Everything you need to know to prepare, perform and succeed at Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) on one page. ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag) is Europe's most important Showcase Festival and Music Conference, held every January in Groningen, The Netherlands. It functions as a professional filter where the industry gathers to identify the acts to book for the upcoming season. With over 4000+ Industry Professionals, 400+ Festival Bookers and 130+ Partner Festivals in attendance, you're sure to make some impactful connections. Let's break it down for you, what's important to know before you visit ESNS?
Eurosonic
Focuses on emerging European talent ready for international export. The showcase stages are where bookers come to discover the next big acts.
Noorderslag
Highlights Dutch acts for domestic industry and fans. A separate but parallel programme running alongside Eurosonic.
European Talent Exchange
By performing at ESNS, you are automatically eligible for Europen Talent Exchange, a programme that has facilitated over 6,200 shows at 130+ partner festivals globally. Your showcase is not just one gig; it opens the door to the whole European circuit.
The delegate database
This is your primary networking tool. Use it to identify, contact, and schedule individual meetings with labels, agents, and bookers before you even arrive in Groningen. The artists who succeed at ESNS arrive with meetings already booked.
The 7 steps to prep your ESNS
1. Coordinate your showcase with a new release or campaign. Success stories like Lézard and Cardinals saw growth because their appearances coincided with carefully timed album cycles.
2. The first two songs of your setlist are critical. Bookers often decide within minutes if they want to offer a deal.
3. Save live performances in your EPK. For booking agents, it's incredibly important to look at how you present yourself on stage.
4. Research who's attending. Prepare for networking, set up meetings, and know who you want to speak with before you land in Groningen.
5. Plan your post-ESNS outreach before the festival. What do you want to say to the people you spoke to afterwards?
6. Ensure your social media and streaming profiles are fully up to date. Bookers use these platforms to verify your 'buzz' and audience engagement before committing.
7. Have a spokesperson; A professional manager or agent lets you focus on the performance while they talk to the right people for attending your show.
A good chemistry on stage can outweigh a technical 'flop' if you connect with the crowd."
The 6 ways to outshine everyone during ESNS
1. Manage your time efficiently. ESNS is packed with showcases, panels, and meetings. Know your schedule and prioritise.
2. Make yourself recognisable. Use creative merchandise or stand-out visuals artwork, posters, stickers or QR codes to ensure people remember your name after the festival.
3. Have one-on-one meetings with delegates and bookers. These conversations close deals. Come prepared with your pitch.
4. Go to the party’s/network events, present yourself and tell your story instead of simply selling yourself. And don't forget to activate people to come to your show!
5. Bookers prioritise 'existential authenticity': your ability to command a room. A great chemistry on stage can outweigh a technical 'flop' if you connect with the crowd.
6. Post consistently during the festival to capture the 'here and now' energy and lead people to your venue. If a booker opens your socials during the event, being active counts.
What happens after ESNS?
Execute the follow-up within weeks, send substantial, proactive emails to every contact made. Don't just ask for a booking, but provide a reason to keep in touch. Reference specific conversations and show that you remember them.
Collaborate with your Export Office. They provide aftercare, share best practices and help you navigate 'invisible wins' like securing a new agent.
Provide feedback to your team and partners. Success may not look like a streaming spike or lots of contacts immediately. It often manifests as high-tier festival bookings later in the year.
How to get booked by festivals
Tools like ESNS Radar track Airplay and bookings, but many bookers still rely on gut feeling and the quality of your live show. Numbers open the door, but authenticity closes the deal. Focus on creating 'noise' around your project. When multiple industry people are talking about an act, it creates the validation a booker needs to commit. Research festivals that match your sound. Bookers appreciate artists who show initiative by understanding the specific niches of their event.
