Live | Europe [Support: The Cards] – Muziekgebouw Eindhoven [NL]

30 May 2025

The BRIDGE Guitar Festival Eindhoven [NL] is thé international guitar festival of the Benelux. The guitar is central as the world’s most played instrument and this festival is a 5-day Walhalla for guitar lovers. The intention is to connect genres, cultures and communities with the guitar as central theme. From classical to blues, from jazz to rock, from flamenco to pop, everything is covered. In this third year the Swedish band Europe will be on stage at the Muziekgebouw Eindhoven on Friday 30th may of 2025 to represent ROCK.

THE CARDS – THE SUPPORTACT

The evening is opened by The Cards. This power rock trio positively raises eyebrows. The guitarist is none other than fellow Saxon founder and legend Paul Quinn, master drummer Koen Herfst and singer/bassist Harrison Young. You can hear that this band has so much experience, even if you don’t know the strong songs.

It’s nice that half of the setlist consists of Saxon classics ,,Strong Arm Of The Law’’, ,,Dallas 1 PM’’ and ,,Princess Of The Night’’. It takes some getting used to that it’s not played by two guitarists, but the enthusiasm of the crowd said enough.

If you haven’t already, go see this band! Like mid-August when they play at the Drum Driedaagse and Zeeltje Rock Festival.

EUROPE – THE HEADLINER

After a short break, the sold-out Muziekgebouw Eindhoven gets to see a well-oiled show from mainact Europe. They open with the combination ,,On Broken Wings’’ and ,,Rock The Night’’. After this the audience was won over and the band could calmly do its thing.

As it should be at this festival, the guitar is very much present in the person of John Norum. He plays at a high level as always and that’s what the crowd appreciates. Despite the fact that he was out of the band for 17 years, he is only not heard on 2 albums. One of those albums is ‘Out of this World’ and that is, besides ‘The Final Countdown’, the main supplier with 4 songs for the setlist tonight. Europe is all about the songs and not into solo spots. Maybe a solo spot for John Norum would have been something for tonight, but these guys remain down-to-earth Scandinavians after all.

The other alpha band member is singer and show master Joey Tempest. Besides the fact that his voice shows virtually no wear and tear, he also continues to look good. Of course, all that is of no use, if you don’t have good songs, but there is no shortage of those. Even though they don’t play anything from the albums ‘Bag of Bones’ (2012), ‘Secret Society’ (2006), ‘Prisoners In Paradise’ (1991) and the debut ‘Europe’ (1983) an impressive setlist remains with many hits and live favorites.

When the ‘Last look at Eden’ keyboard intro starts, we eagerly waiting for the band to start masterfully. It is one of the highlights next to ,,Superstitious’’ which includes a Bob Marley intermezzo and of course the showstopper and known by everybody: ,,The Final Countdown’’. This sets the room on fire after which we leave very satisfied.

SETLIST THE CARDS

• King Kong
• Bandit on the run
• Strong arm of the law
• The Hermit
• Dallas 1.00 PM
• Princess of the night

SETLIST EUROPE

• On broken wings (Final Countdown b-side single)
• Rock the night (Final Countdown)
• Walk the earth (Walk the Earth)
• Scream of anger (Wings of Tomorrow)
• Sign of the times (Out of this World)
• Hold your head up (single)
• Carrie (Final Countdown)
• War of kings (War of Kings)
• Stormwind (Wings of Tomorrow)
• Open your heart (Wings of Tomorrow)
• More than meets the eye (Out of this World)
• Last look at Eden (Last look at Eden)
• Ready or not (Out of this World)
• Superstitious (Out of this World)

ENCORE

• Cherokee (Final Countdown)
• The final countdown (Final Countdown)

All photos by Dirk van den Heuvel