By Klaas Guchelaar

Last week Roos Rebergen (better known as Roosbeef) came to Groningen. Having played the Oosterpoort venue a few times already, she now took over the Vera venue.

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One day after Richmond Fontaine I was back in Groningen again, now in De Oosterpoort for another ‘folk’ band: Noah and the Whale. I remember seeing them before quite a while ago. As it turns out it was just a little over two years ago. On September 20th, in Vera actually. Also I remember not really knowing what to think of them back then, but I wanted to give them another try.

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Went to Vera last Thursday to see Richmond Fontaine, a ‘country rock’ band that, according to the info on the Vera website, sounds like Uncle Tupelo, 16 Horsepower and Willard Grand Conspiracy. So it ought to be right up my alley.

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Plato Planet 2011 was far from over as there were still three acts to see. So after the set by the Pioneers of Love I headed back to the “Kleine zaal” that was already getting crowded in the front rows.

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Having just left the Irene Wiersma’s poetry bundle presentation I saw a tweet by the Oosterpoort venue stating that everyone that was not currently attending Plato Planet 2011 was a pancake. And I had no intention of being a pancake, so I headed to the Oosterpoort and try to get in even though I had not previously requested a photo-pass. The good people of the Oosterpoort were nice enough to let me in anyway.

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I was asked to take photos at the presentation of Irene Wiersema’s collected poetry called ‘Wat U?’ in Vera on Sunday. And when a lady asks you to photograph such an event, you can’t refuse, now can you? So at the end of the afternoon I was present in Vera for my second poetry reading.

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I had already missed a few of the De Derde Helft editions, but seeing that the 8th edition on September 21st would have a Jazz quartet led by Michael Moore made me not want to miss this one and so last evening I went to what was to be a fantastic edition of De Derde Helft.

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Leafing through the upcoming concerts in De Oosterpoort I saw an announcement of a Cape Verdean singer mixing Cape Verdean rhythms, Brazilian sounds and jazzy popsongs to a sensual, swinging whole. Mayra Andrade was just what this summer has been missing.

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Two-thirds into the festival Take Root is going well. But there are still a few more acts to go. And even though a few acts I had high expectations of didn’t do so much for me as I hoped I was absolutely having a great time with acts that managed to surprise me a lot. Time to see if the last acts could do the same.

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At 7pm the Take Root festival is well under way. After some great surprises at the start of the festival, it’s time for the second part of Take Root 2011.

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It’s September, the concert summerbreak is over and what better way to kick of the new concert season than with a festival? Take Root -a festival for “past, present and upcoming American music”- had it’s 14th edition on September 10th. There were some mighty shoes to fill after last years edition. An edition I missed due to medical conditions. But I’m back I and I surely was not going to miss this edition!

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On September 4 the anual Viva italia day was held at the TT Circuit of Assen, hosting a great variety of Italian cars. Everything from the lovely Fiat 500′s to the outworldish Lamborghini’s. As long as the weather’s good, it’s a great chance to see some beautiful and some ridiculous cars as only the Italian can design.

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I’ve missed most of Noorderzon this year and as I was in Groningen already for GEM’s try-out, I wanted to see the gig at the Noorderson Het Dok stage too. Cansei de Ser Sexy played there on Saterday night to a huge excited audience

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The past few years I’ve seen Maurits Westerik perform solo on various occasions, but I’ve actually never seen him with his band GEM. Lucky for me he has a new album out with that band: Hunters Go Hungry. Although most of the members of the current line up are new additions. Still, I’m glad to finally see GEM live.

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Back in the day when men were real men and motorbikes were… killing machines on two wheels, driven by real men, motor-racers were a special breed of men. With far less regulations for the races, the motorbikes really were far more dangerous and louder than modern day bikes. And they’re prettier to look at. So it’s a good thing that Eext held a streetrace with these old machines, driven by old (but young at heart) racers.

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