The accent is on precocious, individual, truculent and independent. Not to mention the absurd. Or utterly brilliant for that matter… Think Eric’s club circa 1977-9 or Alan Horne's bedsit in 1980, albeit with fewer cravats. Think Shocking Blue jamming with the Litter, think Dave Davies & Chuck Berry relieving themselves on a statue of Kenny Williams. Think stupidly unattainable dreams, hopes up in smoke, staring at the fragments of pie crust in the bottom of your pint. Oh yeah... it can be virtually guaranteed that each act will have a cob on at some point.

The fun starts on Thursday the 14th and continues on Friday the 15th at the label's "spiritual home" of O'Ceallaigh's. (In all seriousness, don't drink the whiskey if you value your liver.)
The label’s unique, D.I.Y. “austerity” chic should be in evidence too: last year they borrowed a drum kit from a toy shop. So no i-phones please, just a tanner for the meter.

In the winter of 2008, The Black Atlantic recorded their debut album in a cabin in the high peak district of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York. The calm beauty of this deserted place, the snow and the spontaneity of the sessions provided the ingredients for a record full of beautiful acoustic pop. It was released last summer, and became an international hit, being downloaded over 50.000 times. The sound of The Black Atlantic is minimalistic; guitar, percussion, piano and lots of vocal harmony, but resulting in pop songs that may compete with the work of Bon Iver or a rustic Fleet Foxes. Currently amiable frontman Geert van der Velde is conquering Europe with The Black Atlantic, but they will also play four shows during SXSW Festival in Austin. Their gig at Subroutine Connects is one of seven (!), but we all know this one is going to stand out in their ‘Groningen Overkill Tour 2010’. The good people of Subroutine are fans and will be working together with Geert and his Ham Radio Communications in 2010.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/theblackatlantic

photo: moniek steenbergen

Deze

This new band of Henk Koorn (Hallo Venray) and Natasha van Waardenburg (Appie Kim, ex-De Nieuwe Vrolijkheid) recently recorded a couple of noisy 60’s rocksongs for fun. Joined by Nick van den Eertwegh (Zulke) on drums and Lou and Nasi Wang as important behind-the-screen actors they released a stunning 7”. Now all of this wouldn’t be too shocking, we already knew that Henk en Natasha could write some killer tunes, but these are actually sung in Dutch. Currently they’ve done a handful of gigs promoting the new release. We can’t wait to see them.

>> www.dezedeze.nl

Rue Royale

Some say Ruth and Brookln Dekker sold all of their belongings in 2008 to become a full-time touring band. Since then they’ve toured extensively, playing shows in every corner of Europe, from Sturmglocke squat in Hannover to house shows in Yorkshire. In The Netherlands it were especially these living room concerts that made their fame. Gradually progressing from house shows into bigger venues (they’ve played Vera in Groningen for 200+), they’ve silenced audiences all over with their candle-lit, acoustic Rue Royale sound. Influenced by Fleetwood Mac, Nick Drake, Zero 7 and Doves, Ruth and Brookln released their self-titled full-length debut in February 2008. Their music amassed over 250.000 plays on MySpace and was played on MTV. Currently already world-famous in Groningen, Rue Royale is playing yet another gig in our hometown for Subroutine Connects. Brought to you in cooperation with our friends of Ham Radio Communications.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/rueroyale

Lars Ludvig Löfgren

As part of the cooperation with Ham Radio Communications, Subroutine Connects presents a show of Swedish songwriter Lars Ludvig Löfgren. This talented Scandinavian has played in a number of bands, but for the first two weeks of January he is touring only with Richard Axelsson from The Running Bears; since the other bears are in hibernation. The eclectic music of Löfgren, judging from his new record Heterochromia, reminds us of The Shins meeting Wolf Parade (or other Montreal weirdness) and cool spin-offs of the latter like Sunset Rubdown or Swan Lake. Others come up with Lemonheads, Swervedriver and The Ronettes. Welcome, Lars!

Listen:
>>www.myspace.com/larsludviglofgren

We Swim You Jump

We Swim You Jump was voted ‘best local band' of 2008 by the Vera audience. The band and their driven indie-pop songs is definitely a revelation from Groningen. Playing festivals like Eurosonic, Noorderzon and De Affaire, this young quintet won crowds around The Netherlands and abroad, combining several styles of pop. We Swim You Jump brings you melodic and beautiful pop songs, reminiscing of the music of Nada Surf, The Posies and Elliott Smith. Now working their way towards recording their first full-length, which will see the light in 2010, the band is experimenting with new songs in live setting a lot. Chances are that every time you see the band they play new material. Supporting Broken Records and Cold War Kids they also gave some insight of their creative process. Since their debut EP already was critically acclaimed, Subroutine can’t wait to hear the new record. Similar to last year, We Swim You Jump will play several gigs during the Eurosonic weekend, one of which will be at the Unconvention Showcase.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/weswimyoujump
>> We Swim You Jump on Subroutine

Hospital Bombers

Last year we said: 'Hospital Bombers is one of the best bands from Holland'. A year has passed, and except for a new bass-player and new material, not too much has changed. Hospital Bombers still receive (inter)national acclaim, mainly because of their brilliant songwriting: the songs of Hospital Bombers are, initially, very loose, extremely melodic, frivolous, but in essence very precisely thought-out, with strong sixties influences. Also an amazing live-band they’ve played at Eurosonic, SXSW, Popkomm, CMJ and last year’s SR020 event. Although they’ve turned heads internationally we feel that they still don’t get the deserved credit in our homeland. Subroutine Records is proud to welcome Hospital Bombers to Groningen again.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/hospitalbombersatmyspace
>> www.hospitalbombers.com/

