On May 5, Utrecht traditionally celebrates freedom with the Utrecht Liberation Festival in Park Transwijk. There is a solid line-up.
See below the names of those who will be on the main stage:
Claude
Singer Claude can be seen as one of the Ambassadors of Freedom at the Utrecht Liberation Festival. This young singer breaks all records: his catchy debut single “Ladada (Mon Dernier Mot)” was in the Top 5 of the biggest Dutch-language hits ever within six months of its release. Claude is seen as one of the most sought-after upcoming artists in the Netherlands.
DeWolff
The Dutch power trio DeWolff brings an explosive mix of blues rock with a touch of soul and psychedelics. You only have to watch 2 minutes of a DeWolff show to understand why music from the golden age of rock still has a place in the 21st century. DeWolff is a permanent fixture at festivals such as Pinkpop and Lowlands, and will return to Park Transwijk for this edition after their show at Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht 2018.
Bench sitters
Bench sitters, known for their YouTube and social media successes, have risen rapidly in the music industry. With hits such as “Je Blik Direction Me” and “Is Dat Nou Echt?” they have achieved millions of streams and two Gold records. They are known for their energetic live shows and have already sold out AFAS Live twice.
FAY
The 22-year-old singer FAY writes songs that you can sing along to in the car. Her songs are about broken relationships, growing older and falling in love. With her Dutch-language pop and powerful, cheerful chords, she manages to achieve millions of views on TikTok.
The Cool Quest
With their soulful vocals and infectious mix of influences from hip-hop to indie pop, The Cool Quest has captured the hearts of fans far beyond our borders. The band has an impressive list of awards and performances to their name, including previous shows at Liberation Festivals. The most unique part of their resume? In February 2022 they were the house band at NOS Studio Beijing during the Winter Olympics!
Rolf Sanchez
The Dutch King of Latin is coming to Park Transwijk! This singer has single-handedly taken Latin music in the Netherlands to a new level. For example, his song “Más Más Más” reached number #1 in the Dutch Top 40, becoming the highest-ranked Dutch-Spanish hit ever in the Netherlands. With his warm character and vocal skills he manages to make everyone dance like a real Latino/a.
CHO
Rapper CHO from the Bijlmer entered the hip-hop scene at a young age, where he immediately impressed with his unparalleled flows of nonchalant precision. In recent years he has built a solid foundation in the Dutch charts with singles such as ‘Maybe Wel Hè?’, ‘Ik Mis Je’ and ‘Popalik’ and he sold out his shows in no time, from Paradiso to AFAS LIVE. Over the years he has become a young veteran in the game, with a loyal audience that has grown with him. Or, as he himself put it to fellow rappers: “You are known to kids, I am famous to their parents!”
YĪN YĪN
When you first hear the oriental-tinged, instrumental dance floor funk of YĪN YĪN, you think you are dealing with a hip company from Bangkok, but it is really a Dutch band! The Thai psychedelic funk of their debut album The Rabbit That Hunts Tigers (2019) was a hit with critics and audiences and brought the band to Lowlands that same year, and the subsequent albums The Age Of Aquarius (2022) & Mount Matsu (2024) did so there. certainly not at the bottom. Immerse yourself in this world disco.
Zer00’s Heroes
This year Zer00’s Heroes has the honor of closing the festival day. The DJ collective comes to Bevrijdingsfestival Utrecht with the very best, worst, hardest and coolest from the 00s. From deeply buried guilty pleasures to rediscovered viral hits, Zer00’s Heroes has them all: 50 Cent, Owl City, Miley Cyrus, The Prodigy, Usher and of course the anthem-of-anthems: “Unwritten”.
In addition to the main stage, there are two more festival locations at the Liberation Festival: the Freedom Stage and Cafe De Vrijheid. Various Utrecht participants will also perform here. For more information and an overview of performance times: click here.
