A game by Joost van Dongen



Cello Fortress is a unique combination of a game and a live music performance. A cellist defends a fortress by improvising on his cello. Melodies control the guns, dissonant notes activate the flamethrowers. Players from the audience use game controllers to steer their tanks and attack the fortress. The cellist plays live music, while at the same time controlling the game to be a fun challenge for the players. Cello Fortress is an innovative experiment that blends concert and game.

Joost van Dongen is known for his previous game Proun, and as lead programmer and co-founder of Ronimo Games, the studio behind the hit indie games Awesomenauts, Swords & Soldiers and De Blob. Joost regularly writes about creating games on his development blog.

Cello Fortress on tour

Upcoming concerts / playsessions

Currently no confirmed upcoming performances.
Contact me at joost@joostvandongen.com to book Cello Fortress for events.

Previous

28 February 2020 Thalia Symposium 2020 “Gaming Technologies”
at LUX Nijmegen
Nijmegen
(Netherlands)
12:35-13:30
16 November 2019 Pieces of Tomorrow Festival
in Tivoli Vredenburg
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
20:30-21:00
21:30-22:00
22:30-23:00
12 September 2019 Special Award
in the Nicolaïkerk
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
Two performances
Times to be determined
10 February 2019 Gluren Bij De Buren
in De Partner
Nieuwegein
(Netherlands)
13:30-14:00
15:00-15:30
16:30-17:00
16 October 2017 Chi Play 2017 Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
morning
7 October 2017 404 - The Ultimate Tech Meetup Dublin
(Ireland)
13:00-13:30 (in The Drawing Room)
17:00-17:30 (in The Chapel)
6 September 2017 Music & games course at Fontys
Effenaar
Eindhoven
(Netherlands)
10:00-11:00
16 August 2017 Stukafest at the Utrechtse Introductiedagen
Tivoli Vredenburg, Plein 6
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
20:30-24:00
5 August 2017 Museumnacht Antwerpen
Erfgoedbibliotheek Hendrik Conscience
Antwerp
(Belgium)
20:00-23:00
24 March 2017 Open Circuit Liverpool
(UK)
The cello will be played by Stephanie, the cellist from Solem Quartet
25 February 2017 Push the button Deurne
(Belgium)
afternoon performances
19 February 2017 YayCon Amersfoort
(Netherlands)
11:00-13:00
8 February 2017 Stukafest
Laan van Chartroise 4, Utrecht
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
performances at 20:30, 21:30 and 22:30
25 November 2016 The Overkill Festival Enschede
(Netherlands)
20:00-24:00
29 October 2016 GameOn Vilnius
(Lithuania)
15:15-16:00
26 September 2016 Tussen Kunst & Glitch Utrecht
(Netherlands)
20:30-22:00
(during the break in the middle)
27 August 2016 Jazz Festival Delft Delft
(Netherlands)
17:30-18:15
17 June 2016 Joy Of Coding Rotterdam
(Netherlands)
opening and lunch
11/12 June 2016 Animecon The Hague
(Netherlands)
11 June: 13:00-15:00
12 June: 12:00-14:00
28 May 2016 Indigo @ Campus Party Utrecht
(Netherlands)
10:00-13:00
16 April 2016 LOS Festival
at the Kunstenlab location
Deventer
(Netherlands)
13:30-16:30
25 September 2015 Groningen Researchers' Night Groningen
(Netherlands)
evening
19 September 2015 Speelweide / Nachtweide
dB's Utrecht
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
15:00-16:30
15 September 2015 Hanzehogeschool
(closed session for students)
Groningen
(Netherlands)
around 15:30
5 September 2015 Warp Zone: Video Game Art Show 2015 Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
16:00-16:30
4 August 2015 Respawn - Gathering of Game Developers Cologne
(Germany)
ending party
6 June 2015 Nacht Van Kunst En Wetenschap
Minerva Praediniussingel, 1st floor
Groningen
(Netherlands)
20:00-1:00
13 June 2015 Animecon Den Haag
(Netherlands)
12:00-16:00
3 May 2015 YaYCon Amersfoort
(Netherlands)
throughout the day
13 March 2015 't Collectief Delft
(Netherlands)
22:30-23:00
7 March 2015 ECG Beurs Assen
