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BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS 2026
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Nijmegen
Rotterdam
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Groningen
Amsterdam
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In 2023, the Amsterdam-based indie rock band Hiqpy participated in Popronde as a 3voor12 Talent. With each show, the reviews grew more enthusiastic, and their inbox filled with industry emails. A subsequent fifteen-minute performance at Noorderslag 2024 was enough to convince the rest of the Netherlands of Hiqpy's right to exist. And that was before they had released a single note of music. "Hiqpy is suddenly the next big thing, even though there's nothing on Spotify," headlined NRC newspaper.
The fifteen minutes in Groningen led to more than forty festival shows in 2024. From Paaspop, Appelpop, and Bevrijdingspop Haarlem to Best Kept Secret and Into The Great Wide Open, where the beginner's stage, the Kuil, was already too small for the growing Hiqpy hype. In 2024, the band received the Zonneprijs for musical talent, was included in EKKO's Class of 2024, and was chosen as Record Store Day Talent. The 7-inch LP with two live tracks they released in limited edition became a collector’s item. Not surprising, since besides two videos on YouTube, Hiqpy’s magic was only available live. There was nothing on Spotify because, since the train started moving in January, there had been no time to record music.
At the end of 2024, the band signed a contract with Sony Music. In January 2025, their long-awaited debut single, Something, was released. Written by Abir—who moved from Tunisia to Haarlem at the age of two and, as a child, found in songwriting a way to express the confusing tension between her Islamic background and Western freedoms—Something is about letting go of religious, cultural, and societal expectations in order to experience love, both for others and, in doing so, for yourself. The track was produced by Grammy Award–winner Danton Supple, known for his work on several albums by Coldplay, U2, and Elbow. Something also crossed borders: it was played on BBC Radio in the UK and was named “De Belofte” of April by Belgian radio station Willy. In May, the second single Red Flag Magician was released, followed in September by Girl in Red—both also produced by Supple.
In early 2025, Hiqpy was named Volkskrant Talent. During Eurosonic Noorderslag, they were voted the #1 act of the festival by 3voor12 and were also named 3FM Talent of 2025. Hiqpy was nominated for a 3FM Award in the category Best Newcomer, and in June they were selected as a Spotify RADAR artist. That same year, the band performed at more than forty festivals in the Netherlands and Belgium, including Pinkpop, Rock Werchter, Into The Great Wide Open, Gent Jazz, Paaspop and Appelpop.
PRESS
Hiqpy poptalent voor 2025 - Volkskrant
"Each year, de Volkskrant, assisted by a professional jury, selects the cultural talents of the upcoming year. Which actor, comedian, writer, and pop artist are set to make it big in 2025? In the last category, the choice fell on the indie band Hiqpy, who have already caught the attention of heavyweights in the music industry with their charming bravado in the live circuit."
NPO3FM – 3FM Talent Hiqpy After Their Very First Pinkpop Show: “We fucking did it!”
This year named a 3FM Talent, the band brought Stage 4 to life with an energetic and tight performance that people will still be talking about all weekend.
3VOOR12 – Pinkpop 2025: The Eight Best Acts of Friday
It’s not unthinkable that Hiqpy, currently eyeing that big pink tent from the outside, will soon just skip it entirely and leap straight from the smallest to the biggest Pinkpop stage. That penny drops – of course – during the two singles Something and Red Flag Magician. Especially the latter, in which Ter Veld conjures a rare and beautiful remedy from his guitar like some kind of miracle doctor. What. A. Song.
3VOOR12 – #4df25: The Top 25 Vierdaagse Festival 2025
Raging guitars, a wall of sound, and the angelic – at times piercing – voice of singer Abir Hamam instantly shake the audience awake. Abir weaves long, almost theatrical vocal lines through the songs, making the music often feel psychedelic. But Hiqpy is hard to put in a box. There are sweet indie pop riffs, there’s garage rock, and on top of that Abir sings with a voice that can seduce just as easily as it can scream wildly out of control.Dansende Beren – Pinkpop 2025 (Festival Day 1): The Revival Has Begun
Sky-high expectations often lead to disappointment, but that was not the case for Hiqpy. The band played with such confidence that it was more like they had two fingers up that very same nose.NPO3FM – 3FM Talent Hiqpy in the 3FM Live Box
The Amsterdam band showed why they’re among the most promising Dutch acts of the moment. And they did it in their own, distinctive way: with tight guitar riffs and a voice that lingers in your mind long after.
Dansende Beren – New Single Hiqpy – ‘Red Flag Magician’
Anyone who’s had the chance to see Hiqpy live knows that the reputation the Dutch band has built is well deserved.
3VOOR12 – Hiqpy kicks off the festival summer with new single ‘Red Flag Magician’
‘’Red Flag Magician’ is the second single from Hiqpy, the talented Amsterdam indie rock band that’s set to play at almost every festival this summer as the act to watch’’
OOR – Dutch Guitar Sensations
‘’Vestrock is also bringing the two most eye-catching Dutch guitar bands of the moment to Hulst for this edition. The first, Hiqpy, which just released its second track last week, already has the reputation of being ‘the next big thing from Holland.’’
OOR – 7 tracks you cannot miss
‘’For two years in a row, Hiqpy was an OOR favorite at ESNS; now there is a second single with Red Flag Magician.’’
Hiqpy – KINK
‘’Hiqpy is having an incredibly busy year. The quartet’s schedule has been packed for a while now, and there’s no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. With their debut single Something, Hiqpy already landed a KINK XL, and with Red Flag Magician, they’re pulling off the same trick again.’’
