dB's: 'The soul has moved along'

Last year, the pop podium dB’s was forced to relocate. Journalist Machiel Coehorst checks how things are going with programmer Jeroen Boekhorst. ‘dB’s is a community-based venue; you really notice it when you need help.’

The cheerful bluegrass sounds of the Argentinian band Angry Zeta can be heard outside, where people of diverse plumage are enjoying the sun and music with a beer in their hand. At first sight, things at the new location for the rehearsal studios and pop podium dB’s are very much the same. But the move from Cartesiusweg to Vlampijpstraat wasn’t all plain sailing. For quite some time, there was uncertainty about whether dB’s could afford this new location, a former Turkish wedding palace. But luckily, the pop podium has been firing on all cylinders for the past 12 months.

Practice studio in dB's

he first gigs at the new venue were just three weeks after the last concert in the old dB’s. How did you get things going so quickly?

‘It was a tour de force. The first concerts didn’t go smoothly. The hall wasn’t ready, the podium and PA system had to be rebuilt for every single gig, and the insulation hadn’t been finished. Visitors had to walk through gates and fences to enter and leave the hall. Luckily, we had help from volunteers. dB’s is a community-based venue; you really notice it when you need help’.

The first thing that strikes you is that the hall’s much bigger.

‘Yes, I’m glad about that. You can get hundreds more people in. And the vibe in the hall is good, even with smaller audiences. But the rent is three times as high as for the old dB’s. So it’s a stretch. I’m a bit more careful about programming bands, and tend to look for a balance between well-known and lesser-known names.’

How did you manage to keep the typical dB’s atmosphere?

‘We didn’t consciously try to replicate the old dB’s. That wouldn’t have worked. But I’m happy that we’ve taken the soul of the place with us. I can’t really say how that happened. I think it’s mainly to do with the people. When bands play here for the first time, they say that they still feel the same familiar atmosphere. But we’re missing a good outdoor site. That was an eldorado for concerts and festivals at the old venue, particularly when we got a full licence after the pandemic. The outdoor space here isn’t up to scratch yet, with the car park, fences and containers. But we’ll get there in the end. We’re designing a room for chilling and exhibitions above the bar. And the rehearsal rooms are much better – the musicians are very enthusiastic.’

And the bar’s very long.

‘Yes, perhaps too long. I think the bar staff would do better on roller-skates!’

What about visitor numbers?

‘Numbers in the first six months were good. Now we have to keep that up. It’s a matter of finding a balance between staying alternative and going a bit more mainstream. dB’s has never focused on booking bands that will sell out, but we could afford to take more risk in the old location as the rent was lower. We’re lucky that the government-backed grant from Stichting Ruis, which provides the music programming, has been extended for another four years. And we’ve been allocated funding by the Performing Arts Fund (Fonds Podiumkunsten).’

Anna Wodka (dj and organizer of Ska’d for life):

‘dB’s is more professional than thirty years ago, when I rehearsed there with my band. It now has high-end rehearsal rooms, a larger concert hall and a super hip interior for Studio Moskou. But the atmosphere is as friendly as ever.’