A Square Full of Heroes

If there's one place where you can see many guitar heroes together during BRIDGE AROUND TOWN, it's Wilhelminaplein. Leif de Leeuw, Anton Goudsmit, Bombino, JB Meijers, and the current star Matteo Mancuso will take the stage. Niels examines the program and the biggest guitar heroes of the stage.

Nothing against Black Bottle Riot, Boogie Beasts, The Bluesbones, Zuco 103, and Tricklebolt. On the contrary, they are all amazing bands with fantastic guitarists. But this story focuses some of the other guitar heroes who will grace the Wilhelminaplein stage, and there are quite a few. Each with their own unique style, they all excel on their instrument.

Leif de Leeuw (Saturday, June 1st, 3:15 PM)

Leif de Leeuw is undoubtedly one of the greatest guitar heroes in the Benelux. Last year, the guitar magazine Gitarist named him Guitarist of the Year. In the list of "Best Blues(rock) Guitarists," Leif consistently scores high. But such lists are, of course, arbitrary. What is not arbitrary is that the phrasing, tone, creativity, and inventiveness of the guitarist born in Amersfoort are all top-notch. As soon as Leif straps on a guitar and plugs it in, there’s excitement. You may have seen and heard this during his performance at Wilhelminaplein last year. His playing breathes the southern United States, specifically The Allman Brothers. Leif is a guitarist to cherish. Listen, for example, to the solo in "Small Town" on Mighty Fine, the latest album by the Leif de Leeuw Band, and you'll hear Leif's finesse and dynamism in full glory.

The Ploctones: Anton Goudsmit (Sunday, June 2nd, 4:15 PM)

Another guitarist to cherish is Anton Goudsmit. When I see and hear him play, I never, ever think about tomorrow's groceries, emails I still need to send, what the weather will be later that week, and such needless thoughts. No, Goudsmit always pulls me into the here and now. That may be because Goudsmit uses not just his hands but his entire body when he plays. Playing the guitar is a very physical exercise for him, where he gives extra weight to the notes he pulls from his toes by singing, shouting, and screaming along. Always surprising, never less than one hundred percent. That is essentially what makes Goudsmit so good.

Bombino (Sunday, June 2nd, 9:00 PM)

A very different kind of guitar hero is Bombino. The Niger-born musician is a true storyteller who has personally brought traditional Tuareg music to a wider audience. In another article for this section, guitar teacher Bas Gaakeer already explained to me how enchanting the guitar sounds from the desert can be. Without exaggeration: Bombino is the hero in this style. Along with Mark Lettieri (who plays simultaneously at the Muziekgebouw with the Metropole Orkest), he closes the BRIDGE Guitar Festival. Bombino is a guitarist who will ensure that the memory of the festival resonates long after it ends.

JB Meijers (Sunday, June 2nd, 7:15 PM)

JB Meijers is a seeker. Along the way, he finds a lot. Yet he continues to seek. And that is a wonderful trait for any artist. What adorns this powerhouse, originally from Zeeland, is that he not only plays the guitar incredibly well but also writes beautiful songs. Many artists have gratefully used his talent. In an earlier episode of Guns About Guitars, Meijers talked more about his vision of the guitar and his guitar course ‘Playing Guitar with JB’. The best lesson, of course, is to see the man play live.

Matteo Mancuso (Saturday, June 1st, 9:45 PM)

And then the man of the moment. If you paid close attention, you already knew ten years ago that Matteo Mancuso would become a phenomenon, as evidenced by this video. He was only eighteen years old at the time and already played in a way that left your jaw on the floor. Matteo plays in a way no one else can: he has a unique fingerstyle technique and uses the lightning-fast fingers of his right hand like cutting plectrums. But more importantly, everything he plays sounds incredibly good, striking, and inventive. Everything fits. It’s musical, it’s innovative, and every note is full of feeling. He blends rock, jazz, flamenco, and even metal in a way I've never heard before. The accolades for Matteo are not minor. Rick Beato, one of the most important music YouTubers, called him possibly ‘The World’s Greatest Guitarist’. He did add a question mark to that statement, as it can be endlessly debated. To be well-prepared for such a discussion, it is essential to have seen him live. On Saturday evening, he closes the program of the day at Wilhelminaplein. I know where I'll be at that moment.

View the full program here

Wilhelminaplein line-up