve creates art for children aged 1 to 111. She playfully explores how everyone can make a difference in the world. For U? she wants to turn Ravenoord (at Rotsoord) into Hartenoord, a...
Playlist: LGW24 curated by Bo Ningen
Each year, Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting their inspirations, emerging acts and fellow like-minded artists, with an emphasis on discovery and exploration.Japanese psych-rock outfit Bo Ningen introduce their curation at Le Guess Who? 2024 with a playlist that they have...
Talk: Beyond Barriers
Some experiences, imagaries, and sounds are unforgettable: For instance, one may recall a saxophone player passionately performing amidst a fervent demonstration. Or one might have seen videos of chil...
Le Feast (2022)
Le Feast invites you into a living room in Utrecht, to enjoy a feast together with people you don't know (yet). Many home-chefs from Utrecht will transform their living room into a cozy brunch restaur...
PUNK CONNECTIONS: music, art & activism through DIY ideology
Because of the eagerness in broadening the intersectionality of the punk scene and approaching a more interdisciplinary approach, community curator Bibi Bannink has invited, in collaboration with dB's...
Art Ensemble of Chicago
In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Ever since, they have been celebrated as one of the most remarkable free jazz mo...
Velvet-Rebel
Velvet-Rebel’s dynamic and energetic sounds carry an important message of living fully with a mysterious dark edge. His use of a tight rhythmic spine of drums combined with bass with acceleratin...
Line-up
Le Guess Who? 2018 Line-up Le Guess Who? 2018 featured programs curated by Devendra Banhart, Moor Mother and Shabaka Hutchings. View the full line-up via the link below. LE GUESS WHO? 2018 LINE-UP Audio Recordings There are lots of recordings available in our audio archive, including BCUC, Neneh Cherry, Kadri Gopalnath, The Scor...
Le Guess Who? Lunch & Live Music
Le Guess Who? will host a special lunch at LOU Oudenoord. A place for conversation, reflection, relaxation and great food. Engage in talks with your fellow festival visitors about all the things you&r...
BUY OR BURN
Artists community NoEsUnaGaleria NL is organising a program with live painting sessions and performance art by artists Ricardo Saga and Mario Gildardo from Mexico and Harmke Datema-Chang and Laur...
LGW x SPEAK present: Brazilian songwriter Sessa introduced by Carlos Santos
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migra...
Marijke van Warmerdam: Then, now, and then
Dutch artist Marijke van Warmerdam spent an extended time in Rome from 2017. During this period she recorded the city in her typical way, resulting in a series of films in which the present, the past...
Statement: Le Guess Who? continues in a different form
This evening, the Dutch government announced new restrictions for cultural events. These restrictions will begin at 6PM tomorrow (Saturday) 13 November. In an already extremely difficult year for organizing events, we are again faced with several challenges, and also within a very short timeframe.Our motto this year is Celebrate Change. W...
Official Le Guess Who? Hangout
Utrecht's beloved independent print workshop, Kapitaal, collaborates with Stranded FM and Julian Brimmers to host the official Le Guess Who? 2022 Hangout through all things print and sound. The progra...
RVNG Intl. announces Ka Baird & Pekka Airaksinen's collaborative album 'Hungry Shells', written & recorded in Utrecht during LGW18
In 2018, as part of a program presented by Brooklyn-based independent record label RVNG Intl., Finnish electronic music composer Pekka Airaksinen (known for his work with ultra-radical, proto-noise group The Sperm) and NYC-based multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ka Baird convened in Utrecht to write, rehearse, record and perform live.&n...
Wu-Lu - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
South London's Wu-Lu, spearheaded by musician/vocalist Miles Romans-Hopcraft, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024 as part of Bo Ningen's curated program for the festival. Below, you can watch the group perform the tracks Ten & Blame from the album LOGGERHEAD, released via Warp Records. “Powered by artistic freedom and sens...
Raphael Rogiński presents Žaltys featuring Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė & Shahzad Ismaily - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Polish guitarist Raphael Rogiński presented his album Žaltys live at Utrecht’s Pieterskerk during Le Guess Who? 2024, accompanied on stage by Lithuanian singer and kanklės player Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and American multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. You can now listen to the full performance, which was co-curated by Unsound as pa...
Ex-Easter Island Head - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
When UK-based experimental collective Ex-Easter Island Head steps on stage, the electric guitar - an instrument whose possibilities sometimes seem to have been exhausted - is born anew. Mechanical preparations, extended techniques; call it what you want, but, to us, it's more like auditory magic. Watch our concert film of the group...
The Wire premieres video recordings of Mary Margaret O'Hara's rare live performance at Le Guess Who? 2017
During Le Guess Who? 2017 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Canadian singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O’Hara gave a very rare live appearance, curated by Perfume Genius for the festival. We are extremely proud to now be able to share the video recordings of the performance, premiered by The Wire. Declared a ‘cult hero’ by The...
COSMOS Embassy: China, Beijing
In partnership with Mentha Project & BIE MusicThe project curated and produced by the Beijing-based BIE Music showcases the originality and creativity of China’s diverse indie music scenes w...
Relive Richard Bolhuis & Prana Crafter's special collaboration as part of DRONE AT HOME 2021
Last weekend, Basilica Hudson presented their DRONE AT HOME online broadcast, which kicked off on Saturday with a special collaboration between Dutch visual artist Richard Bolhuis (who was also part of our 24-HOUR DRONE in 2014) and and LGW19 artist Prana Crafter, who summons guitar meditations, kosmische dro...
Listen/read: Ndox Electrique root their sound in Senegal's healing ceremonies
You can also listen to this story – below or via your favorite podcast app. On the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2023, the festival features the first international performance of Ndox Electrique, whose music is inspired by an ancient ritual of the spirit-world originating from Senegal’s n’döep ceremonies. ...
"Tired of having a plan": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with Rắn Cạp Đuôi
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes with Rắn Cạp Đuôi In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. Vietnamese experimental music collective Rắn Cạp Đuôi have been expanding their vast auditory spectrum since forming back in 2015. On their first two albums, Ngủ N...
Storytellers of De Voorkamer
On Saturday, November 11th, we will be listening to the stories presented by the participants of De Voorkamer's Storytelling Master Class. Together with Soula Notos, these women have practiced their c...
Film: Knit’s Island
In an entirely virtual, post-apocalyptic game world, the filmmakers talk to the people behind the digital avatars. From death squad member to church leader to solitary wanderer.IDFA (International Doc...
Kunst Kijken Met Je Oren met Honingbeer
Come and see artworks made by Utrecht-based artists from the Kunstuitleen Utrecht collection and listen to the music Honingbeer made inspired by these works. What happens when you look at art while li...
Photo series: COSMOS Live by Melanie Marsman
COSMOS was born out of Le Guess Who?’s mission to platform adventurous sounds that have the power to enrich lives. It’s a hub for experimentation and inspiration, and an ever-expanding network of creative minds. Through films, interviews, performances, and artist residencies, COSMOS connects international music communities and...
Hofsafari (2022)
Put on your ranger outfit, and join the Hofsafari! We will guide you through a jungle of circular buildings, sustainable entrepeneurs and wonderful gardens. What monsters are hiding in the pond?...
A Study of a Shared Meal
A Study of a Shared Meal is an invitation to come together in the preparation and sharing of a meal. Inspired by Harney and Moten’s idea of “study” as what you do with other people,...
Nusaqueer Diaspora
Nusaqueer Diaspora, or Indo*queer Diaspora is an open-structured platform for the queer diasporic community of the Southeast Asian Archipelago with a focus on Indonesia. It brings together the diaspor...
Exhibition: Jan Hoek & Jip Jansen & Charity Charly
While shooting photographs, Jip Jansen tries to capture a feeling. To portray an emotion. The images are timeless. Almost all the photos are shot in the Slachthuis, the most beautiful café in H...
Rafael Toral
Since his teenage years growing up in Portugal, Rafael Toral has felt enticed by the potential of sound. Rising to prominence via his nineties guitar work, the experimental musician set the instrument...
bela with Theresa Baumgartner
South Korean musician and performance artist bela arrange the collision of worlds; traditional sonics withstanding the test of wild modern age Korea and grimy metal bars come together in 2024’s...
BizarreWebWide
BizaarWebWide is a collection of happenings curated and hosted by Raouf Alaïa, member of the BizaarWebWide collective. This event transforms the venue Kapitaal to a universe of outlandish express...
Eavesdrop with Christine Kakaire
In Eavesdrop with Christine Kakaire, the Berlin-based writer, editor, teacher and speaker invites artists performing at this year’s Le Guess Who? for live interviews, discussing the inspirations...
COSMOS Embassy: Pernambuco, Brazil
In partnership with Coquetel MolotovRecife’s Coquetel Molotov teamed up with music producer Benke Ferraz (Boogarins) and launched a musical incubator for artists outside Pernambuco’s capital - an open call focused on artists to produce new music. Ten names were selected and brought to Caruaru for three days of immersion with B...
Wie maakt de stad?
Marischka Verbeek, owner of Utrecht’s renowned bookstore Savannah Bay, will enter into a conversation with a selection of Utrecht based creatives, determining how decolonial, feminist and queer...
Talk: Composing for Moving Image
The process of composing music for a film is intricate. Weaving together specific sounds and visuals to evoke certain emotions requires immense imagination and dedication. How does a creator of moving...
Talk: From the Ground Up: On Creating Space & Community
Nothing is more noble, more impactful, and more challenging than trying to make a difference in your immediate surroundings. While the practice of creating space and opportunities for those around you...
Talk: Music, Tech & Access
In 2021, Pitchfork ran a piece titled “Decolonizing Electronic Music Starts with its Software”. The understanding of a Western bias in production software and platforms used by musicians f...
Talk: Music is a Hospital
Music can be soothing, cathartic, communal, spiritual,… and for many of us, music is healing, too. But how so? What is healing about music? In what ways does it affect our wellbeing? In this pa...
Uncloud presents Degeneracy Regeneracy
Degeneracy Regeneracy is an immersive audiovisual exhibition of five interconnected artworks, each unfolding like a chapter in a larger narrative. Set within a single space, it explores the cyclical r...
Relive BCUC’s ecstatic performance at LGW18, curated by Shabaka Hutchings
The South African, Afro-psychedelic collective BCUC gave an ecstatic performance on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2018, curated by Shabaka Hutchings. Relive the full set below, and watch the video for the group's performance of 'Yinde': About:BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) started out as a social gathering in their nati...
Ulu Moskee Tours
Take a tour around the Ulu Mosque in Lombok. This is one of the biggest mosques in the Netherlands, and possibly also one of the most striking ones. When your train pulls into Utrecht Central Station...
Relive Indian Carnatic music pioneer Kadri Gopalnath's mesmerizing performance at LGW18
On the closing night of Le Guess Who? 2018, Indian Carnatic music pioneer Kadri Gopalnath gave a mesmerizing performance, curated by Shabaka Hutchings. Listen to the full show, and watch and excerpt from the performance below. About: Kadri Gopalnath’s life’s work is to incorporate the woodwind instrument into the cla...
The Fire Harvest
The Fire Harvest balances beautifully between slow core, country-noir and post-rock. They master the art of dosage, of giving substance to their music in the right way so that tension is preserved. Wh...
Mevrouw Tamara
Mevrouw Tamara opens up your mind by telling people’s honest, personal stories, embodied in a calm voice with dreamy electric guitar. Inspired by artists like St. Vincent, Radiohead and My Brigh...
Circuit des Yeux - 'Reaching for Indigo: GAIA INFINITUS'
For a very special, one-time performance at Le Guess Who? 2018, Circuit des Yeux's Haley Fohr enlisted an eight-piece ensemble featuring members of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. With this performance, Fohr further expanded the captivating compositions of her latest, acclaimed album ‘Reaching for Indigo’, which c...
Listen: JK Flesh releases new EP 'In Your Pit' via The Bug's PRESSURE label
"With his pioneering industrial metal band Godflesh, Justin Broadrick writes songs built on concussive beats, apocalyptic riffs, and feral howls. It’s music made for an audience who, during live shows, reward the storm of sound with rapt attention. But when Broadrick performs in techno clubs as JK Flesh, he wears a hoodie that...
Le Guess Who? 2019 Press Archive
“With the able steer of festival curators Jenny Hval, Moon Duo, Fatoumata Diawara, and Iris Van Herpen, this year’s boundary-crossing festival Le Guess Who?? welcomed visitors from over 60 countries and proved that even in times of political divide, music and art can bring us together into a more hopeful future.” - The...
Film: Achewiq, the Song of the Brave Women
The traditional improvisational song of the Northern Algerian Berbers is called achewiq. It is a vehicle for women to express their feelings and deal with disaster—such as the recent forest fire...
Film: Beba
Dazzling self-portrait of a New York filmmaker who explores her Latin and African-American heritage in this revealing glimpse into her turbulent youth and family history.IDFA (International Documentar...
Film: Bobi Wine: The People’s President
Running for president in Uganda can be deadly dangerous, even if you are a democratically elected member of parliament. Charismatic ghetto pop star Bobi Wine decides to chance it anyway, but meets dau...
Introducing Siti Muharam, the 'golden voice of Zanzibar' & great granddaughter of taarab legend Siti Binti Saad
Zanzibar singer Siti Muharam, the great granddaughter of famed taarab singer Siti Binti Saad, brings a modern twist to taarab on her debut album ‘Siti of Unguja'. Her show at Le Guess Who? 2021 will mark her first ever European performance. Taarab is a popular music genre in Tanzania and Kenya, combining musical elements from A...
LGW x SPEAK present: Egyptian ensemble Mazaher introduced by Ahmed Mostafa
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migra...
Radio Philharmonic Orchestra perform Alexander Scriabin's ghostly 'Le Poème du Feu' with light organ at LGW21
Le Guess Who? 2021 will see the festival joining forces with the esteemed Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1945. It's not the first time we're collaborating though: in 2017, the orchestra performed Lili Boulanger's towering 'Du Fond De L'Abîme' at our festival. This year, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra will honor...
Exhibition: The Curse of Smooth Operations
At the centre of The Curse of Smooth Operations stands a proposition: THE MOST DISSATISFYING TECHNOLOGY OF ALL IS THE ONE THAT WORKS. We all know the feeling of dissatisfaction with technology that un...
Freaky Dancing: Robin Nimanong - Bodyscan 223
A Misfit Cyberpunk Act. Bodyscan 223 is a media-dance-event that focuses on our conflicting ideas of technology, accesibility and queer-identity. Robin Nimanong presents his queer body as a witness to...
Official Le Guess Who? Hangout
Le Guess Who? x Kapitaal x Stranded FM present: The Official Hang-out. Through live music, radio dj-sets, talks, art exhibitions, printing and all things that scream print and sound, Kapitaal will tra...
Mabe Fratti
Mabe Fratti’s second album, 2021’s ‘Será que ahora podremos entendernos’ (‘will we be able to understand each other now’) is an exploration of the challenges...
Film: A Sound of My Own
After the death of krautrock legend Christian Burchard, his band Embryo continues, led by his daughter Marja. Is it possible to build musical autonomy on top of such a rich heritage?IDFA (Internationa...
Watch Ka Baird & Pekka Airaksinen's 'Grey Body' video, captured in Utrecht during LGW
In 2018, Finnish electronic music composer Pekka Airaksinen and NYC-based multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ka Baird convened in Utrecht to write, rehearse, record and perform live. These recordings will be released on October 22 as the 17th installment of RVNG Intl.'s FRKWYS series. The album was completed six...
Vechtclub Market (2021)
Have a look inside one of Utrecht’s biggest creative hubs. At Vechtclub Market a large number of entrepreneurs from Vechtclub XL will be showcasing their work. From ceramics and illustrations to...
COSMOS Embassy: Cairo, Egypt
In partnership with B-62Egyptian artists Khaled and YUNIS take us on a tour through the music scene of Cairo. Through meetings, conversations and live performances with different artists, we’ll...
CHELA - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Often titled an 'Asian guitar army', CHELA performed live during the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2024, curated by Bo Ningen. Relive the full performance below, with the duo performing music from their 2023 album Diagonal Drift. Made up of long-time friends and collaborators Ajay Saggar (Bhajan Bhoy) and Kohhei Matsuda (Bo Ningen), CHE...
The Body & Dis Fig - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
The Body & Dis Fig performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2024. Relive the full, overwhelming - sonically as well as physically - performance below. A crossover between American duo The Body, who have been tinkering with noise and metal since 1999, and Berlin-based DJ, producer, and vocalist Felicia Chen (AKA Di...
Meshell Ndegeocello - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Meshell Ndegeocello is a true multitalented and multifaceted artist: singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, collaborator, GRAMMY-winner, neo-soul movement igniter. Yet, even when sinking seamlessly into each one of her many roles, she has always worn her artistry and identity as a proud Black queer woman on her sleeve. You can now rel...
COSMOS Embassy: Slemani, Kurdistan-Iraq
In partnership with Space21Hardi Kurda, a sound artist and curator of Kurdistan-Iraq’s first experimental festival, Space21, takes us on a listening journey to the city of Slemani and its cultur...
LGW21 Line-up news: The Necks cancel November tour
Unfortunately, The Necks have to cancel their November tour, including their performance at Le Guess Who? 2021. * update May 5th: Low will not be able to make it to Le Guess Who? 2021 in November. In a statement, the band says: We are sad to announce that due to ongoing COVID issues and restrictions across the world we are...
Theater Utrecht presents controversial theatrical concert PERMANENT DESTRUCTION
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) Pain Against Fear is the final part of the controversial music theater trilogy PERMANENT DESTRUCTION, produced by theater creator and performer Naomi Velissariou in co-production with Theater Utrecht. In this performance, Velissariou introduces herself as a popular singer of ‘PERMANEN...
Playlist: LGW24 curated by Errol & Alex Rita (Touching Bass)
Each year, Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting their inspirations, emerging acts and fellow like-minded artists, with an emphasis on discovery and exploration.Errol & Alex Rita, founders of the London-based musical movement Touching Bass, introduce their curation at Le Gues...
Le Guess Who? pays tribute to Pharoah Sanders with world premiere of The Harvest Time Project
Following the release of our initial line-up for 2023, and our Special Projects, we now announces the world premiere of The Harvest Time Project: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders, which celebrates the legacy of Pharoah Sanders and his seminal composition, Harvest Time (1977). The Harvest Time Project is an ever-evolving concert which will ha...
COSMOS Embassy Announcement: Honiunhoni (Karachi, Pakistan)
COSMOS x Honiunhoni announce their 2024 Embassy in Karachi, Pakistan Honiunhoni is an independent production company and record label founded by musician and anthropologist Daniyal Ahmed. Rooted in the ethos of ethnographic research, Honiunhoni celebrates Pakistan's cultural richness and diversity by curating and highlighting the...
Film: Queendom
Born and raised in Magadan, a city in the far east of Russia notorious for its gulag past, 21-year-old non-binary Gena combines radical performance art with activism. At the risk of her own life.IDFA...
Film: The Last Year of Darkness
Funky Town is a club in Chengdu where young and unorthodox free spirits can live their dreams. But when nighttime ends, those dreams make way for cold, hard reality. And the expansion of the subway me...
COSMOS Embassy Announcement: U? (Utrecht, NL)
COSMOS x U? announce their 2024 Embassy in Utrecht, the Netherlands For the first time since its inception, U? – Le Guess Who’s freely accessible city program – enlists five Community Curators from different cities, to bring fresh new perspectives to the Utrecht’s subcultural network. What they all have in common...
Basilica Hudson & LGW present the return of 24-HOUR DRONE
Presented by Basilica Hudson and Le Guess Who? in collaboration with Sarah Van Buren, 24-HOUR DRONE is set to return to Basilica Hudson Saturday, May 18th – Sunday, May 19th, 2024 (noon to noon) in Hudson, New York. Tickets are available here. 24-HOUR DRONE features an international roster of musicians and sonic artists acros...
Kapitaal & Stranded FM host official LGW23 Hangout
We're thrilled to let you know that the great Kapitaal, Utrecht's independent print workshop, together with online radio station Stranded FM, will once again host official Le Guess Who? 2023 Hangout on Friday, Saturday & Sunday during the festival. Find Kapitaal at Paardenveld 5B (behind the palmtree!), where they host live per...
Watch: Tom Skinner pays homage to Abdul Wadud at Le Guess Who? 2023
Tom Skinner performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Stereolab, following the release of ‘Voices of Bishara’. Relive the magnificent show with our concert film, and listen to the full audio of performance, in which the group also pays homage to American cellist Abdul Wadud with interpretations o...
Photo series: Naomi Velissariou by Rogier Boogaard
Naomi Velissariou is a Greek-Belgian stage director, writer, actor and performance artist. She is highly fascinated by the fluidity of identity and the way this is used in contemporary visual culture. Naomi will perform twice during U? 2023; on Saturday, 11 November, she will be a guest at Milan van Keulen's Luisterbar. In this 'bar',...
Listen to Le Cri du Caire's mesmerizing performance at Le Guess Who? 2023
One year ago, Le Cri du Caire released their hauntingly beautiful, self-tilted debut album. We are now thrilled to share the recording of their mesmerizing performance at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2023, where the group performed the majority of the album, as well as new material. AboutSinger, writer, poet, and expressio...
Thomas Hell
Thomas Hell is a DJ, producer & music programmer interested in music as a means for communication and cultural expression. Alternating between softer sounds or harder styles, depending on the mood...
Apple Music shares Le Guess Who? 2023 preview playlist
Ahead of Le Guess Who? 2023, Apple Music has launched their own playlist as preview for the festival, highlighting some of the innovative sounds that can be discovered during your time in Utrecht.
Watch: Ndox Electrique live at Le Guess Who?
Relive Ndox Electrique live at Le Guess Who?, the first international performance of the genre-blurring musical ensemble that originated in Senegal, and whose music is inspired by an ancient ritual of the spirit-world originating from Senegal’s n’döep ceremonies. About How does one put Ndox Electrique into mere...
Listen: COSMOS on Refuge Worldwide with LE 18 and Underground Music Academy
Every first Monday of the month, COSMOS broadcasts episodes of their radio show on Refuge Worldwide, highlighting their deep-running network of partners from around the world. On Monday, 7 October, from 2-4 PM, COSMOS returns with two new episodes. LE 18 For the first hour, we tapped our 2024 Embassy partners LE 18 for a guided tour thr...
Innofest x Le Guess Who? 2023
Test your sustainable or social innovation at Le Guess Who? 2023Test jouw duurzame of sociale innovatie op Le Guess Who? 2023
The Anonymous Project
Le Guess Who? premieres a new format as part of its 2023 festival edition. The Anonymous Project is a new avenue for artists to present their work and for listeners to discover it. During The Ano...
COSMOS Embassy: Bandung, Indonesia
Bandung-based community radio NORRM and the LaMunai record store provide us with an introduction to Indonesia’s eclectic and diverse underground sounds.Their collaborative film captures the crea...
King Jammy
King or prince, this plate spinner’s name is always preceded with a royal title for good measure. The Jamaica-born dub mixer and record producer got his start as a dub master at King Tubby&rsquo...
Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra presents Hadra Immersive
The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra and visual artist Arion de Munck present the premiere of Hadra Immersive: an ancient northern Moroccan ceremony that leads participants to collective transcendence t...
Maurice Louca Quartet
Maurice Louca is one of the most talented names to have emerged from Egypt's thriving experimental arts scene. He is continuously exploring new avenues for his sound. A restless creator, Maurice Louca...
BUI 'What are You building in There?!'
BUI (Bevordering Utrechtse Improvisatie), an interdisciplinary music collective from Utrecht, presents ‘What are You building in There?!’. Performers, musicians, audience, and passersby ar...
Catching Cultures Orchestra
Catching Cultures Orchestra (CCO) is an Utrecht-based organization of committed musicians with diverse cultural backgrounds, in particular newcomers, who create high-quality intercultural musical offe...
Gert Wessels
Driven by chance and unpredictability, Utrecht-based artist Gert Wessels creates work that emerges intuitively and reactively. In his process, form takes precedence, without being guided by a rigid th...
BoterBoter
Athough the topics of the songs are often absurdist and quite bleak, BoterBoter’s live show of harsh vocals full of poetry and weird loops on hardware synths shows how not to spiral down in pess...
Insan Larasati
Based between Amsterdam and Berlin, Insan Larasati is a community organizer, DJ, designer and inclusivity officer. With artist Shasti Andara they founded Nusaqueer Diaspora, an open-structured collect...
Unfinished Conversations
Moments of encounter carry worlds within them. An exchange of intimacy, laughter, care – sometimes even a sense of community. For YUMNA, creating meaningful moments for Muslim women is therefore...
Film Screening + Q&A: ‘Memori Dia’
In the wake of an old family snapshot, Azka, now a young adult, embarks on a voyage down the corridors of their childhood—a sacred time when the seeds of awareness were sown, both of the externa...
Rave voor de Rafelranden
Rave voor de Rafelranden organizes festive demonstrations to fight for more free spaces and non commercial culture in Utrecht. They highlight the importance of places that are created and shaped by a...
Sex Swing (U?)
Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle sits between the mountainous regions of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. The locals call it Sop Ruak - miles and miles of rocks, and, well, opium. London’s Sex Swing...
Club 3voor12/Utrecht
Club 3voor12/Utrecht is a free entrance event, showcasing 3 local/Dutch bands. Featuring the loop-based, lo-fi electronics of Bieldermann; Fungo Bat, the project of multi-instrumentalis...
To The North II + (The) Night Flight + Escape-Ism
Kelman Duran presents‘To The North II’ is an experimental documentary by Dominican producer, multimedia artist and filmmaker Kelman Duran. It is the follow-up to ‘To The North I&rsqu...
Relive Saul Williams & King Britt's 'Unanimous Goldmine' performance at LGW18 via Red Bull Radio
Red Bull Radio has premiered the full recording of 'Unanimous Goldmine', the collaborative performance between actor, screenwriter and renowned harbinger of noise poetry and hip hop futurism Saul Williams; and accomplished Philly-based musician, DJ, author and producer King Britt. On the explicit invitation of M...
Public art: AKMAR – Vanitas
Location: Korte Minrebroederstraat AKMAR is a multidisciplinary artist working with a range of disciplines, from video and computer generated work to physical sculptures. Vanitas is about digital tra...
The Late Frique Show
The Late Frique Show, hosted by Arp Frique, is a late night talk show highlighting the music and artists you need to discover in order to grow and glow. The Dutch synth funkster making waves in the in...
Photo series: Sophie Nzayisenga by Serrah Galos
This year, Le Guess Who? presents the fourth edition of Hidden Musics, a project that focuses on deeply localized music and features artists embedded in rich, often centuries-old musical traditions that have been developed with little or no outside influences. The first series was initiated in 2019 by Le Guess Who? in collaboration w...
Oroko Radio
Oroko Radio is an independent internet radio station based in Accra, Ghana. With the goal to connect, inspire, and empower through conversation, collaboration, and community, Oroko seeks to reclaim an...
[moosdohmen]
[moosdohmen] creates live analogue beats and modular bleeps. Combining dub, glitch, modbap and lo-fi ambient sounds, he forges a sound completely his own. He has also made podcasts for the Ambient Vau...
COSMOS Embassy Announcement: ICRN (Vilnius, Lithuania)
COSMOS x ICRN announce their 2024 Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania Bringing together DIY broadcasters from the Baltics and beyond, the Independent Community Radio Network (ICRN) has created an impactful platform that proves once more, that there is always strength in numbers. In 2022, a handful of activists and community radios from...
