From left to right: Axel (Barbabass), Pieter (Papi P), Ramon (Rhizosphere) and Daantje (Acidiña). Own photo They can’t change shape, but they are pretty versatile: DJ collective Barbaboefjes spins drum & bass, techno, trance, house and garage. Each party has its own theme and associated decoration. On 15 February, Loburg will be converted into a romantic café for a Valentine’s edition.
Pieter Vis, ‘I graduate in a week’ Biology Master’s student: ‘A few years ago, I started giving house parties. During the pandemic they became more and more frequent because no one had anything to do. That was when I met the others – Daantje van Esch, Communication & Life Sciences Bachelor’s student, Ramon van Esch, Plant Sciences Master’s student and Axel Eijffius, Molecular Life Sciences Master’s student.’
Those first parties had Spotify as the DJ but the ‘boefjes’ quickly learned how to spin records themselves: invite the neighbours round and go practise. They progressed from living rooms to the Woeste Hoeve and when that went well, the Bunker was next. Last year they performed on 5 May and during the AID, and they will be at Loburg regularly this year. You need a proper business setup for these larger gigs, so the Barbaboefjes became an official DJ collective.
Red and pink
The name Barbaboefjes was inspired by Axel’s outfits: ‘I often wore pink trousers. The first time I met Daantje she said: those trousers make you look like Barbapapa, dude! Then I started looking for more Barbapapa things on Vinted and that’s how we came to be the Barbaboefjes.’ There are now Barbapapa neon lamps, T-shirts and hats.
Everyone is supposed to come to the Valentine’s party dressed in red or pink. Daantje: ‘We’ll hand out wristbands in traffic-light colours, so you can tell at once what relationship status everyone has.’ The public can expect the usual mix of genres, with a build-up from quieter music at the start to booming at the end of the evening. Daantje: ‘We go all out in the final hour, it’s for the people who are really having fun!’
Tickets and more info via Instagram.
Saturday 15 February 2025
23:00 – 04:00 hrs
Admission: 7.00 euros
Café Loburg, Wageningen
Tips:
Friday 14 February – Valentine’s dating show (drag) at Shout, Wilde Wereld
Saturday 15 February – ISH Dance Collective (hip-hop circus) at Junushoff
Thursday 20 February – Melting Pot festival at various venues in the centre
