KEI x Usva Bandcontest

On April 18th it’s time again for the KEIxUsva Bandcontest in Simplon!

We’ve selected four diverse and amazing bands to battle for the following prize: a chance to perform at the KEI-week and to win a day in the studio! Our jury will choose the one and only Winner.

You can see the following bands shine at the Bandcontest:

State of the Art is a 3-piece Dutch Blues and Funk band from Groningen and Drenthe, Netherlands. The band formed early 2023 from a collection of Funk-loving blues boys who met at local jam sessions and who all just couldn’t get enough of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Clark jr., and Cory Wong. This unique mix of genres results in hard-hitting grooves and soulful melodies with lots of energy and a good connection with the audience that will make you want to dance throughout the night and dream away while listening to the moving lyrics.

MOMSNAME is an Indie pop band based in Leeuwarden. What once started as a solo project by Esmee Thiescheffer has grown into a full band. Her serene vocals are complemented by band members Joep, Sander and Dirk to create a dreamy and melancholic sound. These components take you to a soft, comforting but sometimes sad place.

Basement Four has been making our own songs for more than 5 years. We love making song from scratch by jamming, resulting in a combination of rap and R&B with jazzy and accordion influences. Basement Four consists of rapper and keyboardist Oscar, drummer Ollie, bass player Tycho and accordionist Daan. Our newest song is about the taste of apple juice, but we made much more new music. Last year was amazing, so we hope to see everyone back this year! We want to thank the Keiweek and Usva for this second opportunity!

The boys of Be My Guest make hard rock for softies. Punky drums, fuzzy riffs and catchy
hooks support the introspective lyrics of songwriter Dae ten Veen, who can put in music
get rid of what would otherwise only get a little rusty. Coming from different musical backgrounds, Be My Guest hovers somewhere between pop, alt-rock and indie, with a list of inspirations including but not limited to the entire QotSA catalog, one specific Ben Howard song, and all the British bands your dad listens to.

Come by at Simplon and enjoy an evening filled with live music!