Fringe Program
Zwijnenstal
In the Zwijnenstal (the Boar’s Den), you tumble from one surprise into the next. Absurdist theatre, workshops you never could’ve imagined - but also wouldn’t have wanted to miss - and intimate performances with a golden edge. A magical spot within the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival.
Papa Leba's Mumbo Jumbo Jam
When: Saturday and Sunday in the Zwijnenstal
In this workshop, Papa Leba forms a “mumbo jumbo band” with kids (ages 6+), who add an awesome groove to his swampy blues tunes and jams! They’ll use ukuleles, shakers and other fun little instruments. A party for the kids and the grown-ups around them. Chillun don’t be blue, join the jam too!
Magician Olivier Quist
When: Sunday in the Zwijnenstal
Rotterdam-based magician Olivier Quist has become a familiar face across the country. With his trunk full of magic tricks, he has performed hundreds of shows. Seasoned by all those performances, he feels more at home on stage than in his own bed - but don’t think for a second that his act has become routine! This man has a gift for presenting every trick as if its success were a happy accident.
Belly Dancing with Soraya Sultan
When: Saturday and Sunday in the Zwijnenstal
The art of belly dancing is centuries old, yet it continues to captivate the imagination. Learn the basic techniques from Soraya Sultan and transport yourself into the enchanting world of One Thousand and One Nights. Suitable for ages 4 and up.
Workshop Spoons with The Vaudevillian
When: Friday, Saturday in the Zwijnenstal
The Vaudevillian isn’t just treating you to a great performance at the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival - they’re also here to teach you the art of playing the musical spoons! Through their interactive workshops, they’ve taught over 5,000 people around the world how to make music with wooden spoons. Will you be next to join the club? Get ready to shine your shoes to do the skoodle um skoo!
Dance workshops
This summer, Rotterdam gets its very own ADE: an Acoustic Dance Event. Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival is already known for some serious dancing, and this year we're turning it up a notch. Get ready to stomp to bluegrass beats, square dance like a pro, and try your hand at non-linear dancing - the opposite of line dancing - until you reach that ultimate natural high!
Gabbergrass: Learn to stomp your feet Rotterdam Style to bluegrass
When: Saturday and Sunday in the Zwijnenstal
Last summer, we discovered that the traditional dance styles of bluegrass aren’t so different from Rotterdam’s signature dance: gabber, with which we achieved worldwide fame. We want you to see and feel it for yourselves. Because the more we focus on similarities rather than differences, the more beautiful the world becomes!
For Julia Beets, gabber and hardcore are more than music. They’re a lifestyle, a culture, a community. During the festival, she’ll lead a stomping/gabber workshop that immerses you in the energy, rhythm, and pride of this unique and truly Dutch subculture.
Julia loves showing people her world while discovering new influences herself. She can’t wait to explore together the surprising energy and dance parallels between bluegrass and gabber.
Kid's Workshops
At the Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival, your kids will be having so much fun, you might just forget they're even there! With musical and creative workshops that are actually fun, they'll be fully entertained. In fact, good luck convincing them to leave…
The Museum of Just a Tiny Bit of Modern Art, with Museum Director Gerard
When: Saturday and Sunday in the kids’ workshop tent
After the great success in 2024, Suppoost, also known as Museum Director Gerard, is back again this year on the festival grounds for guided tours of the museum - featuring the latest collection, created by the younger artists this event brings. At the end of the afternoon, these unique works will be auctioned off. Suppoost Gerard will also make his presence felt here. So what’s stopping you? Come one, come all. Before you know it, it’ll be over…
Jam-area
Jamming with the Jam Pope
Feeling inspired to play some bluegrass yourself during the festival? You totally can! On the grounds, there’s a large yet cozy jam area set up. So bring your instrument along (you can safely store it in our guarded locker in between jams), and join ‘Jam Pope’ Laurens Joënsen and your new bluegrass buddies for a jam session. From beginners to advanced players, everyone is welcome. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly find yourself jamming with artists you just saw on stage!
