We hope you’re recovering well after Saturday’s incredible day of performances, talks, and screenings. There were too many amazing things happening to cover them all, but we did our best to choose some highlights for you. Look back with us at the festival’s wonderful second day, captured by our photographers.

On the grand stage of Amare’s Danstheater, experimental pop musician and novelist Jenny Hval presented her philoso-pop opus I Want To Be A Machine: a half-essay, half-performance, and half-concert about the machinic and animatronic implications of contemporary pop performance. Earlier in the day, presenting their own manifesto, Stephanie Pan & Ensemble Klang performed The Art of Doing Nothing: a feminist manifesto to a crowded Theater aan het Spui.

The rumbling, brooding sounds of Gazelle Twin filled Koninklijke Schouwburg where she presented the stunning live iteration of her new album Black Dog. At Lutherse Kerk, Brìghde Chaimbeul’s pipes rang out, enchanting listeners with their tonal and textural richness. Later, the Ukrainian avant-garde maestro Svitlana Nianio brought the church to a standstill as listeners were enthralled by her unique sonic language. 

At Koorenhuis, Saint Abdullah & Jason Nazary delivered on their promise of blistering noise and unrelenting percussion. While at Koninklijke Schouwburg, Amor Muere stunned listeners with their wistful, experimental ambient-pop compositions.

Visitors flocked to Korzo for an immaculate performance by ML Buch, whose voice bounded into each corner of the packed room, resting above the swathing, blissful tones of her guitar. In the hallowed surroundings of The Hague’s Grote Kerk, we were gifted with the live world premiere of Keeley Forsyth’s The Hollow in a special live A/V show – with visuals by artist Netia Jones.

At PAARD I, Ben Frost’s signature electronic atmospheres were combined with the blistering guitar of Greg Kubacki in a spectacular live A/V show, made with artist Tarik Barri. Later, Loraine James was joined by drummer Fyn Dobson to perform a live A/V set with visuals from artist Alessandra Leone. Her signature genre-hopping collage of sounds flooded the room, moving hearts and feet alike. In a world premiere, with accompanying visuals from artist Florence To, Jlin performed Akoma – the most recent development in her ever-evolving footwork sound.

In what many people are calling the biggest highlight of the evening, Grote Kerk was brought to life again at midnight by Maria W Horn & Sara Parkman’s immense Funeral Songs. Accompanied by a five-piece ensemble, their reverberating songs filled Grote Kerk with music truly fitting for the space: expansive and gargantuan yet moving, slight, and humbling too.

The foundations of PAARD II were put under strain with the bassy set of Simo Cell – who performed his live debut right before Crystallmess took to the decks at PAARD I to deliver a set of high-tempo DJ mastery. Nick León & Ezra Miller performed an incredible live A/V set at Korzo, which filled up again at the end of the night in anticipation of Olof Dreijer’s DJ set. His playful set of batida, Brazilian funk, house, and techno absolutely did not disappoint. 

Photos by Alex Heuvink, Arianna Cavalensi, Baroeg Mulder, Esmee de Vette, Jack Parker, Jan Rijk, Maurice Haak, Mees Trouwborst, Parcifal Werkman, Pieter Kers, en Rogier Bogaard.