Sophie Straat on Tour at Stroomhuis

Photos & words by Emily Yamaguchi

No matter how many times you’ve seen Sophie Straat live, you know that every time you’re going to leave with a lesson in feminism and a smile on your face. As the doors of Eindhoven’s beloved DIY venue Stroomhuis opened, fans poured in through the doors. Filling the stands in the back of the room and the floor space in the front, fans continued to pack the venue until the house lights went down and the stage lights began to shower the front of the house with a soft golden glow.

Clad in a frilly pink dress with a camcorder in one hand and a microphone in the other, singer Sophie shows no mercy as she and her band fight for what’s right one show at a time. From the gentrification of Amsterdam to representation of women in politics, Sophie Straat’s music covers it all. At every show, they foster a community of headstrong fans who will speak up for what’s right and stay aware of the issues happening around them, all with a great soundtrack, of course.

Amassing nearly 100,000 Spotify listeners so far as well as millions of streams across all of their music, Sophie Straat is spreading their words of wisdom across the world. Combining accordions, organs, keys, and powerful vocals, their sound is truly something that everyone needs to hear live on stage at least once in their lifetime.

Following the release of the 2020 album “‘T is niet mijn schuld” (Or, “It’s not my fault” for those of us who don’t speak Dutch), Sophie Straat released four singles in 2021, including the ever so iconic “Tweede Kamer”. Just last month, they released their most recent single, “Vrijheid, Gelijkheid, Zusterschap” which has already received over 33,000 streams.

As the set came to a close with “Ik meen t t”, the hyped-up energy in the room felt just the same as when everyone first came in. The band took one final bow as the crowd showered them in cheers and the night came to a close.

If you want to experience Sophie Straat’s incredible stage presence firsthand, they are currently on a tour across the Netherlands, and tickets for some shows are still available on their website. You can also check out her music on Spotify, Deezer, or Youtube Music. To keep up with all of her musical shenanigans, connect with them on Instagram.