Gouda – On Saturday, July 5, the second edition of the Undercover Festival Gouda will take place at GOUDasfalt. Following a sold-out first edition, this second edition promises to be another musical spectacle. Top musicians from the Dutch music scene will pay tribute to their musical heroes: Queen, Bruce Springsteen, Supertramp, UB40, and Eric Clapton. The festival will feature street musicians, market stalls, food trucks, lively bars, and a spectacular new canopy in the middle of the grounds.
More than just a tribute: the power of the Undercoversessions
Not your typical tribute bands, but Undercoversessions. The difference? While tribute acts often step into the shoes of famous artists, Undercoversessions are all about the music—no costumes or impersonations. The sessions feature bands composed of renowned musicians from the Dutch music scene. For example, the Queen session includes members of De Staat, Krezip, and Navarone.
The concept of the Undercoversessions originated years ago at the Zwarte Cross festival, where numerous bands perform annually in the popular Undercover tent. A regular there is singer Martin van der Starre, now a resident of Gouda, who performed with his band Golden Earring Undercover at last year’s Undercover Festival Gouda and recently played on King’s Day in the Markt square.
Van der Starre launched the Undercoversessions at De Theaterbakkerij in Gouda. They were such a hit there that the event organization Gouds Geluk, in collaboration with De Theaterbakkerij, decided to take the concept to the next level. This led to the Undercover Festival Gouda, which Martin van der Starre will host this year.
A musical day for young and old
The Undercover Festival Gouda 2025 starts at 1:00 PM and runs until 11:00 PM. The festival kicks off with the Eric Clapton Undercover Session, while Queen has the honor of closing the festival. In between, sessions are planned featuring the music of UB40, Supertramp, and Bruce Springsteen.
Between performances, the DJs from Vinylgarten will keep the party going nonstop, featuring activities like music bingo where visitors can test their music knowledge. Street musicians scattered throughout the grounds will provide surprising musical interludes.
Larger capacity, same atmosphere
Last year, the festival drew 2,500 visitors. This year, capacity has been expanded to 3,000 to welcome even more music lovers. Tickets are selling fast. Anyone who wants to attend this year is advised not to wait too long.
Tickets are available at: www.undercoversessiesgouda.nl
