Ahead of another edition of WAS. x Le Guess Who?, we caught up with the festival’s co-founder and artistic director to talk about the curiosity that drives the festival, memorable moments from past editions and the role WAS. plays in it all. From last-minute booking challenges to unexpected nights on the dance floor, a look behind the scenes of one of Utrecht’s most adventurous music festivals.
What’s your role at Le Guess Who?
I am the co-founder and artistic director at Le Guess Who?
How would you describe the festival to someone who’s never heard of it?
A citywide music festival that is curated by artists, for artists. A music festival that artists like to visit.
An annual gathering of curious minds.
What would you say to someone who doesn’t recognise any names on the line-up?
That’s fine. It’s not about what you know, it’s about how curious you are.
What do you hope visitors take home beyond the music?
A little bit more faith in humankind.
Which booking were you nervous about, and how did it turn out?
There are quite a few that have made me nervous over the years. Especially the ones where you need to sort out visas, and where communication isn’t easy due to no email or limited access to the internet.
One of them was Ustad Saami. It was a long and difficult process to make sure Ustad could travel and had all the necessary paperwork. He got his visas sorted the day before the show, and he still had to travel from Pakistan to the Netherlands. So, up until the last minute, it was very stressful. But when he played at the Jacobikerk and sang in his multitonal voice, it was all so worth it. Everyone was crying in the church.
Another one was when Björk was coming as a special guest for the Iris van Herpen curation. It was unannounced, which made me nervous, as I couldn’t tell anyone for months, and when or what she was planning to do wasn’t clear until the day of the show. But it all worked out. She did a great DJ set in TivoliVredenburg’s Cloud Nine and actually partied at WAS. until late in the morning.
Has Le Guess Who? introduced you to a side of Utrecht you didn’t know?
Every year, there are new locations, partners and local artists we collaborate with who show us sides of Utrecht we were not (or less) aware of. For a while now, the De Nijverheid area has been one of the most inspiring areas of the city, where good grassroots developments have happened. But there are many areas in Utrecht that we haven’t touched properly yet, so there is still lots of new ground to discover.
How does a club like WAS. contribute to the spirit of Le Guess Who?
WAS. has become an integral part of LGW over the years. WAS. is one of the few real ‘night’ locations of the festival. So, after a day of watching (intense) performances, this is the perfect place to continue the sonic exploration in a venue outside the city centre. A place where you really feel you can be yourself.