Watch: Phelimuncasi live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Durban-based Gqom futurists Phelimuncasi (Nyege Nyege Tapes) brought their life-affirming energy to Le Guess Who? 2023, providing ample space to dance and sweat at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora stage. Relive the performance with our concert film below. About Much like the South African bee after which they named their most recent a...
COSMOS Embassy: Lima, Peru
Buh Records is a record label based in Lima, Peru. Founded in 2004 by Luis Alvarado, the label focuses on a wide universe of experimental and unconventional music. Especially their outstanding work in...
Wadada Leo Smith & Lamar Smith present Creative Music
In anticipation of his Friday performance, Wadada Leo Smith is kicking off this year’s Le Guess Who? with Creative Music. For this special showcase, arranged by curatorial platform Touching Bass...
Birdguy's Sustainable Print Station
This year, U? will have it’s very own ‘sustainable’ merchandise station. No one other than Utrecht’s infamous Birdguy, who created this year’s U? artwork, has designed a...
Birdcage Radio presents
Birdcage Radio is a creative community and daily online radio that focuses on forward thinking events and dance music. Next to the events Birdcage is also a record label and collaborates with visual a...
Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri
Something was afoot at last year’s SOUNDSET series in Madrid; so much so that, when Abul Mogard (AKA Guido Zen) and composer, record producer, and mastering engineer Rafael Anton Irisarri serend...
afromerm with YUIS
afromerm is the solo project of composer, sound artist, and poet Cecilia Morgan. Drawing from contemporary, jazz, and cinematic soundscapes, the project meshes electronic elements with live instrument...
Future Feminism
Johanna Constantine presents "Rise"&Kembra Pfahler and the Girls of Karen Black present "Fuck Island" Founded by New York-based artists Kembra Pfahler, Johanna Constantine and Anohni, Future Femi...
Lombok Festival (2018)
Cycle or walk through Utrecht suburb Lombok's main street, and you're immediately welcomed by Turkish and Moroccan grocery stores, bakeries, the smell of kebab, and huge piles of colorful fruits sold...
Listen: Orphax shares new album 'Somniatores'
Moving Furniture-founder Sietse van Erve aka Orphax is performing as part of our 12-Hour Drone during Le Guess Who? 2017 on Sunday, 12 November. Now, he shares his new album 'Somniātōrēs', the follow-...
Read: the official Le Guess Who? 2018 program guide
With just one week left until Le Guess Who?, we are now publishing our official 2018 program guide, where you'll find all artist biographies, plus sections for Le Mini Who?, Lombok Festival, and our new satellite event 'Untitled', as well as a Utrecht Treasure Guide (with 40+ special offers for festival visitors) and several Illustra...
Kleine Crack & Slagter
Kleine Crack is the only Belgian artist signed to Burning Fik. The cult-rapper and his producer-teammate Slagter create ominous hip-hop, set to heavy beats. In their hometown ANNA (Antwerp) they are s...
Stiltecoupé
Right nextdoor to the chaos of Utrecht Central station is Perron West, an old train car revamped to serve as a get-together. Party by day in the Stiltecoupé; a channel serving silent disco by l...
Lola's Dice
Originally a punk band, Lola’s Dice have evolved into a tropical, funk, and psychedelic rock rhythm machine. With sounds that are rooted in Latin American percussive music, Lola’s Dice is...
Kamiel Thomas
Kamiel Thomas is an indie songwriter and former member of the avant-garde dark rock ensemble GOLD. Kamiel's songs are worthy of arthouse films while also creating a sense of home. Kamiel Thomas i...
Shoko Igarashi
Shoko Igarashi, born in Yamagata prefecture, Japan, took her talent for the saxophone and flute all over the world, from New York to Brussels. Shoko has dabbled in a variety of musical genres, includi...
Otto Kokke
KULTUS, a solo project by Otto Kokke, is exploring the lines dividing music from sound. Stripped of all rhythm and melody, KULTUS songs are all about creating a physical sound that is much larger than...
Cengiz Arslanpay
Cengiz Arslanpay is a multi-instrumentalist, sound designer, music technologist and a composer. For this performance Cengiz teamed up with Klaas Hekman, a phenomenal improvisor from Rotterdam. Togethe...
Interbellum
Interbellum is an audio-visual collective consisting of musicians and instrument builders Nathan Marcus and Loden Rietveld and theatre designers Malou Palmboom and Aimée Gersons. This Utrecht-b...
Sound in Motion
Movement alters sounds, sounds alter movement, this is what Pablo Molina and Vincent Schoutsen envision behind their collaboration, Sound in Motion. They are shaping each other's realities via a micro...
Watch + listen: Neneh Cherry live at Le Guess Who? 2018, performing tracks from 'Broken Politics'
Genre-bending singer Neneh Cherry performed at Le Guess Who? 2018, presenting work from her latest album 'Broken Politics'; you can now listen + watch part of the performance below: Neneh Cherry - 'Shot Gun Shack', live at Le Guess Who? 2018: About:Across decades, Neneh Cherry traversed and transcended every known faction of the...
Neneh Cherry - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
Genre-bending singer Neneh Cherry performed at Le Guess Who? 2018, presenting work from her latest album 'Broken Politics'; you can now listen + watch part of the performance below: Neneh Cherry - 'Shot Gun Shack', live at Le Guess Who? 2018: About:Across decades, Neneh Cherry traversed and transcended every known faction of the...
Guido Nijs & Jos Smolders
Through sampling and re-sampling of pre-recorded material and live performed pieces, Jos Smolders (modular synthesizer) and Guido Nijs (saxophone and other wind instruments) are trying to find new way...
Video portrait: Swamp Dogg talks Love, Loss, and Auto-Tune
In 1970, soul artist Jerry Williams, Jr. radically reinvented himself as Swamp Dogg: an anti-hero who smashes the conventions of commercial R&B music, and whose subversive lyrics earned him a spot on Richard Nixon’s infamous enemies list. Consequently, Swamp Dogg became one of the quintessential outsider figures in American musi...
Open Podium West
presented by Jongerentheater Link Discrimination, prejudice, exclusion, racism; these subjects are all up for discussion at Open Podium West. Hear and meet people of all ages from the neighbourhood,...
Petersburg
Petersburg is one of the most mysterious and unique indie bands in the Netherlands. The band, formerly known as Petersburg Orderer and consisting of Camiel Muiser, Erik van de Paardt, Boris de Klerk (...
Flare Quartet & Randa Awad
The Flare Quartet, with violinists from the Netherlands, Spain and Canada, was founded in 2020 by a group of master students from the Utrecht Conservatoire. They are joining the Palestinian, Syr...
BCUC - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
The South African, Afro-psychedelic collective BCUC gave an ecstatic performance on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2018, curated by Shabaka Hutchings. Relive the full set below, and watch the video for the group's performance of 'Yinde': About:BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) started out as a social gathering in their nati...
Relive Beverly Glenn-Copeland's glorious performance at LGW18
New Age & Folk Jazz pioneer Beverly Glenn-Copeland gave a very rare performance on the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2018 together with five-piece ensemble Indigo Rising. The performance was curated by both Devendra Banhart and Moor Mother. Beverly Glenn-Copeland - 'Sunset Village', live at Le Guess Who? 2018: About: After a twent...
Homemade Empire
Ambient drones, cowboy psychedelia and fuzz folk - that's how singer-songwriter Bart de Kroon AKA Homemade Empire from Utrecht describes the sounds with which he takes us back to the future. With his...
Kadri Gopalnath - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
On the closing night of Le Guess Who? 2018, Indian Carnatic music pioneer Kadri Gopalnath gave a mesmerizing performance, curated by Shabaka Hutchings. Listen to the full show, and watch and excerpt from the performance below. About: Kadri Gopalnath’s life’s work is to incorporate the woodwind instrument into the cla...
Privacy statement
Version April 2025 Le Guess Who Foundation (hereafter referred to as LGW) wishes to explain how it handles and uses your personal data. LGW values the privacy of visitors, volunteers, artists, and all employees, and is responsible for all provided data, while ensuring the protection of the data being handled. We will treat data confident...
Saul Williams & King Britt present 'Unanimous Goldmine' – Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
In one corner, the shamanistic Saul Williams, actor, screenwriter and renowned harbinger of noise poetry and hip hop futurism. In the other corner, cleric of eclecticism King Britt, accomplished Philly-based musician, DJ, author and producer. On the explicit invitation of Moor Mother, who was a guest curator at Le Guess Who? 2018, these...
Urban Stories of U?
As a resident photographer for LGW and a resident of Utrecht, Juri Hiensch has been rediscovering the city of Utrecht. He has captured the unique character of several neighborhoods outside the city ce...
Listen: ZONAL and Moor Mother team up on 'On The Range'
Philly-based noise artist, activist and wordsmith Moor Mother (Camae Ayewa) returns to Le Guess Who? for the third consecutive year. After being curated by Jerusalem In My Heart (2017), and being a festival curator herself (2018), she now teams up with ZONAL, the project of Justin Broadrick (Jesu, Goldflesh, Napalm Death) and Kevin M...
Le Guess Who? Official Hangout
Through live interviews and performances, listening sessions, art exhibitions and all things print and sound, Kapitaal, Utrecht’s beloved independent print workshop, will transform into a three-...
Oiseaux-Tempête share video for new single 'He Is Afraid And So Am I'
Oiseaux-Tempête will release their new album 'From Somewhere Invisible' on 18 October: a collaboration with former Le Guess Who? artists Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem In My Heart, also LGW17 curator) and Jessica Moss (Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band), as well as G.W. Sok (King Champion Sounds, for...
Irena & Vojtěch Havlovi
Throughout their decades-long musical partnership, Czech artists Irena Havlová and Vojtěch Havel have traveled far and wide, through time and space. They started working together in the mid-eig...
Rats on Rafts: Visions Of Chapter 3 (live)
Rotterdam’s Rats on Rafts’ most recent album, ‘Chapter 3: The Mind Runs A Net Of Rabbit Paths’, is proof of their ambition - and even more so is their one-off performance at Le...
Accessibility
Le Guess Who? aims to present a festival that is accessible for everyone, but unfortunately not all festival venues are equally accessible. Please have a look below or at the specific venue pages for more information. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us via accessibility@leguesswho.com. Website accessibili...
Astrid Sonne
Contradiction alone could describe this Copenhagen-based composer, producer and viola player - but it wouldn’t be enough. Inspired by postmodern and minimalist music, singing in a choir and play...
Curator: CURL
Le Guess Who? curator collective CURL is made up of sonic eccentrics Mica Levi, Brother May, and Coby Sey, among others. A tightly-knit community of artists and musicians from the London underground,...
The Staples Jr. Singers
In 1975, family group The Staples Jr. Singers released their first and only album: ‘When Do We Get Paid’ - recorded when the gospel band’s youngest members were in their early teenag...
Mary Ocher
For a decade and a half, Mary Ocher has been weaving thought-provoking and often challenging art concerning authority, identity, and conflict. The artist's musical output encompasses everything from t...
Nappy Nina
Oakland-born writer, emcee, and producer Nappy Nina cut her teeth in the Bay Area scene before uprooting to Brooklyn, where she released her 2019 debut album ‘The Tree Act' to much acclaim. Havi...
Video / Photo 2021
Video Recordings Relive the festival; watch live performances by Mazaher and Suuns. The upcoming time, we'll be sharing more performances on this website and our social media. VISIT VIDEO ARCHIVE
Siti Muharam - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Zanzibar singer Siti Muharam performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021, marking her European live debut. In 2020, she received the prestigious Songlines Awards for African Artist of the Year following the release of her album 'Siti of Unguja'. Now, Songlines premieres the concert film of Siti Muharam's performance at Le Guess Who?, featur...
The Brother Moves On - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
The Brother Moves On, the captivating South-African ensemble famous for masterfully drawing from past, present and future, performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of '$/He Who Feeds You…Owns You' via Shabaka Hutchings' Native Rebel Recordings. You can now listen to & relive the full performance. AboutTher...
Lole Montoya - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
From the minute when flamenco innovator Lole Montoya stepped onto the stage at the Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2022, we knew we were in for a magical moment in time. Together with guitarist Juan Carmona, she gave a rare and very touching performance as part of the Hidden Musics project. Luckily, you can relive it now with our concert...
Tickets
Le Guess Who? 2025 6-9 November in Utrecht, The Netherlands We also offer tickets for CJP members & U-pas members.Not a CJP member and still under 30? Click here to order a CJP pass.Please note: CM.com (formerly Yourticketprovider) is the only official ticket provider of Le Guess Who?. The only secure way to buy tickets from someo...
Sun-Mi Hong
The Amsterdam-based, but born and raised in Incheon, Korea, Sun-Mi Hong has a unique perspective of life. With a signature of rooted groove in combination with well-tempered outbursts, Sun Mi has plac...
Frente Abierto feat. Israel Fernández & Lela Soto - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
In the flamenco world, Frente Abierto presents new possibilities. The group welcomes genres as diverse as metal and ambient into their realm, fusing their experimental streak with some of new flamenco’s most powerful singers. At Le Guess Who? 2024, the Andalusian collective collaborated with Israel Fernández, a cantaor...
Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto - Desde Le Guess Who? (En Vivo)
During Le Guess Who? 2024, we witnessed the magic of legendary Cumbia and Gaita ensemble Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, thanks to festival curator Mabe Fratti who invited them to Utrecht. Dubbed "the authentic masters of traditional Colombian Music" by the New Yorker, Latin GRAMMY-winning Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto have toured the world f...
Tropical Fuck Storm - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Melbourne foursome Tropical Fuck Storm's fiery flavor can be savored through a string of releases dating back to 2019 - but there is nothing quite like devouring the thunderous delicacy live, as we experienced again at Le Guess Who? 2024. Watch the concert film below. The group's new album 'Fairyland Codex' is out now via Fire Records.&nb...
‘A sudden, uncontrollable urge to dance’: the magic of Nyege Nyege Tapes & Hakuna Kulala Club Night
Forget Detroit, Chicago, and Berlin for a minute. Some of the most exciting electronic music records are being cut in the capital of Uganda, Kampala, and many are coming out of label Nyege Nyege Tapes. The collective is committed to shedding light on some of the best outsider music made in Kampala and all around East Africa. This Novembe...
África Negra
In the early seventies, Horacio, a butcher by trade, and his guitarist friend Emidio Pontes decided to form África Negra; the rest is Sao Tome and Príncipe music history. Their unparalle...
Muriel Grossmann Quartet
At the helm of her acclaimed Quartet, Muriel Grossman makes music to uplift those who listen to it. The Austrian composer and saxophonist, born in Paris, has been releasing her own work yearly for ove...
Maria Reis
Grit is something Lisbon-based Maria Reis has in spades, which captured the attention of Animal Collective’s Panda Bear. After the success of Pega Monstro, the punk band created with sister J&ua...
Valentín Clastrier
The hurdy-gurdy is an instrument few play and less master, but Valentín Clastrier does. The French musician’s career started out eclectic, as he picked up on choral singing, the cornet, a...
Pink Oculus - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Dutch-Surinamese artist Pink Oculus premiered her new project 'Before Wisdom' live at TivoliVredenburg during Le Guess Who? 2021. 'Before Wisdom' is a special collaboration with audiovisual artist Boris Acket, spatial designer and scenographer Dennis Vanderbroeck, and writer Vincent van Velsen. The newest video to appear online now...
Rival Consoles - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
London-based producer Ryan Lee West, aka Rival Consoles, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping., following the release of latest album ‘Now Is’. You can now listen to and relive the full performance below. AboutThroughout his critically acclaimed fifteen-year career, Rival Con...
Marina Herlop - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Catalan artist Marina Herlop performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by Animal Collective, following the release of her latest album 'Pripyat'. Relive the mesmerizing performance with our concert film below, featuring the songs miu, doiloi, abans abans and shaolin mantis. *Update: following the release...
Zwangere Guy - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
With his unshakeable conviction, found all over his rhymes and delivery, Zwangere Guy quickly became considered ‘the boss of Brussels rap’. In his live shows, his boastful, insolent and exciting personality always shines bright. Zwangere Guy performed live at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda during Le Guess Who? 2021 on the nig...
Derya Yıldırım
After performing at the festival with her band, Grup Simsek, in 2017, this Hamburg-based singer and multi-instrumentalist is returning to Le Guess Who? on her own, making Anatolian folk the focus of h...
Talk: Music Programming in 2022 & Beyond
With an increasing abundance of music events in recent years, the competition for audience engagement within the cultural sector is as high as ever. In light of everything visitors have to choose from...
De Voorkamer Mini
Discover what De Voorkamer is all about: come along and take part in all kinds of creative 'mini' activities. These activities will give you a good impression of everything that takes place at De Voor...
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music; first episode out now
Le Guess Who? presents ‘The Big Playback’, a conversational, in-depth podcast about all things music. In ‘The Big Playback’, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to musicians, scholars, record label owners, and music managers and delves into different topics exploring individual and collective musical experiences. You c...
Dabke workshop by Amer
At De Voorkamer you can learn the Syrian folk dance Dabke. Amer, who is the perfect person to present it to you, will be the teacher. He is a health and food enthusiast, a body builder whose message i...
LGW presents Prana Crafter & Richard Bolhuis during Basilica Hudson's DRONE AT HOME 2021
We're proud to contribute to Basilica Hudson's DRONE AT HOME online broadcast, April 24-25, with a special collaboration between Dutch visual artist Richard Bolhuis (who was also part of our 24-HOUR DRONE in 2014) and LGW19 artist Prana Crafter, who summons guitar meditations, kosmische drones, and mystic acid folk mantras. Th...
Fatemeh & Rian
Fatemeh and Rian know each other thanks to their shared love of music. For several years, Fatemeh has been a participant at the weekly music evenings at the AZC in Utrecht. Here she treats the audienc...
Ìsòkan Ensemble
Would you like to dance? These four master drummers from Nigeria make sure you do! Enjoy the beautiful music and cultural tradition of the Yoruba people from Nigera, performed by the Ìsò...
Djembé workshop with Amara Diabate
Amara Diabate, who lives in Zuilen, is a master drummer and kora player. He is hosting a djembe workshop where all those present can feel everything the drums produce and what it awakens. Diabate guid...
Food Market Overvecht
Enjoy a range of dishes prepared by international caterers from the Overvecht district.Proef verschillende gerechten van internationale cateraars uit de wijk Overvecht.
Spoken Word by Asmae Amaddaou
Asmae Amaddaou shares her keen yet velvety soft observations and experiences from her book ‘De wereld is van ons’. For the book, the 20-year-old Gouda-based, Moroccan-born writer drew from...
COSMOS Embassy: Delhi, Goa & Bangalore, India
REProduce Live is a peer to peer live streaming platform that showcases left leaning artistic expression within India. Their goal is to weave a new fabric by challenging expectations of what contemporary artistic risk taking in the region could look and sound like. For COSMOS, REProduce Live presented a selection of events they've pr...
Galya Bisengalieva announces remix album 'Aralkum Aralas' and shares first track featuring Jlin
Kazakh/British violinist and composer Galya Bisengalieva has announced the new album 'Aralkum Aralas', which features remixed tracks from her 2020 album 'Aralkum'. This new collection of remixes will be released 15 October via One Litte Independent and includes contributions of a.o. Moor Mother, Coby Sey, Nazira, Jing, and CHAIN...
Live Paint with Laurie Drew & Dennis Weijers
An audio-visual scene in a greenhouse with artist Laurie Drew and musician Dennis Weijers.Een audiovisueel tafereel onder de kas van kunstenaar Laurie Drew en muzikant Dennis Weijers.
Revealing 46 program additions for Le Guess Who? 2021
It is true that making plans for shows and festivals in 2021 is a bit of a gamble. But Le Guess Who? believes that it’s important to have something to look forward to. In the spirit of cautious optimism, we are proud to announce the second round of confirmations for November 11-14 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Le Guess Who?’s...
Mechanical Massage Chair by Edwin Schulte
The mechanical massage chair that Edwin Schulte made especially for an exhibition at the EXbunker, looks like an instrument of torture. Volunteer to take a seat in this chair made of recycled material...
COSMOS Embassy: Goa, India
In partnership with REProduceA hub of seasoned Indian creatives looking for a new way to be, to reconsider and reassert the India they grew up with and forged: this Embassy aims to present Goa as it exists at the end of 2022.This film features a series of short performances - both music and otherwise - woven together with interviews with...
Open Call: U? is op zoek naar community curatoren gevestigd in Nederland
Voor U? 2024 zijn we op zoek naar nieuwe en enthousiaste curatoren om hun communities en creativiteit op het festival te presenteren.
Heavyspitters: M-II
M-II was born in the Philippines and fled to the Netherlands as a child with her family. From an early age she processes her life experiences by painting and making music. She raps and sings in differ...
Boss of Brussels rap Zwangere Guy releases new single 'FAMILIE BOVEN ALLES' with rap crew STIKSTOF
Zwangere Guy is renowned for his honest lyricism and compelling live shows. His unshakeable conviction, found all over his rhymes and delivery, led him to quickly be considered 'the boss of Brussels rap'. Now, together with rap crew STIKSTOF, Zwangere Guy releases 'FAMILIE BOVEN ALLES' (featuring Dutch rapper Sticks), the title...
Heavyspitters: Ido Hoogendoorn
Innovative hip hop artist Ido Hoogendoorn is working hard to become a pioneer in the next rap generation. His style is intense, intriguing, melancholic and sometimes on the dark side. His lyrics...
Podcast: listen to episode 2 of 'The Big Playback' about the relationship between Art and Identity
Le Guess Who? presents ‘The Big Playback’, a conversational, in-depth podcast about all things music. In the second episode of ‘The Big Playback’, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to four different musicians about the shifting relationship between Art and Identity and who in some way explore the self as a mediu...
COSMOS Embassy: Cairo, Egypt
In partnership with B-62Egyptian artists Khaled and YUNIS take us on a tour through the music scene of Cairo. Through meetings, conversations and live performances with different artists, we’ll get to know the most important features of the music scene and get a grasp where it is heading.This Embassy presents musicians such as VII,...
COSMOS Embassy: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
In partnership with V2X. About V2XV2X represents a new generation of Vietnamese creatives shaping their own identities. Operating as an independent media company on the intersection of art, music, culture, V2X highlights creative communities from all corners of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Their work curating emerging cultures in today's m...
Wisselspoor Expo
In the shed of the Ping Pong Club, the former factory for ‘Werktuigen en Spoormaterieel’ - tools and railway equipment, is the home for the annual Wisselspoor Photo Competition. This year'...
Video portrait: Gebroeders Dieleman van Eeckhout discuss faith, grief, and musical playgrounds during recordings
Gebroeders Dieleman van Eeckhout is the new collaborative project of Colin H. van Eeckhout (Amenra) and broeder Dieleman. The former is captain of one of metal's most innovative live acts, whereas the latter writes idiosyncratic Zealandic folk songs, intersecting pop and experimental idioms. Both have at least one thing in common; they ar...
LGW Festival App
Want to be among the first to hear about the latest news & program updates? Download our official festival app. When you switch on notifications in the app, you'll receive news and last-minute update on your phone. During the festival weekend you can explore the line-up, create your personal timetable, find your way through Utrecht w...
Salsa de Hoy
The sun always shines with Salsa de Hoy. The uplifting salsa music played by this 11-piece band is like a little electric fire. Feel free to dance, but don’t feel obliged to do anything. Just br...
Stach & Tano Rivers
Stach Platenkamp (aka Stach) is a sound designer, producer, vocalist, session director and drummer. With his good friend Fuat Okatan (aka Tano Rivers), he is currently working on his first album. Earl...
LGW x SPEAK present: Japanese composer Midori Takada introduced by Risa Arai
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migra...
Midori Takada to present new durational sound work [ THUS TIME GOES BY ] at LGW21, created especially for the Jacobikerk
Unfortunately, Midori Takada won’t be able to make it to Le Guess Who? 2021 due to ongoing Covid restrictions. But she will be with us in Sound & Spirit. "I really wanted to be here with you. Instead I fly my spirit to you and wrap you up in the warm vibrations of the music" - Midori Takada On Friday and Saturday, we p...
Joram Feitsma
Joram Feitsma composes neoclassical, minimal, melancholic piano music with an electronic twist. In October, he released his new album 'Stroom', with both music and poetry, that arrives at deeper groun...
Klokpack6ix presents: Le Pack
Klokpack6ix is a music- and art collective with more than twenty members/affiliates. A ‘mixed media clusterfuck’ (their words) of young rappers, producers, designers, writers, and performa...
Kickstarter x Kapitaal x Stranded FM host Official LGW21 Hangout with live sessions, DJ sets & exhibitions
This year, Kapitaal returns as the official Le Guess Who? 2021 Hangout. Utrecht's beloved independent print workshop collaborates with Kickstarter and Stranded FM to bring you a program with radio and DJ sets, interviews, live sessions, art exhibitions, film screenings, and all things print & sound from Friday 12 November till Sunday...
Yakuni Tunes
The synthpop songs of the Utrecht one-man band Yakuni Tunes contain solid drum computer beats, dreamy vocals and layered retro keyboards. These songs go hand in hand with lyrics about heartache, faile...
Celestial Spaces: Fuzzy Dreamer
Fuzzy Dreamer plays minimal music inspired by dreamscapes. He asks what it would sound like if Philip Glass and Steve Reich played reverb and delay drenched guitar. His music draws the listener into t...
Celestial Spaces: Moonwatch
Moonwatch plays layered dream indie pop, merging spellbinding melodies with reverb-drenched textures to convey the moods of the night sky. The members of the five-headed band from Utrecht joined force...
Celestial Spaces: This Leo Sunrise
This Leo Sunrise is an alt-folk-indie rock band from Utrecht. Honest songs are mixed with cinematic, repetitive drones, creating a broad sound spectrum. The songs, atmosphere, production and lyrics &n...
LGW x SPEAK present: Colombian musician Julián Mayorga introduced by Carlos Tapias & Camila Duarte
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migrants i...
LGW x SPEAK present: Dutch jazz musician Ronald Langestraat introduced by Renee Telkamp
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migrants in the city of Utrecht, b...
LGW x SPEAK present: UK hip-hop/grime artist Pa Salieu introduced by Hannah Johnson
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migrants i...
Sustainability
With the motto of Listening is the Way Forward, Le Guess Who? exists to promote sounds that are often overlooked, and to platform fresh perspectives on what is possible in music. Artists from all over the world push the boundaries of expectations and offer an insight into the unprecedented diversity of human creativity. Our mission: A pl...
Cirkel om de Haard
Cirkel om de Haard is an initiative started by Avan Omar, Ali Authman and a group of Kurdish musicians – most of whom live in Overvecht. At this concert Ali Authman plays the violin and the viol...
Dance workshop with John Kayongo
John Kayongo, a dancer from Kenia with Ugandan roots, is widely known for his energetic dance workshops. Besides his background in anthropology and modern dance, John brings enthusiasm in heaps, and i...
Daniel Okiror & band
Daniel Okiror, whose roots lie in Uganda, plays authentic string instruments from Africa. With his band of professional musicians, he will take you full swing on a safari tour of his African repertoir...
COSMOS Embassy: Lisbon, Portugal
East Side Radio is an online radio platform streaming from Lisbon’s East Side, Portugal. It’s designed to be a hub connecting widely recognised domestic and international talent. This COSMOS Embassy was the first happening by East Side Radio after a long pause, during which a new broadcast studio was designed and constructed,...
COSMOS Embassy: Tbilisi, Georgia
Mutant Radio is a media platform that focuses on various directions: mixes, interviews, educational shows, live performances and discussions. Gathering artists, DJs, and interesting personalities to focus on the subject of their preference and their interest, Mutant Radio offers like-minded people an opportunity to enjoy quality music and...
