Eindhoven is located in the province of Noord-Brabant, a region known for its rich musical history. Eindhoven has always been a city that was mainly focused on industrial development, but the city also had a lot to offer when it comes to art and culture. In Eindhoven's early history, music was an important part of daily life. People sang songs and played traditional instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, violin and accordion . These were simple instruments that could be played by many people and were often used to make dance music at parties and other local meetings.

The folk music in Eindhoven had a strong regional character and was closely linked to local customs and traditions. For example, special songs were sung during harvest festivals, carnivals and other festivities. In addition, there was a strong tradition of singing together, where people sang together at work or on other occasions.

In addition to folk music, ecclesiastical music also played an important role in Eindhoven's early music history. The city had a rich Catholic history and this was reflected in the music that was played there. During church services and processions, church songs were sung and various instruments were played, such as the organ, harp and lute. The influence of ecclesiastical music on folk music was great, especially when it comes to melodies and harmonies. Many of the traditional folk songs were therefore influenced by ecclesiastical music and were given a more harmonious structure.

In the early twentieth century, musical development in Eindhoven began to broaden and modernize. Various music schools were founded and new genres such as jazz and blues were created. The rise of the radio and the record industry also meant that people were able to get acquainted with new music styles.

All in all, the early history of music in Eindhoven played an important role in the development of music in the city and contributed to the rich and diverse musical traditions that are still found in Eindhoven and the surrounding area today.

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In the 1960s, a musical revolution began to take place in the Netherlands. Young people were looking for new forms of expression and resistance to the established order. The rise of rock and pop music played an important role in this. Eindhoven was one of the cities where this development occurred. In the 1960s, Eindhoven was an important industrial city with a rich musical culture. As a result, the city was an incubator for musical talent and creativity. It was therefore not surprising that some of the first Dutch rock bands were founded here.

In 1961, Peter Koelewijn founded the band Peter and his Rockets. This band was one of the first Dutch rock bands to write and release their own songs. The song “Kom van dat dak af” was a huge hit and marked the breakthrough of Dutch rock and pop music. In addition to Peter and his Rockets, other bands were founded in Eindhoven, such as The Hunters, The Black Albinos, The Motions and The Outsiders. These bands were groundbreaking in developing their own sound and style. They combined influences from American rock and roll and rhythm and blues with Dutch lyrics and melodies. For example, The Blue Diamonds were founded in 1961, which gained worldwide fame with their hit “Ramona”.

In addition to these well-known bands, numerous lesser-known bands were also active in Eindhoven, which contributed to the development of the Dutch music scene. Local venues such as the Stroomhuis and the Kazerne offered space for these bands to perform and share their music with the audience.

There were many local venues in Eindhoven where both local and international bands could perform. One of the most influential venues was the Effenaar, which was founded in 1971. It was a music venue where both local and international bands performed. De Effenaar quickly became an important place for the development of Dutch rock and pop music. The stage featured artists such as The Sex Pistols, Joy Division, U2, The Cure and The Clash, all of whom later became world famous.

It was not only the style of music that was innovative, but also the way the music was promoted. The local venues and bands used the alternative media to distribute their music. For example, fanzines were created that were distributed in the alternative scene. Mixtapes were also created and exchanged with each other. This method of promotion was very different from the traditional promotion of major record labels and commercial radio stations. The success of Eindhoven's local venues and bands had a major influence on the development of Dutch rock and pop music. Other cities in the Netherlands followed Eindhoven's example and opened their own music venues. This led to a thriving music scene throughout the Netherlands and ensured that Dutch bands broke through internationally.

The local venues and music culture played an important role in the development of rock and pop music in Eindhoven and the Netherlands. In addition, there was also the annual Jazz festival in Eindhoven, which later grew into the legendary pop festival Pinkpop. This festival provided a stage for many Dutch and international rock and pop artists and contributed to the growing popularity of rock and pop music in the Netherlands.

The musical culture in Eindhoven and the Netherlands was also strongly linked to the social and political developments of that time. The youth was looking for new forms of expression and identity, and rock and pop music played an important role in this. In this way, rock and pop music became a means of conveying social and political messages and resisting the established order. This was reflected in the music that was made there. Bands from Eindhoven often played harder and rawer music than bands from other parts of the Netherlands. They experimented with new sounds and styles and were therefore very innovative. For example, the band Mozes and the Firstborn from Eindhoven was one of the first to introduce the garage rock revival in the Netherlands.

Some well-known Dutch rock bands from the sixties and seventies:

• Golden Earring
• Shocking Blue
• Earth & Fire
• focusses
• Kayak
• Solution
• Alquin
• Supersister
• Brainbox
• Livin' Blues
• Tee Set
• Bintangs