Stukafest is back. Live and with no restrictions. It is a cultural festival with all sorts of cultural offerings per square metre in 16 student houses in Delft.
Roi Soleil is one of the acts during this edition of Stukafest. (Photo: Stukafest)
Theatrics among beer crates, academic books and smelly socks. It is permitted again. That is very welcome, says Julian van Rie, Chair of Stukafest’s Delft department. Last year ‘visitors’ had to make do with an online version of a silent disco. “It was a lot of fun, but it is fantastic that we can now hold the festival normally. People will remember what it is and note the date.”
On Thursday 31 March, 16 student houses will host a wide variety of performances, each lasting half an hour. Each act will perform three times. The Engelenbak will join in, as will a few other houses on the Oude Delft, the Bagijnhof and the Brabantse Turfmarkt.
Art exhibition
Much was still uncertain when the organisers started work in September 2021. Then the winter lockdown was imposed.
“We decided to organise an art exhibition in X, the sports and culture centre, to launch the promo and the event. At least it was something. It was a big success,” says Van Rie. “By postponing the Stukafest evening from 24 February to 31 March, the rest can luckily go ahead. We confirmed the acts at Christmas.”
He explains that during Stukafest you can enter houses where you would normally never go. “It’s really laid-back. That you can sit around enjoying a performance right in front of you in someone’s living room is unique. You meet other people, like-minded students who share similar cultural interests.”
The range, as usual, is very diverse: theatre, dance, cabaret and music of course that ranges from a great funk band to mystic experimental sounds. Choices will have to be made. Will you choose Lana del Gay who tells the hysterical and absurd but real story of a gender non-conforming person. Or for Zidghetneii, a doctoral candidate from another planet who carries out contact-free experiments on the public. Or perhaps for the musical dance performance of Tappin-It.
Lively drum chops
Van Rie recommends ending the event with music. One option is the lively drum chops, jazzy piano and racy guitar solos of the soul/funk/disco band Coverbak. Or the guerilla-brass of De Baron, the stamping techno of the Banja Leia duo, or the fusion music of Scandanavian jazz, classical and a touch of hip hop of the Heemels Trio.
Van Rie himself is looking forward to Liza Dries’ performance. “We don’t understand why there are still spots available. She sings alternative, dreamy, Dutch language pop with a strong underlying bass. Amazing. I’m also looking forward to Roi Soleil. He talks and sings at his keyboard in a mixture of Dutch, English and French. It’s very theatrical and very funny. I’ve seen him before and laughed my head off.”
There is only one thing missing this year, given all the uncertainties in the run-up to the festival: the after party. “But it will definitely happen next year,” promises Van Rie.
Jimmy Tigges / Redacteur Sport
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