Freaky Dancing: Onegg (live)
The Utrecht based Onegg is a synthesizer collective led by twins Ewa and Marysia Saras, with band member Mariette Huls by their side. The band produces hauntological, synth based electronica. Melody a...
Twan Bracco Gartner
On the quays at De Nijverheid you will find the annually renewed open-air art exhibition KunstKoers. Prick up your ears as you wander along the art works, so you won’t miss out on composer and s...
COSMOS Embassy: Mexico City, Mexico
In partnership with Sonido ConfirmacionMEXPOSURE, a simulation of a pirate television signal disguised as an institutional TV channel, is a place where independent artists come to find a space to express themselves. It will explore the idea of territorial demarcations and territorial division of Mexico City and will enhance the multicultu...
Nospray: Kalaallit Nunaat
Kalaallit Nunaat, founded in 2018 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, combine their love for noise, post-punk, shoegaze and krautrock into a hypnotizing wall of sound. With music best enjoyed in a cold and...
COSMOS Embassy: Khartoum, Sudan
In partnership with Hassan Kamil & AndariyamagKnown for its strong rhythms, melancholy lyrics, and bittersweet taste, the Sudanese music scene is more active than ever. This Embassy features a selection of considerable Sudanese music and artists including Noori & His Dorpa Band, who mixes diverse genres using Noori's Tambo-guitar...
COSMOS Embassy: Athens, Greece
In partnership with stegi.radio. stegi.radio is a 24/7 online radio station produced by Onassis Stegi and it is based in Athens. The radio’s conception was based on the values of freedom of movement and the idea of cross-culturalism, aiming to reflect a growing awareness of the power stemming from creating, maintaining and pa...
Watch: Anoushka Shankar & Manu Delago with Metropole Orkest Strings live at LGW18
Continuing the legacy of her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar is considered to be one of the world’s most renowned sitar players. In 2018, she performed at Le Guess Who?, together with Austrian percussionist and Björk collaborator Manu Delago and the 27-member string section of the Metropole Orkest, conducte...
Podcast: listen to Part 2 of the episode 'What's Behind The Mask?'
Le Guess Who? presents ‘The Big Playback’, a conversational, in-depth podcast about all things music. In the second episode of ‘The Big Playback’, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to four different musicians about the shifting relationship between Art and Identity and who in some way explore the self as a mediu...
Tiny Room Records: Thistle Sifter
An instrumental post-rock project by English musician Pete Barnes. Having toyed with the idea of writing atmospheric instrumental music for a while, Barnes was left bedridden following a serious cycli...
Tiny Room Records: We vs. Death
22 years ago, four kindred musical spirits found each other at Utrecht University. They shared a passion for unconventional music and formed We vs. Death. For ten years they steadily built on a succes...
Interview: Pink Oculus presents Before Wisdom through collaborative show where art, scenography and music become one
“Performing is a part of my identity”, says the Dutch Surinamese vocalist and producer Pink Oculus. Two years of not being able to do what she loves the most led to a brand new sound, and new music too: her forthcoming album, ‘Before Wisdom’, is expected in 2022. At Le Guess Who?, she will premiere these songs thro...
Jota and Shekina present Tanda Panameña
Jota Ortiz is a collector, selector and musician from Panama. He has been roaming his hot and humid homeland for the past 10 years searching for lost gems on vinyl to preserve for future generations....
Knekelhuis Presents: four artists you don't want to miss at Le Guess Who? 2021
Knekelhuis is an Amsterdam-based independent record label that heightens the aesthetic similarities between different genres, eras, and scenes, including wave, punk, synth-pop, industrial, ambient, techno, and abstract electronics. This year, Knekelhuis is presenting an international selection of label-related artists and dear friends th...
U?: Girls In Synthesis share new single 'Pulling Teeth', embodying their "new mission statement"
(Nederlandse tekst hieronder)Girls In Synthesis is a London-based post-punk and noise rock band that has been releasing records for 4 years and counting. With their DIY mentality they’re not afraid to experiment. You can now listen to their latest single ‘Pulling Teeth’.<a href="https://girlsinsynthesi...
CTA Playlist
Le Guess Who? takes pace across 20 locations in the city center of Utrecht; ranging from churches and galleries to theaters and pop venues. Most are within walking distance from each other. Here are a couple highlighted.
CTA Playlist
Le Guess Who? takes pace across 20 locations in the city center of Utrecht; ranging from churches and galleries to theaters and pop venues. Most are within walking distance from each other. Here are a couple highlighted.
LGW x SPEAK present: Catalan vocal duo Tarta Relena introduced by Román Sánchez & Ayla Losada
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migra...
Paranoid State
Three veterans from the Dutch hardcore scene bring you an intense and melodic form of post-hardcorepunk in the vein of Wipers, Black Flag and Bad Brains. With two full-length albums under their belt,...
Le Guess Who? launches freely accessible city festival U? / Le Guess Who? lanceert gratis toegankelijk stadsfestival U?
Le Guess Who? exists to bring people together through art and music. In 2021, the international festival for boundary-crossing music and culture makes a new addition to the upcoming festival edition: U?, a new, participative and freely accessible day program created for and with the city of Utrecht.
Read Bant Mag.’s IIllustrated Stories for LGW21, featuring a.o. Ichiko Aoba, Pink Siifu, and Siti Muharam
Turkish independent magazine Bant Mag. created a series of Illustrated Stories about artists that are performing at Le Guess Who? 2021, giving an introduction to their life and career and what to expect from their festival performances. Bant Mag. has been bringing together new and exciting tendencies about music, film, arts and culture s...
Ambient Listening Sessions X U? presents: Jonny Nash
Jonny Nash began his career whilst living in Japan during the 2000’s, releasing his first records on Kenji Takimi’s seminal label Crue-l. Relocating to London, Nash released a number of re...
Ambient Listening Sessions X U? presents: Kaðlín Ólafsdóttir
Kaðlín is a composer based in The Hague, whose work reflects on deterioration by drawing parallels between the imperfections of memory and technology. She creates ethereal soundscapes by co...
Ambient Listening Sessions X U? presents: Omit Iwik
Omit Iwik (Iris van der Sluis) is an ambient and experimental DJ and musician from Utrecht. Through soundscapes of manipulated field recordings, collected sounds, samples and guitar loops, Omit Iwik t...
The Bug feat. Dis Fig, Flowdan & Logan
Last year, Kevin Martin released his first non-collaborative full-length LP in seven years. 'Fire', brought out into the world via Ninja Tune, is maybe his heftiest yet, and already a landmark in his...
Poernaka Expo
Throughout the month of November, Hof-artist Poernaka will be showing his new exhibition at multiple locations at Hof van Cartesius. Always wanted to take a look in his studio? Then visit the Hofloods...
Relive FLOHIO live at Le Guess Who? 2021; listen to the full performance
Following the release of her debut ‘No Panic No Pain’, south London rapper FLOHIO performed at TivoliVredenburg’s Ronda during Le Guess Who? 2021. You can now relive the performance; listen to the full show below: "Lagos born, South London based MC, Flohio is ready to rage her way to the top of rap, passing by grime,...
Listen to The Microphones' full performance at Le Guess Who? 2021
During Le Guess Who? 2021, Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie / The Microphones) was one of five guest curators for the festival. Aside from putting together a personal program of inspirations and like-minded artists, Phil Elverum also performed live with guitarist Jay Blackinton to present Elverum’s latest album, 'The Microphones In 20...
Front & LGW present: live session + interview with Dutch post-punk outfit Private Banking
As part of our new, hybrid platform COSMOS, we once again collaborated with Dutch music platform Front to bring you live sessions with rising Dutch artists. Following the publication of the first session, with pop noir singer/songwriter/guitarist Anna van Rij, we now share the session with new Dutch post-punk outfit Private Banking...
Front & LGW present: live session + interview with pop noir singer/songwriter/guitarist Anna van Rij
As part of our new, hybrid platform COSMOS, we once again collaborated with Dutch music platform Front to bring you live sessions with rising Dutch artists. We're now publishing the first of these sessions on our YouTube channel: pop noir singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer Anna van Rij captured at Utrecht's Marnixzaal, a h...
Listen to Zwangere Guy perform 'Beter Leven', 'Wie is Guy?', and 'RAF (Rien à Foutre)' at LGW21
With his unshakeable conviction, found all over his rhymes and delivery, Zwangere Guy quickly became considered ‘the boss of Brussels rap’. In his live shows, his boastful, insolent and exciting personality always shines bright. Zwangere Guy performed live at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda during Le Guess Who? 2021 on the nig...
Vier de LGW19 line-up announcement met Ben Shemie (SUUNS)
Op donderdag 19 september onthult Le Guess Who? de volledige line-up voor de komende festivaleditie in EKKO, met optredens van Ben Shemie (SUUNS), Conjunto Papa Upa, Lechuga Zafiro en een speciale editie van Stranded FM x The Current. Ben Shemie, beter bekend als zanger/gitarist van SUUNS is inmiddels geen onbekende meer van Le Gues...
Vechtclub Market
Have a look inside one of Utrecht’s biggest creative hubs. At Vechtclub Market a large number of entrepreneurs from Vechtclub XL will be showcasing their work. From ceramics and illustrations to...
Official LGW19 merchandise available in our webshop now
Did you forget to walk by the merchandise stand during the festival? Or looking to do some Christmas shopping for your friends or loved ones? The official Le Guess Who? 2019 merchandise is now available in our webshop. Screenprinted by KapitaalThis year's festival merchandise features t-shirts, sweaters, umbrellas, tote bags, baby bodysu...
Hatis Noit
Hatis Noit’s vocal awakening came at the age of sixteen, during a trip to Nepal in which she was moved by a female monk’s chant. This experience led her to begin exploring the visceral pow...
U? keert terug naar Utrecht voor vierde editie
U?, het gratis toegankelijke stadsprogramma van Le Guess Who?, keert terug naar Utrecht voor de vierde editie. U? viert lokale en creatieve communities gevestigd in Nederland, met een sterke focus op Utrecht. Onze missie: Amplifying local communities from the fringe, U? is Utrecht’s radical playground for experimentation, co-creati...
Heavyspitters: Breakdance by UC Crew
The breakdance and hip hop group Utrecht Connaisseurs Crew (UC Crew) was founded in early 2018. That same year, they won the first prize at the National Breakdance League. The crew consists of dancers...
Listen or read: a personal introduction to Egypt’s Mazaher, bearers of the Zar tradition, by Nadah El Shazly
This November, Le Guess Who? will feature a rare performance (their first European show in over 15 years) of Egypt’s Mazaher: a small group of mostly women musicians and singers who play Zar music: chanting songs and playing hypnotic polyrhythms used in a ceremonial event to cleanse the spirits and to clear away illness and discomfo...
COSMOS Embassy: Beijing, China
In partnership with Mentha Project & BIE MusicThe project curated and produced by the Beijing-based BIE Music showcases the originality and creativity of China’s diverse indie music scenes with live sessions of Howie Lee, Hualun, Gong Gong Gong, Otay:onii, and Naja Naja. These globally established Chinese acts, who are asso...
Cavolo Nero
Cavolo Nero is the ingredient for all kinds of Tuscan specialties, but also a six-piece band from Utrecht. The brand new project was born out of love for afrobeat and groove-oriented music. With inspi...
Het Grote Gebeuren: Saartje Van Camp
Saartje Van Camp is a writer, composer, and she creates stage shows. Vocals, cello, samplers, synths – whatever she stumbles upon, she welcomes, and uses. Anything can be music. Her songs and sh...
Het Grote Gebeuren: De Witte Kunst
De Witte Kunst, consisting of multi-instrumentalist Lyckle de Jong and writer/singer Koen van Bommel, craft songs about dreams of a better world, the fear of being touched and just how to carve out a...
Het Grote Gebeuren: Art of the In-Between
Jeffrey Bruinsma is researching the extent to which people can draw a line underneath their past and create something from scratch, the same way a painter starts with a blank canvas. A search for new...
Het Grote Gebeuren: FULCO
FULCO serenades everyday madness. The Ghent-based Dutchman performs with BeraadGeslagen, STADT and De Beren Gieren, but when he’s not doing that, he is always writing songs in Dutch. Musicality...
LGW x SPEAK present: Lisbon's DJ Lycox introduced by Ana Góis & José Teixeira
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migra...
Le Guess Who? Treasure Guide 2022: Explore some of Utrecht's loveliest hidden treasures
With its cosy and colourful atmosphere, picturesque canals, breathtaking medieval city centre and buzzing nightlife, the city of Utrecht is a hidden gem full of lovely people and stunning places. Selected with great care, Le Guess Who? would like to introduce you to the 2022 edition of the festival's Treasure Guide. In the mood for...
Baskot Lel Baltageyya
Baskot Lel Baltageyya (meaning ‘cookies for thugs’) is a Cairo-based project headed by musician Adham Zidan and poet Anwar Dabbour. From the start, Zidan has resisted the idea of it being...
Listen: Dutch outfit Plague Organ live at Le Guess Who? 2021
A nice surprise came our way recently. The sound engineer at De Helling during Le Guess Who? 2021 was able to capture the intense performance of Dutch outfit Plague Organ. Or at least, almost the entire performance: apparently the engineer was so overwhelmed upon the start of the show that he was about half a minute late with starting the...
Rachika Nayar
In just two years, the Brooklyn-based composer and producer Rachika Nayar’s digitally processed guitar compositions have rewritten both the instrument and electronic music conventions. Following...
Nyokabi Kariũki
Kenyan composer and sound artist Nyokabi Kariũki can be found between New York, Maryland, and Nairobi. Her sonic imagination covers classical and experimental music, as well as sound art, pop, film, a...
Marta Salogni & Valentina Magaletti
Italian-born, London-based record producer, mixer, and engineer Marta Salogni is adding drummer, composer, and percussionist Valentina Magaletti (of Vanishing Twin and many more) to her laundry list o...
Open Call: participate in U?, the freely accessible day program of Le Guess Who?
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) U? is the participatory & freely accessible day program of Le Guess Who?, which returns 10-13 November to Utrecht. It hosts a multitude of events and activities which are created for and with local citizens, initiatives, entrepreneurs, social institutions and community centers. U? featu...
Watch Noori & His Dorpa Band live at LGW22 + read Pan African Music interview
Sudan's Noori & His Dorpa Band performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022, presented in collaboration with Ostinato Records. Below, you can relive the performance with our video of a part of the concert, as well as the audio of the full show, with a spirited introduction by Ostinato's Vik Sohonie before the band came on stage. Additionall...
Asher Gamedze with Another Time Ensemble - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
In 2020, Cape Town, South Africa-based drummer Asher Gamedze found himself in Cairo assembling a quintet made up of some of the capital’s finest improvisers; Maurice Louca, Alan Bishop, Cherif El-Masri, and Adham Zidan. Another Time Ensemble had come to be. In 2024, the group performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024 as part of Chromes...
COSMOS Embassy: Pernambuco, Brazil
In partnership with Coquetel MolotovRecife’s Coquetel Molotov teamed up with music producer Benke Ferraz (Boogarins) and launched a musical incubator for artists outside Pernambuco’s capit...
Ale Hop & Laura Robles present Agua Dulce
Alejandra Cárdenas, or Ale Hop, and Laura Robles grew up houses apart in Lima, Peru, without ever meeting each other; now, the two musicians, currently based in Berlin, are presenting ‘Ag...
dragonchild x Sunken Cages
For this unique crossover, two worlds collide; that of dragonchild, the solo project of Debo Band’s Ethio-American saxophonist D.A. Mekonnen, and that of Sunken Cages, the moniker of Indian-born...
Rose City Band
‘Porch music’, a term coined by acclaimed guitarist and vocalist Ripley Johnson, aptly describes his country psychedelic rock project Rose City Band. At first inspired by warmer months, Jo...
Armand Hammer
In 2021, explosive New York City rap duo Armand Hammer (half ELUCID, half billy woods) released ‘Haram’, their collaboration with legendary producer The Alchemist. Two years later, the rec...
El Kontessa
Via El Kontessa, the stage name of Cairo-based producer, DJ, and multidisciplinary artist Fajr Soliman, her city comes alive. In her voice, Cairo’s soundscapes are deconstructed, combined with s...
Watch OSEES perform 'Turned Out Light' live at LGW21 + listen to Bent Arcana's full set at the festival
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist and record label owner John Dwyer was one of the curators for Le Guess Who? 2021, presenting his personal program with inspirations and fellow like-minded artists. As part of the curation, Dwyer also performed twice himself on the final day of the festival: first with jam-loving c...
Watch Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble perform 'The Body Is Electric' live at LGW21
Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021. Curated by Matana Roberts for the festival, it marked the group's European live premiere. Now can now relive the performance with this video of the ensemble performing 'The Body Is Electric' from their latest & acclaimed album 'NOW'. AboutThe past and...
Le Guess Who? wins prestigious European Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming
The European Jazz Network (EJN) is the Europe-wide association of 170+ organizations and promoters from 34 countries who specialize in creative music, contemporary jazz and improvised music. Every year since 2012, the EJN awards a European promoter who succeeds to create visionary and fascinating musical programs. Le Guess Who? is...
Listen & relive: Duma live at Le Guess Who? 2021, curated by Phil Elverum
Kenya's Duma, figureheads of the flourishing Nairobi underground metal scene, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021 as part of the program curated by Phil Elverum (The Microphones/Mount Eerie). Martin "Lord Spike Heart" Khanja and Sam Karugo released their self-titled album in 2020 through Uganda’s Nyege Nyege Tapes and were i...
Podcast: listen to part 3 of 'For the Record'
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. Episode 3 is a four-part series entitled 'For the Record', exploring the role of the archivist from all angles, released in weekly installments. In this new series, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to an independent archival collective in Indonesia; a sound and p...
Faiz Ali Faiz
Having been born to seven consecutive generations of qawwals (those who perform the ancient form of religious Sufi music from Pakistan and Northern India - Punjab - known as qawwali), Pakistani singer...
Deena Abdelwahed presents Jbal Rrsas
After earning her stripes on the Tunis scene, Deena Abdelwahed came to Paris, set on new musical inquiries. Since her arrival, the DJ and producer has been showered with praise from outlets such as Pi...
Watch: Eddie Chacon live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Eddie Chacon performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021 following the release of his latest album ‘Pleasure, Joy and Happiness’, made in collaboration with producer John Carroll Kirby. You can now watch & listen to four tracks from the performance below. AboutAs part of the soul duo Charles & Eddie, Eddie Chacon exper...
Unearthed: An exclusive interview with Abdullah Ibrahim published by The Wire in 1984
This November, Le Guess Who? will feature a spellbinding solo piano performance by Abdullah Ibrahim, South Africa’s most eminent pianist, anti-apartheid activist and a world-respected master musician. Abdullah Ibrahim's effervescent music is instantly recognizable, taking the audience on a journey through gospel and jive, American j...
Listen/read: Pakistani qawwali singer Faiz Ali Faiz, by Arooj Aftab
This November, Le Guess Who? will feature a special performance by Pakistani qawwali singer Faiz Ali Faiz. Having been born to seven consecutive generations of qawwals (those who perform the ancient form of religious Sufi music from Pakistan and Northern India - Punjab - known as qawwali), Faiz Ali Faiz was raised on the practice. After...
Photo series: Rəhman Məmmədli by Azad Alizade & Sitara Ibrahimbayli
This year, Le Guess Who? presents the fourth edition of Hidden Musics, a project that focuses on deeply localized music and features artists embedded in rich, often centuries-old musical traditions that have been developed with little or no outside influences. The first series was initiated in 2019 by Le Guess Who? in collaboration w...
Ndox Electrique
How does one put Ndox Electrique into mere words? It is wild, dark, and solar; it is feminine and powerful, groovy and heavenly. Most importantly, Ndox Electrique is a ritual of possession which comes...
Model/Actriz share new single ‘Winnipesaukee’
Brooklyn-based experimental group Model/Actriz are known for their genre-blending sound that incorporates elements of post-punk, noise rock, and electronic music, gaining recognition for their innovative approach.Earlier this year, Model/Actriz captivated audiences with their debut album, Dogsbody, blending relentless noise with frontman...
Photo series: The Good Ones by Marilena Umuhoza Delli
This year, Le Guess Who? presents the fourth edition of Hidden Musics, a project that focuses on deeply localized music and features artists embedded in rich, often centuries-old musical traditions that have been developed with little or no outside influences. The first series was initiated in 2019 by Le Guess Who? in collaboration w...
Listen: Lewsberg performs 'The Corner' live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Lewsberg, hailed as "Rotterdam’s answer to The Velvet Underground" by NME, performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2022. We now share the track 'The Corner' from that performance (taken from their 2021 album 'In Your Hands') just as the band are about to go on an international tour which will bring them to Germany, USA,...
Lost Girls
Two years ago, Lost Girls, made up of daring Norwegian duo Jenny Hval and Håvard Volden turned heads with their sensual debut LP ‘Menneskekollektivet’. Now, they are returning with &...
The Harvest Time Project: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders
Once, John Coltrane described himself, Pharaoh Sanders, and Albert Ayler as ‘the father, the son, and the holy ghost’. Throughout his decade-spanning career though, Sanders often embodied...
Watch: Vrije Geluiden sessions at Le Guess Who? 2023
VPRO Vrije Geluiden has been a partner of Le Guess Who? for numerous years, and during this year's festival, they again captured several sessions with artists - recorded at Bibliotheek Neude in Utrecht - that will be revealed over the next couple of weeks. Watch below. The Good Ones The Good Ones will surprise you, delight you,...
Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet release 'Four Guitars Live', recorded at LGW23
At Le Guess Who? 2023, veteran improviser Bill Orcutt (of Harry Pussy) was joined live by an all-star team of seasoned guitarists, made up of Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza, and Shane Parish. The four tackled Orcutt’s rhythmic tapestry released on 'Music For Four Guitars' (2022), following the intricate composition’s thread wh...
Watch Marina Herlop perform 'La Alhambra' live at Le Guess Who?
Catalan artist Marina Herlop performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by Animal Collective. Last year, we released the concert film with tracks from her 2022 album 'Pripyat'. Now that its follow-up is out, 2023's 'Nekkuja', we release the video of 'La Alhambra', one of the tracks from that new album. "T...
Freddy Locks
Portuguese singer and songwriter Freddy Locks is deeply passionate about Roots Reggae. His journey began in Lisbon's punk-rock scene, later transforming through encounters with positive reality and re...
Fininho (DJ)
Portuguese producer and DJ Francisco "Fininho" Sousa began as a techno DJ in Lisbon. Co-founding Celeste/Mariposa in 2009 shifted his path, supporting Lisbon's African diaspora talent, notably from An...
Neighbours Burning Neighbours return with new single 'Neil Young'
Rotterdam's Neighbours Burning Neighbours, known for their malformed brand of noise-pop, are masters of discord-turned-harmony. After three years, we can now celebrate their much-anticipated return in the form of new single Neil Young.The band, which consists of some of Rotterdam's most idiosyncratic rock makers Daanie van den IJssel, Kat...
Wristband pick-up + other important info for your visit to Le Guess Who? 2024
Le Guess Who? 2024 is approaching, and we're looking forward to welcome you to Utrecht for our 17th festival edition. We can't wait to share an amazing wealth of sounds with you again, but first, there are some important details we'd like to share with you. Please take a moment to review the following information before your visit...
Photo series: The Getdowns by Rogier Boogaard
The Getdowns are a young hardrock & punkband from Utrecht. Influenced by bands like Pearl Jam and The Beatles, the four boys produce a massive amount of noise characterised by distortion pedals and raw vocals.
Listen/read: Favorite Stereolab tracks by artists from their LGW23 curation
For Le Guess Who? 2023, Stereolab have curated an eclectic program, highlighting their various interests and inspirations. We've asked artists from their curated program to choose their favorite Stereolab track, what the band means to them and/or what it means to be curated by them. Listen to the playlist by artists from the Le Guess Who...
Photo series: Trailblazing artists of LGW23 by Melanie Marsman & Juri Hiensch
For 16 years and counting, Le Guess Who? has strived to create a space for generations of music lovers and makers to come together. A podium where icons of their trade not just pass the baton to those that carve out a new path – but where they engage on eye-level. In 2023, Le Guess Who? once again boasted an array of young artists...
Consensual Peggy
Consensual Peggy emerges as a riotgrrrl punk band, fearlessly embracing the currents of hysteria. Unpredictable, exuding a resounding uproar, and fiercely untamed. Born from a furnace of anger and inc...
'Cursed Bunny' reimagined by MARUSKES
MARUSKES is an experimental duo, consisting of Tania Zountsa on alto sax and Lida Brouskari on electronics, theremin, piano, and vocals. Driven by a fascination with literature, short stories, and the...
Boxing Matches by Jimmy's Gym (2022)
This event will hit you just as hard in the face as our music and arts program. No, you don’t have to step into the ring yourself, but you will be marveled at several intense matches. Various ty...
Premiere: Old Time Relijun share video for 'Break Through', from upcoming album 'Musicking'
After more than a decade of silence, we're absolutely thrilled to announce the return of Old Time Relijun, "one of the most distinctive and feral rock groups", in the words of The Stranger. Headed by the idiosyncratic Arrington de Dionyso, the group is celebrated for their raw and life-affirming songwriting. After qui...
Emma Riethorst
In Emma Riethorst’s sculptures and paintings, forgotten figures come to life. Their life-like appearance commands empathy. Through themes like anthropomorphism, these wordless creatures remind u...
Stay Fluid: COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Melbourne, Australia with Liquid Architecture
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes with Liquid Architecture In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. For over two decades, Liquid Architecture has grown from a student project to Australia’s premier festival for experimental and avant-garde music. In its current form,...
Tjarco Design
Tjarco Design is an artist, builder and dreamer. With his passion for steel, fire and light he’s ready to add another dimension to any party.Tjarco Design is kunstenaar, bouwer en dromer. Met ee...
Read: Antipop Consortium are hip-hop's most notorious futurists
Coming up at the turn of the century, when underground rap was all about dusty loops and intricate battle rhymes, Antipop Consortium mixed an experimental, electronically charged sound palette with lyricism sharpened on the NY poetry scene. While they quickly summoned a cult following stateside, Europe’s alternative music circuit to...
Photo series: W.I.T.C.H. at LGW23 by Juri Hiensch
Once upon a time, W.I.T.C.H. ruled Zambia. In the seventies, they were the driving force behind the decade's 'zamrock' movement, blending traditional African rhythms with garage rock. In 2023, W.I.T.C.H. performed at Le Guess Who? following the release of their new album Zango, their first in nearly four decades. Our residential photogra...
"We construct a different narrative": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Athens with stegi.radio
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Athens with stegi.radio In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. The scene in Greece has undergone a renaissance of sorts, with Athens becoming a hotspot for creative minds from around the world. Needless to say, this development hasn't...
Watch Alan Sparhawk debut new songs at Le Guess Who? 2023
Last November, Alan Sparhawk returned to Europe to play some select solo shows, the first being a performance at Le Guess Who?. Three decades ago, Sparhawk co-founded the band Low alongside vocalist and drummer Mimi Parker, who sadly passed away in late 2022. Their music derived elemental power from its fearless exploration of quiet, ge...
Watch: Nihiloxica live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Nihiloxica exploded out of Kampala in 2017 with their groundbreaking fusion of Bugandan drumming and UK bass. The band explores the darkest depths between two separate cultures of dance music, uniting abrasive club electronics with raucous percussive energy. At Le Guess Who? 2023, the group presented their late latest album 'Source of De...
Cruise Control
Cruise Control, the creative force behind Queerparty Electronique. This bold event redefines sound with its alluring mix of gritty and explicit elements. Navigating the queer party realm, Cruise Contr...