Hiqpy – Parool
‘’Fans of the Amsterdam-based band Hiqpy — named a 3voor12 Talent two years ago — had to make do without any tracks on Spotify. That’s now changed, and the band is steadily making waves both at home and abroad.’’
‘’It’s been a long time since we’ve heard a guitar band explode from the amps with as much bravado as Amsterdam’s Hiqpy. Back home, anyone with a pair of ears has already praised them to the skies, so their triumphant arrival in Belgium was only a matter of time. Soon, they’ll be warming up in Leuven, and this summer, Gent Jazz awaits.’’
Which Dutch acts will conquer 2025 – 3voor12 National
“The poppy but grungy tracks in the vein of Wolf Alice always manage to enchant. Now signed with Sony Music, so we can finally expect releases.”
Certainties, rumors, and pure hope: which new pop albums can we expect in 2025? - NRC
“The band that broke through at Noorderslag with their magical indie rock after a nap in Roxy Dekker's dressing room has already recorded music with Danton Supple (U2, Coldplay, Elbow).”
Noorderslag 2025 is a marathon of young talent, showcasing a delightfully high standard - Volkskrant
"Hiqpy has just one single. But what they’ve shown live here and there has been the talk of the town in well-informed pop circles for months. The Amsterdam band exceeds expectations, starting with the roaring, grunge-rocking intensity of the opening track. What a rich and layered guitar sound this band has, and how every song builds to euphoric climaxes.”Hiqpy is 3FM Talent – NPO Radio 3FM
"Hiqpy has been named one of the new 3FM Talents during ESNS 2025! The band has been working on their development for two years, and their rising brilliance continues to shine. Their journey from Popronde to ESNS 2024 is a textbook example of how an act can grow.”
This is the Top 25 of Noorderslag 2025 - 3voor12
#1 “Yes, Hiqpy is a volcano on the verge of eruption. Absolutely brilliant. Every Dutch festival should want this band.”
It’s shaping up to be an amazing festival summer, as shown by the joyfully overstimulating Paaspop – de Volkskrant
“Hiqpy has been mentioned before in de Volkskrant, but their show at Paaspop was simply too good not to include in this list.”Paaspop 2025 (Festival Day 3): Climaxing with the Easter Bunny – Dansende Beren
“A band that seems to be developing at lightning speed – just last year they were in a much smaller tent across the field – and one we’d better keep an eye on.”Paaspop 2025: Hiqpy has outgrown the small venues – 3voor12 Tilburg
“This fuzzy grunge foursome has made evolving their specialty.”
Hiqpy: "Bazart, The Haunted Youth... And don't forget Zwangere Guy!" - HUMO
"It's been a long time since we've heard a guitar band blast from the amps with as much bravado as Amsterdam's Hiqpy."These were the 8 highlights of Noorderslag 2025 – Festileaks
“The set is solid and consistently gritty. Hiqpy delivers a mix of garage rock and shoegaze, with an attitude that clearly shows they’re in full control amidst the massive energy bomb in the room.”
The Mother Tongue Reigns at Noorderslag Festival – NRC
“Having ‘buzz’ is the ultimate currency at Noorderslag. Hiqpy performed in a packed Binnenzaal, with a long line still outside the door. Mission accomplished. But more importantly, the band, driven by the slender indie-rock frontwoman Abir Hamam, delivered on every front with an outstanding performance that built up to, at last, their first single: ‘Something.’ It captures everything that makes Hiqpy so thrilling: dreamy grunge and riffs full of rapture.”
Hiqpy: Something – Nieuweplaat.nl
“The most anticipated debut track of a Dutch band in recent years.”
Hiqpy is suddenly the next big thing, even though there's nothing on Spotify – NRC
7 acts to look forward to at Eurosonic Noorderslag - Volkskrant
"The growling guitars and the contrasting heavenly vocals of singer Abir Hamam drag you to a thick finale full of shoegaze and choir euphoria. What an entry. And how we look forward to the show at Noorderslag, where soon there will be no room left. Grab three beers and queue up an hour in advance."
Noorderslag 2025 tips: 7 acts on the verge of a Dutch breakthrough - Festileaks
“It was widely noted all year that Hiqpy wanted to build a live reputation before releasing music online. That approach has paid off.”
When the members of Amsterdam's Hiqpy feel the itch, they know: this is good - TROUW
Debut single Hiqpy – “Something” – Dansende Beren
“Everything indicates that ‘Something’ has been carefully perfected, but by first playing live and then releasing, Hiqpy only makes more of an impression.”
The 6 must-sees of Appelpop 2024 - Festileaks
“Make sure you're there, so in a few years, you can say: 'I saw them before they even had music on Spotify.’”
Into The Great Wide Open concludes the festival summer beautifully with quirky music - NRC
“A touching little moment in a performance with punch: how Hiqpy’s indie rockers leaned their heads together.”
14 tips for Best Kept Secret 2024 - 3voor12
“There’s no song on Spotify, and yet the Dutch shoegaze band Hiqpy is already making waves. They were the standouts of Popronde, and after playing three songs at Noorderslag, the band immediately rose to the top regions of our list. In short: there’s a lively buzz around Hiqpy, whose sound lies somewhere between Wolf Alice and NewDad.”
ESNS24: these 15 new acts made the most impact in Groningen - OOR
“The Amsterdam quartet makes a deliberate entry into the music world with only two live videos on their own YouTube channel and (yet) no studio recordings on streaming platforms. But the live show stands solidly, suggesting that Hiqpy is headed for a brilliant future.”