Summer Festival Guide 2010
Did you know that Flanders has more summer music festivals per capita than any other region in Europe? That’s the rumour anyway, and, eyeing this list, we’re inclined to believe it. Whether you want to jump to world, jitter to jazz, head-bang in a grassy field or bring the kids along, boy, have we got a festival for you. And, beautifully, lots of them are free.
It's festival time!
Brosella Folk & Jazz
10-11 July
Ossegem Park, Brussels
The Belgian population is as dedicated to this genre of music as their friends across the ocean in the likes of Nashville and Chicago. In a fabulous “Green theatre” in Ossegem park at the Atomium, it has a laid back vibe. There is both a blues day and a jazz day if you want to miss one or the other. Ivan Paduart and well-known local rock-jazzer Bai Kamara Jr will draw a tried-and-true audience and are well worth a gander on jazz day, especially for guitar lovers.
Blues Peer
16-18 July
Peer, Limburg province
Not to state the obvious, but if you like the blues, you can get it here. Jerry Lee Lewis, Canned Heat, Booker T and Van Morrison just to get you started. This event has been around for 25 years so truly is a classic. Three whole days of moaning, head hanging and glorious down-and-out storytelling. Tell Imelda May you are sorry, she will be asking you to.
www.brbf.be
Gentse Feesten
17-26 July
Ghent city centre
Just don’t even bother going anywhere in the city of Ghent for these 10 days if you want to see or do anything other than the 24-hour-a-day street party that is the Gentse Feesten, the largest festival of its kind in the world. There’s about a dozen stages in outdoor squares with live music all day and night, plus Ten Days Off, a massive techno festival in the arts centre Vooruit. Add to this a Dutchlanguage theatre festival, a street-theatre festival and a puppet buskers festival, and you’ll know why 1.5 million people come to Ghent in July.
Suikerrock
20 July - 1 Aug
Tienen
Perhaps it’s called “Sugar Rock” because it’s one of the more palatable of the rock festivals. ZZ Top, John Fogerty and Golden Earring promise to keep the mullet crowd happy. For the popsters, there’s Milk Inc, Seal and Clouseau. The recommended day would be that with Customs, Das Pop and the diva extraordinaire herself, Grace Jones. The main stage is on the main square, so you can always retreat into a bar if the rain falls. Please contact us when you find out what The Australian Pink Floyd Show are doing and why.
Sfinks
30 July - 1 Aug
Boechout, near Antwerp
The slogan is “A world to listen to”, and they aren’t kidding: folk, roots and world music mixed together. We have proof. The absolutely unmissable Orquesta Beuna Vista Social Club will grace the stage, as will Serbian composer Goran Bregovic, one of the most recognised masters of the modern world. He might even pull out a tango for you.
Lokersefeesten
30 July – 8 Aug
Lokeren, East Flanders
What a line-up! You might think the programmers are drunk or at least when asked: “What kind of music do you like?” and they answer “Everything”, they actually mean it. If you have listened to the radio for the past 30 years you will be in a constant state of sing-along here to Gang of Four, Sisters of Mercy, The Cranberries, Dinosaur Jr, Anthrax, The Human League, Air…do you think they get along? Just make sure Alice Cooper stays standing, and it could be a good bit of summer fun.
Bruksellive
31 July
The Green Theatre, Brussels
This is a definite favourite in the free festival line up. Shadowed by the Atomium, there is an awesome descent into the park to multiple stages and an impressive Romanesque auditorium. Yes, Das Pop seem to be hitting a lot of festivals, but the real burner is Mintzkov, one of our star-studded locals, whose latest radio plays are on their way to being hits. Never a bad time at this festival and easily reachable by metro.
www.bruksellive.be
Rock Werchter
1-4 July
Werchter, Flemish Brabant
Belgium’s biggest music festival is first-rate this year, with Rammstein, Green Day, Gossip, locals Absynthe Minded and classic grungers Pearl Jam. And did we know The Specials were still around? Rock Werchter is a classic and always a guaranteed get-down-and-dirty good time. So have fun if you have tickets; they’ve been sold out for a month.
Gooikoorts
2-4 July
Gooik, Flemish Brabant
Pure folk from here and abroad. See Critic’s choice
Ghent Jazz Festival
7-18 July
Bijloke garden
Completely urban and yet hidden from view in the sizeable garden of the Bijloke music centre, this eclectic celebration of jazz – from Nora Jones to Ornette Coleman to Madness and the grand old man Toots Thielemans – amasses an equally diverse crowd that becomes more and more enthusiastic with each passing day. Expect insanity when Ghent’s own Trixie Whitley closes the stage on the final night.