The Gluemen

Dutch indie superstars The Gluemen formed in 1993. The next year they recorded their first demo cassette. After a short stay in New York in the start of 1996 (playing CBGB's and Knitting Factory), they returned home and recorded the demo 'Le Rock Toujours'. This new demo received critical acclaim and ‘demo of the month’- reviews from Intro! (Germany), Studio Brussels (Belgium) and the now defunct Dutch indie magazine Opscene. All this resulted in The Gluemen recording their fabulous debut ‘Shanghaied’ in 1998, which became the first release on indie label Transformed Dreams. The record was hailed as ‘Disque Pop de la Semaine’ by Dutch radio and the band played Noorderslag. That year the band split up. The following years ex-Gluemen popped up in bands like Bingo Trappers, The White Broncos and Vox von Braun. In the summer of 2009 three of the former members, completed by Frank (Accadians, ex-Propeller) started recording and practicing again. The first Gluemen concert in over 10 years will be at Subroutine Connects.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/thegluemen
>> www.gluemen.com/

Hallo Venray

Another last (minute) confirmation for Subroutine Connects 2010. We are proud to announce that none other than Dutch rock legends of Hallo Venray will be the final act in Kult this thursday. Formed in 1985, they've been playing their Neil Young and Velvets influenced guitar rock for 25 glorious years. Their latest album 'Leather on my Soul' was released in 2008. Expect heavy guitar riffs and brilliant songs. Expect the best closisng act possible. Expect a very very crowded bar. Expect one hysterically cool night. 

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/hallovenray

AC Berkheimer

On their 2008 debut ‘In a series of long days’ AC Berkheimer showed their interpretation of shoegaze: combining fierce guitar riffs with dark and dreamy vocals. A wall of melancholy, so to say. Their unique sound has already found an audience from the USA to Japan. This debut, recorded by Dutch producer Corno Zwetsloot and released by Subroutine, is a beautiful, multi-layered shoegaze-album, received massive airplay and was included in the ‘Music that Matters’-podcast by the DJ’s of KEXP Radio in Seattle. Last autumn the band has teamed up with Zwetsloot again to record a new album, which is to be released in 2010. From what we’ve heard so far the new songs are perhaps even edgier, more explosive and generally sensational. Some of them were played when AC Berkheimer recently supported A Place to Bury Strangers in Vera, Groningen. In a truly focused show they earned the respect of the main act and the huge crowd. They are back and this time around we wouldn’t be surprised if AC Berkheimer made 2010 their year.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/acberkheimer
>> www.acberkheimer.com/
>> AC Berkheimer on Subroutine

The Secret Love Parade

2 girls, no cup. Instead: 2 voices, one guitar, one philicorda, keyboard and the odd melodica. That’s what Aino and Janna from The Secret Love Parade use to create their post-modern romantic pop songs. Amsterdam’s cutest new group and voted (by us) best newcomers of the year, call their music ‘a dreamy interpretation of the world’. A world, which appears to be full of love, heartbreak, passion, infidelity and other classic topics. Since their self titled debut came out in September they’ve been performing almost everywhere. They’re playing Groningen for the third time already. Hopefully al this experience will prepare them for the pivotal events at Subroutine Connects.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/thesecretloveparade

photo: roelien

Vox von Braun

When KEXP Seattle wrote that Vox von Braun represents the revival of rock ‘n’ roll cool in Europe in their Song-of-the-Day podcast report in January 2009, the band was touring the Netherlands promoting their debut ‘Something Ain’t Wrong’. Since then this four piece from Groningen have broadened their sound. Although we can still recognize the influences of Pavement, The Other Half and even Lee Hazlewood, the new material brings some new elements to the table.

Currently playing more than ever, they are exploring new grounds, preparing to record the follow-up to their successful debut. The new songs put forward a new persuasion, power and self-confidence, making a Vox von Braun gig even more thrilling than before. One thing is certain, we can assure you that the band will continue to bring their seemingly uninterested, but in reality heavily focused classic pop/rock songs with an undiminished swagger of cool.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/voxvonbraun
>> Vox von Braun on Subroutine
>> www.voxvonbraun.com

I am Oak

From the vibrant indie scene of Utrecht comes I Am Oak. Since 2008 Thijs Kuijken has been steadily releasing home-recorded (CDr) EP’s, quickly making a name for himself in the Dutch indie scene. He made his live-debut in 2008 and is currently touring with ‘additional live oaks’ that join him on stage. I am Oak makes classic melancholic singer/songwriter pop. His latest release ‘Ols Songd’ contains mainly acoustic guitar songs, blended with some organ, samples, beats and vocal harmony. The intimate setting of the upstairs lounge of O’Ceallaigh is the perfect place to quietly enjoy the music of I Am Oak.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/iamoak

Space Siren

The band started as an explosive project to celebrate the birth of their daughter Janneke in 2005 with a vinyl release of father Corno and mother Ineke covering ‘Verschwende Deine Jugend’ (‘Waste your Childhood’) by Deutsch- Amerikanische Freundschaft. The single got airplay from BBC Radio One, but the band members were to busy with their other bands (Zoppo, Seesaw) to give the band full priority.

Since 2008 Space Siren is playing live shows, joined on stage by Aico (ex-Cereal) and Gwendolien (AC Berkheimer). In this formation, the band recently started recording new material for a fresh release in 2010, to be released on Subroutine.

Listen:
>> www.myspace.com/spacesiren