Behind the scenes with one of the founders

It's almost time: BIRD will soon be celebrating its 15th anniversary! That's why we're looking back at all the defining features that have shaped BIRD into the cultural home it is today. Today we're sitting down with Phil Powell, who takes you from the very beginning to the iconic present. Phil is one of the founders and artistic director of BIRD; he established this cultural hotspot to create a permanent home for Black music. Be sure to keep reading!

Why does BIRD exist?

It's a place where everything comes together: "My love for Black music, the city of Rotterdam, nightlife culture, and all the different music genres that BIRD now encompasses." Phil started out as a junior programmer at Nighttown, booking small venues, but quickly noticed that even with a jazz band, it was hard to hold the vibe for the whole night.

Was the vision always to be a stage, club, and restaurant?

"Yes, absolutely!" What mattered most to Phil was that it wasn't just a stage but also a place where you could grab a bite and a drink, with the same urgency and substance placed on an equal level. "It was very important to us that we positioned ourselves alongside the restaurant in a way that wasn't just tacked on but was genuinely part of the whole. The same went for our club."

Fun anecdote

BIRD has been firmly rooted in this location since 2008, building on a history that goes back much further. Back in the 1960s, this place was already buzzing with energy, culture, and music. Long before it became the place we know today, it was a spot where the first generations of Surinamese people, sailors, and all kinds of other cultures would come together, sitting in small cafés and enjoying each other's company. Everyone brought their own music: jazz, funk, and soul. And that was the moment Phil's parents first laid eyes on each other. His mother worked the night shift and always walked past the Hofbogen, where she'd hear music. "One day she worked up the courage and went inside, where she met my father. That was quite a full-circle moment for me when I started BIRD. I thought, "Yes, now the circle is complete."

What makes BIRD unique to you?

"I don't think there are that many places in the Netherlands where the focus is almost entirely on Black music," Phil says. Most venues follow a so-called pop formula, where different disciplines are programmed within one space. BIRD deliberately chooses not to program certain disciplines. "If you want to experience Black music, BIRD is the place to be. I think that focus has always been our unique selling point."

For the full interview, check out the YouTube link (video) BIRD Rotterdam!