José González

José González will perform on 23 November 2026 at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. The Swedish singer-songwriter of Argentine roots builds his songs around voice and acoustic guitar, with precise arpeggios, subtle rhythms and influences from Nordic folk, Latin American tradition and the ’90s indie scene. After early years in local bands he chose a stripped-down approach that broke through with Veneer (2003), which featured his interpretation of “Heartbeats” by The Knife. In Our Nature (2007) he expanded on that approach, while Vestiges & Claws (2015) introduced a more percussive, lightly electric-tinged songwriting style.

Alongside his solo work he plays with the band Junip, where the folk-rock leans toward a more psychedelic, collective sound. González has also collaborated with artists such as Zero 7 and contributed to soundtracks, including The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013). On Local Valley (2021) he moves effortlessly between English, Spanish and Swedish, without losing his characteristic intimacy.

In concert he often returns to the essentials: a focused set in which melody, timing and dynamics carry the performance, drawing on a repertoire that spans his entire career and leaving room for multiple languages and textures. On 23 November in Utrecht, the emphasis will be on intimacy, detail and songs that find their power in silence and pulse.