The name Desolaas might make you think of words like “desolate.” Unfortunately. “Soelaas” (solace). That more or less captures the atmosphere of this Groningen-based band’s songs. If Desolaas were a landscape, you’d see vast red sandy plains, abandoned houses, withered trees, and a thunderstorm just passing by. Desolaas plays a mix of Dutch-language indie and rock, with rich vocal harmonies.

The Dutch lyrics by Anne van Slageren are about arguments, loss, unwanted intimacy, social media, and the search for meaning in all of this. These bittersweet themes are sung in harmony by Anne and Welmoed. The songs are dark, sultry, melancholic, and comforting.

Wired to Ignore is one of the support acts. They make indie rock with sharp lyrics and a strong sense of urgency. They draw inspiration from the ’90s—a time that, in their view, seemed better in many ways, especially the period before smartphones and the internet.

ReClues
As ReClues, poet and artist Loes de Hoog will provide the in-between support this afternoon. Starting from a foundation of spoken word, she will present a combination of poetry, sound, visuals, and music, centered around the main theme: “How do you keep standing when the whole fucking world is going to hell?”

Desolaas | Official website