De Helling

Sound Engineer

De Helling is a medium-sized independent (core) venue in Utrecht with a maximum capacity of 490 visitors. The capacity and programming make De Helling an important link in the national and Utrecht chain of venues. Between 2014 and 2019, a process of privatization was initiated, gradually detaching De Helling from Tivoli (Vredenburg) and evolving into an independent beacon within the cultural landscape. De Helling’s programming is diverse, spanning the ends of the pop cultural spectrum and intersections of genres, with an emphasis on heavy, bass music, global sounds, hip-hop, and experimental. Although the foundation is broader than the ends of the spectrum, these spikes add color to the program.

De Helling is a proud resident of Utrecht. Its immediate surroundings, a lively neighborhood on the outskirts of the center of Utrecht, the raw look of the building, the 24-hour license, the station next door, the high-quality offering, the professional staff, and last but not least, the excellent sound collectively make attending a concert or club night at De Helling a homecoming for many enthusiasts. For these visitors, pop culture is essential to their identity, happiness, and social environment, and De Helling provides a safe hub for like-minded individuals.

The organization of De Helling is a network organization: a small professional team focused on changing collaborations. External curators are actively sought, approached, and sometimes trained. This allows De Helling to have feelers for trends in many places, being diverse and inclusive. Additionally, the venue provides ample space for talent development and entrepreneurship, both nationally and internationally.

“Aaron is a professional sound engineer you can rely on. Aaron regularly works on concert productions at De Helling, always prepares well, is proactive, and shows initiative, especially when a festival patch needs to be prepared. He collaborates well with both colleagues and visiting techs and artists. And last but not least, whether he’s on FOH or monitors, Aaron ensures top-quality sound.”