Open Call: U? is looking for NL-based community curators
Lees hier de tekst in het Nederlands. The open call has been closed. Le Guess Who? in Utrecht is a festival for groundbreaking music and culture, taking place 7-10 November 2024. It exists to bring people together through music and art. U? is its freely accessible city festival, dedicated to celebrating creativity in...
Listen to Moin live at Le Guess Who? 2023, curated by Stereolab
London trio Moin, comprised of Raime’s Joe Andrews and Tom Halstead together with percussionist visionary Valentina Magaletti, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Stereolab. You can now listen to and relive the full performance, featuring a previously unreleased track: "'Moin are subtly but br...
IJzersterk Empowerment
Not all adolescents find the support they need within the youth care. For those who don’t, IJzersterk has developed ‘Empowerment’. Professionals and hands-on experts support young pe...
Model/Actriz
‘Dogsbody’, Brooklyn-based quartet Model/Actriz’ first album, crashed onto music listener’s radars earlier this year like a seismic sea wave. It is easy to see why Cole Haden a...
Arp Frique & Family
When producer, musician, and thinker Arp Frique introduced himself to the world on debut record ‘The Colorful World of Arp Frique’, the world couldn’t help but smile back. Five years...
Le Guess Who? & U? present Sydney Lowell
Sydney Lowell is a creative spirit, human, artist and entrepreneur from Amsterdam. She mainly operates as a poet, but recently started incorporating music and movement into her creative practice. Next to that, she’s a teacher, voice actor, host, and co-founder/producer of creative platforms We The People and 2PHRASE. Sydney sees...
Keenan Mundane
When Dutch rapper Keenan Mundane grabs the mic, there’s no choice but to listen. Inspired by the sounds of foreign agents such as JPEGMAFIA, Earl Sweatshirt, and MF Doom, Mundane chews up his in...
Khorshid Dadbeh
Alternately playing the tar, the tanbour, and the setar, Iranian musician Khorshid Dadbeh is seasoned far beyond her years. She began her musical journey early, having grown up in an artistic family a...
Joanna Sternberg shares new single 'Neighbors'
New York City singer-songwriter Joanna Sternberg is having a stellar 2023 so far. Earlier this year, their second album ‘I’ve Got Me’ was showered with praise for its personal and openhearted character. Now, the artists releases their new single 'Neighbors' via Fat Possum Records. 'Neighbors' was recorded at Sternberg&r...
Concert film: Slauson Malone 1 live at Le Guess Who?
Festival curator Slauson Malone 1 performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 following the release of his latest album EXCELSIOR via Warp Records. On stage, he is joined by cellist Nicky Wetherell. Relive the performance with our concert film: Speaking about his role as curator at the festival, Slauson Malone 1 (real name: Jasper Marsalis) s...
Library Card
Library Card came to be when four musicians from the lively Rotterdam music scene became friends. Lot van Teylingen, Mitchell Quitz, Kat Kalkman, and Emre Karayalçin soon emerged together as li...
U? returns to Utrecht for its fourth edition
U?, the freely accessible city program of Le Guess Who?, returns to Utrecht for its fourth edition. U? celebrates local and creative communities based in the Netherlands, with a strong focus on Utrecht. Our mission: Amplifying local communities from the fringe, U? is Utrecht’s radical playground for experimentation, co-creation and...
Neighbours Burning Neighbours
Rotterdam-based quartet Neighbours Burning Neighbours are unfazed by chaos; they even embrace it. Their first scattered releases introduce listeners to their irresistible, malformed brand of void-pier...
Phantom Wizard
Nature, afrofuturism, jazz, and hip-hop have come together to form Phantom Wizard’s ethereal work. The artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist of Surinamese descent was born and raised in th...
Phantom Wizard
Nature, afrofuturism, jazz, and hip-hop have come together to form Phantom Wizard’s ethereal work. The artist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist of Surinamese descent was born and raised in th...
Sydney Lowell
Poet and spoken word artist Sydney Lowell is not afraid of tackling big themes and challenges. She is also known as a cultural agitator. In her show, a journey through time and space in which spoken w...
Join Le Feast: home-chefs in Utrecht transform their living room into a brunch restaurant
Le Feast invites you into a living room in Utrecht, to enjoy a feast together with people you don't know (yet). Would you like to join as a home-chef or guest? You can now sign up!Le Feast nodigt je uit in een huiskamer in Utrecht om samen met mensen die je (nog) niet kent te genieten van een feestmaal. Lijkt het je leuk om deel te nemen...
KORG Berlin: Instruments beyond electronics
KORG Berlin is a transdisciplinary development lab designing new musical instruments. As a team, KORG Berlin operates on the belief that releasing a product always has a societal, economical, and envi...
U? presents Elekufiya at HE:LEEN Festival
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) On Saturday 14 September, U? presents a program at HE:LEEN Festival in the Le Guess Who? office. This year, HE:LEEN Festival returns to Rotsoord for a new edition full of talented musicians, artists and performers. The festival highlights the creative and energetic appearance of the area....
Listen/read: Flamenco innovator Lole Montoya: “I would not be able to sing something I’m not feeling”
Already at an early age, Lole Montoya decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to singing. But not only did she indeed become a singer, she also redefined the flamenco genre by bringing in new influences, genres and poetry. Her skill has been displayed across a long repertoire, which includes her work as part of the renowned duo Lole...
COSMOS Embassy Film: Lima, Peru
In partnership with Buh Records. Buh Records is a record label based in Lima-Peru, founded in 2004 by Luis Alvarado. Focused on a wide universe of experimental and unconventional music, w...
Watch: Faiz Ali Faiz live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Pakistani singer Faiz Ali Faiz gave a spectacular performance as one of the closing acts of Le Guess Who? 2023. You can now relive this glorious moment with our concert film, as well as the full audio of the show. "Another kind of passion was found in the lovely old Vredenburg hall with the transcendent qawwali of Faiz Ali Faiz a...
Theo Parrish releases new EP 'Traffic Jams'
Le Guess Who? 2024 will host a rare and exclusive extended vinyl set by Theo Parrish. The acclaimed DJ now releases his new 2 track EP Traffic Jams, "a response to stagnation and nonmovement", via his Detroit based label Sound Signature. The first ever-flowing song Positive Mental Attitude Solves All is a tribute to the eternal elder and...
Volksdansgroep Pieremachochel
Dance group Pieremachochel is a folk dance group from Utrecht. They have been keeping the rich Dutch folk dance tradition alive for almost 50 years. To this day they showcase Dutch folk dances to the...
The Village Presents
After a successful Village Festival celebrating their 12.5-year anniversary in September, The Village is back at the Branderij with their intense blend of heavy music and delightful coffee.Na een succ...
Talk: Producers as Creative Miners & Boundary Crushers
Heba Kadry is a mastering & vinyl cutting engineer born in Egypt and currently based in Brooklyn. She has worked with notable artists such as Björk, Holly Herndon, Nicolás Jaar and man...
Talk: Sound Archives
This talk is curated by AZEEMA, an independent fashion and culture magazine/creative agency celebrating women and non-binary folk of the diasporas. This conversation questions the importance of archiv...
Read: A Dream of Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, by Julián Mayorga
On Friday, 8 November 2024, Le Guess Who? will witness the magic of legendary Cumbia and Gaita ensemble Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto. To say that we are excited about welcoming them to Utrecht would be a massive understatement. In fact, the influence of this Grammy-winning, generations-spanning band on the trajectory of Latin American musi...
Talk: Music Futurisms
The term Afro-Futurism has slowly become part of a mainstream cultural vocabulary. A combination of science fiction, technology, cultural heritage and post-colonial theory, we are now encountering an...
Talk: Music Futurisms
The term Afro-Futurism has slowly become part of a mainstream cultural vocabulary. A combination of science fiction, technology, cultural heritage and post-colonial theory, we are now encountering an...
Concert film: Kamilya Jubran - Live at Le Guess Who?
Palestinian-born, Paris-based musician Kamilya Jubran, one of the most revered figures in the experimental and alternative Arabic music scenes, performs at Le Guess Who? 2023, curated by Heba Kadry. Relive the mesmerizing performance with our concert film. About Raised by her music-loving parents in Galilee, for 20 years she was...
Talk: From Scratch – How to Build a Border-Defying Community
An array of COSMOS-partners are coming together to discuss their own expertise: that of building communities, forming grassroots initiatives and initiating impactful cultural movements in today’...
Listen: 'Sucio' by LYZZA x DJ Babatr, from upcoming Chromesthesia compilation album
On Friday, 8 November 2024, the compilation album Chromesthesia: the Colour of Sound Vol. 1 is set to be released. Brainchild of British-Egyptian historian Hannah Elsisi (NYU AD, Cambridge), Chromesthesia—aptly named "the colour of sound"— tracks afro-diasporic rhythms from the Whole Mangrove World. Now, the first single from...
Playlist: LGW24 curated by Mabe Fratti
Each year, Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting their inspirations, emerging acts and fellow like-minded artists, with an emphasis on discovery and exploration.Experimental cellist and composer Mabe Fratti introduces her curation at Le Guess Who? 2024 with a personally compiled...
Talk: Producers as Creative Miners & Boundary Crushers
Heba Kadry is a mastering & vinyl cutting engineer born in Egypt and currently based in Brooklyn. She has worked with notable artists such as Björk, Holly Herndon, Nicolás Jaar and man...
Wouter van Veldhoven (2021)
Dutch composer Wouter van Veldhoven explores the possibilities offered by archaic magnetic sound recording, processing and playback. He uses refurbished/adapted tape recorders, wire recorders and disc...
Bedouin Burger release debut album 'Ma Li Beit'
Made up of Syrian vocalist, composer and musician Lynn Adib and Lebanese underground pioneer, music producer and multi-instrumentalist Zeid Hamdan, Bedouin Burger is a duo who mesh classical and Arabic folk music with streaks of modernity, braiding narratives between past, present, and future. After releasing their debut single 'Taht El...
Liliane Chlela presents the world premiere of 'I; the hybrid and the antidote' at LGW24
Born in Beirut and based in Montreal, Liliane Chlela is a producer, DJ and performer whose progressive sound experiments brought her to the forefront of the electronic and experimental music scene, both in Lebanon and far beyond. At Le Guess Who? 2024, Liliane Chlela will present the live premiere of I, the hybrid and the antidote. &ldqu...
Painkiller Party
Welcome to the world of PAINKILLER PARTY! This band revitalizes Electronicore with a mix of heavy breakdowns, quirky electronics, sweet melodies, and deep growls from a female voice. Think deathcore m...
Pedro Ricardo releases new EP 'Dança de Rua'
For every record he spins, Pedro Ricardo takes on new challenges. The artist, who will be doing a DJ set at Le Guess Who?, relies on the strength of the grooves he plays, bringing forth a feeling of intense freedom to the dance floor through a selection of warm, inviting rhythms. Jazz-fusion, disco, and funk are to be expected, but house...
Curated by Wes: Mistureba
As a DJ, Wes has an affinity for sounds from across the globe, both from the past and present. With a passionate interest in history, he’s always keen to track down the stories behind the music...
Photo series: Heba Kadry's curation by Juri Hiensch
As a hallmark of the festival, each year Le Guess Who? invites trailblazing creatives to curate their own dedicated programs, highlighting fellow like-minded artists and those that have inspired them. For the 2023 edition, Le Guess Who? invited mastering engineer Heba Kadry, who curated a comprehensive program, weaving together an array...
Modulation takes center stage at U?
Modulation is Utrecht’s own accessible night of live performances and concerts centered around modular synthesizers and other hardware electronic instruments. A place for newcomers as well as veterans, from ambient to noisemakers, explosive beats, cinematic soundscapes – and everything in between. All performers will be playin...
Keep Dancing Inc
In just a few years, Keep Dancing Inc has etched an indelible mark on the indie alternative scene with their suave and serene approach. European tours alongside Blossoms, collaborations with Altin G&u...
Annemiek Schravesande
Annemiek Schravesande crafts transient art from sugar. Her candy paintings, meant to be licked, embody impermanence. This approach showcases the duality of innocence and adulthood, inviting adults to...
Fotoserie: U? residentie met 45ACIDBABIES door Rogier Boogaard
Dit jaar nodigde U? het Utrechts-Amsterdamse collectief 45ACIDBABIES uit voor een residentie in VOGELFREI. Tijdens deze residentie werkten ze aan een speciale performance rondom hun nieuwe album, dat een eerbetoon brengt aan en inspiratie haalt uit comic book-cultuur, video games, queerness, ballroom cultuur (vogue), eclectiek, kleur en e...
Watch: VPRO Vrije Geluiden sessions with Etran de L'Aïr, Víctor Herrero, Ored Recordings, Mazaher & Mario Batkovic at LGW21
During Le Guess Who? 2021, VPRO Vrije Geluiden recorded live sessions with multiple artists who performed at the festival. All sessions are now online, featuring Etran de L’Aïr, Víctor Herrero, Mario Batkovic, Mazaher, and Zaur Nagoy in collaboration with Jrpjej, presented by Ored Recordings. Mazaher, Ored Recordi...
Pharoah Sanders & Peter Brötzmann featured in Pitchfork's Best Albums of the 1960s
Pitchfork have just published their list of best albums of the 1960s - no less than 200 choices, that include jazz icon Pharoah Sanders' influential and cosmic 'Karma', as well as The Peter Brötz...
Listen: Peter Brötzmann discusses post-WWII politics of sound & the European free jazz scene
During Le Guess Who? 2017, Red Bull Radio met up with German jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann (who collaborated with Han Bennink at the festival), to discuss post-WWII politics of sound...
Explore Han Bennink's curated program for Le Guess Who? 2017
(artwork by Emma Fischer) At a very young age, Han Bennink started drumming for his grandparents on pans and cookie cans, and with curtain rods as sticks. All over the world, Bennink is celebrat...
Explore Grouper’s curated program for Le Guess Who? 2017
(artwork by Grouper's Liz Harris) Liz Harris aka Grouper is one of the most prominent and inspiring musicians exploring the space between sound and song. While mostly ambient based, her compositions...
Brötzmann/Leigh share new album 'Sex Tape'
Peter Brötzmann duos with American pedal steel guitarist Heather Leigh, performing at Le Guess Who? as part of the program curated by Grouper. The recordings of their new album 'Sex Tape' to...
Revealing the first curators & initial line-up
The first curators are announced for the 11th edition of Le Guess Who? 2017, each hosting a range of inspirations and befriended artists, and also performing themselves. Perfume Genius invites a.o. Bu...
Watch: Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra & Arion de Munck present 'Hadra Immersive' at LGW24
A transcendental opening ceremony took place at the start of Le Guess Who? 2024, thanks to a special collaboration between the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra and visual artist Arion de Munck, who presented the world premiere of Hadra Immersive at the festival. The Hadra is an ancient northern Moroccan ceremony that leads participan...
Watch/listen: Coby Sey's Boiler Room Session
Coby Sey is a long time collaborator of Mica Levi and Tirzah, who now forges his own path as producer. Three months ago, Sey released a 5-track record on Young Turks' sub-label Whities. Now, Boil...
Watch/listen: Frente Abierto feat. Israel Fernández & Lela Soto - Live at Le Guess Who?
In the flamenco world, Frente Abierto presents new possibilities. The group welcomes genres as diverse as metal and ambient into their realm, fusing their experimental streak with some of new flamenco’s most powerful singers. At Le Guess Who? 2024, the Andalusian collective collaborated with Israel Fernández, a cantaor...
Watch/listen: SANAM - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Lebanese free-rock, post-folk sextet SANAM performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2023, following the release of their debut album 'Aykathani Malakon'. Relive the performance with our concert film, and the audio recording of the show below: About SANAM's music is akin to a ritual, somewhere between a marriage and an exorc...
Watch: Stereolab live at Le Guess Who? 2023 concert film
Recently, we celebrated the 100th festival recording being included in our online recordings archive. Now, we are elated to share the concert film of Anglo-French avant-pop group and festival curators Stereolab live at Le Guess Who? 2023. Hailed as one of the most influential and fiercely independent groups of the 90s, Stereolab's influe...
Watch: Ex-Easter Island Head - Live at Le Guess Who?
When UK-based experimental collective Ex-Easter Island Head steps on stage, the electric guitar - an instrument whose possibilities sometimes seem to have been exhausted - is born anew. Mechanical preparations, extended techniques; call it what you want, but, to us, it's more like auditory magic. Watch our concert film of the group...
Watch Wu-Lu perform 'Ten' & 'Blame' live at Le Guess Who?
South London's Wu-Lu, spearheaded by musician/vocalist Miles Romans-Hopcraft, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024 as part of Bo Ningen's curated program for the festival. Below, you can watch the group perform the tracks Ten & Blame from the album LOGGERHEAD, released via Warp Records. “Powered by artistic freedom and sens...
Watch: Zanzibar singer Siti Muharam's European live debut at LGW21, premiered by Songlines
Zanzibar singer Siti Muharam performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021, marking her European live debut. In 2020, she received the prestigious Songlines Awards for African Artist of the Year following the release of her album 'Siti of Unguja'. Now, Songlines premieres the concert film of Siti Muharam's performance at Le Guess Who?, featur...
Watch: Panda Bear & Sonic Boom - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of Animal Collective's curation, following the release of their latest album 'Reset'. Relive the performance below with our concert film, which features the songs Everyday, Edge of the Edge, Danger, and Livin’ in the After. AboutSix years ago, Peter Kember,...
Watch + listen: Suuns live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Avant-rock group Suuns have always surprised us with their releases and their newest, ‘The Witness’, on Joyful Noise, is yet another impressive step of their sonic universe. Following the release of the album, Suuns performed at Le Guess Who? 2021, and we're happy to now share the concert film of this performance as well as th...
FLOHIO - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Following the release of her debut ‘No Panic No Pain’, south London rapper FLOHIO performed at TivoliVredenburg’s Ronda during Le Guess Who? 2021. You can now relive the performance; listen to the full show below: "Lagos born, South London based MC, Flohio is ready to rage her way to the top of rap, passing by grime,...
Watch: The Bug feat. Dis Fig, Flowdan & Logan - Live at Le Guess Who?
The Bug performed live as one of the closing acts of Le Guess Who? 2022, accompanied on stage by MC's Dis Fig, Flowdan and Logan to bring the buzzing energy found on The Bug's record to life. Relive part of the performance with our concert film below, featuring Fat Mac and Dirty/I Luv You (Freestyle) feat. Flowdan, Take feat. Dis Fig and...
Listen to Lost Girls (Jenny Hval & Håvard Volden) live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Lost Girls is the Norwegian duo made up of experimental guitarist Håvard Volden and former LGW curator Jenny Hval. Their latest album, 2023's Selvutsletter, continues the intuitive, late night feel of the group's previous work with topics such as cities after dark, music rituals, band practices of the ‘90s, and the early days...
Read: Tender hearts in tough (Aussie) harnesses
Hard in style, soft in core. For Luna van der Laan (Looney Lunatic) and Carlos Kok (Boot 122), their passion for noisy, fast music stems from a broad artistic (self-)schooling, high levels of passion for music and, above all, an open mind. With a DIY-mentality, a grounded aversion of the establishment and a substance-over-style-approach,...
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Ghent-based duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their acclaimed debut album 'Topical Dancer'. You can listen to & relive their performance with 3 tracks: 'Mantra', 'Ceci n'est pas un cliché', and 'Thank You'. About Cultural appropriation, misogyny, rac...
Bekijk The Daily Indie's talkshow met Ancienne Belgique, Welcome To The Village en LGW
The Daily Indie, een van de mediapartners van Le Guess Who? dit jaar, deelt hun allereerste talkshow: een gesprek met Kurt Overbergh, artistiek directeur van AB Brussel; Peter Reen, programm...
Minyo Crusaders - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Japanese 10-piece ensemble Minyo Crusaders performed at Le Guess Who? 2019, following the release of their debut album ‘Echoes of Japan’, at one of the festival main stages: TivoliVredenburg's Grote Zaal. It became a life-affirming and glorious performance that you can now relive with the audio recording of the full show, and...
Aldous Harding - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Following the release of her latest album ‘Designer’ last year, New Zealand songwriter Aldous Harding performed at Le Guess Who? 2019, becoming one of the audience’s highlights of the 13th edition of the festival. The show rendered instrumentation and voice into the most vivid and impressionistic of scenes. Harding&...
Oiseaux-Tempête & Friends - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Oiseaux-Tempête & Friends gave an overwhelming and immersive performance at Le Guess Who? 2019, joined on stage by G.W. Sok (King Champion Sounds, formerly The Ex), Jessica Moss (Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band), Mondkopf and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem In My Heart, also LGW17 curator). Oiseaux-...
Playlist
Facts & Figures Browse through our Facts & Figures magazine, in which we offer you an insight into the impact and results of LGW ON/OFF, with data from both events, photos, and quotes from media. Press Archive Our archive includes press previews, reports and interviews for ON/OFF. Have a look at all published articles...
ZONAL (Kevin Martin & Justin Broadrick) announces debut LP, shares 2 tracks
ZONAL is the collaborative noise, dub and industrial project of Le Guess Who? 2019 curator Kevin Richard Martin (The Bug, King Midas Sound) and Justin Broadrick (Godflesh, JK Flesh). The group now announces their debut full-length album, to be released this fall via Relapse Records. The first two tracks; 'Cage Version' and 'No Versio...
Listen: The Bug and Burial release new EP 'Dive/Rain'
The Bug (Kevin Martin) and Burial (William Bevan) have once again teamed up. Their new two-track EP 'Dive/ Rain' was released under the moniker Flame 2. 'Dive/Rain' is The Bug and Burial's second joint release, following last year's 'Fog/Shrine' (Flame 1). You can listen to 'Dive/ Rain' below. Dive / Rain by Flame 2 "Flame 2 sees the ve...
Lees: Zware Metalen interviewt Le Guess Who?-curator Kevin Richard Martin (The Bug)
Zware Metalen, het grootste e-zine in het Nederlandse taalgebied voor metalliefhebbers, sprak uitgebreid met Le Guess Who?-curator Kevin Richard Martin, beter bekend als The Bug. Het resultaat is een enerverend gesprek met een specifieke gedachte, aldus Zware Metalen: wat kunnen metalheads leren van Kevin's roekeloze a...
LGW19 curators Jenny Hval, The Bug and Moon Duo announce new albums
Three of the Le Guess Who? 2019 curators have just announced new albums and released new music to go along with it: Jenny Hval Norwegian avant-pop artist Jenny Hval will release her new album 'The Practice of Love' on 13 September via Sacred Bones. At Le Guess Who?, she will present her new performance baring the same title as the album...
Listen to Tom Rogerson's new song 'Idea of Order at Kyson Point', a collaboration with Brian Eno
Tom Rogerson's piano skills are once again on full display in new song 'Idea of Order at Kyson Point'; a collaboration with Brian Eno. The dreamy track will be available on Rogerson's upcoming al...
Tom Rogerson collaborates with Brian Eno on new album; listen to 'Motion in Field'
The skills of British improvisational pianist & composer Tom Rogerson were previously on display with experimental rockers Three Trapped Tigers. For his debut album 'Finding Shore', Rogerson colla...
Greg Fox's new album is out now + watch the video for 'By Virtue of Emptiness'
Drummer extraordinaire Greg Fox's new album 'The Gradual Progression' is released today. His rapid fire, blistering playing style is a true force of nature, and Fox’s unique take on his instrume...
Watch a video portrait of jazz trailblazer Shabaka Hutchings
British jazz stalwart Shabaka Hutchings has worked with Sun Ra Arkestra and Mulatu Astatke in the past, and is currently involved in three of his own projects: The Comet is Coming (who performed at Le...
Read: Fractured Air interviews Instanbul's Ekin Fil
Istanbul-based musician and composer Ekin Üzeltüzenci happily chooses full-on abstraction over song. Behind an icy fog of dripping reverb, her vocals hardly ever register beyond whispers and...
Listen: Grouper shares new song 'Children'
After the release of 'Paradise Valley' 7" last year, Grouper now shares contemplative new song 'Children'. The track was recorded around the time of the sessions for her latest album, 'Ruins'. "I pus...
Listen to Ekin Fil's new album 'Ghosts Inside'
Istanbul-based ambient/drone artist Ekin Fil just released her new album 'Ghosts Inside'. Behind an icy fog of dripping reverb, her vocals hardly ever register beyond whispers and sighs, always just o...
Stream Muddersten's debut album in full now
Jazz trio Muddersten consist of three skilled musicians, mixing tuba, guitar, percussion and electronics into an soundscape with gyrating drones, white noise and dissonant tones. now, the trio release...
Suuns - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Avant-rock group Suuns have always surprised us with their releases and their newest, ‘The Witness’, on Joyful Noise, is yet another impressive step of their sonic universe. Following the release of the album, Suuns performed at Le Guess Who? 2021, and we're happy to now share the concert film of this performance as well as th...
Listen: Dry Cleaning release new single 'Don't Press Me' from upcoming album 'Stumpwork'
*update: the band have now released their new album 'Stumpwork'. Stream below: Just a year after 'New Long Leg', which was filled to the brim with unheard-of snark, courtesy of vocalist Florence Shaw's quick-witted lyrics, London's Dry Cleaning have announced the follow-up to their debut album. 'Stumpwork' is out October 21 via 4AD. T...
Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali: Artists-in-Residence at LGW25
Le Guess Who? presents a three day residency of Pakistani legends Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali during the 2025 edition of the festival. The vocalist duo, nephews of qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, together with their ensemble will present three different performances at different locations during the festival. Rizwan and Muazzam Mu...
Indofuturist Sanctuary: A COSMOS Goa Residency Recap
In the spring of 2023, COSMOS – Le Guess Who’s? global music community – organized its first artist residency in Goa, India. Over the past few years, Goa has become a sanctuary for artists and freewheeling spirits of all kinds, including REProduce-founder Rana Ghose. In collaboration with Rana, COSMOS created a space for...
Revealing the curators & initial line-up for Le Guess Who? 2018
We're very pleased to present you the curators and initial line-up for Le Guess Who? 2018. A gentle reminder: current 4-Day Festival Passes are available until Thursday, 7 June, and will increa...
Test your sustainable or social innovation at Le Guess Who? 2023
Test your sustainable or social innovation at Le Guess Who? 2023Test jouw duurzame of sociale innovatie op Le Guess Who? 2023
Announcing the full line-up for Le Guess Who? 2017
The full line-up for Le Guess Who? is now revealed, with 60 acts completing the program - check out the full line-up here. The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda performed by...
COSMOS Embassy Mix Vol. 1: Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective (HCMC, Vietnam)
This year, COSMOS once again proudly partners up with acts, institutions, and collectives from around the globe. The 2023 Embassies are located in Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Canada, Greece, UAE, Peru and Ghana. In order to introduce the amazing talents behind these collaborations, we're starting a new interview & music series call...
Read: The Hidden Artist Refuge in Remote Iceland
Interview: Seyðisfjörður Community Radio Seyðisfjörður Community Radio (SCR) is a shared digital and analogue broadcasting platform located in the fisher town of Seyðisfjörður. The platform is hosted, nurtured and initiated by an open-ended international community inhabiting various conditions and p...
Photo series at U? 2022
Utrecht based photographer Rogier Boogaard captured documentary photo series of artists involved in the festival.De Utrechtse fotograaf Rogier Boogaard heeft artiesten die betrokken waren bij het festival vastgelegd in documentaire fotoseries.
Revealing the full program for Le Guess Who? 2024
Widely considered to be one of the most forward-thinking festivals, Le Guess Who? exists to platform fresh perspectives on what is possible in music. Artists from all over the world offer insights into the unprecedented diversity of human creativity. Le Guess Who? returns 7-10 November 2024 for its 17th edition in Utrecht, The Netherland...