(Netherlands)
several gigs during the day
19 February 2015 MRGS Craft Meetup
at Café L'artère
Montreal
(Canada)
evening, probably starts at 19:00 or 20:00
6 February 2015 Screenshake Indie Games Festival Antwerp
(Belgium)
time to be announced
21 January 2015 The Bakery Club #8 Utrecht
(Netherlands)
20:30
27 November 2014 Gametreff NRW
at Filmwerkstatt Düsseldorf, Birkenstr. 47
Düsseldorf
(Germany)
20:45 - 22:00
15 November 2014 Game Developers Session Prague
(Czech Republic)
during the lunch break
26 September 2014 New Horizons Festival Rotterdam
(Netherlands)
20:00 - 2:00
20 September 2014 gameZfestival Zürich
(Switzerland)
22:00 - 24:00
30 August 2014 Abunai Veldhoven
(Netherlands)
on the Saturday, times to be announced
6 June 2014 Elevator Sessions
in Tuindorp and Ekko
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
17:00-19:00 (in Gele Flat, Tuindorp)
23:00-late (in Ekko)
17 May 2014 Bright Day
Pakhuis De Zwijger
Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
11:00-17:00
27 March 2014 Nerds On Stage
Rotterdamse Schouwburg
Rotterdam
(Netherlands)
11:30 - 18:00
16 February 2014 Kofferbak
North Sea Jazz Club
Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
16:00
(starting time of the entire event)
8 January 2014 Men Of Mega night in Hofman
Janskerkhof 17a
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
Probably 21:30-22:00
(entire event is 21:00-24:00)
9 November 2013 The Overkill Festival
Kloosterstraat 1, in the Music Room
Enschede
(Netherlands)
18:00-21:30
16 October 2013 De Mus
in Torpedo Theater
Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
20:00
28 September 2013 Kunstnacht Den Bosch
Spelfabriek Aan Het Water
Den Bosch
(Netherlands)
20:00-23:00
3 September 2013 Virgin Media Games Space London
(UK)
gigs throughout the day
24 August 2013 Cellofestival Zutphen
TIP Zutphen, Houtmarkt 75
Zutphen
(Netherlands)
11:00 - 17:00
3 August 2013 Zomerparkfeest
museum Van Bommel van Dam
Venlo
(Netherlands)
18:00 - 19:00
13 July 2013 Game Party at Free To Play Antwerp
(Belgium)
19:30 - 20:15
19 June 2013 Local Multiplayer Picnic
at Dutch Game Garden
Including a short talk about Cello Fortress before 20:00
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
20:00 - 23:00
6 June 2013 Night of the Nerds
Klokgebouw at Strijp-S
Eindhoven
(Netherlands)
18:00 - 22:30
2 June 2013 Open Day at the Muzelinck
Muzelinck, room 2
Oss
(Netherlands)
15:00 - 16:00
25 May 2013 Club Natlab
Theaterzaal at Plaza Futura
After playing I will be on stage discussing the creation of Cello Fortress
Eindhoven
(Netherlands)
19:00 - 19:30
10 May 2013 Sounds Of The Underground
At the SOTU open stage at De Peper
Amsterdam
(Netherlands)
Short gigs between 21:00 and 24:00
10 May 2013 Cellofestival Dordrecht
Workshop: participating cellists get to play Cello Fortress and improvise!
Dordrecht
(Netherlands)
Morning and afternoon sessions
14 March 2013 Game-City An Artistic Game Experience Enschede
(Netherlands)
17:00 - 19:00
2 March 2013 Indie Games Concert
Muziekcentrum Van De Omroep
Hilversum
(Netherlands)
20:00 - 20:30
before the regular concert
2 March 2013 Gamelab exposition at BG-22-24 Almere
(Netherlands)
12:00 - 17:00
5 February 2013 Playful Arts Festival @ Art at the Warehouse Rotterdam
(Netherlands)
16:00 - 21:00
at the opening of the exhibition
15 December 2012 Playful Arts Festival Den Bosch
(Netherlands)
20:00 - 24:00
20 October 2012 Kaalstaart
Festival for technical art and new crafts at Restaurant De Vereeniging
Amersfoort
(Netherlands)
13:00 - 16:30
28-29 September 2012 Indigo
Yearly showcase of the best Dutch games at Stadhuis
Utrecht
(Netherlands)
12:00 - 22:00 (Friday)
10:00 - 17:00 (Saturday)

For more information and bookings, please e-mail joost@joostvandongen.com

Download the Press Kit (with photos, screenshots and logos)

© 2012-2021 Joost van Dongen

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