Macy Gray has the unique ability to create refreshingly honest music that resonates deeply with listeners. As an R&B/soul singer, songwriter, musician and producer, Gray uses her vibrant voice, her unshakeable command of soul, and her funky presence to fully harness the power of music.
Originally from Canton, Ohio, Gray moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California (USC). While studying, she began writing songs for friends and discovered her own voice when the singer meant to record the demos failed to show up. That defining moment marked the beginning of a legendary career.
Gray broke through in 1999 with her debut album On How Life Is, which went triple platinum and established her as a leading force in R&B and soul. She built a loyal global fanbase, sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, received five Grammy® nominations, won the 2000 Grammy® Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance for her iconic hit I Try, and also received two BRIT Awards.
Now, more than two decades into her career, Gray continues to evolve as a versatile artist. She has collaborated with renowned musicians including Bobby Brown, Ariana Grande and Galactic, and remains a compelling live performer who sells out venues around the world. Her talent extends beyond music: she appeared in Tyler Perry’s Black Reel Award-winning film For Colored Girls, as well as Brotherly Love and Cardboard Boxer, appeared in Netflix’s Fuller House, and made a memorable appearance in Training Day alongside Academy Award winner Denzel Washington.
Magnetic on stage and impossible to categorize, Greentea Peng will be performing at PAARD on October 9 for a very special SUPAFLY opening concert. The singer delivers a unique blend of soul, dub, and jazz that fuses into something entirely her own, performed with her unmistakable voice that packs an even bigger punch live. Her sets are known for their raw energy, authenticity, and a connection with the audience that simply can’t be faked.
Behind the alias is Aria Wells, born and raised in South London. After spending some time in Mexico, where she performed with a local band and rediscovered herself as an artist, she returned to the UK. In 2018, she broke through with her debut EP Sensi, a mix of soul, trip-hop, and dub. Her single “Downers” put her on the international map, and since then she has steadily built a body of work that effortlessly blends neo-soul, jazz, dub, and hip-hop. Highlights include her much-talked-about debut album Man Made (2021) and the mixtape GREENZONE 108 (2022). She has collaborated with legends such as Tricky and Lee “Scratch” Perry, and along the way has built a reputation as one of the most distinctive voices on the British music scene.
Get ready for SUPAFLY Festival, the festival where neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop, and (UK) jazz fuse together! On the 10th of October, PAARD will be the place to discover new music and enjoy fantastic live performances. Get ready to be surprised by a wide-ranging lineup featuring artists from all over the world and right from your own backyard. Expect performances by, among others: Kofi Stone, Moses Yoofee Trio, Nectar Woode & Dominique Fils-Aime.
At Podium21’s annual summer film concert in the Kloosterkerk (The Hague), this year’s programme features a true centenary classic: The General (1926) by Buster Keaton. The silent film will be accompanied by live organ improvisations performed by organist Geerten van de Wetering.
The General is widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements of the silent film era. Buster Keaton not only co-directed the film but also stars as Johnny Gray, the devoted engineer of his beloved locomotive, The General. Set during the American Civil War, the story follows Johnny as he attempts to enlist in the Confederate Army. He is rejected because his work as a locomotive engineer is considered more valuable to the war effort. The decision also affects his personal life: his beloved Annabelle Lee believes he lacks courage and breaks off their engagement.
A year later, the two meet again aboard the train where Johnny is working. Disaster strikes when enemy soldiers hijack the locomotive. Faced with losing both his cherished train and the woman he loves, Johnny embarks on one of the most thrilling train chases in cinema history.
Determined to achieve maximum realism, Keaton used real locomotives wherever possible, relying very little on special effects or miniature models. He performed many of the film’s dangerous stunts himself, often putting his own safety at considerable risk. The film’s spectacular climax—featuring a specially constructed railway bridge that was destroyed in what was then one of the most expensive single scenes ever filmed—had to be captured in a single take, making it an exceptionally daring and ambitious undertaking for its time.
The General is not only a comic masterpiece but also a remarkable technical achievement. Keaton combines breathtaking visuals with impeccable comic timing, pioneering many of the techniques that would later become standard in action and adventure films.