Announcing the first COSMOS 2024 Embassy: Santuri East Africa
COSMOS x Santuri announce first 2024 Embassy Ahead of their first-ever electronic music summit, Kilele, COSMOS sits down with Santuri co-founder and director David Tinning as well as Nairobi staples Nyokabi Kariũki and KMRU. For a full decade, the Santuri organisation has been supporting, highlighting, and releasing a mix of con...
Read: Istanbul’s Creative Scene Unites in Times of Crisis
Interview: Ozan Tekin x IDGK “İstanbul’u Dinliyorum Gözlerim Kapalı” is the title of a poem by Turkish poet Orhan Veli Kanık. It beautifully describes a city best experienced with all senses wide open. A sentiment that our 2025 COSMOS Embassy IDGK shares so much, that they’ve borrowed their name acronym from...
Revealing the full line-up for Le Guess Who? 2018 + day tickets on sale now
We're proud to reveal the full line-up for Le Guess Who? 2018 with 47 new additions to the program. Starting today, day tickets for the festival are also on sale. The final additions to the Le...
U?, freely accessible city festival for and with creative Utrecht, returns for third edition
U?, the freely accessible city program of Le Guess Who?, returns to Utrecht on 11 and 12 November 2023 for its third edition. This program is created for, but especially with Utrecht, to celebrate the city's creativity in all its diversity.The festival aims to let as many Utrecht residents as possible come in contact with the sounds, pers...
Listen to Den Sorte Skole's Mixtape for Le Guess Who? 2017
Denmark's Den Sorte Skole create magical, musical storytelling across time and space. For Le Guess Who? 2017, the duo have put together a special mixtape with artists performing at the festival. Liste...
Revealing the full line-up for Le Guess Who? 2019
Following the announcements of the curated programs by Fatoumata Diawara, Iris van Herpen & Salvador Breed, Jenny Hval, Moon Duo, Patrick Higgins, and The Bug, we are now proud to reveal the full program for Le Guess Who? 2019. New additions include the premiere of AEAEA (Patrick Higgins & Nicolas Jaar), Aldous Harding, Deerh...
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Thanks to supporters like you, Le Guess Who? has been able to grow into a leading international festival, known for the inspiring way in which groundbreaking music is presented and praised by artists, visitors, media and industry alike. Le Guess who? celebrates music as an art form, one that transcends languages, borders and cultur...
James Holden added as curator + more new additions; day tickets on sale now
Electronic sound explorer James Holden is added as curator for Le Guess Who?, hosting multiple stages on Saturday, 11 November. Performing is Moroccan Gnawa musician Maâlem Houssam Guinia &...
Listen to Moor Mother's FACT mix 593
Working from her base in Philadelphia, Camae Ayewa, aka Moor Mother, has taken a wide range of influences and distilled them into an essential, idiosyncratic sound best evidenced on last year’s...
Revealing the full program for COSMOS 2023
COSMOS is Le Guess Who?’s globe-spanning initiative that amplifies exciting music scenes from around the world through films, interviews, performances, and artist residencies. We now reveal the full 2023 line-up, after previously announcing the Embassies and COSMOS Live, the first-ever live program, to be presented at Le Guess Who?...
Niño de Elche - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
"This is flamenco punk", said Niño de Elche towards the end of his performance at Le Guess Who?. It's a fitting statement: the Spanish musician, who is also called a 'singer, poet and omnipresent master of ensorcelling souls' has been challenging conservative and picturesque perceptions of flamenco for over two decades. You can re...
LGW22 photo series: The Staples Jr. Singers, Nyege Nyege, Estrella Morente, clipping. and more
Our residential photographers Juri Hiensch and Melanie Marsman have been exploring Le Guess Who? again in 2022, captured different photo series during the festival. The upcoming time, we'll be sharing these series on this website and our social media. Curated by Animal Collective, by Juri Hiensch For LGW22, Baltimore quartet Animal Co...
Listen to OCnotes' DJ mix for KEXP's Midnight in a Perfect World
"OCnotes is known for his wildly unpredictable and consistently on-point DJ sets, which could be considered snapshots of his comprehensive appetite for original sounds," as we wrote in our bio fo...
Listen: COSMOS on Refuge Worldwide with Kafr El-Dauwar Records
For the April episode of COSMOS' monthly, globe-traversing radio show on Refuge Worldwide, we're bridging the gap between new currents in Egyptian club music and their traditional roots. For this mix, our Embassy partners from Cairo, Khaled and Yunis, connected us with DJ/producer Shah, who represents Kafr El-Dauwar Records, an ind...
Revealing the full program for Le Guess Who? 2022
From 10-13 November, Le Guess Who? returns to Utrecht for its 15th Anniversary Edition. We now proudly reveal the full 2022 line-up, with new additions joining the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim, Low, Lole Montoya, Nia Archives, as well as festival curators Animal Collective, clipping., and CURL. General program Joining Le Guess Who?&rsquo...
First wave of artists announced for fifth edition of 24-HOUR DRONE
Multidisciplinary arts center Basilica Hudson and Le Guess Who? will host the fifth edition of 24-HOUR DRONE from noon - noon on April 27 and April 28 in Hudson, NY. The first wave of artists are now announced, including world-renowned Indian classical musician Maestro Khan with a performance of Indian classical/folk music for tabl...
Watch the concert film of Estrella Morente & Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra live at Le Guess Who? 2022
During Le Guess Who? 2022, flamenco icon Estrella Morente and Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra came together for a magic showcase of warmth and joy. You can now watch the full concert film of the stunning performance at Utrecht's Jacobikerk, presented in collaboration with Ud Festival. The daughter of world-famous Enrique Morente,...
Deerhunter - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Following the release of their latest album 'Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?', Atlanta art-punkers Deerhunter performed live at Le Guess Who? 2019. We're very pleased to now share a video of the band performing 3 songs live at the festival: 'Sailing' (from their 2010 album 'Halcyon Digest'), 'Take Care' (from 2015's...
COSMOS, our hybrid platform, returns 10-15 May
COSMOS is Le Guess Who?’s hybrid platform with both live and on-demand exclusive content. Beyond music, beyond film, and beyond borders, COSMOS translates the festival’s mission to the online environment. From 10-15 May, 2022, the 2nd edition of COSMOS will be freely available for worldwide streaming via cosmos.leguesswho.com....
Listen to the Sai Anantam Ashram Singers perform the music of Alice Coltrane live at LGW17
Le Guess Who? 2017 celebrated the life & work of Alice Coltrane with the Sai Anantam Ashram Singers performing her ecstatic music live at the festival. Listen to three tracks of the performan...
We'll have our very own Le Guess Who? Beer, in collaboration with De Kromme Haring
We’re very happy to announce that we'll have our very own Le Guess Who? Beer for sale at the festival this year. In collaboration with one of Utrecht’s finest microbreweries, De Kromme Har...
Podcast: listen to episode 3 of 'The Big Playback' about the role of the archivist in music
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. Episode 3 is a four-part series entitled 'For the Record', exploring the role of the archivist from all angles, released in weekly installments. In this series, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to an independent archival collective in Indonesia; a sound and perfo...
Listen/watch: Faust IV live at Le Guess Who? 2021, premiered by The Wire
The cult album Faust IV was the fourth studio album released by the German krautrock group in 1973. Reimagining the music from the iconic album, Faust IV was performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021 as part of the curated program by OSEES' John Dwyer. Faust IV Live! captured the strange magic that then and now defines Faust as an entity unto...
Important info: wristband pick-up at Le Guess Who? 2019
Upon arrival at the festival, you will need to exchange your ticket for a festival wristband to ensure entrance to all the festival venues. Like last year, our Ticket & Info area is located in TivoliVredenburg on the ground floor. Please note: - You can only exchange your ticket for a wristband at our ticket desk in Tivoli...
Interview: Future Feminism with Johanna Constantine
On a sinking ship penetrated by patriarchy, what do you “choose” to do?: Future Feminism with Johanna Constantine This year, Le Guess Who? collaborates with Turkey's Bant Mag. The independent magazine, based in Istanbul, has been bringing together new and exciting tendencies about music, film, arts and culture since 2004. Sta...
Blanck Mass amongst final line-up additions + announcing venue hosts
Today, we announce three final line-up additions for Le Guess Who? 2018, including a performance by British electronic musician/producer Blanck Mass. We are also sharing some venue hosts during the festival; find their descriptions below & see when/where they are hosting in our downloadable time schedules. Blanck Mass Sin...
Watch the concert film of Mourning [A] BLKstar - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Mourning [A] BLKstar performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who?'s 15th Anniversary Edition in 2022. The collective, made up of musicians, writers, and multimedia artists, has a bountiful track record, amassing several releases under its belt since 2015. Their music is for both eulogies and revolutions, as they expand upon contem...
Read: the official Le Guess Who? 2019 Program Guide is here
With just two weeks left until Le Guess Who? 2019, we now present you our official 2019 program guide, where you'll find all the info you need to know about this year's festival. You can discover all the artist biographies, plus explore sections for Untitled, Le Mini Who? and Lombok Festival. While you're browsing through the...
Watch: Meshell Ndegeocello - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Meshell Ndegeocello is a true multitalented and multifaceted artist: singer-songwriter, rapper, bassist, collaborator, GRAMMY-winner, neo-soul movement igniter. Yet, even when sinking seamlessly into each one of her many roles, she has always worn her artistry and identity as a proud Black queer woman on her sleeve. You can now rel...
Watch: Mabe Fratti featuring Shards - Live at Le Guess Who?
As part of her curation at Le Guess Who? 2024, experimental cellist and vocalist Mabe Fratti performed live at the festival together with London-based vocal group Shards. Watch the concert film of the performance, featuring the tracks Kravitz, No Se Ve Desde Acá and Desde el Cielo: With her hypnotic pieces, Mabe Fratti comb...
Watch: Kim Gordon - Live at Le Guess Who?
Watch our concert film of Kim Gordon performing live at Le Guess Who? 2024, curated by Crystallmess, following the release of her latest, acclaimed album The Collective via Matador Records. "The album's daring beats and improvised guitar are marks of a lifelong radical still at the peak of her powers.” – The New Yorker...
Listen to Devendra Banhart's personal playlist for his curated program at LGW18
Eclectic songwriter Devendra Banhart hosts his very own program at Le Guess Who?, inviting a selection of (surprising) inspirations and interests. Now, he has put together a personal playlist wit...
Watch: Pink Oculus - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Dutch-Surinamese artist Pink Oculus premiered her new project 'Before Wisdom' live at TivoliVredenburg during Le Guess Who? 2021. 'Before Wisdom' is a special collaboration with audiovisual artist Boris Acket, spatial designer and scenographer Dennis Vanderbroeck, and writer Vincent van Velsen. The newest video to appear online now...
Watch: Cheikha Rabia & Esraa Warda - Live at Le Guess Who?
Renowned rai singer Cheikha Rabia & Esraa Warda, a prolific dancer expert in traditional North African dance forms, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the Hidden Musics project. Relive the mesmerizing performance at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora via our concert film below: AboutCheikha Rabia and Esraa Warda both hail from...
Open Call: participate in U?, the freely accessible day program of Le Guess Who?
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) U? is the freely accessible day program of Le Guess Who? In 2023, U? takes place on 11 & 12 November. With this open call, we want to give everyone with ideas the opportunity to participate. The program of U? consists a multitude of events and activities which are c...
Concert film: W.I.T.C.H. live at Le Guess Who? 2023
W.I.T.C.H., the band responsible for pioneering zamrock, returned to the stage during Le Guess Who? 2023 following the release of their new album 'Zango', their first in nearly four decades. On stage, they were joined by a.o. Jacco Gardner, Michael Rault and Nico Mauskoviç. Relive the performance below with our concert film and the...
Watch: Tropical Fuck Storm - Live at Le Guess Who?
Melbourne foursome Tropical Fuck Storm's fiery flavor can be savored through a string of releases dating back to 2019 - but there is nothing quite like devouring the thunderous delicacy live, as we experienced again at Le Guess Who? 2024. Watch the concert film below. The group's new album 'Fairyland Codex' is out now via Fire Records.&nb...
Introducing: Nick Liefhebber, the Le Guess Who? 2018 Illustrator
Each year, Le Guess Who? cooperates with a different illustrator to design the festival's main graphics and images (the layout and typography are done each year by Loudmouth). In 2016, the festival il...
Watch: Alabaster DePlume - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Alabaster DePlume gave a special performance on the opening night of Le Guess Who?'s 15th Anniversary Edition, joined on stage by a.o. Jeff Parker (Tortoise) on guitar and Asher Gamedze on drums. Revisit the performance with our concert film, featuring ‘What’s Missing’, ‘Visit Croatia’, ‘Mrs Calamari&rs...
Concert film: Marina Herlop live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Catalan artist Marina Herlop performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by Animal Collective, following the release of her latest album 'Pripyat'. Relive the mesmerizing performance with our concert film below, featuring the songs miu, doiloi, abans abans and shaolin mantis. AboutOn ‘miu’, a s...
Watch: Dry Cleaning - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
London's Dry Cleaning performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their sophomore album, the John Parish-produced Stumpwork. You can now relive the performance with our concert film below. It features the Stumpwork-tracks No Decent Shoes For Rain, Don’t Press Me, Conservative Hell and Driver’s Story as well a...
COSMOS & Refuge Worldwide continue their partnership for 2025
Le Guess Who? and COSMOS are excited to announce the continuation of their partnership with Berlin-based community radio Refuge Worldwide in 2025. Together, we will once again present sounds and stories from around the world, hand-picked by local artists. Since 2021, Refuge Worldwide has become an important community radio and cultural h...
Watch/listen: Maurice Louca's Fera - Live at Le Guess Who?
Fera is a wild and adventurous new work that Egyptian artist Maurice Louca wrote over a four-year period. It was performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024 together with Ayman Asfour as part of Chromesthesia, curated by Hannah Elsisi. Below, you can watch Barĩy from the captivating performance and listen to the full audio of the show. ...
Watch: GRAMMY Award winner Arooj Aftab live at Le Guess Who? 2021 concert film
Earlier this week, Brooklyn-based, Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab won the GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Performance for her song ‘Mohabbat’. She performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021, the international festival for boundary-crossing music & culture, as part of her first ever European tour. Arooj Aftab is the first Pakis...
FACT to host 3-day program at BASIS during LGW19, featuring Mala, Príncipe Discos, Vladimir Ivkovic & more
FACT, one of the long-term collaborators of Le Guess Who?, will host a program across three nights during the festival this year at BASIS: a nightclub located in a wharf cellar in the city center of Utrecht. BASIS has been a part of the festival since last year and is a perfect location to discover some of groundbreaking and forward-think...
Le Mini Who? moves to new area Cartesius for 2019 edition
For Le Guess Who? spin-off festival Le Mini Who?, 2019 marks the move to Cartesius. Le Mini Who? transforms local bars, restaurants, venues and warehouses into improvised venues for (mainly) Dutch underground bands to play. For its 11th edition on Sunday 10 November, Le Mini Who? settles in the Cartesius area, located in the nor...
Le Guess Who? zoekt: Leden voor de Raad van Toezicht
Le Guess Who? is een internationaal toonaangevend festival voor grensverleggende muziek en cultuur van over de hele wereld. De vijftiende editie vindt plaats van 10 tot en met 13 november 2022 in Utrecht. Le Guess Who? presenteert geluiden die je op andere plekken niet te horen krijgt, maar volgens ons juist aandacht verdienen omdat ze j...
Wristband pick-up and other important information about your visit to Le Guess Who? 2022
From 10-13 November, we'll celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Le Guess Who? We hope you have a wonderful time in Utrecht and are excited to celebrate together with you. But first, there are a couple of things we'd like to draw your attention to. Please read the information below carefully before visiting the festival. Download your ticke...
Presenting the Film & Discourse Program for Le Guess Who? 2023
After last year's success of full rooms, beautiful films and interesting conversations, we are bringing the Film & Discourse Program back to Le Guess Who?. We are excited to present our full program and the partners we created it with. Film Program This year, Le Guess Who? once again collaborates with IDFA (International Documentary...
Revealing the full program for Le Guess Who? 2023
Le Guess Who?, considered to be one of the most forward-thinking festivals around the world, returns to Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 9-12 November for its 16th edition. We now reveal the full 2023 line-up, after previously announcing festival curators Heba Kadry, Nala Sinephro, Slauson Malone 1 and Stereolab, as well as performances by...
Photo series: The Harvest Time Project at LGW23 by Juri Hiensch
As one of the special projects of Le Guess Who? 2023, the festival celebrated the legacy of spiritual jazz icon Pharoah Sanders and his seminal composition, Harvest Time (1977). During the closing day of the festival, The Harvest Time Project: A Tribute to Pharoah Sanders brought together Irreversible Entanglements, Domenico Lancellotti,...
The favorite performances of LGW16, chosen by you
We asked you for your favorite performances of our festival in our latest visitors survey, and here are your thoughts:
Podcast: listen to part 4, the final part of 'For the Record'
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. Episode 3 is a four-part series entitled 'For the Record', exploring the role of the archivist from all angles, released in weekly installments. In this new series, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to an independent archival collective in Indonesia; a sound and p...
Oiseaux-Tempête release LGW19 performance for Bandcamp Friday, featuring Jessica Moss, Mondkopf, and Radwan Ghazi Moumneh
Oiseaux-Tempête gave an overwhelming and immersive performance at Le Guess Who? 2019. For Bandcamp Friday, the cross-cultural, multi-genre improv group now officially release the recordings of Oiseaux-Tempête & Friends live at Le Guess Who? 2019. For this special performance, titled Oiseaux-Tempête & Frien...
Join Le Feast: home-chefs in Utrecht transform their living room into a brunch restaurant
Le Feast invites you into a living room in Utrecht, to enjoy a feast together with people you don't know (yet). Would you like to join as a home-chef or guest? You can now sign up!Le Feast nodigt je uit in een huiskamer in Utrecht om samen met mensen die je (nog) niet kent te genieten van een feestmaal. Lijkt het je leuk om deel te nemen...
Watch: They Hate Change - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Tampa rap duo They Hate Change performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping., following the release of Finally, New; their debut album for Jagjaguwar. Relive the ecstatic performance below with our concert film, featuring two unreleased tracks produced by John Carroll Kirby and Zach Witness: AboutTampa&rsq...
COSMOS Reveals 2023 Embassies and Live Program at Le Guess Who?
COSMOS is Le Guess Who?’s globe-spanning initiative that amplifies exciting music scenes from around the world. Through films, interviews, performances, and artist residencies, COSMOS connects international music communities and shares their stories. Now, COSMOS reveals the 2023 Embassies, together with its first-ever live program,...
Kim Gordon - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Watch our concert film of Kim Gordon performing live at Le Guess Who? 2024, curated by Crystallmess, following the release of her latest, acclaimed album The Collective via Matador Records. "The album's daring beats and improvised guitar are marks of a lifelong radical still at the peak of her powers.” – The New Yorker...
Listen to Art Ensemble of Chicago's full performance at LGW18, curated by Moor Mother
In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Moving far beyond jazz, avant-garde and performance art, the ensemble has created a realm that is entirely original. On the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2018, and on the eve of the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s 50t...
Premiere: Please The Trees share video for 'Infinite Dance'; new album out 19 September
Czech Republic's Please The Trees originally hail from the forests of a mountainous region in East Bohemia. Grounded in the psychedelic riffs and motorik beats of krautrock, the band will present...
Wristband pick-up info for Le Guess Who? 2017
Upon arrival at the festival, you will need to exchange your ticket for a festival wristband to ensure entrance to the festival venues. Please note: You can only do this at our ticket desk in Tiv...
Basilica Hudson & LGW announce 24-Hour Drone line-up
2017 marks our biggest Drone yet, as our series also expands to Salford, UK, and Malmö, Sweden. An immersive event and all-encompassing experience, 24-Hour Drone is a roving, international serie...
Podcast: listen to part 2 of 'For the Record'
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. Episode 3 is a four-part series entitled 'For the Record', exploring the role of the archivist from all angles, released in weekly installments. In this new series, host Margaret Munchheimer talks to an independent archival collective in Indonesia; a sound and p...
Watch/read: Mazaher live at LGW21, premiered by Pan African Music
Chanting songs and playing hypnotic polyrhythms, Egyptian ensemble Mazaher gave a rare performance at Le Guess Who? 2021. It was their first European show in over 15 years. Mazaher is an Egyptian ensemble, a small group of mostly women musicians and singers who play Zãr music: a combination of chanted songs and hypnotic polyrhythm...
Volunteering applications for LGW22 now open
Unfortunately, it is currently no longer possible to register as a volunteer for Le Guess Who? 2022. Keep an eye on our website for more information about the participation possibilities next year.***We are beyond excited to let you know that Le Guess Who? 2022 is upon us and will once again fill the streets, venues, churches and hidden c...
Watch: Lole Montoya - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
From the minute when flamenco innovator Lole Montoya stepped onto the stage at the Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2022, we knew we were in for a magical moment in time. Together with guitarist Juan Carmona, she gave a rare and very touching performance as part of the Hidden Musics project. Luckily, you can relive it now with our concert...
Special projects revealed for Le Guess Who? 2023
Following the announcement of the initial line-up for Le Guess Who? 2023, including programs curated by Heba Kadry, Nala Sinephro, Slauson Malone 1 and Stereolab, we now add several special projects to this year’s festival edition, featuring COSMOS, Hidden Musics and The Anonymous Project. Rắn Cạp Đuôi Collective COSMOS...
COSMOS & LGW announce partnership with Refuge Worldwide
Le Guess Who? and COSMOS, our worldwide music community, are excited to announce a new partnership with Berlin-based community radio Refuge Worldwide. Beaming out of Oona Bar in Berlin’s Weserstraße Kiez since 2021, Refuge Worldwide has grown into an important community radio and cultural hub, spreading cutting-edge music wit...
Listen to 'Dark Out' from upcoming Chromesthesia compilation album
On Friday, 8 November 2024, the compilation album Chromesthesia: the Colour of Sound Vol. 1 is set to be released. Brainchild of British-Egyptian historian Hannah Elsisi (NYU AD, Cambridge), Chromesthesia—aptly named "the colour of sound"— tracks afro-diasporic rhythms from the Whole Mangrove World. Following the collaborati...
Read: LGW x The Wire special, ft. Theo Parrish, Wadada Leo Smith, Nadah El Shazly + more
Ever since 1982, The Wire stands out as one of the best independent, in-depth print and online music magazines. The Wire celebrates and interrogates the most visionary and inspiring, subversive and radical, marginalized and undervalued musicians on the planet, past and present. Leading up to Le Guess Who? 2024 we're very honored to...
COSMOS Embassy Announcement: Touching Bass (London, UK)
COSMOS x Touching Bass announce their 2024 Embassy in London, UK Touching Bass is a London-based musical movement founded by Errol and Alex Rita, comprised of a community-come-club night, record label, staple NTS Radio show, concert series and curatorial studio. Since its inception, Touching Bass has steadily established itself as...
Listen + watch: Alanis Obomsawin live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Filmmaker and songwriter Alanis Obomsawin performed songs from her 1985 album 'Bush Lady' live for the first time at Le Guess Who? 2017, featuring music of the Native American Abenaki people. The perf...
Premiere: Jozef van Wissem shares new song 'Bow Down' & presents new album at LGW18
Enter the dark, mythical world of minimalist composer and acclaimed lute-player Jozef van Wissem. Accompanied by his baroque instrument, Van Wissem creates highly distinctive sonic soundscapes by blen...
clipping. - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
During the 15th Anniversary Edition of Le Guess Who? in 2022, West Coast hip-hop trio clipping. performed live as part of their guest curation at the festival. We're thrilled to now share the concert film of the performance, with clipping. performing tracks from throughout their discography, including fan favorites such as ‘N...
Important info: wristband pick-up at Le Guess Who? 2018
Upon arrival at the festival, you will need to exchange your ticket for a festival wristband to ensure entrance to the festival venues. Please note: You can only do this at our ticket desk in TivoliVredenburg (Vredenburgkade 11, right next to Utrecht central station), not at other venues. Please note that you can only coll...
The Quietus premieres recordings of Linda Sharrock live at LGW17
Expressive jazz singer Linda Sharrock performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017, as part of the program curated by Jerusalem In My Heart. Now, The Quietus premieres the recordings of the performance, featu...
The 17 favorite performances of LGW17, as chosen by you
Every year in our visitors survey right after the festival, we ask you what your favorite performance of the festival. Below are your 17 choices of Le Guess Who? 2017. We're pleased to also share the...
LGW x IDFA: film program during LGW22 at Slachtstraat Filmtheater
This year, LGW is collaborating with IDFA, one of the world's leading documentary events. IDFA believes in the power of documentary film as a high-quality, artistic form of information and reflection. We’re presenting a film program on Friday, Saturday & Sunday during LGW22. This program is screened at Slachtstraat Filmtheater...
Watch: Goat - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Swedish psych outfit Goat performed live at Le Guess Who?'s 15th Anniversary Edition in 2022, following the release of their latest album 'Oh Death' via Rocket Recordings. You can now relive part of the performance via our concert film below, which features the tracks 'Under No Nation', 'Gathering of Ancient Tribes', 'Do The Dance', 'Disc...
Listen/read: Kamilya Jubran: Witnessing a transcendent moment on stage
This November, Le Guess Who? features a performance by Kamilya Jubran, which was curated by mastering engineer Heba Kadry. Born in Palestine and currently based in Paris, Kamilya Jubran is one of the most revered figures in the experimental and alternative Arabic music scenes. Through her multi-disciplinary work, Jubran continues t...
Watch: Niño de Elche live at Le Guess Who? 2023
"This is flamenco punk", said Niño de Elche towards the end of his performance at Le Guess Who?. It's a fitting statement: the Spanish musician, who is also called a 'singer, poet and omnipresent master of ensorcelling souls' has been challenging conservative and picturesque perceptions of flamenco for over two decades. You can re...
Watch: Contour - Live at Le Guess Who?
South Carolina-based artist Khari Lucas is a multifaceted creator. Making music as Contour is only one of his many artistic exploits, among which he includes film scoring, fashion work, radio programming, and more. Contour is a vessel for his musical research, songwriting, and production. Via soundbites and references, Contour draws in hi...
Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto release live album recorded at Le Guess Who? 2024
During Le Guess Who? 2024, we witnessed the magic of legendary Cumbia and Gaita ensemble Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, thanks to festival curator Mabe Fratti who invited them to Utrecht. Dubbed "the authentic masters of traditional Colombian Music" by the New Yorker, Latin GRAMMY-winning Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto have toured the world f...
About
Le Guess Who? exists to bring people together through music and culture. U? is its participative and freely accessible city program celebrating local and creative communities. Le Guess Who? heeft het doel om mensen samen te brengen door middel van muziek en cultuur. U? is het gratis toegankelijk stadsprogramma van Le Guess Who? met een...
Tracing the Roots: Art Ensemble of Chicago’s Great Black Music, Ancient To The Future
In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Ever since, they have been celebrated as one of the most remarkable free ja...
Listen to Gruff Rhys' full surprise performance at LGW17, via The Line of Best Fit
Welsh musician, composer, producer and author Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) was one of the artists to give a surprise performance at Le Guess Who? 2017. It was an an intimate solo show which t...
Meet Leonie Bos; this year's Le Guess Who? Illustrator
Besides the artwork and typography done yearly by Loudmouth Utrecht, Le Guess Who? each year invites a different illustrator to design the main festival images, which evolves during multiple line-up a...