Cactus Festival
9-11 July
Minnewater Park, Bruges
Excellent pop and rock mix and family atmosphere. See Critic’s choice
Vijverfestival
10 July
Dilbeek Park, Brussels
The highlight of this one-day fest has to be local boys Das Pop. But don’t miss out on newcomers Customs with their Interpol style of alternative rock. This is not only a cool atmosphere of green but a child-friendly event. We all know that even music fans birth, and there are several activities outside of the line-up to keep you busy.
Dranouter Folk Festival
5-8 Aug
Dranouter, West Flanders
All that needs to be said is that it is held at Dranouter Folk Meadow. What you read is what you get: Tori Amos, Suzanne Vega and Belgium’s own pop-folk master Ozark Henry are in the line-up. Like all Belgian festivals seem to do, they draw the top from any genre. Didgeridoo to violin, folk is folk.
Jazz Middelheim
12-15 Aug
Park Den Brandt, Antwerp
Jazz is very close to the heart of this country, and this is a truly historical festival. Despite legendary jazz pianist Hank Jones passing away in New York recently, leaving his Thursday spot open, the festival promises the crème de la crème of our musical pride. To be gladly expected are Toots Thielemans, the godfather of the show, and the jazz sutras of Casandra Wilson. If you can’t miss wailing sax (an instrument invented in Belgium) and some smoky, shady vocals, this is the place to be.
Antilliaanse Feesten
13-14 Aug
Blauwbossen, Hoogstraten
If you have ever been there, you will know that the people of the Netherlands Antillies know how to throw a party. They eat, shake their money-makers and do a lot of hooting. That attitude and music have been transported from the Caribbean to Antwerp province in this largest party of its kind in the world. Filled with top names from Cuba to Antigua, including the smooth Clifford Smith, AKA Mr Vegas, and the street savvy Los Ilegales. Wear bright colours so as not to stand out.
Marktrock
13-15 Aug
Oude Markt, Leuven
Leuven, the town of students, alternative life and youth culture. The perfect home to this youthful display of all local talent. All Belgian all the time: The Van Jets, School is Cool, Balthazar, Customs and Stijn.
Pukkelpop
19-21 Aug
Kiewit, near Hasselt
The second biggest of the Belgian rock festivals, with a draw of international acts that is always undeniably exceptional. Something for everyone who wants to get up and move, use an outdoor toilet and get a bit muddy. Placebo, The Kooks, Band of Horses, Kate Nash, Goldfrapp…it never ends. The local yokels worth noting are the alternative gurus Balthazar, the glammy Van Jets and the full-of-soul Selah Sue. It seems unfair just to mention these. Check the site, and you will have a hard time not attending every day.
City Parade
20-21 Aug
Heizel, Brussels
This moveable feast was at Brussel Bad last year, but now it’s over near the Atomium: an entire day of DJs and dancing. See Critics’ choice
Maanrock
21-22 Aug
Mechelen city centre
They call it Flanders Biggest Free Rock and Pop festival, which could very well be true. It’s certainly the one with the most locals bands: School is Cool, The Van Jets, Mintzkov, Das Pop, Arid, Clouseau and Belgium’s entry to Eurovision, Tom Dice. If you haven’t experienced a Flemish band’s crowd before, it’s worth checking out. The Flems are dedicated followers of their own and get a bit crazy. They might wrap an arm around your shoulder and teach you the words.
Gipsy’s in het park
4 Sept
Beukenpark, Oostkamp
If you’re in more of a free-roaming, bangle-wearing mood, rattle yourself over to Gypsy’s in het Park. Gypsy jazz to Gypsy ska are promised, and the program is a tribute to Django Reinhardt, who was born in Belgium and remains to this day one of the foremost European jazz guitarists. Honouring his name are the Dutch family the Basily Boys, the laidback Piattos, the sometimes-funky, sometimesrocky Phillip Catherine Quartet and the Original Seven Gyspy Ska Orchestra. All about family in the park. Be there with bells on.
Moulin Rock Festival
10-11 Sept
Tessenderlo, Limburg province
One of the younger festivals, this promises to be one of the more interesting for the die-hard new-music seeking crowd. The programme isn’t out yet, but last year included a fun line-up, with The Kids, Team William and The Galacticos. Stay tuned for more on this end-of-summer celebration.
www.moulinrock.be
Critics' Choice
Gooikoorts
FLEMISH FOLK? YES, THERE IS
The organisers of the Gooikoorts International Folk Music Festival may have gotten it wrong by advertising an “atmosphere of cosiness”, an adjective not normally associated with folk music or festivals. Both are more about a shared experience of want and tribulation, be it inadequate toilet facilities or industrial accidents.
