This weekend, the Add To Wantlist crew was back in Rotterdam’s city center, for the annual showcase festival Left of the Dial. The menu featured nearly 150 acts (playing multiple times) in 19 different venues (including churches, a lightship, the library, a theatre, an exhibition space, an arcade hall, and a salsa club), along with an interesting side program (with bands on a boat and free daytime shows). It was also nice that The Replacements, to whom the event owes its name, were prominently featured on the playlists between shows.
The organizers once again deserve a lot of kudos for pulling off such a massive logistical operation, despite the storm and rain, but also for another diverse and solid line-up that was largely new to us as well. Not all genres were necessarily up our alley (to be honest, most of the choices were further from our preferences than in previous editions), but that’s also the appeal of such an adventure: so much to discover, with something for everyone who doesn’t follow the crowd.
Anyway, below we’ll share what we found to be the highlights—in order of appearance, and with some music embedded to give you an idea of what you missed (and a chance to add it to your wantlist).
HONK (UK) @ WaterFront (Oct 23)
Bluntly oversimplified on the festival poster as “gritty country punk that will make you line-dance like there’s no tomorrow” || WaterFront was a legendary bunker-like space under the embankment on the north side of the iconic Willemsbrug, which had to close its doors in 2008. This weekend we were finally allowed back in, which resulted in many happy faces—the ideal location to kick off the festival, where HONK provided a cheerful soundtrack with their trash can country. Frontman Randy “Steel” Harrison saw his face in the crowd numerous times on printed signs, but he unfazedly defined the sound with his signature lap steel playing. We previously wrote about HONK’s 2022 debut EP Grand Opening, which they followed up last summer with Closing Down Sale (Shooting Tzars Records).
Prewn (US) @Paradijskerk (Oct 23)
“Slow-building, ragged, tormented indie rock” || Three weeks ago, Prewn aka Izzy Hagerup enchanted us with her new studio album System (Exploding In Sound Records)—we described it as stark, uncompromising, and strangely magnetic in our review—and her intimate folk songs also holded up more than well live. With just her guitar and pure voice, she effortlessly silenced the large, yet fully packed church. Beautiful.
Tina Sandwich (UK) @ Annabel – down (Oct 23)
“Commanding alt-indie pop” || The Scottish band brought a theatrical, genre-blending sound to the stage, fusing punk energy with synth-pop flair, and unique vocals. Charming but rocking they won over the audience, with a good dose of humor and infectious laughter between the songs. Most recent release is 2024’s For The World EP.
Zac Lawrence (UK) @ Theater Rotterdam (Oct 23)
“Soulful storytelling to help you make it through the night” || Charismatic singer-songwriter Zac Lawrence knows the festival like no other—his über-energetic post-punk band Deadletter was a crowd favorite on repeat—but this time he served a very different set. He presented his sophomore solo album, Beware Of Pity (Good Clean Fun Recordings), sitting on a chair with an acoustic guitar, accompanied by skilled bandmates on clarinet and cello. Considering the weather, You Must Be The Rain was a fitting opening song, and it just got better when everyone in the audience sang along to A Day At The Carnival (from debut LP The Hate). Different, but very good and captivating.
Cistern (CA) @ The Cube (Oct 23)
“Rock music with a gritty, unpolished, and instinct-driven energy” || In another venue that evoked a sentimental sense of a bygone youth—formerly Plan C—two guitarists and a bassist lined up in a row at the front of the stage, strumming and singing together, playing as tightly and dynamically as the drummer behind them. They turned jagged energy into communion, balancing harmony and dissonance—even the older part of the audience felt young again. Cistern’s new album, Rhizome (Meat Machine Records), was released last week.
elwell (UK) @ 160K – Dance Hall (Oct 24)
“A slice of perfect slacker rock” || Leeds-based throwback emo band elwell had a somewhat shy stage presence that beautifully contrasted with their passionate, throat-shredding delivery. The super-tight rhythm section held everything together while the excellent bassist made the twinkly guitars sparkle even more. Raw emotion, tight musicianship—it just worked. Debut EP go faster came out last May (self-released).
