Kunsthal Rotterdam

Ever since their start at BIRD, Yardbird has grown into a independent household name within the city’s nightlife, organizing clubnights whit a focus on R&B, hiphop, Future Beats and everything hot in collaboration with Festival Downtown. For this edition of Friday Night LIVE, Yardbird presents a unique crossover featuring the finest sounds, live acts, and modern art installations by Rotterdam creatives.

Bites & drinks

During Friday Night LIVE, the tastiest bites are back on the menu, or you can order your favourite cocktail at de Cocktailfiets (Cocktail Bicycle)! And are you coming to the Kunsthal with your Friday Night LIVE ticket between 17:00 and 19:00 hrs? Then a complimentary welcome drink (wine, beer, or soda) will be waiting for you!

 Programme 

NEWARK (LIVE)

NEWARK (Wessel Slager) is back with jazzy hip-hop grooves, sticky pop hooks, and that unmistakable quirky indie edge – wrapped in cinematic soundscapes. With the acclaimed debut Flowers That Don’t Exist, he carved out a hypnotic, deep-cut emotional world. Now, ahead of his long-awaited May release You're Gone Too Fast, he’s giving you a first taste during Friday Night LIVE x Yardbird. Get ready for layered rhythms, moody harmonies, and that perfect push-and-pull between minimalism and momentum.

Beau Zwart & Jade Caballeros (LIVE)

Producer & composer Beau Zwart and lifelong friend and singer Jade Cabalerros team up for a set that’s got it all: blending Jade’s Belizean-inspired melodies with Beau’s heavy club vibes. Expect something intimate and explosive – a perfect mix of emotion, energy, and undeniable chemistry. Soulful yet banging. Think Jorja Smith meets St Germain, with nods to UK garage and bubbling. It all comes together at the Kunsthal!

Lashanti

Lashanti is a Surinamese-Dutch DJ based in Rotterdam. Inspired by the rich tones of soul and jazz, she weaves a sound that is both timeless and irresistibly captivating. With rhythms that are funky, groovy, and undeniably sexy, she makes her mark by turning every set into an unforgettable celebration of sound, passion and freedom.

BKK

Bkk’s sets are a blend of nostalgic grooves, throwbacks, and eclectic sounds, crafted to create timeless moments on the dancefloor. As the founder of “NO BIGGIE,” he brings people together with familiar hits and hidden gems that make every night unforgettable.

About Haegue Yang. Leap Year

Explore the multisensory world of the leading, South Korean artist Haegue Yang (1971, Seoul) at the Kunsthal. The exhibition Leap Year presents a comprehensive overview of Yang’s thirty-year career, showcasing more than seventy works, including installations, sculptures, videos, and audio works. She transforms everyday objects like drying racks into anthropomorphic creatures in acrobatic poses, animates aluminium blinds with theatrical lights, and creates immersive auditory experiences with resonating metal bells.

Lolo

Lolo draws inspiration from a diverse range of genres including R&B, Soul, Afrobeats, Baile Funk, Garage and Jungle to create a unique and refreshing sound with a lot of dynamic blends. Known for his energetic sets that combine the genres named above, Lolo creates a unique experience for all who attend the dance floor.

Jewel

Jewel is a Rotterdam born and raised DJ and a real product of the local scene. Her eclectic library takes you on a journey through electro, funk and groovy baselines. With a preference for analogue synths, hersets can have a raw edge, but the through line is always a contagious happy energy coming both from the speakers and the DJ herself.

Jelmer Konjo - The Nerve Spiral 

Jelmer Konjo is a Rotterdam-based artist known for his playful artworks. For Friday Night LIVE x Yardbird, Jelmer created The Nerve Spiral, an interactive machine that blends art and play. This installation pits two players against each other in a nerve-wracking battle. Who will be your challenger?

Subcultures - Roffa Archive 

Annemoon Kater, one of the three founders of the photo collective Roffa Archive, is building an expanding online archive centered on nightlife culture. As a freelance photographer, she captures the unique energy of the night for various organizations and events. Her hometown of Rotterdam and the mysterious atmosphere of the night serve as constant sources of inspiration. She prefers using analog photography whenever possible, which lends her images an authentic and timeless depth.

During Friday Night LIVE, film and photo recordings will be made. By participating in the event, you agree to the use of these images by Kunsthal Rotterdam and Yardbird.

Friday Night LIVE is made possible thanks to the participants of the VriendenLoterij.