The live organ improvisation by Geerten van de Wetering adds an extra dimension to this special screening, creating a unique dialogue between image and music. Join us for an unforgettable evening of cinematic spectacle and musical creativity, and discover how, a century after its premiere, The Generalcontinues to amaze audiences with its extraordinary stunts, visual ingenuity and timeless humour.
Scheveningen will welcome a new two-day late-summer festival on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September 2026. During Aftersea, cultural venues, museums and seaside locations will host live music, film, art and special evening programmes.
One of the festival’s most notable features is the return of musical performances to the historic Kurzaal at the Grand Hotel Amrâth Kurhaus. Events will also take place at Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel, Museum Beelden aan Zee, REBORN Whitehouse, Podium aan Zee, Strandhuis Hito and The Fat.
“With Aftersea, we are opening the cultural season in Scheveningen,” says organiser Charlotte Los of Stichting Buitengewoon Scheveningen. “The festival brings established and new cultural institutions, venues and beach locations together in one programme. In this way, we show that Scheveningen continues to buzz after the summer.”
Music returns to the Kurzaal
Aftersea reconnects the Kurhaus with its long musical and cultural history. The venue famously hosted The Rolling Stones in 1964, although the concert descended into chaos and was brought to an early end.
“With Aftersea, we are taking an important step towards our ambition to make the historic Kurzaal a leading venue once again,” says Bob van Herpen, general manager of the Kurhaus. “We want to create a programme that does justice to the grandeur and rich history of the Kurhaus, while inspiring a new generation of visitors.”
On Friday evening, keyboardist Sven Figee and his four-piece band will present De Wilde Noordzee. The performance combines live music with underwater footage from the nature documentary and personal stories from diver Peter van Rodijnen.
The production will be performed in Scheveningen for the first time, just metres from the North Sea at the heart of its story.
On Saturday, Fever’s international Candlelight Concerts will make their Kurhaus debut. The historic hall will be illuminated by thousands of candles as classical musicians perform Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. A second concert will feature classical interpretations of songs by Coldplay and Imagine Dragons.
Events across Scheveningen
Aftersea begins at Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel on Friday afternoon with a programme exploring freedom through words, movement and music. The event, held ahead of the annual Oranjehotel commemoration on 19 September, includes spoken word, a performance by dance company Korzo and Dutch-language indie folk and pop from Meyendel.
That evening, Jazz070 will take over Museum Beelden aan Zee. After Hours X Jazz070 will bring musicians from The Hague’s jazz scene into the museum’s galleries, surrounded by sculptures and exhibitions.
Aftersea also marks the beginning of a new series of events at REBORN Whitehouse, formerly known as EVE. The venue aims to provide a year-round stage for concerts, cultural programming and other events. Samba Roots Amsterdam will bring a traditional Brazilian roda de samba to Whitehouse on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Podium aan Zee will host reggae from Heights Meditation and Mr. Lion ‘The Selector’. PAARD’s monthly Dune Sessions will move to Strandhuis Hito, where TOS from OSHI and musicians from the Royal Conservatoire will lead a public jam session.
The festival concludes with an afterparty presented by PIP at The Fat.
Aftersea takes place at various locations in Scheveningen on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September 2026.
Experience the deep emotional layers of the string orchestra with the Amsterdam Kameracademie. From the compelling, melancholic beauty of the ‘Adagio’ by contemporary Italian composer Elisabetta Brusa to the intimate, spiritual depth of Hendrik Andriessen’s ‘Miroir de Peine’—with soprano Elles Venhuizen as soloist—this program explores light, shadow, and solace. The concert culminates in Mahler’s dramatic and monumental arrangement for string orchestra of Schubert’s famous string quartet, ‘Der Tod und das Mädchen’.
We are a string orchestra of talented young musicians from conservatories and orchestra academies in the Randstad, with a great passion for both classical and modern string repertoire.
Programme
Elisabetta Brusa: Adagio
Hendrik Andriessen: Miroir de Peine (with Elles Venhuizen, soprano)
Schubert / Mahler: Der Tod und das Mädchen
conducted by Ben le Heux
Sunday 25 October
15.00 – 16.00
Paleiskerk
Paleisstraat 8
2514 JA
The Hague
Tickets: €32 regular price, €20 for ages 20 and under.
