Guido de Groot

Role:
Director, initiator, and Square Resident.

Favorite bluegrass moment:
The Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival is successful for me when we can let as many different visitors as possible enjoy the best Bluegrass artists, unique musical collaborations, and special fringe programming such as theater, workshops, talent contests, jam area, and much more! All these elements make the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival unique in the Dutch Festival landscape, and of course, I'm proud of that!

Anne Valk

Role:
I handle all practical matters concerning the artists. During the festival, I ensure that the artists lack nothing and that they are on stage on time to give a great show!

Favorite bluegrass moment:
My favorite Bluegrass moment was the show of Scott H. Biram. Of all the artists who came, I looked forward to that the most, and since then, I've been a fan!

Niek Nellen

Role:
Hi, I'm Niek Nellen, and I (together with colleagues behind the scenes of Afdeling Online) do online marketing for the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival. 

Favorite bluegrass moment:
My favorite musician is Joanna Newsom.

Favorite bluegrass drink:
A ginger beer (with or without alcohol, depends on the time).

Gijs van de Burgt

Role:
I've been on board as a press promoter of the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival since this year, in which role I try to generate attention for the festival in the media. I also write all the texts for the website. To be able to do this for a festival that I fully support and with a super nice team, that gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Favorite bluegrass moment:
The show of Herman Brock Jr., one of the artists I work for as a booker and press promoter (see www.harvestmusic.nl), at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival in 2015 under a delightful summer sun with a cold pint in my hand is still very vivid and with great pleasure in mind. But undoubtedly, new highlights will be created this year.

Olga Draisma & Kim van Bemmel

Role:
We are Olga Draisma (OntwerpKeuken) and Kim van Bemmel (Papiermonsters) and this year we are responsible for the graphic design of all festival materials!

Favorite bluegrass moment:
Last year, we tasted the atmosphere from our office window, this year we will experience the festival live!

Eddie Kuijpers

Role:
Technical producer / production

Favorite bluegrass moment:
My son Bor who, five years ago as a three-year-old boy, marched through the crowd. The friendliness of the festival allows that, and that's and will remain fantastic.

Roos Janssen

Role:
This year, I'm working for the first time as a production assistant..

Favorite bluegrass moment:
Last year, we participated with 'de stu' in the festival and worked together with the children on 'the most beautiful place in the world.' It was super fun to see how much creativity the children had and how they thought out of the box. It also became clear to me then that it really is a festival for everyone, that there are so many variations in all the visitors.

Gilles de Sitter

Role:
Bluegrass is a unique music genre. My mission as Marketing Coordinator is to bring the music to as many people as possible and to position the festival not only as a musical event, but as an unforgettable experience where you can enjoy together.

Favorite bluegrass moment:
Huh, I can list my favorite bands; Béla Fleck and The Flecktones and Punch Brothers, I really love them.

Donna Svasek

Role:
I am the volunteer coordinator and ensure that all volunteers, during setup, teardown, and during the festival, are in the right place at the right time. Together we make sure the volunteers have a good time, but if they unexpectedly encounter something, I'm their first point of contact, because without all our volunteers, the festival wouldn't be the festival. I also organize the pre- and after-party for our amazing volunteers and crew.

Favorite bluegrass moment:
The moments when all those different people completely let loose to their favorite band.

Daira Visch

Role:
As city programmer, I am the contact person for the festival's cooperation partners. For example, we have a school project running in the neighborhood (which results in a real bluegrass band) and from the festival, we provide music and art workshops at various neighborhood and welfare organizations. I'm also the contact person for the talent show that will take place at the Doelen this year.

Favorite bluegrass moment:
There are quite a few... standing in the pouring rain with the audience in the dome around Morgan O'Kane who makes the most beautiful music on his banjo, dancing in front of the stage at Son of Dave, ending the evening with Gangstergrass, a great performance by Della Mae, going crazy at King Salami & the Cumberland 3, the performances of the school band, the theater show of Cosmo and Bobje, going to the toilet in Dixieland aka from Janny and Wendy, kids helping out during the festival, seeing the setup and all the beautiful artwork of the decor appear, the (unique) visitors who come, the equally unique volunteers who come to help, the crossover that's programmed, tapping beers during the festival, taking a break with the tastiest coffee at the Smaakvolvo, the late-night program in the cafes, there are so many favorite moments... and all this in one weekend!