Incubate (festival)

Incubate is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival in Tilburg, Netherlands. It takes place every September. Incubate began in 2005 as ZXZW, but changed its name in 2009 to "Incubate" after a request from the Austin, US-based festival SXSW.

The festival exhibits a diverse view on indie culture as a whole, including music, contemporary dance, film and visual arts. It brings more than 200 cutting edge artists in an intimate context to an international audience. Performances as varied as black metal, free jazz, street art and academic dance all take place alongside one another.

Besides the yearly festival the organisation also hosts regular showcases of bands under the name Incubated.

History

In 2005 ZXZW started as a two-day underground punk, hardcore and electronic music festival with 47 artists. Within three years it developed into a festival which spreads over 8 days and welcomes over 200 artists. The festival not only broadened its program by adopting a wide range of musical styles (from jazz to free folk and dance), but also by programming film, lectures and visual arts. All this happens in small clubs, pubs and galleries around Tilburg. In 2008 the people of Tilburg voted for ZXZW as the best event in their town.