Legendary Crossover Projects
Musical crossovers have existed for centuries. People travelled from place to place, carrying their instruments and songs with them. Along the way, new styles emerged - simply because people started making music together.
Special collaborations this year:
- Henhouse Prowlers & Lucky Fonz III
- Henhouse Prowlers & Kin'Gongolo Kiniata
Henhouse Prowlers & Lucky Fonz III
Sunday, 17:50 · Double Friendship Stage
A Lucky Fonz III show is known to be a rare mix of beautiful songs, wonderfully original lyrics, humour and genuine emotion. There may be laughter. There may be tears. There will quite possibly be dancing. In other words: feelings we are no strangers to at Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival.
The same goes for the Henhouse Prowlers, the much-loved string band from Chicago that we are always more than happy to fly in whenever a special collaboration is brewing.
We have a strong feeling that Lucky has found a few kindred spirits in the Henhouse Prowlers. Because besides being ridiculously good musicians, this American four-piece, both as a band and as Bluegrass Ambassadors, is committed to a kinder, more connected world. For one day, the frontline of that peaceful crusade lands on the Noordplein, where their heartfelt Americana meets the vivid, imaginative wordplay of Lucky Fonz III.
Henhouse Prowlers & Kin’Gongolo Kiniata
Saturday, 17:35 - 17:50 · De Zwijnenstal
One of this year’s most striking projects is the spontaneous collaboration with Congolese group Kin’Gongolo Kiniata, a band that creates experimental afropop and electrofunk on self-built instruments.
With Lingala lyrics about hope and resilience, they bring a completely different sonic world to the Noordplein. Together with Henhouse Prowlers, they will create new music live on stage, with all the tension, vulnerability and energy that comes when musicians meet for the first time and simply start playing.
Previous examples include:
In 2024, a brand-new genre was born thanks to Kader Tarhanine (Algeria) and the Henhouse Prowlers (USA): DesertGrass
2023: Hassan Wargui (MA), Leadbeaters (NL) & Aaron Jonah Lewis (VS)
2022: Khorshid Dadbeh (IRN) & Maurice van Hoek (NL)
2022: Ntjam Rosie (NL) & Henhouse Prowlers (VS)
2018: De Likt (NL) & Leadbeaters (NL)
We’ll keep doing it - because it connects, surprises, and inspires. And because it creates music you’d never hear otherwise.
