It’s already that time of year again! ‘What time,’ I hear you ask? Time for the grand finale of GRONDSLAG Groningen ‘24/25 on June 15 here at EM2! This year too, seven young Groningen-based acts have worked hard to develop their talent. Of course, we’re eager to see the final results, so don’t miss it! On Sunday, June 15, the current cohort of the talent development program GRONDSLAG Groningen will show what they’ve got. In a grand showcase, which marks the end of the program, each act gets half an hour to show what they’ve learned this year. As tradition dictates, this takes place at EM2, which will have its wood oven blazing hot to serve you delicious pizzas. Want to start your summer off right? Then you have to be there! GRONDSLAG Groningen is a talent development program specifically created to help raw musical talent from Groningen grow in a tailored way, to stand out, become more self-sufficient, and gain tools to help them further their careers. The goal is to support them in building a sustainable musical career. It’s a unique collaboration between ESNS, SPOT, VERA, Simplon, Noordstaat, EM2, and POPgroningen. Through this program, these organizations contribute to a sustainable pop music scene in the province of Groningen. Bruno Storm Bruno Storm is a singer/songwriter from Groningen who makes Dutch indie pop. He translates his emotions and life lessons into music with the intention of creating safety through vulnerability. Influenced by Sufjan Stevens, Spinvis, and Froukje, he delivers compelling Dutch lyrics and evocative acoustic guitar work. “I want to make men cry” – Bruno Storm // INFO Marieke Schenk Marieke Schenk is an artist who can be summed up in one word: enthusiastic! This emerging Dutch pop artist is winning over an ever-growing audience with her catchy songs and energetic performances. She writes about discovering oneself and finding one’s place in the world, with themes like identity, relationships, and youth playing a key role. // INFO Mart Eerens Mart Eerens is a musician, guitarist, and songwriter known for his nostalgic sound – a tribute to 70s rock music. Born and raised in Winschoten, Mart developed a love for music early on in his small village. Together with his bandmates, drummer Darren Lut and bassist Adrian Dedinca, Mart brings the music to life with a tight and energetic show. // INFO Sabine Energetic, powerful, and honest – these traits define Dutch pop artist Sabine. With bright melodies, dark sounds, and a subtle sparkle, she creates a musical world where emotion and energy meet. As an “extroverted thinker,” Sabine expresses herself through personal lyrics about inner turmoil, and she brings high energy to the stage with her band. Catchy pop hooks and danceable beats make it impossible to stay still! “One that gets you dancing despite life’s heaviness sometimes” – 3voor12 Groningen // INFO Statera Their music can be described as alternative rock with a punk attitude, an indie edge, and dramatic storytelling. This last part becomes clear through the abstract world painted in their lyrics. That abstract world has one clear goal: to show the beauty and pain of vulnerability in a chaotic, confusing, and contradictory world. // INFO Stof Stof is in the crack beside the fridge or dripping from your range hood into your soup. But hey, what can you do? After all, we’re all made of dust (Stof), and Stof is made of everything. With pensive Dutch-language lyrics, Stof explores the intersection of the dirty and raw with the philosophical and ethereal. With a blend of acoustic and electronic instruments, diverse genres, and a strong groove, Stof delivers a surprising and danceable show. // INFO The Last Mandrill The Last Mandrill is a Dutch artist and interdisciplinary composer working in alternative rock and pop music, composition, and with visual artists. The music is a melting pot of 90s alt-rock with a future-phobic worldview where nostalgia and despair confront the future and what’s meant to be. His themes of mythologized or intensified reality focus on the theatrical with romantic sincerity from a self-mocking host. // INFO SPECIAL GUEST: De Koots These gentlemen successfully completed the program last year and are now returning for the fun – but also to show where Grondslag can take you! De Koots bring the best of the 60s wrapped in a modern jacket. Energetic vintage sounds that fans of The Beatles, but also Spinvis, will love. Their catchy tunes will make you laugh, dance, and sing along. Blown-out tube amps give even the sweetest Koots song a gritty edge. After the successful release of their EP *Volgende Keer Beter*, De Koots are back in 2025 with new work. A string of new singles will blast through your speakers in 2025. // INFO // FREE ENTRY // Exact times will be announced! Restaurant open: 17:00–20:00 What’s better than starting your evening with some good food and drinks? Want to be sure of a delicious pizza? Better make a reservation!