Roots Festival in Amsterdam. Photo courtesy of bartvanpoll via Flickr.
The annual Roots Festival, or world music festival in Amsterdam, celebrates its 15-year anniversary in 2012. From July 5th through the 8th, the city will be alive with music from all over the globe.
Performances will take place in the legendary Amsterdam music venues Melkweg and Paradiso, the modern Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ classical music concert hall and its associated innovative jazz and contemporary music center Bimhaus, both only a 10-minute walk from Central Station beside the harbor.
The first 3 days of music, Roots Indoor, will be held in these venues with performances by Ana Moura, queen of Portuguese fado; Ibrahim Maalouf, the Lebanese trumpeter playing oriental and world jazz; hip hop artist Chiddy Bang and reggae and Cuban percussion by Gente de Zona, plus many others.
Tickets for the various concerts are available online from the venues’ websites and include various combinations of performances for around €35 ($45).
On July 8th, Roots moves outdoors to become de Alliantie Roots Open Air, at Oosterpark in Amsterdam. This is a free concert with live performances including Bonga from Angola, Systema Solar from Colombia, the Tashi Lhunpo Monks from Tibet, Krar Collective from Ethiopia and Asakusa Jinta from Japan, plus lots of others.
Roots Open Air will also feature a market, Roots Bazaar, with over 125 stalls.
Oosterpark is in the eastern park of Amsterdam and easily accessible by either bicycle or trams 3, 7 and 9.
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Amsterdam tours and things to do, Amsterdam attractions, and Amsterdam travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Amsterdam for a customized tour!
June 7, 2012 by Viator
Day Trips, Festivals & Events, Unforgettable Experiences