Rotterdam Rave? Hardcore!

This evening kicks off a three-part series on Music, Clubbing & Identity. On Wednesday, March 29, we will dive into Rotterdam, (the) Nighttown and on Tuesday, April 4, The Ritual of Raving.

Rotterdam Rave? Hardcore!

Rotterdam was long considered to be the cultural and musical opposite to its rival, Amsterdam. As an industrial monolith, there seemed to be little space here for both highbrow extravaganza or pop music spectacle. To outsiders, Rotterdam looked like a barren field. But meanwhile, the city sprouted more musical diversity than imaginable – from Cabo Verdian classics to Dancehall hits, from raunchy underground Punk to socially fueled Hip-Hop. But there is one music genre that was so connected to its roots that it actually became known as ‘Rotterdam’ for a while: Gabber, or Hardcore music. What other sound than pile driving beats could define this city?

This evening, we dive into the genre, its audience, and the beats itself. Moderated by Julian Schaap, we watch the documentary Gabbers!, learn about the working class roots of the genre in a talk by Koen van Eijck and close with a Gabber-beats showcase by DJ’s Thrasher and Lucy Furr (PRSPCT Records).

Julian Schaap is assistant professor Sociology of Music and Koen van Eijck is professor Cultural Lifestyles. Both work at the Department of Arts and Culture Studies at Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Gareth ‘Thrasher’ de Wijk is a globally renowned hardcore/breakcore DJ/producer and main person behind the PRSPCT label. Malin ‘Lucy Furr’ Kolbrink started as a Hardcore DJ in the early 2000s and has moved to become a major name in Hard Drum ‘n Bass.

About the series Music, Clubbing & Identity

What would day life be without nightlife? To many, clubbing is almost as indispensable as food, drink and sleep for the body and mind. What else can wash the week away like a great night out clubbing with friends? During the Covid-19 lockdowns, people got a proper glimpse of life without pounding beats, sweaty dance floors and moments of collective ecstasy. And we missed it, dearly. Now that it’s back in full swing, we wonder: what is it about clubbing and raving that makes it so important for people? In this trilogy, Studium Generale and the Rotterdam Popular Music Studies research group (ESHCC) explore this question and more, with documentary screenings, brief academic talks and professionals from the field. Learn everything about collective ecstasy, pounding gabber beats and the rich nightlife history of Rotterdam.