Best Loud Night Out
From Sydney, Australia, Colin came for the girl and stayed for the music. The quality, quantity and diversity of music, by both local and touring acts, can keep a punter like Colin out all week. He's been accused of being not decisive enough when picking his musical 'tribe'. Fact is, he love all genres equally on the proviso the music is executed with quality. That's why Colin can be found at indie gigs, hip-hop shows, jazz nights, punk concerts and dance parties all around Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Rock City
Amsterdam has hosted many touring rock bands over the years courtesy of its liberal attitude and carefree spirit.
Amsterdam for one reason or another has always captured the imagination of international musicians. David Bowie penned a song named 'Amsterdam', so to do Swedish Indie-trio Peter Bjorn & John while Willy Nelson and Snoop Dogg showed their love for its liberal attitudes by recording country/rap duet "My Medicine" here in 2008.
On tour
When big bands like Nine Inch Nails, Oasis or The Killers come to town expect them to sell out the Heineken Music Hall, but it takes the calibre of AC/DC, U2 or Rolling Stones to fill football stadium, Amsterdam Arena.
Yet, Keith Richards once said the intimate semi-acoustic shows the Rolling Stones played at Paradiso over 26-27 May 1995 were up there with the best they ever did. And for true punters and the harder working 'black' collar rockers alike, weekly gigs are more often then not split between smaller venues.
Courtesy of the Paradiso and Melkweg agendas alone, the city punches above its weight in great music every week.
But of course there are smaller venues catering to the indie and underground scenes. For fans of alternative, indie and art rock check out Subbacultcha!, purveyors of all things DIY with an informative magazine, busy gig and party schedule filled with international acts and a record label signing local talent.
Ticket to rock
As a result, Amsterdammers are spoiled for choice; big band jazz to minimal tech-house, blues to metal, pop to the avant garde all sell out.
Ticket prices vary but are often kind to punters' wallets, allowing us to be more inquisitive with our choices and take risks to see acts we may not have heard but are intrigued by, or tipped off about. Check venues for line-ups, grab a beer and enjoy.
Melkweg was at the forefront of Amsterdam's counterculture movement, occupying an old factory building, now with two music halls, a café, gallery, cinema and media room.
Former church, Paradiso, also prominent from the 60s counterculture era has rocked Amsterdam ever since.
Winston Kingdom
offer punk rock, hardcore and underground shows as well as DJ nights til 3am. Check their agenda for shows.
Occii, an ex-squat thrashes out punk rock, experimental, and other noise for anxious youth. Amstelveenseweg 134.
- Tell a friend
More tips by I Ambassador Colin
Recent I ambassadors tips