Kunsthal Rotterdam

From italo disco to Chicago house, from Africa to the Caribbean, Radio Tornado represents a musical journey that connects genres, eras, and continents. Radio Tornado was born out of friendship and a shared passion for music. In recent years, the collective has grown into a recognizable name within the Dutch nightlife scene, hosting its own club nights in Rotterdam and Amsterdam and performing DJ sets both nationally and internationally. Their programming moves between disco, house, and global music, with a strong focus on diversity in sound, audience, and context. 

Bites en drinks

During Friday Night LIVE, the tastiest bites are back on the menu. And are you coming to the Kunsthal with your Friday Night LIVE ticket between 17:00 and 19:00 hrs? Then a complimentary welcome drink (wine, beer, or soda) will be waiting for you! 

 Programme 

Radio Tornado will transform the Kunsthal into a dynamic evening where music culture is experienced from different perspectives. Join the audiovisual lecture by DJ Rimini Express on the evolution from Italo disco, listen to the panel discussion with David Vunk, a talk by Rotational on African music, and take part in Print Night Out. In the Kunsthal Café, David Vunk, Dynamic D, All Hans on Deck, and Radio Tornado will provide the soundtrack for the evening, and you can also join a Cumbia dance workshop.

David Vunk b2b Dynamic-D

David Vunk needs no introduction, a Rotterdam legend and founder of Moustache Records. With thirty years of DJ experience, he moves from acid to techno, from Italo disco to electro, and everything in between. During Friday Night LIVE he joins forces with Dynamic-D, a resident of Operator Radio and a true cult figure in the Rotterdam scene with an encyclopedic knowledge of Italo disco, indie dance and EBM.

Daniël Mol / DJ Rimini Express

Daniël Mol, known as DJ Rimini Express, takes you along the sounds that shaped a generation. The synth-driven, experimental Italo disco from the early eighties, sometimes futuristic, sometimes kitsch, always danceable, found its way to clubs in Chicago and New York, where it inspired the raw grooves that grew into house music. In his audiovisual lecture, Daniël tells the story of these iconic sounds, after which he enters into conversation with David Vunk and Otto Kraanen (known from the Italo label Bordello a Parigi) about their vision on Italo.

halfpastseven (Joshua Lutz)

halfpastseven moves smoothly between genres and atmospheres. In his sets, house, hip hop, ambient and experimental electronics come together in a layered, fluid experience. He does not represent one single style, but shares the same open approach to rhythm, groove and influences that defines Radio Tornado. Stimulating visuals connect seamlessly to his live performance.

Rotational (Karim)

Karim, also known as Rotational, is a Rotterdam DJ and “crate digger” with an insatiable passion for hidden music from all over the world. His collection of vinyl, tapes and CDs reflects a special fascination with African music and rare finds that tell cultural stories. In his talk, he takes you into the music he loves, the art of digging and the deep connection between sound, culture and identity.

Rejoin - Caribbean steeldrum entertainment

Rejoin, the Caribbean steel drum band, brings the sun-soaked atmosphere of the Caribbean directly into the Flowers Forever exhibition. With a mix of calypso, soca and reggae, you can enjoy music among the flowers that is not only heard, but also felt.

Workshop: Print Night Out

How do you translate Italo disco, Chicago house, afrobeat and chicha into image? During the Print Night Out workshop, you create posters inspired by the energy, rhythms and visual language of the evening, from neon and geometric shapes to patterns and bold colours inspired by Flowers Forever. 

Radio Tornado DJ's

From Italo classics to the gritty house of Omar S, from the electro innovations of Kraftwerk to the disco soul of Donna Summer, and further into zouk grooves and Japanese city pop, Radio Tornado sets the atmosphere that defines the evening!

About Flowers Forever

For the first time in the Netherlands, this exhibition offers a comprehensive cultural-historical overview of the flower, with over two hundred objects from the fields of art, design, fashion, and science. Flowers Forever shows how flowers evolved from mythical and religious icons into status symbols, commodities, and vital links in our global ecosystem. In seven chapters, the exhibition zooms in on various aspects of how flowers became embedded in our culture as vehicles for rituals, emotions, and ideas, thereby offering you surprising insights into the role of flowers in our society

All Hans On Deck

Hans started his love for music at sixteen behind the counter of a record store, and has since built a collection without boundaries, in genre nor geography. As All Hans On Deck, he connects disco with zouk, Arabic funk with afrobeat, and everything in between.

FFF Soundsystem (Form Follows Frequency)

For the sound of the evening, Radio Tornado collaborates with the Rotterdam-based Form Follows Frequency and their FFF soundsystem. The double speaker setups ensure crystal clear sound throughout the space, so you can enjoy music to the fullest!