U?: listen to the debut album of ominous hip-hop duo Kleine Crack & Slagter
(Nederlandse tekst hieronder)Kleine Crack is a Belgian artist signed to hip-hop label Burning Fik, the label of Faberyayo (De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig) and Abel (Hang Youth). The cult rapper and his producer-teammate Slagter create ominous hip-hop, set to heavy beats and scary lyrics. In their hometown Antwerp they are stalwarts of the scen...
Podcast: listen to Part 1 of 'DJ Fitz: The Birth of a Scene'
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. For the occasion of Le Guess Who’s 15th Edition, we pay tribute to DJ Fitz- the man, the legend, the only artist to have been on every single lineup. In this two part series we dig first into Fitz’s illustrious past in NYC as a DIY show or...
Watch: clipping. - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022 concert film
During the 15th Anniversary Edition of Le Guess Who? in 2022, West Coast hip-hop trio clipping. performed live as part of their guest curation at the festival. We're thrilled to now share the concert film of the performance, with clipping. performing tracks from throughout their discography, including fan favorites such as ‘N...
Photo series: Pankisi Ensemble by Dmitrii Zverev
This year, Le Guess Who? presents the fourth edition of Hidden Musics, a project that focuses on deeply localized music and features artists embedded in rich, often centuries-old musical traditions that have been developed with little or no outside influences. The first series was initiated in 2019 by Le Guess Who? in collaboration w...
Photo series: Ustad Noor Bakhsh by Asa Wahag
This year, Le Guess Who? presents the fourth edition of Hidden Musics, a project that focuses on deeply localized music and features artists embedded in rich, often centuries-old musical traditions that have been developed with little or no outside influences. The first series was initiated in 2019 by Le Guess Who? in collaboration with C...
Photo series: COSMOS Residency in Goa, India
Last week, COSMOS' first international residency started in Goa, India. Composer, sound artist and improviser Hardi Kurda from Kurdistan-Iraq was invited by curator and filmmaker Rana Ghose to work at the new studio and gallery space 999. For two weeks, Hardi collaborates with a number of local artists to explore themes relating to m...
"Lifting each other up to cross the finish line": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Accra, Ghana with Oroko Radio
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes with Oroko Radio In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. Within the first two years of their existence, Oroko Radio has come from a beautiful idea to a globally renowned fixture in independent broadcasting, connecting the dots between Accr...
Photo series: LGW24 artist portraits by Melanie Marsman & Juri Hiensch
At Le Guess Who? 2024, residential photographers Melanie Marsman and Juri Hiensch captured a stunning series of artist portraits surrounding their performances at the festival. Part of the series features, among others, Ghanaian-French producer and vocalist PÖ and musician, producer and composer Jowee Omicil, who both performed...
Open Call: U? is looking for NL-based community curators
The open call has been closed. *** Following the success of last year’s pilot, U? is excited to continue co-creating the festival program with communities across the Netherlands. We once again invite (aspiring) curators who are deeply connected to a specific community to shape the program together with us. This process is a...
Watch: Vinyl Factory premieres videos of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares live at LGW17
Bulgarian women's choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares performed music from their new album 'BooCheeMish' live at Le Guess Who? 2017, in Utrecht's iconic Dom church (dating back to the 13th centu...
COSMOS Embassy: Accra, Ghana
In partnership with Oroko Radio. Oroko is a not-for-profit independent internet radio station based in Accra, Ghana. We aim to connect, inspire and empower through conversation, collaboration and community. Oroko Radio provides a stage for musicians, DJs, thinkers, moderators, and content creators: an independent hub for expression...
CTA Tickets
Le Guess Who? takes pace across 20 locations in the city center of Utrecht; ranging from churches and galleries to theaters and pop venues. Most are within walking distance from each other. Here are a couple highlighted.
Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Damon Locks' Black Monument Ensemble performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021. Curated by Matana Roberts for the festival, it marked the group's European live premiere. Now can now relive the performance with this video of the ensemble performing 'The Body Is Electric' from their latest & acclaimed album 'NOW'. AboutThe past and...
Revealing our new satellite event: 'Untitled', featuring exhibitions, film screenings, talks & more
We are excited to present you a new satellite event during Le Guess Who? 2018: ‘Untitled’. The program focuses on all disciplines other than music and is an exploration of other artistic e...
Kapitaal: Official Hangout of Le Guess Who? 2018
This year, Le Guess Who? will have its very own, official festival hangout, hosted by Kapitaal: a Utrecht-based -open- studio for screen-, etch- and risoprint. A meeting place with a proper program, filled with exhibitions, lectures and music, owners Carlien and Ramon create a social place where craftsmanship, design and pop-culture meet....
Le Feast: Utrechtian home-chefs transform their living room into a cozy brunch restaurant
Every year, Le Feast invites you into a living room in Utrecht, to enjoy a feast together with people you don't know (yet). Many Utrechtian home-chefs will transform their living room into a cozy brunch restaurant, welcoming other visitors of Le Guess Who? to join for a massive brunch feast with lots of poached eggs, Ottolenghi inspired s...
Beverly Glenn-Copeland: “I was making music for a generation that had yet to be born”
A classical singer. A multi-instrumentalist. A transgender artist. An experimental pioneer of electronic music. A children’s show composer and actor. A Buddhist practitioner. A psychotherapy co-...
Read Bant Mag's special on Le Guess Who? 2017
Turkey's Bant Mag is one of our media partners, and they're preparing a magnificent, in-depth special on the festival which will be updated weekly. Read in full here. The first featur...
Sarathy Korwar - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Sarathy Korwar performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 on the night preceding the release of his new album 'KALAK'. You can now relive the full performance below, which includes tracks from that album, as well as 'Coolie', performed live together with Alabaster dePlume. AboutBorn in the US, Sarathy Korwar grew up in Ahmedabad and Ch...
Watch & read: Irena & Vojtěch Havlovi play four hands piano recorded by Vincent Moon
Throughout their decades-long musical partnership, Czech artists Irena Havlová and Vojtěch Havel have traveled far and wide, crossing continents, cultures and mediums with styles of European classical music ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary. In the process, the duo made fans and friends which include Sufjan Stevens and T...
Podcast: Part 2 of 'DJ Fitz: The Birth of a Scene'
Le Guess Who? presents 'The Big Playback', a podcast about all things music. For the occasion of Le Guess Who’s 15th Edition, we pay tribute to DJ Fitz- the man, the legend, the only artist to have been on every single lineup. In this final episode of the series (revisit the first part here), we follow Fitz to Berlin and beyo...
Watch: Tunisia's Stambeli Ritual (COSMOS Scene Report)
The ritual dance practice of Stambeli is a centuries old method to induce trance-like states through sound. In this short documentary, director Mohammed Ali Fakhfakh portrays Am Salah, one of the few remaining yenna ("Stambeli master"). Am Salah invites us into his world, on an intimate journey into the depth of spiritual liberation that...
"What does music mean in society?": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes with Sharjah Art Foundation
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes with Sharjah Art Foundation In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. Located in Sharjah’s historic Art and Heritage Areas, Sharjah Art Foundation activities and events take place throughout the year and include exhibitions featuring t...
Read: Jori Collignon talks running Gris Gris Records with Tânia Baldé
Having spent many years touring and drawing inspiration from many corners of the world, Jori Collignon has at last found a home in the idyllic Palmela, Portugal. It is here where you can find a home complete with a guesthouse, garden, studio, and a vibrant hub where artists from different parts of the world come together to exchange ideas...
Revealing the full program for U? 2023
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) U?, the freely accessible city program of Le Guess Who?, returns to Utrecht on 11 and 12 November 2023 for its third edition. This program is created for, but especially with Utrecht, to celebrate the city's creativity in all its diversity. Utrecht has an enormous variety of community cent...
Volunteering applications for LGW23 now open
We got an amazing amount of enthousiastic responds to our call for volunteers, so therefore we closed the registrations for now. However, schedules always change and there is a chance that a spot will open up. That's why we opened a waiting list. You can sign up for the waiting list here.Please keep in mind that being on the waiting list...
Listen: Noura Mint Seymali live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Noura Mint Seymali performed on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2024 as part of the program curated by Arooj Aftab. You can now listen to, and relive, the full performance below. Noura Mint Seymali is a nationally adored Mauritanian musical star, born into a prominent line of Moorish griot; West African praise singers, poets a...
Listen: Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Kahil El'Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble celebrated their 50th anniversary on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2024, commemorating half a century of continuously shifting gears and tempos in the jazz-blues continuum. Listen to, and relive, the full performance below. The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble was founded by El’Zabar in...
Listen: CHELA - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Often titled an 'Asian guitar army', CHELA performed live during the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2024, curated by Bo Ningen. Relive the full performance below, with the duo performing music from their 2023 album Diagonal Drift. Made up of long-time friends and collaborators Ajay Saggar (Bhajan Bhoy) and Kohhei Matsuda (Bo Ningen), CHE...
Listen: Gibrana Cervantes - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
London-based Mexican violinist, composer, and improviser Gibrana Cervantes performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024, as part of the program curated by Mabe Fratti. You can listen to the full performance below, featuring two unreleased tracks: ‘Blur of Memories’ and ‘Verdad vs. Error’, as well as ‘Moving Through...
Full line-up for 24-Hour Drone 2018 in Hudson, NY
A collaboration between Le Guess Who? and long-term partners Basilica Hudson, 24-Hour Drone is a roving, international series featuring musicians and sound artists experimenting within the spectrum of...
LGW x SPEAK present: Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab introduced by Zainab Jamal & Tauqeer Raza
Le Guess Who? is proud to welcome both artists and visitors of many different nationalities to Utrecht each year. In collaboration with SPEAK, we started a new video series in which Utrechters with foreign roots introduce an artist on the Le Guess Who? 2021 line-up from their country. SPEAK connects locals, newcomers and migrants i...
Video: Le Guess Who? x Education: students experience the music of festival artists
For the third time Le Guess Who? has initiated an educational project in collaboration with four different local high schools. 131 pupils delved into the program of Le Guess Who? 2019 during their art classes. The pupils formed duos and chose an artist from this year’s line-up, for whom they designed a new visual product based on th...
Sarah Davachi - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Canadian sound artist, composer and pianist Sarah Davachi performed a live composition with church organ and electronics at Le Guess Who? 2019, curated by Jenny Hval. We are very pleased to now share the immersive recording of the full performance, captured by Concertzender at the Janskerk in Utrecht. About:That strange intermedi...
Lightning Bolt - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Powerhouse duo Lightning Bolt performed live at Le Guess Who? 2019 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, marking the 25th Anniversary of the band. The performance was curated by Patrick Higgins. Now, we're pleased to help you relive this intense show in both video and audio, captured at 2AM on Friday night at the festival. Listen + watch more Le...
Interview: Joe Coleman: "My performance art is always a mirror image of my paintings"
Ahead of his performance at Le Guess Who?, shamanic painter Joe Coleman gives us a glimpse into his immersive work process. “Computers are very odd to me,” Brooklyn-based painter and perf...
Lombok Festival returns: Friday, 9 November during Le Guess Who? 2018
Cycle or walk through Utrecht suburb Lombok's main street, and you're immediately welcomed by Turkish and Moroccan grocery stores, bakeries, the smell of kebab, and huge piles of colorful fruits sold...
Éliane Radigue: a personal quest in exploration of sound
On Thursday, 8 November (the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2018), French experimental orchestra ONCEIM will perform twice in Utrecht’s iconic Dom church; a collaboration between Le Guess Who? a...
Tracing the Roots: Kadri Gopalnath, a lifetime of pioneering Indian Carnatic music
Indian classical pioneer Kadri Gopalnath has devoted a lifetime to integrate the saxophone into the classical Indian genre of Carnatic music. We trace down the roots of this boundary-breaking art...
Video portrait: Han Bennink at Le Guess Who? 2017
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. Han Bennink, the world’s most resourceful drummer, celebrated his 75th birthday at Le Gu...
Le Guess Who? presenteert gratis programma tijdens Culturele Zondag
Pinkstermaandag 5 juni in LE:EN, Utrecht, met: Six Organs of Admittance, Baby Dee en Faarjam.
Coco María presents Club Coco: vital new music influenced by vintage sounds
When DJ and artist Coco María moved from Mexico to Europe, she brought the hidden gems of Latin American musical culture with her. Growing up surrounded by music, Coco María not only grew fond of the sounds of her childhood but also developed a love for sharing them with the rest of the world. Born out of this passion of he...
Listen to Belgian musician/composer Slumberland and Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak perform 'Il Widna' at LGW21
Belgian musician, composer, and instrument maker Jochem Baelus aka Slumberland and experimental Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak gave a collaborative performance during Le Guess Who? 2021 at Utrecht’s Jacobikerk. With Slumberland, Belgian musician, composer, and instrument maker Jochem Baelus creates hypnotic krautrock and post punk...
Listen & relive: The Brother Moves On live at Le Guess Who? 2022
The Brother Moves On, the captivating South-African ensemble famous for masterfully drawing from past, present and future, performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of '$/He Who Feeds You…Owns You' via Shabaka Hutchings' Native Rebel Recordings. You can now listen to & relive the full performance. AboutTher...
Kapitaal x Stranded FM x Julian Brimmers host Official LGW22 Hangout with live sessions, artist talks, DJ sets, print-making & exhibitions
Utrecht's beloved independent print workshop, Kapitaal, collaborates with Stranded FM and Julian Brimmers to host the official Le Guess Who? 2022 Hangout through all things print and sound. The program includes radio and DJ sets, artist interviews, live sessions, art exhibitions, film screenings, and print-making from Friday 11 November -...
Listen to African Head Charge live at Le Guess Who? 2023
African Head Charge performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2023 following the release of their new album 'A Trip To Bolgatanga'. You can now relive the performance with the full audio of the show, which is assured to put a smile on anyone's face. About'A bad attitude is like a flat tire - you can't go anywhere until...
Watch/read: ZENITH x Zilzal by Rogier Boogaard
For U? 2023, Utrecht-based collective ZENITH and independent, Palestinian sound platform Zilzal join forces at the former Pieter Baan Centrum that serves as a powerful channel for 00970, gbw9, RAGASA, and Noise Diva to express their “current mental situation.” Photographer Rogier Boogaard documented a part of the artists ZENIT...
U? presents IJzersterk at HE:LEEN Festival
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) On Saturday 9 September, U? presents a program at HE:LEEN Festival in the Le Guess Who? office. This year, HE:LEEN Festival returns to Rotsoord for a new edition full of talented musicians, artists and performers. The festival highlights the creative and energetic appearance of the area. I...
Watch: Gorgonn & Utku Önal present Six Paths
As part of Bo Ningen's curation at Le Guess Who?, the Japanese psych-rock outfit invited Gorgonn & Utku Önal to premiere their overwhelming audiovisual project Six Paths live at the festival. We now have the honor to share the extended teaser of the project: an intense experience with audio recorded live at Le Guess Who?,...
Dive into the latest releases from gyrofield's curation of leftfield electronic artists at LGW25
Hong Kong producer gyrofield is a rising star whose influences span a.o. drum & bass, ambient, techno, hyperpop, grime and dubstep. After a period in Bristol, they have recently moved to Utrecht, and their curation at Le Guess Who? 2025 features musical heroes and like-minded artists. Together with fellow DJs & producers Ciel, Cal...
Initial line-up announced for 24-Hour Drone 2018 in Hudson, NY
Originated in Utrecht as a collaboration between the festival and long-term partners Basilica Hudson, 24-Hour Drone is a roving, international series featuring musicians and sound artists experimentin...
Asher Gamedze - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Asher Gamedze is a cultural worker based in Cape Town, working mainly as a musician, writer, organizer and an educator. With his band, he performed live during the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2022. You can now listen to three tracks that the group performed live from their 'Dialectic Soul' album (2020): 'Eternality', 'Siyabulela...
Dreamcrusher - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Dreamcrusher, the project of multidisciplinary artist Luwayne Glass, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping. You can now listen to his performance below, released via Dreamcrusher for Bandcamp Friday. Live at Le Guess Who? 2022 by DREAMCRUSHER AboutDreamcrusher began on Kansas-born, New Yor...
Moin - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
London trio Moin, comprised of Raime’s Joe Andrews and Tom Halstead together with percussionist visionary Valentina Magaletti, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Stereolab. You can now listen to and relive the full performance, featuring a previously unreleased track: "'Moin are subtly but br...
Listen & relive: Galya Bisengalieva live at LGW21, presented by Uncloud
Kazakh-British composer and violinist Galya Bisengalieva performed her latest album 'Aralkum' in full live at Le Guess Who? 2021, as part of the program presented by Uncloud. You can now listen & relive the entire performance. "It has been speculated how the current environmental crisis we face will inspire musicians, the sam...
Listen & relive: Alabaster dePlume's full performance at Le Guess Who? 2021
Musician and poet Alabaster dePlume was Le Guess Who? 2021’s Artist in Residence and can be described as many things: a cleric of the written word, a maverick of sound, a conductor of communion. He garnered a substantial breakthrough in 2020 with his gorgeous compilation album ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1’, a c...
Ice Balloons - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Brooklyn-based noise/rock band Ice Balloons features Sean Kennerly (Samiam) on bass and vocals, Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio) on synthesizers and modules, and Lyla Vander (Habibi) on drums and vocals. According to the band itself, it was a ‘common misinterpretation of psychosis’ that led Ice Balloons to start making music. The...
Stream/download: The Wire shares Saul Williams & King Britt's 'Unanimous Goldmine' performance at LGW18
Le Guess Who? 2018 curator Moor Mother invited actor, screenwriter and noise poet Saul Williams and Philly-based musician, DJ and producer King Britt to present the collaborative performance 'Unanimous Goldmine' at the festival. These two great minds gave an exclusive, one-time collaborative performance entitled that was named after...
Le Guess Who? Café: zondag 28 oktober in Lou Oudenoord / Karibu
Op zondag 28 oktober, twee weken voordat Le Guess Who? losbarst in Utrecht, stelt het festivalteam je persoonlijk het programma voor. De oprichters en organisatoren nemen je aan de hand mee door het p...
Interview: DRINKS: "Nonsense is a good reaction to everything that’s going on"
DRINKS are set to return to Le Guess Who? with a fresh batch of offbeat psych pop vignettes. We linked up with eternal nomads Cate Le Bon and Tim Presley via FaceTime to talk about living off the grid...
Breakdown: Paddy Steer's Otherworldly & Wonderful DIY Weirdcraft
To fight the ordinary, Paddy Steer does the extraordinary. Surrounded by knobs, wires, keys, and wearing self-made, Sun Ra-inspired costumes, Paddy Steer looks and sounds like a music wizard from anot...
Premiering Sun Ra Arkestra's LGW17 recordings, spanning decades of the Sun Ra legacy
With their cosmic jazz celebration, Sun Ra Arkestra was one of the closing acts of Le Guess Who? 2017. We're pleased to now bring you the full recording of this show, spanning decades of the Sun Ra le...
Video portrait: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane at Le Guess Who? 2017
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda’s devotion to spirituality defined the final decades o...
Video portrait: Jerusalem In My Heart at Le Guess Who? 2017
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. Jerusalem In My Heart is the main project of Lebanon-born, Montreal-based artist and producer...
Le Feast: Utrechtian home-chefs transform their living room into brunch restaurant
Every year, Le Feast invites you into a living room in Utrecht, to enjoy a feast together with people you don't know (yet). On Sunday November 12, many Utrechtian home-chefs will transform their livin...
LGW Magazine: How one Dutch festival become home to music fans across the globe
Last November, we celebrated the 15th Anniversary Edition of LGW. For this special occasion, we have created a magazine about ‘how one Dutch festival became home to music fans across the globe’. In this magazine, Cheri Percy speaks to the co-founders of Le Guess Who? about its evolution from a two-man team to an award-win...
Listen & relive: Rival Consoles at Le Guess Who? 2022
London-based producer Ryan Lee West, aka Rival Consoles, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping., following the release of latest album ‘Now Is’. You can now listen to and relive the full performance below. AboutThroughout his critically acclaimed fifteen-year career, Rival Con...
Listen: Dreamcrusher releases 'Live at Le Guess Who? 2022' for Bandcamp Friday
Dreamcrusher, the project of multidisciplinary artist Luwayne Glass, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping. You can now listen to his performance below, released via Dreamcrusher for Bandcamp Friday. Live at Le Guess Who? 2022 by DREAMCRUSHER AboutDreamcrusher began on Kansas-born, New Yor...
Video recap: Student Exhibition 'Celebrate' as part of LGW Education Program 2022
As part of Le Guess Who?'s Education Program in 2022, students of five classes from three high schools in Utrecht created artworks inspired by festival artists: their music, culture, and background stories. During the festival, we hosted an art exhibition at De Havenloods as part of our free day program U? to display all the works that...
Listen & relive: Sarathy Korwar live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Sarathy Korwar performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 on the night preceding the release of his new album 'KALAK'. You can now relive the full performance below, which includes tracks from that album, as well as 'Coolie', performed live together with Alabaster dePlume. AboutBorn in the US, Sarathy Korwar grew up in Ahmedabad and Ch...
The Quietus premiere intimate session with OKI captured in Utrecht by Vincent Moon
The Quietus have premiered an intimate session with OKI captured live in Utrecht by Vincent Moon during Le Guess Who? 2022, along with a Q&A with the artist. OKI performs 'Muysoka hanene' and 'Tonkori Monimahpo-Yaykatekar (Medley)' in the garden of Grand Hotel Karel V in Utrecht. Watch the session and read the Q&A here via The Qui...
Listen & relive: The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar live at Le Guess Who? 2022
The Master Musicians of Jajouka, led by Bachir Attar, performed live at the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the Hidden Musics project following the release of their new album 'Dancing Under The Moon', released earlier in 2022 via Glitterbeat Records. You can listen to and relive the full performance below. About B...
Tune in: dublab shares three LGW22 showcase mixes
Time to get your anticipation fully going: leading up to Le Guess Who? 2022, dublab, a platform for discovery and the cultivation of next-wave music, arts and culture, shares three showcase mixes put together by the festival’s program-team.
Listen/read: How seven trailblazing LGW artists reimagine their cultural & musical heritage
You can also listen to this story – below or via your favorite podcast app. Words by Julian BrimmersAudio by Cheri PercyCover photo by Gianfranco Bello For 16 years and counting, Le Guess Who? has strived to create a space for generations of music lovers and makers to come together. A podium, where icons of their trade n...
Listen: MIKE live at Le Guess Who? 2023, curated by Slauson Malone 1
As part of Slauson Malone 1's curation at Le Guess Who?, New York City rapper MIKE performed live at the festival with tracks from all across his discography and an emphasis on material from his 2022 album Beware of the Monkey and its follow-up, Burning Desire. Tune in below. "A magnetic stage presence fused with one of the most...
Le Guess Who? & U? present Nusantara Beat
Nusantara Beat are a psych-groove sextet from Amsterdam. The group has quickly amassed a cult following, largely due to the deep connection to their Indonesian roots and a passion for honoring their cultural heritage. Photography by Juri Hiensch
Le Guess Who? & U? present Khorshid Dadbeh
Khorshid Dadbeh is an Iranian instrumentalist, improviser and composer based in Rotterdam. She presents her music by performing Tanbour, Tar, and Setar. Tanbour music belongs to the category of mystic and Sufi music that has more than five thousand years of history behind it. She learned this music from the masters who formed a bridge bet...
Le Guess Who? presents international residency in Goa, India, as part of hybrid platform COSMOS
Le Guess Who? has always worked with a borderless and boundary-crossing ethos. It led the organization to create COSMOS: a hybrid (both online and offline) platform that promotes international collaboration. Via this platform, organizations and initiatives from around the world give an insight into their local cultural scenes through film...
"I have these stories in my mind": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Pernambuco, Brazil
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Pernambuco, Brazil Following their broadcast during Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of COSMOS, we talk to Ana Garcia and Benke, the people behind Coquetel Molotov to discuss the local music scene in the city of Caruaru; how their involvement in COSMOS became Coquetel Molotov’s first musical incubator; and di...
Revealing the Guest Curators & Initial Line-Up for Le Guess Who? 2024
Le Guess Who? exists to promote sounds that are often overlooked, and to platform fresh perspectives on what is possible in music. Artists from all over the world offer an insight into the unprecedented diversity of human creativity. Le Guess Who? returns 7-10 November 2024 for its 17th edition in Utrecht, The Netherlands. We&rsq...
Read: Identifying the queer Indonesian diasporic community
Based between Amsterdam and Berlin, Insan Larasati is a community organizer, DJ, designer and inclusivity officer. With artist Shasti Andara they founded Nusaqueer Diaspora, an open-structured collective that focuses on community events for the Indonesian and Southeast Asian Archipelagan queer diaspora. Freshly graduated from the Willem...
Photo series: Hannah Elsisi presents Chromesthesia at LGW24 by Juri Hiensch
From Rio to Cairo, Miami to Kampala, Chromesthesia tracks Afro-diasporic rhythms and explores the history that undergirds Afro-descendant electronic music. At Le Guess Who? 2024, British-Egyptian award-winning social and intellectual historian Hannah Elsisi presented the 13-hour durational performance of Chromesthesia. Our residential ph...
Listen: Raphael Rogiński presents Žaltys featuring Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė & Shahzad Ismaily at LGW24
Polish guitarist Raphael Rogiński presented his album Žaltys live at Utrecht’s Pieterskerk during Le Guess Who? 2024, accompanied on stage by Lithuanian singer and kanklės player Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė and American multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily. You can now listen to the full performance, which was co-curated by Unsound as pa...
Soundscape master Chihei Hatakeyama releases new album 'Afterimage'
Tokyo's sound artist, mastering engineer and record label founder Chihei Hatakeyama has released his new album 'Afterimage': a record that was composed in inspiration from a photograph that...
Track of the Week #21: Lonnie Holley - 'Sometimes I Wanna Dance'
Every week, we bring you a must-hear track from the Le Guess Who? 2018 line-up. This week, we highlight a track of acclaimed improvisational maverick and storyteller of the highest order: Lonnie Holle...
Video portrait: Moor Mother on free jazz as a liberation technology and curating at LGW18
"I call free jazz a liberation technology, and it’s very essential to anything that I make. It has to have that conductor running through my music for it to be successful, or for me to get acros...
Congolese-Canadian musician & songwriter Pierre Kwenders wins 2022 Polaris Music Prize
The 2022 edition of the Polaris Music Prize, an organization that "annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction", has declared Pierre Kwenders’ latest album ‘José Louis and the Paradox of Love’ to be Canada’s album of the year. Pierre Kwenders, the stage name of Jos&...
Volunteering
Each year, we work with a big team of volunteers, consisting of enthusiastic music-lovers from all over the world. We'll update this page as soon as we have more information about volunteering at Le Guess Who? 2025. If you have any questions concerning volunteering at Le Guess Who?, please send us an e-mail. Superkracht This year, we...
Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet - 'Four Guitars Live'
At Le Guess Who? 2023, veteran improviser Bill Orcutt (of Harry Pussy) was joined live by an all-star team of seasoned guitarists, made up of Wendy Eisenberg, Ava Mendoza, and Shane Parish. The four tackled Orcutt’s rhythmic tapestry released on 'Music For Four Guitars' (2022), following the intricate composition’s thread wh...
Pankisi Ensemble - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Georgia's Pankisi Ensemble performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the Hidden Musics program. Now, you can relive this touching performance with the full audio of the show, recorded at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during the festival. AboutThe Pankisi Ensemble goes against the typical 'ethno-fusion' grain in two ways. First, by not res...
OSEES - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist and record label owner John Dwyer was one of the curators for Le Guess Who? 2021, presenting his personal program with inspirations and fellow like-minded artists. As part of the curation, Dwyer also performed twice himself on the final day of the festival: first with jam-loving c...