Vieira and The Silvers (UK) @Salsability (Oct 24)
“Bluesy garage psych with a twang” || Oh yeah, this soulful rock ‘n’ roll six-piece did everything you hope they would. Swaggering riffs, passionate harmonica, wailing sax, rhythmic groove, and infectious gang vocals—timeless and exciting. Vieira and The Silvers have the songs, the sound, and the looks, and despite the early hour, they got everyone dancing, encouraged by the band’s magnetic frontman. It was a steamy and breathtaking spectacle. We’re looking forward to the official release of their new EP, which is coming soon (and has already been sold at the merch stand, so we know how good it is).
TH Da Freak @ Annabel – up (Oct 24)
“An electrifying blend of proto-grunge, pop structures and surreal lyrics” || These troublemakers from Bordeaux channeled the scrappy energy (and fashion) of 90s grunge, with melodic pop eccentricity emerging from the noise of fuzzed-out guitars and amazing dual vocals. The sound of the five-piece—made up of family and friends—was spontaneous, ragged, dynamic, and joyously chaotic, chasing freedom over finesse. TH Da Freak’s latest album, Negative Freaks (Flippin’ Freaks, Howlin’ Banana Records, Les Disques du Paradis), came out this spring, with Rage Is Consuming Me as one of the live highlights.
Brown Horse (UK) @ Arminius (Oct 24)
“The warmest British Americana around” || Last year, I described Brown Horse’s debut LP Reservoir as authentic, sincere, and real, and the same applies to their stage presence. The six-piece crafted twangy, heartfelt alt-country, with rich instrumentation and a warm sound, both tender and raw. The band was visibly impressed by the alluring environment in which they performed. Check out their sophomore album All The Right Weaknesses (Loose Music).
Clara Mann (FR/UK) @ Paradijskerk (Oct 24)
“Almost folk music” || In this beautiful and serene environment, Clara Mann put the angelic qualities of her voice to perfect use. Just a guitar (and an ancient piano for the final three songs), a voice, and a whole lot of heartbreak. Sad songs never sounded this pure—and yes, there were goosebumps all around. Just listen to debut LP Rift (The State51 Conspiracy).
The Hobknobs (NL) @ De Doelen – Studio 1 (Oct 24)
“Deceptively simple songs” || Yaël Dekker (The Klittens) and Arie van Vliet (Lewsberg) released their debut EP Gather No Moss (Correct Cassettes) as The Hobknobs this spring, folky indie pop with distinctive male-female vocals and sparse musical backing. Here they—expanded with a bassist—performed it live, plus some new songs, including Dictionary (released the day of the performance, taken from A Colourful Storm’s Going back to sleep… compilation), and an anti-war song (with voting advice for the upcoming Dutch elections). As idiosyncratic as it was beautiful, this was probably the most intimate show of the festival: “We play some quiet songs, and then some more.”
Delivery Service (IRE) @ Uniek (Oct 25)
“‘A mix of driving bass, rough-edged guitars, and unexpectedly pleasant vocal blends’” || Punchy energy and tempo changes inspired by 90s alt-rock, anyone? The Dublin quartet boasts three great female singers, each captivating on their own, but even more so together—a pleasant way to start the day. Delivery Service’s debut EP is on its way.
M.J.H. Thompson + Volksorkest (NL) @ 160K – Arcade (Oct 25)
“Pointy, playful songs that are always on the verge of spinning out of control” || The Dutch musical collective delivered one of the wildest shows of the festival—and easily one of the most fun. The only apparent rule in their universe? Break every rule. Vocals turned into whoops and hollers, noise into AC/DC riffs, chaos into Hank Williams worship. Total anarchy, total joy. Their setting—an arcade hall—couldn’t have been more perfect for this band of musical cartoon characters. Best of You is taken from the upcoming album, due out early 2026 (Geertruida).
