Music Guide: 10 concerts under €20 (April 2024)
Good music needn’t come at a price. Our music guide spotlights the lesser-known but equally worthy names, made for those who want great gigs on a budget in Amsterdam.
Joy (Anonymous)
Propelled to fame by breakout producer Fred..again mid-pandemic courtesy of their guerilla gigs that popped up around some of London’s most iconic outdoor spaces, Joy (Anonymous) brings precisely what you’d expect from them – exuberant, buoyant and joyous tunes. A little bit house, a little bit disco and a little bit gospel- catch them in Tolhuistuin for a rousing night of dancing.
- Sunday 8 April, doors open 19:30 | Tolhuistuin | €16 | tickets here
Marika Hackman
Multi-instrumentalist and alt singer Marika Hackman made one of the best indie albums of recent years in Any Human Friend and has since followed up with a string of haunting and original covers and another album that has cemented her place as one to watch in the alternative music scene. She arrives in Noord this month, equipped with an arsenal of mournful siren songs and stripped-back folk ballads that will sway even the most stoic of listeners.
- Tuesday 9 April, doors open 19:00 | Tolhuistuin | €20 | tickets here
Istanbul Midnight Project
Amsterdam has long celebrated the sounds of the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean (see parties like Kalinichta and Tropikali) and Istanbul Midnight Project looks to continue this tradition, bringing with them their take on the region’s jazz and fusion. Made up of musicians specialising in classical Greek, Arabic and Turkish compositions, if you can’t make it to the Mediterranean Sea this April, this might well be the next best thing.
- Tuesday 16 April, doors open 19:00 | Cinetol | €14-18 | tickets here
Jaguar Sun
Dream pop by way of Canada makes an appearance in the form of Chris Minielly aka Jaguar Sun, in his first European tour. Inspired by the rousing sounds of Frightened Rabbit and the ethereal soundscapes of Youth Lagoon, Jaguar Sun’s songs are soft, layered and otherworldly, ideal for the intimate confines of Cinetol.
- Saturday April 20, doors open 20:45 | Cinetol | €13.50 | tickets here
Stornoway
Few bands capture the quiet and tender sounds of English folk as Stornoway does. After a hiatus and a farewell tour, the Oxford-three piece is back with a new album and tour that incorporates their bouncy, wistful folk and love for the natural world. One for new and long-time fans, bop along to ‘I Saw You Blink’ as you welcome in the spring.
- Monday 22 April, doors open 19:00 | Tolhuistuin | €20 | tickets here
Molly Lewis
If you’re in the mood for something different, then Molly Lewis might be your pick. Having made a name for herself with her brand of ‘whistle pop’, this is moody, atmospheric music with the capacity to mesmerise and transport. Dim the lights down low and grab yourself a drink on the rocks – she’ll whisk you off to Chateau Marmont in a moment.
- Tuesday 23 April, doors open 20:00 | Cinetol | €17 | tickets here
Ghostly Kisses
Mesmeric. Mystic. Magnetic – just some of the words often used to describe Quebec City-hailing Ghostly Kisses. Like torch songs made for the quiet hours or dance music made in the bedroom, there’s an intimacy to everything they do. One for London Grammar and Vancouver Sleep Clinic fans, catch their siren songs in Noord this April.
- Thursday 25 April doors open 19:00 | Tolhuistuin | €17 | tickets here
Jamila Woods
While technically just above the €20 price range (only by 70 cents), Jamila Woods is worth that and more. Activist, poet and general R’n’B icon Woods’ sultry sounds tend to centre on themes of self-love and black identity, and on her latest album, she asks – what happens when we truly let love take over? Head to Melkweg and find out – you won’t regret it.
- Thursday 25 April doors open 19:30 | Melkweg | €20.70 | tickets here
Mansur Brown
Gorgeous guitar meets neo-soul and hip-hop courtesy of Mansur Brown, whose genre-splicing approach to music is experimental and hypnotic. Catch him within the austere walls of Bimhuis, where melancholy and rhythm merge for a night of magical instrumentals.
- Thursday 25 April doors open 19:30 | Bimhuis | prices vary | tickets here
Michael Marcagi
Country folk crooner Michael Marcagi had his breakthrough this year with the international hit ‘Scared to Start’, making his Dutch debut in Melkweg at the end of April. Like if The Lumineers and Noah Kahan joined forces, Michael Marcagi is for anyone who loves a road trip anthem – and a memorable melody at that.
- Monday 29 April doors open 19:30 | Melkweg | €18.40 | tickets here