But this doesn’t faze the organisers, who are eager to stress that Gooikoorts is Flanders’ strictly all-folk gathering and has the bill of fare to prove it. This year, there’s the pan-European Burdon Folk Band and gypsy swing from Montpellier courtesy of Bel’Ogadjo. But there’s also an all-too-rare opportunity to experience Flanders’ own folk music scene leaders in the ersons of Peut-etre Demain (pictured), who are using the festival to launch a new CD, and Harakiwi, a more international-sounding world music combo, who will be making their last live aearance at Gooikoorts.
There are few more pleasant ways of passing a summer afternoon than in this charming little town in the rural Pajottenland with the sun on your back and the weight of musical heritage sitting lightly on your shoulders. Paul Stump
Cactus festival
BRUGES’ BIG FAMILY-FRIENDLY FIESTA
It was really no coincidence that the Cactus Festival in Bruges won the award for Best Small European Festival in 2009. It’s a very family-friendly festival with loads of diverse off-stage animation, ranging from acrobats to art sessions. Of course, the music still is the most important, and Cactus treats artists and fans with respect: no overlapping concerts, no ultra-short sets. This year’s line-up is impressive: Elvis Costello comes with The Sugarcanes, a new acoustic band that, surely, will rock too. Tori Amos performs solo (when she’s at her best), whereas Macy Gray invites you to put on your dancing shoes. Balkan Beat Box and Nigerian Seun Kuti lend the festival its exotic flavour. Cactus also has booked some strong Belgian bands, like Ghinzu, Balthazar en Absynthe Minded. One evening and two full days, it promises to be a hell of a weekend. Christophe Verbiest
Die Antwoord @ Pukkelpop
SOUTH AFRICA’S FAVOURITE POTTY-MOUTHED
MONGRELS
A lot of people have heard of South African band Die Antwoord (The Answer), but few understand a word of what they’re saying. Even if you grew up in South Africa, speak the language and “get” the local cultural references, you still don’t understand it.
South Africa’s favourite potty-mouthed “zef rap-rave crew” (zef essentially means “trashy”) brings an utterly confusing but very entertaining mixture of '80s techno beats with dirty Afrikaans rap. The band is fronted by a tattooed skinny white guy called Ninja, supported by his spandex-wearing peroxide-blonde sidekick Yo-landi Vi$er and DJ Hi-Tek. Together, they form a surrealistic trio that perfectly represents the modern-day melting pot that is South Africa and offers a “wild and crazy journey down the crooked path to enlightenment”.
It’s going to be a zef rap-rave all right, with lasers, smoke and 3D graphics. You may not understand much, but you won’t be disappointed. Sabine Clappaert
Madness @ Ghent Jazz Fest
A NEVER-ENDINGLY GREAT BAND HAULS OUT
THEIR JAZZ
The quintessential English summer historically conjures up images of cricket games played on the village green, scones with strawberry preserve and jugs of Pimm’s and lemonade. Any updated version should, by law, include a Madness concert. Few artists manage to represent their home country with such panache and energy. And few artists manage to look – and sound – this young after 30 years in the business. Their latest album The Liberty Of Norton Folgate shows an inspired band at the height of its creativity; expect, therefore, a healthy combination of new material (“Dust Devil”, the divine “NW5”) and old favourites (“Baggy Trousers”, “Our House”…). Kudos to the Ghent Jazz organisers for acknowledging the oft-overlooked jazz element present in Madness’ music. Four years after their triumph at the Lokerse Feesten and 18 months after Vorst-Nationaal, it’s time for the “heavy, heavy monster sound” in Belgium again. PM Doutreligne
City Parade
CLUBBING UNDER THE ATOMIUM ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT
Let me see, a whole day of partying around four stages, 30 trucks, incredible sound systems and to more than 100 DJs, all for free in the lush parklands surrounding the glistening structure of the Atomium in Brussels. What's not to like about City Parade?
If you've ever loved clubbing but wished you could do it during the day here's the chance to dance your socks off with an up-for-it crowd, out in the open. Else, it's a great opportunity to see what dance music is all about, have a picnic and experience the deck wizardry of top local and international DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Dave Clarke and Green Velvet. City Parade rolls from 14.00 to midnight, with the actual parade of trucks, DJs, decks and dancers is between 17.00 and 19.00. If you haven't had enough by midnight, there’s an after-party ’til dawn, but it will set you back €25. Saffina Rana