ZONBI (FR/HT) @ Rotown (Oct 25)
“Hypnotic performances that feel like defiant rites of sound” || Atypical, yet probably the biggest revelation of the past three days. Born from the collision of punk urgency, free-jazz chaos, Haitian ritual energy, and voodoo spirits, ZONBI transmitted something raw, transcendent, and defiantly alive. The way Dimitri Milbrun’s spoken poetry (in Creole) and howling saxophone intertwined with the inimitable riffs and rhythms of bandmates Achille Bof, Simon Harel, and Thomas Dalibard was intense and exhilarating. We didn’t understand every word or note, but they hit every fiber of our being. A special and unique experience—the applause and cheers were loud and long, nothing less than a triumph. Their eponymous debut EP drops this week (Swish Swash Records).
The Roebucks (UK) @ Roodkapje – Expo (Oct 25)
“A warm mix of pop and folk with rich harmonies” || Well, that was a pleasant introduction to the Brighton four-piece, who put their own ragged yet soulful spin on folky blues rock (or bluesy alt-country)—a mix of lush harmonies, catchy riffs, and pounding drums. From their “hit” Sable to a grooving cover of John Lee Hooker’s Dimples, and a closing track dedicated to Arne Slot, it was all equally appealing. New song Mona is their second label release (Goo Records).
Laundromat Chicks (AUT) @ Theater Rotterdam (Oct 25)
“A sunburst of jangly pop songs” || The four young musicians from Vienna kick off their new album Sometimes Possessed (Siluh Records) with a quirky version of the classic This Strange Effect, reason to open our monthly overview of favorite covers with it last January. Their performance here was just as stubborn, exemplified by the sharing of a bag of chips between songs. Meanwhile, their 80s-inspired pop music with jangly guitars and clear harmony vocals is stronger than you might expect. Album track Sunburn stood out for me, but here I’m sharing their latest single, Want Some Air.
thistle. (UK) @ Unique (Oct 25)
“Fast-paced, hard-hitting guitars with melancholic vocals” || Northampton trio Thistle hit hard with a loud, pedal-fueled set full of aggression and grit. For such a young band, their blend of post-hardcore, shoegaze, and alt-rock felt impressively ’90s—and impressively solid. Latest EP is appropriately called it’s nice to see you, stranger (Venn Records).
Gob Psychic (DK) @ Club Centraal (Oct 25)
“Sneery vocals and catchy riffs” || Apparently, these garage punks from Aarhus had been dying to play LOTD for years, getting rejected twice before finally making the bill. And wow, did they make up for lost time. Their loud, fast, and surprisingly tight brand of garage punk (with a whole lotta songs about being unemployed) turned the place into a pogo pit. Think The Chats, but Danish—and just as fun. Their most recent 7″ Rent Payer (Slovenly Recordings) dates back to last year, but here’s a track from their 2023 self-titled EP.
Classic Trucks (UK) @ Paradijskerk (Oct 25)
“A new vessel for creative exploration and experimentation” || Langkamer‘s Joshua Jarman and his band filled the bewitching church with an innermost and largely subdued folk-rock performance, driven by wholehearted vocals and a lightening sound, in which every sentence resonated. The fact that the announcement of a song about the rejection of capitalism coincided with the promotion of band shirt sales on-site spoke volumes about the seriousness and absurdity that seamlessly blend here. Classic Trucks released two EPs this year: their debut Century Songs, and Clown Town soon after (Breakfast Records).
PS
Obviously, it’s impossible to see everything. Some venues are a 20-minute walk from each other, some are already packed by the time you arrive, and you also have to find some time to eat in between. For example, I would have loved to see Japanese rock duo Moja on Friday night at 160K – Arcade, but there already was a line out the door that couldn’t get in—from what I heard through the windows, that must have been a pretty cool show. Luckily, there’s always another stage nearby with a surprise waiting.
NB
The contributions about elwell, Clara Mann, M.J.H. Thompson + Volksorkest, Thistle, and Gob Psychic are by Niek (thanks bro!).
Music fans can get tickets for Left of the Dial 2026 here. Aspiring bands can apply here to play there.
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