LGW & Utrecht Early Music Festival start long-term collaboration; first joint project at LGW18
2018 marks the start of a long-term collaboration between the Utrecht Early Music Festival and Le Guess Who?. The first joint project, a marathon concert by musician and anthropologist Björn Schm...
Video portrait: Lucrecia Dalt: grasping the spontaneity of drawing for Centraal Museum's De Line Up
Colombian ambient producer Lucrecia Dalt composed a commissioned piece for the exhibition De Line Up at Centraal Museum Utrecht, which displays a rich overview of the power of drawing from the 1950s to the present. We caught up with the exhibition's curator Robbie Cornelissen at the opening of the show, and visited Lucrecia Dalt in Polan...
Introducing: WAS. - from a raving punk celebration to stunning club beats
This year, Le Guess Who? will feature three new venues for the official music program: WAS., BASIS, and Poema. All of them are part of Utrecht’s buzzing nightlife and are among the most prominent clubs in town. In this feature, we introduce you to the pop-up nightclub of WAS.; a place where many electronic music freaks are assured t...
Video portrait: Shabaka Hutchings on Impulse!, curating at LGW, and music as joyous celebration
"It feels like signing with Impulse has given validity to the way I've perceived my music act. It is a legitimate part of the jazz canon" We meet up with jazz superforce Shabaka Hutchings in Utrecht...
Wire Magazine shares Q&A's with Jerusalem In My Heart and The Bug & Dylan Carlson at LGW17
The Wire is an independent, monthly music magazine celebrating and interrogating the most visionary and inspiring, subversive and radical, marginalised and undervalued musicians on the planet, past an...
Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe's show is rescheduled; Colin Benders & Maarten Vos perform tonight
Unfortunately, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe can't perform today due to a cancelled flight. Colin Benders & Maarten Vos will play instead at Hertz, 21:15-22:15. Rob Lowe's show is rescheduled to tomorr...
LGW & de Volkskrant meet up with Sudan Archives: watch our video portrait
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. We meet Sudan Archives in Los Angeles just before she leaves for her first ever European tour....
Exclusive: listen to Fhloston Paradigm's unreleased track '...THE MOON', feat. Heru Shabaka-Ra
Following this year's highly acclaimed and healing album AFTER..., Fhloston Paradigm aka King Britt gave us this unreleased track before his live solo set at Le Guess Who? 2017. '...THE MOON' feature...
LGW & de Volkskrant meet up with Perfume Genius: watch our video portrait
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. We meet up with Perfume Genius’ Mike Hadreas to discuss his live performance, and his cu...
Watch: Le Guess Who? & Volkskrant video portrait of James Holden
Le Guess Who? & de Volkskrant bring you video portraits of artists performing at Le Guess Who? 2017. We visit James Holden in his London studio to discuss his new album 'The Animal Spirits', play...
Le Mini Who? announces full line-up
Le Mini Who? is a spin-off festival of Le Guess Who?. It transforms many of Utrecht’s shops and bars into improvised venues for (mainly) Dutch underground bands to play, where people jostle for...
Explore the 3rd edition of Hidden Musics at Le Guess Who? 2022, aimed at deeply localized music
In 2019, the concert series Hidden Musics originated between Le Guess Who?, Chris Eckman of Glitterbeat Records and GRAMMY Award-winning producer and writer Ian Brennan, from the shared belief that it is important to platform underrepresented artists, and magnify music produced far from the mainstream. In 2022, we are proud the present th...
Get your official Le Guess Who? merchandise in our webshop
Did you forget to walk by the merchandise desk during Le Guess Who? 2021? There are still some sweaters, t-shirts and slip mats left. The items, which were designed by Dylan Marcus McConnell and Koen Delaere, are now available in our webshop. Visit webshop The sweaters and t-shirts were printed at by local print workshops Kapitaal a...
Watch: 3voor12 live sessions at LGW21 with Bendik Giske, Automatic, Mario Batkovic, and Vanishing Twin
At Club Nine on the top floor of TivoliVredenburg, the main location and hub of Le Guess Who?, Dutch broadcaster VPRO 3voor12 recorded live sessions with four artists who performed at Le Guess Who? 2021.Watch and listen to the sessions with Berlin-based abstract saxophonist Bendik Giske, Los Angeles indie punk band Automatic, Bosnian-Swis...
Listen & relive: Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Ghent-based duo Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their acclaimed debut album 'Topical Dancer'. You can listen to & relive their performance with 3 tracks: 'Mantra', 'Ceci n'est pas un cliché', and 'Thank You'. About Cultural appropriation, misogyny, rac...
Listen & relive: Asher Gamedze live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Asher Gamedze is a cultural worker based in Cape Town, working mainly as a musician, writer, organizer and an educator. With his band, he performed live during the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2022. You can now listen to three tracks that the group performed live from their 'Dialectic Soul' album (2020): 'Eternality', 'Siyabulela...
MIKE shares new single 'Red Jacket 6'
New York City rapper MIKE releases new single ‘Red Jacket 6’, which he produced with DJ Blackpower, Tony Seltzer and RedLee. It is his first material since the release of last year's 'Beware Of The Monkey'. The new single arrives ahead of MIKE’s Young World festival. In July, the freely accessible festival returns t...
Listen/read: Cheikha Rabia: a destiny tied to the continuous reinvention of rai, by Lafawndah
This November, Le Guess Who? will feature a special performance by Cheikha Rabia, a renowned singer with over five decades of experience in reinventing rai music. Her performance will be a collaboration with Esraa Warda, a prolific dancer expert in traditional North African dance forms. Both artists hail from Algeria, but currently, Cheik...
The Homesick unveils self-titled album
The Homesick, originating from the quaint Dutch town of Dokkum, is boldly entering their "weirdopop" era with their new self-titled album, released almost a decade after their first EP Television.Departing from their guitar-driven roots, the trio, comprising of Elias Elgersma, Jaap van der Velde, and Erik Woudwijk has been recognized...
LGW23 Program Update
We’re pleased to announce that Khyam Allami, Animistic Beliefs, Natural Information Society, Antipop Consortium, Wayne Phoenix, Badume’s Band & Selamnesh Zéméné, Kim David Bots & Lyckle De Jong, Toumba, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Radio Choir performing Delius’ A Song of the...
Get your official Le Guess Who? merchandise in our webshop
Our merchandise is now available online! Limited hoodies, t-shirts, posters, vinyls and tote bags are left in a variety of colours and sizes. All merchandise is printed or stitched at local print studio Katoenfabriek & Kapitaal. Visit webshop Photography by Lisanne Lentink
NAR & 3voor12 Utrecht join forces for U?
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) NAR and 3voor12 Utrecht have wanted to collaborate for a long time, and now, it’s finally happening. The program contains music with influences from different countries and various music styles. The bands and music are both challenging and exciting, aligning with the festival’s...
U? presents first Utrecht residency with 45ACIDBABIES
(scroll naar beneden voor de Nederlandse tekst) U?, the freely accessible city program of Le Guess Who?, returns in 2023 for its third edition. The program of U? is created for, but especially with the city of Utrecht, to celebrate the city’s creativity in all its diversity. With U? we aim to let Utrecht residents come in contact...
Watch: Freetekno: stories of a subculture from 1988 to 2022, by Juri Hiensch
Free Tekno parties were on the forefront of electronics since the birth of acid-house. In this short documentary, our resident photo- & videographer Juri Hiensch explored the past and present of this fascinating subculture, with a big & close community present in Utrecht. Watch the mini documentary below + view the photo/video ser...
"It feels like you have done your part": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Khartoum, Sudan
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Khartoum, Sudan We discuss LGW Embassy: Khartoum, Sudan with Hassan Kamil: a talk about portraying another image of the continent, the country, and the city; how music in Khartoum grew to be ‘a form of resistance’; and how it is home to a rich array of meaningful, beautiful, and unique sounds; dif...
"If you keep something to yourself, you kill it": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Slemani, Kurdistan-Iraq
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Slemani, Kurdistan-Iraq Following their broadcast during Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of COSMOS, we talk to Space21's Hardi Kurda about the concept of illegality; the musical cacophony of Slemani; the US-led invasion of Iraq, which happened twenty years ago, and also how it led to surprising musical discoveries...
"The perfect place to run away to": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Goa, India
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Goa, India Following different collaborations with Le Guess Who?, including for LGW Embassy: Goa, India which debuted last November, COSMOS talks to Rana Ghose (REProduce) about risk-taking as a focus area; instinct as a curatorial aspect and how Goa differs from the rest of India. As one artist chimes in: "E...
"Maybe we can rebuild something here": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in China
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in China We discuss LGW Embassy: China with Ivan Zhang two days before the Chinese New Year: a talk about BIE Music’s COSMOS collaboration and the diversity found in local music scenes across China; how going back to basics can also be a way forward; and how China is not the cloistered cultural island many...
Listen: Myriam Gendron live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Montreal-based artist Myriam Gendron performs live at Le Guess Who? 2024, featuring music from across her three albums: Not So Deep as a Well, Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found, and 2024's Mayday. About Before the release of her first record a decade ago, Quebecois musician Myriam Gendron was busking in Paris, singi...
Photo series: Sounds of Places at LGW24 by Tess Janssen
Sounds of Places, a residency-based sound gathering that focuses on the sonic aesthetics of place, celebrated its world premiere at Le Guess Who? 2024 with the presentation of Christmas in Mourning and Faster than light, always. The first edition of the residency, initiated by Radio Alhara and commissioned by Wonder Cabinet, took place i...
COSMOS launches a bulletin on Substack
COSMOS, our hybrid platform highlighting independent music scenes from around the world, is launching its very own bulletin on Substack. Every month we will share in-depth stories, artist conversations, radio shows, recordings, films and more. The first edition will be sent on Sunday, 18 May. Kicking things off, we’re heading to Is...
Guest curators & initial line-up announced for Le Guess Who? 2025
Le Guess Who? returns 6-9 November to Utrecht, The Netherlands, taking place across different venues in and around the city. We now reveal the guest curators and the initial line-up for the 2025 festival edition. More than ever, the program creates a space where the margins become the center, where the overlooked are elevated and where t...
Constellation Records reissues Alanis Obomsawin's 1985 album 'Bush Lady'
Acclaimed filmmaker and songwriter Alanis Obomsawin performed songs from her 1985 album 'Bush Lady' live for the very first time at Le Guess Who? 2017, featuring original compositions as well as music...
Chicago footwork originator RP Boo releases new album 'I'll Tell You What!'
RP Boo is the originator of footwork music and one of Chicago's finest producers. Now he has released his new album 'I'll Tell You What! via Planet Mu, which is his first album since 2015's 'Fingers, Bank Pads, and Shoe Prints'. It shows off RP Boo's raw experimentalism, floating free between abstraction and precision, for which RP Boo ha...
Revealing new projects & program additions for Le Guess Who? 2018
In addition to the previously announced initial line-up and curators, we now reveals a range of special projects and performers for the festival: Future Feminism; 15 years of RVNG Intl.; ONCEIM; and t...
Introducing: Sudanese/London collective The Scorpios bring life-affirming soul & vintage psych funk
Listening to the life-affirming soul and vintage funk of London collective The Scorpios, you probably won't be surprised to find out most of its members originate from Sudan. After fleeing the fundame...
Introducing: Alabaster DePlume: a graceful blend of poetry, jazz and British folk
Ever since their performance at Le Guess Who? 2018 has been confirmed, Alabaster DePlume's latest record 'The Corner of a Sphere' has been on high rotation in our office. We'd now like to introduce yo...
Introducing: Kelsey Lu: cello experiments turned into minimalistic, R&B-infused folk music
Raised in North Carolina, Kelsey Lu (although she prefers you just call her 'Lu') is the daughter of two devout Jehovah’s Witnesses. From a young age on, Lu was always encouraged to surround her...
Open Call: U? is looking for NL-based community curators
For U? 2024, we are looking for new and eager (aspiring) curators to highlight their communities and creativity at the festival.
ANBI info Stichting Le Guess Who
Stichting Le Guess Who heeft een Culturele ANBI-status. Een ANBI is een instelling die zich voor minstens 90% inzet voor het algemeen nut. Een ANBI is vrijgesteld van schenkbelasting. Voor een begunstiger van een ANBI betekent deze ANBI-status fiscaal voordeel in de inkomstenbelasting en de vennootschapsbelasting. KVK-nummer: 51954222RSI...
LGW Treasure Guide 2021: explore some of the best places to visit during your stay in Utrecht
As Le Guess Who? will finally return to Utrecht after two years, we'd like to present some of our favourite spots in the city with this year's Utrecht Treasure Guide. Discover some of the city's best places to visit: think bookstores, record shops, hairdressers, bars and restaurants. All of these locations are unquestionably worth visiti...
ASA-CHANG & Junray - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
ASA-CHANG & Junray performed live at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora during Le Guess Who? 2024. You can now relive the full, spellbinding performance via the recording below - a mesmerizing hour of unprecedented music making. ASA-CHANG is the founder and original bandmaster of Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, who, upon leaving the en...
Kamilya Jubran - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Palestinian-born, Paris-based musician Kamilya Jubran, one of the most revered figures in the experimental and alternative Arabic music scenes, performs at Le Guess Who? 2023, curated by Heba Kadry. Relive the mesmerizing performance with our concert film. About Raised by her music-loving parents in Galilee, for 20 years she was...
About
November 2025 Le Guess Who? exists to bring people together through music and culture. U? is its participative and freely accessible city program celebrating local and creative communities.Le Guess Who? heeft het doel om mensen samen te brengen door middel van muziek en cultuur. U? is het gratis toegankelijk stadsprogramma van Le Guess...
Mourning [A] BLKstar - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Mourning [A] BLKstar performed live on the opening night of Le Guess Who?'s 15th Anniversary Edition in 2022. The collective, made up of musicians, writers, and multimedia artists, has a bountiful track record, amassing several releases under its belt since 2015. Their music is for both eulogies and revolutions, as they expand upon contem...
Bent Arcana - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist and record label owner John Dwyer was one of the curators for Le Guess Who? 2021, presenting his personal program with inspirations and fellow like-minded artists. As part of the curation, Dwyer also performed twice himself on the final day of the festival: first with jam-loving c...
Le Guess Who? expands Untitled program with film festival, live interviews, Angel Bat Dawid's sonic healing session, more
Along with exploring the festival program, visitors of Le Guess Who? 2019 can also immerse themselves in various activities during the day throughout the city of Utrecht, including the ‘Untitled’ program. Untitled made its debut as part of Le Guess Who? 2018. We're eager to expand the programming to include more daytime...
Listen to 'The Head Zone', Ripley Johnson (Moon Duo)'s monthly radio show on NTS Radio
Psychedelic/krautrock mystics Moon Duo have risen up as one of the most intoxicating live acts of this decade, with their music containing elements of 80’s disco, occult literature, electronic music and film soundtracks. Moon Duo’s guitarist Ripley Johnson also hosts a monthly radio show on NTS Radio. Called &lsquo...
Watch: Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising perform ‘Evernew’ in stunning new video
As a sci-fi obsessed woman living in near isolation, musician Beverly Glenn-Copeland wrote and self-released 'Keyboard Fantasies' in rural Ontario in 1986. Recorded on an Atari-powered home-studio, th...
Listen: Sudan/UK collective The Scorpios live at Le Guess Who? 2018
Sudan/UK collective The Scorpios performed on the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2018. Inspired by traditional Sudanese music and 60s and 70s pop, the group create an elated mix of Arabic rhythms, raw Eastern funk and vintage psychedelia. You can now listen to their full festival performance: About Having fled from the fundamentalists i...
Video recap: Lombok Festival 2018
Lombok Festival has been an official Le Guess Who? satellite event since 2017. Cycle or walk through Utrecht suburb Lombok's main street, and you're immediately welcomed by Turkish and Moroccan grocery stores, bakeries, the smell of kebab, and huge piles of colorful fruits sold in the streets. This years festival locations included the i...
Premiere: King Champion Sounds - 'Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah'; new album 'For A Lark' released during LGW
Formed by Kenya-born musician Ajay Saggar in 2013, King Champion Sounds are an impetuous, eight-headed band from The Netherlands and England. Fronted by the inimitable G.W. Sok (former singer of...
Listen to Farida & The Iraqi Maqam Ensemble's full performance at Le Guess Who? 2017
Hailed as 'The Mother of All Maqam', Farida Mohammed Ali gave an immersive performance at Le Guess Who? 2017 together with the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble. This performance was curated by Jerusalem In My Hea...
Selda Bagcan returns to Utrecht in September, presented by International Literature Festival & LGW
After a triumphant performance at Le Guess Who? 2014, which saw legendary Turkish protest singer and political activist Selda Bağcan close the festival that year, the singer will return to Utrecht on...
Introducing: Kate NV depicts everyday life in Moscow through otherworldly, playful electronica
Moscow-born Kate NV creates bustling and colorful electronic soundscapes that intrigue and inspire. Normally, she's a guitar-wielding post-punker and performer within Moscow Scratch Orchestra. But as...
Introducing: Canada collective Crack Cloud construct something radically new out of post-punk’s past
Crack Cloud is not what you should consider a regular band. A self-described ‘mixed media collective’, they take shape as a fluid collective of numerous individuals from Alberta, Canada wi...
Audio archive update: Digable Planets live at Le Guess Who? 2016
Hip hop visionaries Digable Planets played an exclusive show at Le Guess Who? 2016. We've just added three tracks to our online audio archive - listen below: Recorded by VPRO 3voor12 on Saturday, 1...
Le Guess Who? WhatsApp: be among the first to hear about festival news
Want to be among the first to hear about the latest news & Le Guess Who? program updates? You can now also subscribe via WhatsApp to receive festival updates. To do so, add +31 6 8379 7340 to you...
Listen to Turkish psych group Baba Zula live at LGW14, ahead of their return to Utrecht
Turkish psychedelic music group Baba Zula performed the opening set for the legendary Selda Bağcan at Le Guess Who? 2014. We now bring you the recordings of the show, ahead of the band's return to Utr...
Listen to Moroccan Gnawa master Maâlem Houssam Guinia's full set at LGW17
Moroccan Gnawa master Maâlem Houssam Guinia performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017. This performance was curated by James Holden for the festival: About:Maâlem (or ‘master musician&rsquo...
Hear Mario Batkovic's mesmerizing performance at LGW17, curated by James Holden
Accordion maestro Mario Batkovic has performed twice at Le Guess Who?; in 2016, his performance was curated by Savages, and last year, he returned to festival at the invitation of by James Holden. You...
OkayAfrica premieres Les Amazones d'Afrique's life-affirming set at LGW17
The West African collective of Les Amazones d'Afrique performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017, with Mamani Keita, Rokia Koné, and Kandia Kouyate as lead singers. Now, OkayAfrica pre...
Watch Abdel Karim Shaar's full performance at LGW17, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart
Lebanese legend Abdel Karim Shaar performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017 for his 2nd show outside his home country, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart. We've captured the full performance on video, which...
The Line of Best Fit premieres the recordings of Protomartyr live at LGW17
Detroit's Protomartyr performed at Le Guess Who? 2017 as part of the program curated by Basilica Soundscape. Here, the band present work from their newest album 'Relatives in Descent', as well as song...
Watch: Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares in session for Vrije Geluiden at LGW17
VPRO's Vrije Geluiden recorded a session with Bulgarian women's choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares at Le Guess Who? 2017, who were curated by Perfume Genius for the festival. Watch in full belo...
Listen: Pan African Music premieres the recordings of Les Filles de Illighadad at Le Guess Who? 2016
In collaboration with Vrije Geluiden, we recorded one of the performances of Niger's Les Filles de Illighadad at Le Guess Who? 2016. Pan African Music now premieres these recordings, ahead of the rele...
Read Jerusalem In My Heart's Epiphany essay on meeting Abdel Karim Shaar (via The Wire)
The kind people at The Wire have made an essay from Jerusalem In My Heart's Radwan Ghazi Moumneh available online for free in their archives. In the Epiphany piece, Moumneh writes about the...
Oumou Sangaré cancels her performance at LGW17; Sun Ra Arkestra graces our line-up instead
We regret to inform you that Oumou Sangaré has to cancel her performance at Le Guess Who? 2017. But we’re also pleased to announce that Sun Ra Arkestra will grace our line-up instead, bri...
Ben Frost shares soundtrack for 'Fortitude'
Ben Frost composed the soundtrack for a new tv series called 'Fortitude' which takes place on the Arctic Circle. Stream the complete soundtrack below via Spotify. "The Icelandic-based Australian comp...
Full line-up for 'Dream Music' in Malmö, Sweden announced
'Dream Music: a 12-hour meditation with Pitch Color Tone and Volume' takes place October 14 at the Live Konserthus in Malmö, Sweden. It reflects the daily transition from morning to nig...
World's Largest Record Fair Happening in Utrecht During LGW17
On November 11 & 12, vinyl lovers from all over the world meet in Utrecht for the Mega Record & CD Fair. During this cult event, the Jaarbeurs Utrecht houses 500+ record dealing stan...
Audio archive update: Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou live at LGW15
We've just updated our audio archive with Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou's full performance at Le Guess Who? 2015. Listen below: About: ‘The all-powerful polyrhythmic orchestr...
Explore the initial line-up of Le Guess Who? 2019 with our official playlist
The initial line-up for Le Guess Who? 2019 has now been revealed. Delve into the music of all artists announced as part of the initial with our handpicked, official playlist. From Asha Puthli's cosmic disco anthem 'Space Talk' to the juggernaut industrial/metal of Godflesh, back to the vulnerable and healing music of La Bruja de...
Playlist: An Introduction to Art Ensemble of Chicago, compiled by Ben Ratliff
In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Ever since, they have been celebrated as one of the most remarkable free jazz movements to arise from Chicago’s already rich jazz heritage. Moving far beyond jazz, avant-garde and performance art, the ensemble...
Oprichter en algemeen directeur Johan Gijsen neemt na 16 jaar afscheid van Le Guess Who?
In 2007 startte Johan Gijsen samen met Bob van Heur het festival Le Guess Who? om ondervertegenwoordigde muziek een plek te geven. Nu is het festival met zijn genre-doorbrekende programmering wereldwijd toonaangevend en trekt het ieder jaar muziekliefhebbers van over de hele wereld. Johan Gijsen: “Met dezelfde kriebels waarme...
Listen/read: Rats on Rafts' David Fagan: "If we're gonna do a live show, let's try and do something special"
Ever the experimentalists, Rotterdam post-punk quintet Rats on Rafts bring their multi-disciplinary spectacle, Visions of Chapter 3, to Le Guess Who? for its first public-facing debut. And, as frontman David Fagan admits, there’s no telling just quite how it will all pan out…
Read: a personal introduction to Czech duo Irena & Vojtěch Havlovi's haunting music, by Pavel Klusák
Ever since they started working together in the mid-eighties, Czech artists Irena & Vojtěch Havlovi have traveled far and wide, crossing continents, cultures and mediums with styles of European classical music ranging from the Renaissance to contemporary. In the process, the duo made fans which include Sufjan Stevens, The National's...
Thank you so much for celebrating 15 years of Le Guess Who? together with us
Thank you so much for celebrating 15 years of Le Guess Who? together with us. It’s been an honor to have you with us. ❤ We hope you’ve had some beautiful days in Utrecht, have made new discoveries and found inspiration during your time with us. Thanks to all who make it possible: from volunteers to visitors, artists to partne...
Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood release collaborative album 'Jarak Qaribak'
Celebrated Israeli singer, musician and producer Dudu Tassa and award-winning composer and guitarist Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead, The Smile) have teamed up for the collaborative album Jarak Qaribak, which is released today via World Circuit Records. Jarak Qaribak translates, more or less, as ‘Your Neighbour Is Your Friend. It&r...
'Baskot Lel Baltageyya', debut album of musician Adham Zidan & poet Anwar Dabbour
Last month, Baskot Lel Baltageyya (meaning 'cookies for thugs'), a Cairo-based project headed by musician Adham Zidan and poet Anwar Dabbour, released their self-titled debut album. An album that serves as an extension of their phantasmagoric live show. Baskot Lel Baltageyya by Baskot Baskot Lel Baltageyya started as...
SANAM release debut album 'Aykathani Malakon صنم - أيقظني ملاكٌ'
Today, the Beirut-based free-rock post-folk sextet SANAM releases their debut album, 'Aykathani Malakon صنم - أيقظني ملاكٌ'. The album is mixed by Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem in My Heart), who was one of the guest curators for Le Guess Who? 2017, and mastered by Heba Kadry, who is one of the guest curators for Le Guess...
Listen to Deena Abdelwahed’s new album ‘Jbal Rrsas’
Today, renowned Tunisian DJ and producer Deena Abdelwahed has unveiled her highly anticipated sophomore album, Jbal Rrsas, now available through InFiné Music. For this album, Abdelwahed has enlisted the help of producer and instrumentalist Khalil Hentati (aka Khalil Epi), composer and musicologist Khyam Allami and master...
Listen/read: AMPFEMININE: "Your excuse of ‘there aren’t that many good female and non-binary DJs’ is not valid"
You can also listen to this story – below or via your favorite podcast app. Words & audio by Cheri PercyPhotography by Tengbeh Kamara Rotterdam based-DJ collective AMPFEMININE scours its diverse database to bring an evening of fresh feminine energy to this year’s Le Guess Who? proving that female and non-b...
LA Timpa dives into his catalogue for Crack Magazine
Ahead of his performance at Le Guess Who? 2023, Nigeria-born, Canada-raised producer and musician LA Timpa dives into his catalogue for Crack Magazine and curates a playlist with a selection of powerful, woozy and spectral tracks that resonate with where he is at currently. "Sort of an unofficial or perhaps pre-mature 'Best Of' collectio...
Lost Girls (Jenny Hval & Håvard Volden) release new album 'Selvutsletter'
Lost Girls, the Norwegian duo made up of former LGW curator Jenny Hval and Håvard Volden, released their sensual debut LP Menneskekollektivet in 2021, which was named one of the year’s best releases by Pitchfork, The FADER, Brooklyn Vegan, Paste, and more. Now, they return with their second album Selvutsletter, released throug...
"It was the right place at the right time": COSMOS Goes Behind the Scenes in Montréal, Canada
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes with POP Montréal In 'Behind the Scenes', COSMOS dives into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. Ever since Le Guess Who?'s very first edition, there's been a strong bond with POP Montréal’s 20+ year long history of platforming cutting-edge music. Fo...
Watch: Buddy to Buddy, by Juri Hiensch
Buddy to Buddy matches newcomers to citizens based on equality, shared interests and a lot of ‘gezelligheid’. It helps newcomers get out of social isolation and it involves fellow citizens with the integration of their new neighbors. In this short documentary, our resident photo- & videographer Juri Hiensch visited buddy's...
Watch: Uncloud: Contemporary art & music, by Juri Hiensch
Uncloud is a non profit contemporary and innovative art & music organization based in Utrecht. In this short documentary, our resident photo- & videographer Juri Hiensch visited Uncloud at their home base and during their first club night at WAS. Watch the mini documentary below + view the photo/video series on our Instagram. D...
"Anything you set out to find, you'll find it here": COSMOS goes Behind the Scenes in Mexico City, Mexico
COSMOS: Behind the Scenes in Mexico City, Mexico We speak to Daniel (Danny) Alvarado Chávez, head of Sonido Confirmación, an independent project made to ‘represent and connect Mexico City through images and music’, while diving into the capital's music scene. Every minute, new acts mushroom across the city&rsquo...
Read/watch: Behind the Scenes, the new series by COSMOS
Behind the Scenes is the new series by COSMOS, Le Guess Who?’s hybrid platform, in which we dive into local stories from across the world together with our global partners. Here, we talk to the people behind the video content that was created for the latest COSMOS installment to learn more about their local cultural scenes; their c...
Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra & Arion de Munck present 'Hadra Immersive' - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
A transcendental opening ceremony took place at the start of Le Guess Who? 2024, thanks to a special collaboration between the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra and visual artist Arion de Munck, who presented the world premiere of Hadra Immersive at the festival. The Hadra is an ancient northern Moroccan ceremony that leads participan...
Le Cri du Caire - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
One year ago, Le Cri du Caire released their hauntingly beautiful, self-tilted debut album. We are now thrilled to share the recording of their mesmerizing performance at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2023, where the group performed the majority of the album, as well as new material. AboutSinger, writer, poet, and expressio...
Phelimuncasi - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Durban-based Gqom futurists Phelimuncasi (Nyege Nyege Tapes) brought their life-affirming energy to Le Guess Who? 2023, providing ample space to dance and sweat at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora stage. Relive the performance with our concert film below. About Much like the South African bee after which they named their most recent a...
Stereolab - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Recently, we celebrated the 100th festival recording being included in our online recordings archive. Now, we are elated to share the concert film of Anglo-French avant-pop group and festival curators Stereolab live at Le Guess Who? 2023. Hailed as one of the most influential and fiercely independent groups of the 90s, Stereolab's influe...
Ndox Electrique - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Relive Ndox Electrique live at Le Guess Who?, the first international performance of the genre-blurring musical ensemble that originated in Senegal, and whose music is inspired by an ancient ritual of the spirit-world originating from Senegal’s n’döep ceremonies. About How does one put Ndox Electrique into mere...
Nihiloxica - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Nihiloxica exploded out of Kampala in 2017 with their groundbreaking fusion of Bugandan drumming and UK bass. The band explores the darkest depths between two separate cultures of dance music, uniting abrasive club electronics with raucous percussive energy. At Le Guess Who? 2023, the group presented their late latest album 'Source of De...
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of Animal Collective's curation, following the release of their latest album 'Reset'. Relive the performance below with our concert film, which features the songs Everyday, Edge of the Edge, Danger, and Livin’ in the After. AboutSix years ago, Peter Kember,...
The Bug feat. Dis Fig, Flowdan & Logan - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
The Bug performed live as one of the closing acts of Le Guess Who? 2022, accompanied on stage by MC's Dis Fig, Flowdan and Logan to bring the buzzing energy found on The Bug's record to life. Relive part of the performance with our concert film below, featuring Fat Mac and Dirty/I Luv You (Freestyle) feat. Flowdan, Take feat. Dis Fig and...
Lost Girls - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Lost Girls is the Norwegian duo made up of experimental guitarist Håvard Volden and former LGW curator Jenny Hval. Their latest album, 2023's Selvutsletter, continues the intuitive, late night feel of the group's previous work with topics such as cities after dark, music rituals, band practices of the ‘90s, and the early days...
Anoushka Shankar & Manu Delago with Metropole Orkest Strings - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
Continuing the legacy of her father, the legendary Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar is considered to be one of the world’s most renowned sitar players. In 2018, she performed at Le Guess Who?, together with Austrian percussionist and Björk collaborator Manu Delago and the 27-member string section of the Metropole Orkest, conducte...
Estrella Morente & Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
During Le Guess Who? 2022, flamenco icon Estrella Morente and Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra came together for a magic showcase of warmth and joy. You can now watch the full concert film of the stunning performance at Utrecht's Jacobikerk, presented in collaboration with Ud Festival. The daughter of world-famous Enrique Morente,...
The Sai Anantam Ashram Singers perform The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane at Le Guess Who? 2017
The Sai Anantam Ashram Singers performed The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda live at Le Guess Who? 2017, featuring a special guest appearance by saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings. About the project:Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda’s devotion to spirituality defined the final decades of her life. In 1983, she esta...
Eddie Chacon - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Eddie Chacon performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021 following the release of his latest album ‘Pleasure, Joy and Happiness’, made in collaboration with producer John Carroll Kirby. You can now watch & listen to four tracks from the performance below. AboutAs part of the soul duo Charles & Eddie, Eddie Chacon exper...
Noori & His Dorpa Band - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Sudan's Noori & His Dorpa Band performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022, presented in collaboration with Ostinato Records. Below, you can relive the performance with our video of a part of the concert, as well as the audio of the full show, with a spirited introduction by Ostinato's Vik Sohonie before the band came on stage. Additionall...
U? venues
In 2024, U? Festival takes place on Saturday, 9 November, in the Cartesius area. U? Projects are separate, stand-alone events in other areas and on different dates. In 2024 vind U? Festival plaats op zaterdag 9 november in het Cartesiusgebied. U? Projects zijn op zichzelf staande evenementen op andere dagen en locaties.U? Venues
Mabe Fratti featuring Shards - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
As part of her curation at Le Guess Who? 2024, experimental cellist and vocalist Mabe Fratti performed live at the festival together with London-based vocal group Shards. Watch the concert film of the performance, featuring the tracks Kravitz, No Se Ve Desde Acá and Desde el Cielo: With her hypnotic pieces, Mabe Fratti comb...
CTA Tickets
Le Guess Who? takes pace across 20 locations in the city center of Utrecht; ranging from churches and galleries to theaters and pop venues. Most are within walking distance from each other. Here are a couple highlighted.
Cheikha Rabia & Esraa Warda - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Renowned rai singer Cheikha Rabia & Esraa Warda, a prolific dancer expert in traditional North African dance forms, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the Hidden Musics project. Relive the mesmerizing performance at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora via our concert film below: AboutCheikha Rabia and Esraa Warda both hail from...
Maurice Louca's Fera with Ayman Asfour - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Fera is a wild and adventurous new work that Egyptian artist Maurice Louca wrote over a four-year period. It was performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024 together with Ayman Asfour as part of Chromesthesia, curated by Hannah Elsisi. Below, you can watch Barĩy from the captivating performance and listen to the full audio of the show. ...
Arooj Aftab - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Earlier this week, Brooklyn-based, Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab won the GRAMMY Award for Best Global Music Performance for her song ‘Mohabbat’. She performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021, the international festival for boundary-crossing music & culture, as part of her first ever European tour. Arooj Aftab is the first Pakis...
Makaya McCraven - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Makaya McCraven is one of Chicago’s most versatile and in-demand drummers. At Le Guess Who? 2019, McCraven, together with his stellar live band, gave a wonderfully free-spirited performance. As debut of the show, the group played the brand new song 'In These Times', which you can view below, as well as listen to the entire perf...
Tom Skinner - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Tom Skinner performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Stereolab, following the release of ‘Voices of Bishara’. Relive the magnificent show with our concert film, and listen to the full audio of performance, in which the group also pays homage to American cellist Abdul Wadud with interpretations o...
The Heliocentrics - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
For eclectic London-based group The Heliocentrics, musical boundaries are invisible. This collective has the ability to fluently string together a broad spectrum of genres, including free-form jazz, hip-hop, psychedelic grooves, krautrock, and musique concrete. Since their first appearance on DJ Shadow’s album ‘The Outsider&...
They Hate Change - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
Tampa rap duo They Hate Change performed at Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the program curated by clipping., following the release of Finally, New; their debut album for Jagjaguwar. Relive the ecstatic performance below with our concert film, featuring two unreleased tracks produced by John Carroll Kirby and Zach Witness: AboutTampa&rsq...
Mazaher - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Chanting songs and playing hypnotic polyrhythms, Egyptian ensemble Mazaher gave a rare performance at Le Guess Who? 2021. It was their first European show in over 15 years. Mazaher is an Egyptian ensemble, a small group of mostly women musicians and singers who play Zãr music: a combination of chanted songs and hypnotic polyrhythm...
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
In the mid-1960s, Art Ensemble of Chicago sprung from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Moving far beyond jazz, avant-garde and performance art, the ensemble has created a realm that is entirely original. On the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2018, and on the eve of the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s 50t...
Lonnie Holley feat. Nelson Patton - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
During Le Guess Who? 2018, we spent a weekend with musician and visual artist Lonnie Holley in Utrecht. On the opening night of the festival, Lonnie performed with expressive trombone & drums duo Nelson Patton; the next day, he gave us a guided tour through the city of Utrecht, showing the many unique ways of how Holley experiences hi...
Linda Sharrock - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Expressive jazz singer Linda Sharrock live at Le Guess Who? 2017, featuring three improvisational pieces. This performance was curated by Jerusalem In My Heart. About Linda Sharrock: Renowned for her work with guitarist Sonny Sharrock in the 60s and 70s, Linda Sharrock has become a leading light in the world of experimental jazz a...
Alanis Obomsawin - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Filmmaker and songwriter Alanis Obomsawin performed songs from her 1985 album ‘Bush Lady’ live for the first time at Le Guess Who? 2017, featuring music of the Native American Abenaki people. The performance was curated by Jerusalem In My Heart, and also included 2 never recorded songs: 'La Berceuse' & 'The Spirit Of The R...
Freely Accessible U? Programme Highlights
U? is Le Guess Who’s participatory and freely accessible day program, made for–and with–the city of Utrecht. With U?, Le Guess Who? extends its mission to enrich people through music and culture even further to the city. From 10 to 13 November 2022, U? returns for its second edition. The program is made with, or even ent...
Isokratisses & Christopher C. King - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
On November 9, 2019, the Greek polyphonic vocal ensemble Isokratisses gave a rare performance at the Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Founded by Anna Katsi, the group dedicates itself to the polyphonic singing of Poliçan, an ethnic Greek village in southern Albania. All the members are...
Gruff Rhys - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Welsh musician, composer, producer and author Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) was one of the artists to give a surprise performance at Le Guess Who? 2017. It was an an intimate solo show which took pace in the stunning Jacobikerk. The song 'Colonise The Moon' features Cate Le Bon and Sweet Baboo on piano & clarinet. The Line of...
Slauson Malone 1 - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Festival curator Slauson Malone 1 performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 following the release of his latest album EXCELSIOR via Warp Records. On stage, he is joined by cellist Nicky Wetherell. Relive the performance with our concert film: Speaking about his role as curator at the festival, Slauson Malone 1 (real name: Jasper Marsalis) s...
Cate Le Bon - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Cate Le Bon performed live at Le Guess Who? 2019, following the release of her latest album 'Reward'. You can now relive the performance with a video of Cate Le Bon performing 'Home To You' from her latest album, as well as the songs 'Love Is Not Love' and 'Wonderful' from 2016's Crab Day. Additionally, you can stream the full performance...
Kahil El’Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Kahil El'Zabar Ethnic Heritage Ensemble celebrated their 50th anniversary on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2024, commemorating half a century of continuously shifting gears and tempos in the jazz-blues continuum. Listen to, and relive, the full performance below. The Ethnic Heritage Ensemble was founded by El’Zabar in...
Noura Mint Seymali - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Noura Mint Seymali performed on the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2024 as part of the program curated by Arooj Aftab. You can now listen to, and relive, the full performance below. Noura Mint Seymali is a nationally adored Mauritanian musical star, born into a prominent line of Moorish griot; West African praise singers, poets a...
Gibrana Cervantes - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
London-based Mexican violinist, composer, and improviser Gibrana Cervantes performed live at Le Guess Who? 2024, as part of the program curated by Mabe Fratti. You can listen to the full performance below, featuring two unreleased tracks: ‘Blur of Memories’ and ‘Verdad vs. Error’, as well as ‘Moving Through...
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Linton Kwesi Johnson's impressive body of work includes stints as reggae poet, political orator, recording artist, and author/journalist. His 1978 reggae album Dread Beat an' Blood is a statement akin to Gil Scott-Heron's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. A vocal personality who fights oppression against black youth, the Jamaica-born...
The Microphones - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
During Le Guess Who? 2021, Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie / The Microphones) was one of five guest curators for the festival. Aside from putting together a personal program of inspirations and like-minded artists, Phil Elverum also performed live with guitarist Jay Blackinton to present Elverum’s latest album, 'The Microphones In 20...
Mary Margaret O'Hara - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
During Le Guess Who? 2017 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Canadian singer-songwriter Mary Margaret O’Hara gave a very rare live appearance, curated by Perfume Genius for the festival. We are extremely proud to share the video and audio recordings of the performance, with the video premiered by The Wire. Declared a ‘cult hero&r...
Alabaster dePlume - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Musician and poet Alabaster dePlume was Le Guess Who? 2021’s Artist in Residence and can be described as many things: a cleric of the written word, a maverick of sound, a conductor of communion. He garnered a substantial breakthrough in 2020 with his gorgeous compilation album ‘To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol. 1’, a c...
Galya Bisengalieva - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Kazakh-British composer and violinist Galya Bisengalieva performed her latest album 'Aralkum' in full live at Le Guess Who? 2021, as part of the program presented by Uncloud. You can now listen & relive the entire performance. "It has been speculated how the current environmental crisis we face will inspire musicians, the sam...
Slumberland feat. Sainkho Namtchylak - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Belgian musician, composer, and instrument maker Jochem Baelus aka Slumberland and experimental Tuvan singer Sainkho Namtchylak gave a collaborative performance during Le Guess Who? 2021 at Utrecht’s Jacobikerk. With Slumberland, Belgian musician, composer, and instrument maker Jochem Baelus creates hypnotic krautrock and post punk...
AEAEA (Nicolas Jaar x Patrick Higgins) - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
We’re thrilled to share the video of AEAEA (Nicolas Jaar x Patrick Higgins)’s live premiere at Le Guess Who? 2019. AEAEA is the recent collaboration of two of today’s most acclaimed musical visionaries; in 2019, Le Guess Who? proudly presented the duo’s live premiere as part of Patrick Higgins’ curation at th...
Sun Ra Arkestra - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
With their cosmic jazz celebration, Sun Ra Arkestra was one of the closing acts of Le Guess Who? 2017. We're pleased to now bring you the full recording of this show, spanning decades of the Sun Ra legacy. The song 'Discipline 27-II' features a special guest appearance by King Khan. Read on below for the astonishing story 'Sun Ra Ar...
Duma - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
Kenya's Duma, figureheads of the flourishing Nairobi underground metal scene, performed live at Le Guess Who? 2021 as part of the program curated by Phil Elverum (The Microphones/Mount Eerie). Martin "Lord Spike Heart" Khanja and Sam Karugo released their self-titled album in 2020 through Uganda’s Nyege Nyege Tapes and were i...
Ayalew Mesfin & Debo Band - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
After his music has gone unheard for 40 years, either on stage or on record, quintessential Ethio-groove performer Ayalew Mesfin gave his first ever European performance at Le Guess Who? 2019: a show that featured the Debo Band, who formed in 2006 to keep the spirit and craft of Ethiopia’s golden age of pop alive. A...
The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar - Live at Le Guess Who? 2022
The Master Musicians of Jajouka, led by Bachir Attar, performed live at the opening night of Le Guess Who? 2022 as part of the Hidden Musics project following the release of their new album 'Dancing Under The Moon', released earlier in 2022 via Glitterbeat Records. You can listen to and relive the full performance below. About B...
Gilla Band - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Irish wrecking crew Gilla Band has become one of the most fearsome live units of the decade thanks to their intense and propulsive performances. And somewhere down the dark corridors, you can hear the demented straitjacket howls of frontman Dara Kiely, an unrelenting fury waiting to detonate at the slightest prick. The group perfor...
Richard Dawson - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
Richard Dawson performed live at Utrecht's Jacobikerk during Le Guess Who? 2023 as part of the program curated by Slauson Malone 1. You can now listen to the British folk master performing Museum (from the 2022 album The Ruby Chord) and Two Halves (from 2020). "The next song is from the point of view of a robot or an AI, somethin...
Nicole Mitchell & Moor Mother - Offering (live at Le Guess Who? 2018)
As part of her curation at Le Guess Who? 2018, Philly-based noise artist, activist and wordsmith Moor Mother invited flutist, composer, poet and educator Nicole Mitchell for a performance at the festival. It ended up not being a solo performance though, but an exclusive and improvised collaboration between herself and Moor Mother. No...
Les Filles De Illighadad - Live at Le Guess Who? 2016
Fatou Seidi Ghali and Alamnou Akrouni reside in the tiny village of Illighadad, Niger. Fatou plays the tende, and an old blue guitar, slightly bent because of the extreme weather. She is one of only two Tuareg female guitarists. Together with her cousin, vocalist Alamnou Akrouni, they strip Tuareg music from all progressive leanings, righ...
Plague Organ - Live at Le Guess Who? 2021
A nice surprise came our way recently. The sound engineer at De Helling during Le Guess Who? 2021 was able to capture the intense performance of Dutch outfit Plague Organ. Or at least, almost the entire performance: apparently the engineer was so overwhelmed upon the start of the show that he was about half a minute late with starting the...
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Bulgarian women's choir Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares performed music from their new album 'BooCheeMish' live at Le Guess Who? 2017, in Utrecht's iconic Dom church (dating back to the 13th century). The performance was curated by Perfume Genius for the festival. About:The famous Bulgarian women's choir Le Mystère des Voix...
Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
A New Year's gift and a souvenir from Le Guess Who? 2024. The full live performance by Abul Mogard and Rafael Anton Irisarri at Utrecht’s Jacobikerk is now available as free, or pay-what-you-want on Bandcamp. When Abul Mogard (AKA Guido Zen) and composer, record producer, and mastering engineer Rafael Anton Irisarri first pl...
Myriam Gendron - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Montreal-based artist Myriam Gendron performs live at Le Guess Who? 2024, featuring music from across her three albums: Not So Deep as a Well, Ma délire - Songs of love, lost & found, and 2024's Mayday. About Before the release of her first record a decade ago, Quebecois musician Myriam Gendron was busking in Paris, singi...
Maarten Vos - Live at Le Guess Who? 2019
Dutch cellist, composer, and producer Maarten Vos performed live at Le Guess Who? 2019, on the invitation of festival curators Iris van Herpen & Salvador Breed. We can now share the recordings of the full performance thanks to Concertzender, who captured the show at the Janskerk in Utrecht. About:Composer Maarten Vos is what y...
The Scorpios - Live at Le Guess Who? 2018
Sudan/UK collective The Scorpios performed on the closing day of Le Guess Who? 2018. Inspired by traditional Sudanese music and 60s and 70s pop, the group create an elated mix of Arabic rhythms, raw Eastern funk and vintage psychedelia. You can now listen to their full festival performance: About Having fled from the fundamentalists i...
Farida & The Iraqi Maqam Ensemble - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Hailed as 'The Mother of All Maqam', Farida Mohammed Ali gave an immersive performance at Le Guess Who? 2017 together with the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble. This performance was curated by Jerusalem In My Heart, and took place in the stunning setting of the Jacobikerk in Utrecht. About:Farida Mohammad Ali's mastery of the ancient maqam discipl...
Mario Batkovic - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Accordeon maestro Mario Batkovic has performed twice at Le Guess Who?; in 2016, his performance was curated by Savages, and last year, he returned to festival at the invitation of by James Holden. You can stream that full, mesmerizing performance below. AboutIt's kind of funny how one of Mario Batkovic's most well-known pieces is calle...
Abdel Karim Shaar - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Lebanese legend Abdel Karim Shaar performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017 for his 2nd show outside his home country, curated by Jerusalem In My Heart. About Abdel Karim Shaar:Abdel Karim Shaar is the last of his generation still performing classical ‘Tarab’ repertoire: a musical form that expresses a state of emotional transit...
Junun feat. Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express - Live at Le Guess Who? 2016
Junun featuring Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, and the Rajasthan Express was the closing act of Le Guess Who? 2016. Relive their magical performance. About JununInside a 15th century Mehrangarh fort in Rajasthan, India, Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood met the Rajasthan Express: an Indian ensemble...
Scott Fagan performing 'South Atlantic Blues' - Live at Le Guess Who? 2016
Scott Fagan together with members of Trembling Bells perform Fagan's lost 60s classic 'South Atlantic Blues' in full at Le Guess Who? 2016. AboutFor every generation-defining icon, there’s an equally impressive talent who fizzled into obscurity. Scott Fagan’s lost 60s classic South Atlantic Blues is a gorgeous synthesis of...
Destroyer - Live at Le Guess Who? 2015
Shortly after the release of ‘Poison Season’, Dan Bejar and his band gave an exceptional performance at TivoliVredenburg’s Grote Zaal during the festival. "There are a few bands battling for the title of Best Live Act in the World Today at present, but we’re rallying round Destroyer’s flag on this one....
Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Live at Le Guess Who? 2015
Listen to Tout-Puissant Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou's full performance at Le Guess Who? 2015: About: ‘The all-powerful polyrhythmic orchestra from Cotonou’, as translated in English, isn’t by any means a hyperbolic way of describing the sheer profusion of musical riches these Benin-based legends harness. Back in...
Baba Zula - Live at Le Guess Who? 2014
Turkish psychedelic music group Baba Zula performed the opening set for the legendary Selda Bağcan at Le Guess Who? 2014: AboutBaba Zula uses an outlandish mix of field recordings of natural sounds, traditional Turkish instrumentation and modern acoustic and electronic musical instruments and effects. While predominantly Turkish...
Maâlem Houssam Guinia & Band - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Moroccan Gnawa master Maâlem Houssam Guinia performed live at Le Guess Who? 2017. This performance was curated by James Holden for the festival: About:Maâlem (or ‘master musician’) Houssam Guinia is the son and successor of the late Mahmoud Guinia, an emblematic figure in the practice of West-African Gnawa music. Gna...
Protomartyr - Live at Le Guess Who? 2017
Detroit's Protomartyr performed at Le Guess Who? 2017 in Utrecht, as part of the program curated by Basilica Soundscape. Here, the band present work from their newest album 'Relatives in Descent', as well as songs from their previous records. Watch the band perform 'Don't Go To Anacita' and Half Sister' at the festival + listen to the ful...
Digable Planets - Live at Le Guess Who? 2016
Hip hop visionaries Digable Planets played an exclusive show at Le Guess Who? 2016. Three tracks are now available to stream: 'It's Good To Be Here', '9th Wonder', and hit single 'Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)': Recorded by VPRO 3voor12 on Saturday, 12 November. Watch the entire performance at the festival below. More Le Guess...
Autechre - Live at Le Guess Who? 2014
English IDM group Autechre performed live at Le Guess Who? 2014. Thanks to the group themselves, who captured the full performance, you can now stream or purchase the recording as a download via their website or stream below. The show was captured on Saturday, 22 November 2014, at TivoliVredenburg's Ronda. "Yes, Autechre com...
ZULI & Omar El Sadek present λ - Live at Le Guess Who? 2023
The work of multi-talented sound artist ZULI has spilled over Cairo's borders onto the rest of the world, garnering support from the likes of Aphex Twin and Autechre. Recently, the artist released his new album Lambda; leading up to the release, the musician and producer, who is determined to uplift other Middle Eastern creative voices, p...
Brian Jackson - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Brian Jackson performed live during the closing night of Le Guess Who? 2024, featuring a string of classic tracks such as The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Home Is Where the Hatred Is, and Winter in America. You can now listen to, and relive, the full performance below. As one-half of power duo Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jac...
Actress - Live at Le Guess Who? 2024
Electronic luminary Darren Cunningham aka Actress, whose work merges and morphs elements of techno, electro, R&B and concrète, performs at Le Guess Who? 2024 following the release of Statik, and just a couple of days ahead of the release of his new mixtape Дарен Дж. Каннінгем, out now via Smalltown Supersound.&nbs...
Le Guess Who? 2018 Press Archive
The Netherlands 3FM: Eva Koreman nieuwe presentator 3voor12 radio 3FM: Le Guess Who? 2018: Ralph-Herman snapt niet wat Colin Stetson doet3FM: Timo op Le Guess Who: van gevoelige liedjes in een kerk tot stoned rappers3voor12: Kijk terug: James Holden & The Animal Spirits op Le Guess Who? 3voor12: Festivals willen dat je een kaart...
Le Guess Who? 2017 Press Archive
The Netherlands 3FM: "3voor12 is op Le Guess Who?, waar basketballen tegen aan het plafond geschroefde gitaren worden gegooid"3voor12: "Eerste 67 namen voor Le Guess Who? 2017" 3voor12: "Kelly Lee Owens, dagdromer met kennishonger" 3voor12: "Le Guess Who? str...
Le Guess Who? 2021 Press archive
"Overcoming lockdown obstacles, Le Guess Who? united a global cast of adventurous artists." - Crack Magazine The Netherlands 3voor12: Le Guess Who? strooit alvast met eerste namen en curatoren voor festivaleditie 20213voor12: Dit zijn onze 14 tips voor Le Guess Who? 20213voor12: Playlist Le Guess Who? 20213voor12: LGW21: De gestolde j...
Le Guess Who? 2020 Press archive
The Netherlands 3voor12: Dit zijn de vijftig belangrijkste festivals van Nederland3voor12: Le Guess Who? slaat 2020 over3voor12: Beverly Glenn-Copeland blijft onverstoorbaar hoopvol3voor12: Le Guess Who? organiseert fysiek en online evenement3voor12: Le Guess Who? maakt volledige line-up LGW OFF bekend3voor12: Alternatie...
Tickets for U-pas members
(Nederlandse tekst hieronder) Le Guess Who? 2025 6-9 November in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Are you a U-pas member and would you like to purchase a discounted ticket for Le Guess Who? 2025? Please send us an e-mail via info@leguesswho.com with the following information: • Send us a photo of your U-pas (front and back);• Let u...
About Le Guess Who?
With the motto of Listening is the Way Forward, Le Guess Who? is widely considered to be one of the most forward-thinking festivals around.
Apply for a Low Income Day Ticket
(Nederlandse tekst hieronder) In 2025, Le Guess Who? continues to offer Low Income Day Tickets. This initiative arises from the fact that we hear that the ticket price is one of the biggest barriers for people to visit the festival. We want to give people - who would like to visit the festival but don’t have the financial reso...
LGW Supporters
Thanks to visitors like you, Le Guess Who? has been able to grow into a leading international festival for underrepresented sounds over the past 15 years. We feel it is important to showcase these sounds that are rarely heard in other places. Feel the same way? You can help us to continue our mission by becoming a LGW Supporter. Your don...
CTA Festival App
Le Guess Who? takes pace across 20 locations in the city center of Utrecht; ranging from churches and galleries to theaters and pop venues. Most are within walking distance from each other. Here are a couple highlighted.
Press info
About Le Guess Who? With the motto Listening is the Way Forward, Le Guess Who? is widely considered to be one of the most forward-thinking festivals around. Le Guess Who? exists to promote sounds that are often overlooked, and to platform fresh perspectives on what is possible in music. Artists from all over the world push the boundaries...
Video 2019
Relive performances from LGW19 We captured some performances by Aldous Harding, Ayalew Mesfin & Debo Band, Efterklang, Girl Band, Makaya McCraven and Minyo Crusaders on video. Watch below: WATCH THE VIDEOS Press Archive Our archive includes news, reports and interviews for LGW19. Relive the edition with...
Code of Conduct & House Rules
Code of Conduct Le Guess Who? is a non-profit foundation that has been aspiring to smooth a path for artists in a wealth of music genres by giving them a stage in the heart of Utrecht since 2007. Social safety, inclusivity, and equity are indispensable to the infrastructure that facilitates our international audience, team and art. Pass...
Volunteering
Do you want to help us to make Le Guess Who? unforgettable? Gain work experience and have a peek behind the scenes of the production of a festival? Become part of a community of like-minded music lovers from all around the world? Discover new artists, encounter instruments you have never even heard of and enjoy the shows at the festival?...
Le Guess Who?
6-9 November 2025Utrecht, The Netherlands "Le Guess Who? proves: music & art can bring us together into a more hopeful future" – The Line of Best Fit