In high anticipation of Lentekabinet’s 2024 Timetable Reveal, I sat down for a dim sum lunch with music programmers Elisa Luengo and David Cornelissen.
Words by Persis Bekkering
I wanted to know, how did they solve the puzzle of puzzles, putting together this year’s program? What are the big surprises, what are their boldest decisions? Armed with chopsticks, Elisa and David revealed their vision, strategies, and personal favourites.
New collaborations, updated stage designs, a playful new visual identity by Atelier Brenda: the 2024 edition of Lentekabinet brings a dash of fresh air. The timetable reflects this rejuvenating breeze. For the first time in its history, a live act closes the festival: Jungle by Night concludes Lotus on Sunday. Homegrown festival favourite Job Jobse co-hosts the new Strangelove stage, featuring Spray’s first ever live show. And watch out, too, for The Swamp’s programme on Sunday, which connects the dots between sounds from the SWANA region and bass music - featuring the sweltering, Tunisian landscape inspired pulse of Azu Tiwaline, a live performance of the anonymous underground formation Istanbul Ghetto Club, blending Anatolian traditional music with acid synths and new media art, and the mesmerising Nigerien electric guitar funk band Etran de L’Aïr.
“We wanted to take a big leap with Lentekabinet”, Elisa says, pouring her company a cup of fragrant jasmine tea. We’re sitting on the first floor of a beloved Chinese restaurant in the city centre, while below us, Amsterdam is teeming on one of the first sunny days of the year. “We went back to the drawing table, outlining a sharper definition of who we are, from a holistic perspective, taking music, art and visual identity together. The answer was simple: Lentekabinet is a spring celebration, the kick-off of the outdoor festival season in a beautiful, lush setting. It’s about being outside and having a great day with friends, while enjoying good music.”
“We went back to the drawing table, outlining a sharper definition of who we are, from a holistic perspective, taking music, art and visual identity together." - Elisa Luengo
“You can discover music you haven’t heard before”, Elisa’s co-programmer David adds, “but you can also bring your friends that are less invested music diggers than you. There is something for everyone, in a good mix. And it’s a beautiful trip by bike through the Dutch ‘polder’.”
Elisa smiles: “Yes, the setting is really tying everything together. The sun is tingling in your face, you’re in nature, and after months of Dutch hibernation, you can finally let go of that seasonal dip.”
New life
To translate that vibe into a timetable, they’ve put together a program with an overall organic sound, Elisa explains. That means basically no techno, no ‘dungeon music’. And a variety of live acts, of course. “Live music has always been an important element for Lentekabinet”, David fills in. “It’s getting more and more difficult for festivals these days, with the rising costs and fees for touring bands, but we are still able to keep a good balance between live music and DJ acts. Pop music is so integrated now, it has become an important part of DJ-sets as well, and the new generation is more pop-oriented than before. We also have a strong local focus. Lentekabinet has always felt strongly about showcasing the next generation of local artists, which also ties in nicely to the notion of spring: the season of new life, of bloom.”
"Lentekabinet has always felt strongly about showcasing the next generation of local artists, which also ties in nicely to the notion of spring: the season of new life, of bloom.” - David Cornlissen
Elisa agrees. “Lentekabinet is very much a Dutch festival. See, for example, our collaborations with Kanaal40 and Job Jobse.” Before the pandemic, Amsterdam’s nightlife was a pretty tight scene. But since the hiatus of the lockdowns, it has dissolved a bit. “We’re always asking ourselves, how can we (re)build bridges between the different micro-scenes and contribute to the local music climate? Our collaboration with forward-thinking Kanaal40 was one of the most successful additions from last year’s edition; both the stage design and music brought something new to the table. This year, we wanted to elevate it to an even higher level. The stage design is updated, bringing a cool tech-y contrast to the more organic scenography of the other stages, and besides showcasing local talents, together with programmers Hala Namer and Bram Owusu of Kanaal40, we sought out international emerging talent as well. I’m really excited about KABEAUSHÉ, a Kenyan artist and producer who released a record on Hakuna Kulala, Nyege Nyege’s record label. I think he’s a popstar in the making.”
“From the local scene, someone like Willem Feltzer represents this new current of pop-infused electronic music”, David adds. He seems enthusiastic about sharing part of his job with Kanaal40. “Through our collaboration, I’m finding out about new things. These are the things that make our job much more fun, to work with people with an ear on the ground.”
“Shall we say something about Strangelove, too?”, Elisa asks her colleague, while David makes space on the table for the next plate of crispy dumplings. “Speaking of the local connection…”
David takes the cue. “Jobse is now an internationally touring artist, but coming from Amsterdam, he basically grew up on Lentekabinet. He swears he’s never missed an edition. Our vision was to create a stage where people can stick around all day: popular, fun, energetic. We’re moving away from this idea of having a main stage, where only the artists that attract the biggest crowds are programmed. We want the different stages to create their own world and identity. Job Jobse invited both big names and personal favourites; he’s showing his chosen musical family. And as a good host, he’s opening and closing the stage. Pretty exciting, because he hasn’t played an opening set in a long time.”
"Our vision was to create a stage where people can stick around all day: popular, fun, energetic. We’re moving away from this idea of having a main stage, where only the artists that attract the biggest crowds are programmed." - David Cornelissen
Elisa: “I would define Strangelove as a euphoric celebration of queerness.”
David: “Besides some all-time Lentekabinet favourites like Eris Drew & Octo Octa, there are a few noteworthy live acts, such as the live debut of Spray, to which he agreed especially for Job. Plus a live show by D. Tiffany, who hasn’t played live in many years.”
Dutch flagships
A waiter comes to take the empty plates away, a dish of sauteed Chinese broccoli is put in the middle. Elisa and David, a well-oiled team, agree it’s time to reveal the thinking behind the timetable of Lotus.
Elisa: “We had the ambition of showcasing some of the best live bands from The Netherlands, and it all came together really nicely. There are Dutch flagships, such as the legendary band Altın Gün, and Elias Mazian, whose synth pop is making real waves. As the closing act, we selected Jungle by Night. It will be the first time for a live show to wrap up the festival. With that decision, we’re really betting on the live aspect of Lentekabinet.”
David: “It’s an experiment, a try-out, to see if a band as a closing act can be elevating and special. Not all bands can carry that, but we vouch for Jungle by Night that they can pull it off.”
Elisa: “I’m also looking forward to some of our favourites returning, such as Shanti Celeste, and Young Marco, who’ll be closing Saturday.”
Arabic percussion meets bass
Just like its predecessor Derde Kamer, The Swamp is distinguished by its in-depth, niche, connoisseur profile. Saturday promises to be a high-energy party. Elisa: “From the moody Palmbomen II who will be performing with singer Kaito Winse, we move towards a punk explosion with Volition Immanent, to ghetto tech with DJ Godfather closing, the pioneer of the genre.”
Sunday comes with a specific angle that explores the intersection between Arabic percussion and bass music, showcasing artists exploring their heritage. Most of them are coming from the SWANA region. “So we go from Azu Tiwaline’s polyrhythms, to a concert from Etran de l’Aïr, a band from Niger bringing the desert blues. For me, that’s truly one of the highlights of the program. And then a back to back by Deena Abdelwahed and DJ Plead, where tradition meets futurism.”
“I will have to miss eighty percent of the festival because I can’t be everywhere at once’, David says regrettingly. ‘But I’ll definitely come and check that out.”
Lentekabinet takes place at Het Twiske on 18th and 19th of May. Weekend tickets and Saturday tickets are completely sold out, tickets for Sunday are available here.