Paradiso — Amsterdam’s Pop Temple

Paradiso is one of Amsterdam’s best-loved live music centers — and a top destination for music lovers from all over the Netherlands and beyond.

The venue is located just a stone’s throw from Leidseplein — a bustling nightlife and tourist center. Formerly a church, the neogothic building has been dubbed the ‘Pop Temple.’

Pop Temple Paradiso.

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Inside is a large dance floor with a balcony on either side. The original stained glass windows have seen and heard such top acts as the Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, Macy Gray, James Brown, Beck, Justin Timberlake, Lenny Kravitz, Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Prince, Willie Nelson and Nirvana.

From Hippie Hangout to Pop Temple

Paradiso was born during the hippie years of the late Sixties. The venue opened its doors in 1968. At the time it was subsidized as a ‘youth entertainment center’ by the city’s rulers — eager to give the hippies who were overrunning nearby Vondelpark an alternative hangout.

Small wonder, then, that this was one of the first places in the Netherlands where the sale and use of soft drugs was tolerated.

While Paradiso was once synonymous with the rock music of the hippie counterculture, it has charted every music trend ever since. A much smaller hall upstairs often hosts unknown acts well before they make it big.

Meanwhile the Pop Temple offers an eclectic mix of music: jazz, fusion, garage, ska, latin, funk, soul… The hall has been filled with Maroccan dance music, an Elvis Presley Church Service, and even some contemporary classical music.

In addition it sees performance art and some lectures.

DJs & Videos

After the bands have played DJs spin their craft deep into the night.

And here’s something unique: many of the concerts at Paradiso can be viewed online at FabChannel.com. Shorter clips can also be seen at Google Video.

Tickets

For ticket prices see Paradiso’s website. There doesn’t appear to be an English version, but navigation is quite easy:

1. Select the date
2. At the bottom left-hand corner, select the act
3. The bottom-center box provides information — in Dutch, including links to artist websites. If a vertical ‘music’ button appears, click it to hear the artist in question.

   Terms you may encounter:

• Voorverkoop vanaf = Advanced ticket sales from [date]
  Verkoop = Ticket sales
  Entree = Price of ticket in Euros
  Excl. lidmaatschap = Ticket price does not include membership fee (€3/month, 18/year)
  Gratis = Free
  Incl. daglidmaatschap = Ticket price includes 1-day membership fee
  Aanvang = Starting time
  Zaal Open = Venue opens
  Voorprogramma = Opening act
  Hoofdprogramma = Main act
  Kleine Zaal = Small hall
  Uitsluitend toegang 18 jaar en ouder = Only for those 18 years and older (if there’s any doubt you will be asked to show a valid ID)

Tickets can be bought at the Paradiso Box Office. However, if you don’t like waiting in long lines it is almost always a better idea to purchase advance tickets — for instance from the nearby AUB (Amsterdam Uitburo). It is located at Leidseplein 26 [Google Map] at a corner of the Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre).

Note that AUB charges a service fee of roughly €2.– per ticket. You can also order by phone: 0900 – 0191 (40 cents/minute).

Address

Paradiso
Weteringschans 6 [Google Map]
Amsterdam

Tel: 020 – 626 4521 [Amsterdam phone info]

Website

Paradiso Official website
FabChannel.com See Paradiso concerts online.

Original content © Copyright 2009 DutchAmsterdam.nl [Read what that actually means]

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