The largest underground music festival of Belgium, Pukkelpop 2018, a report of day 1.
After a 4 hour drive, duo traffic jams and accidents on our way, we arrived just in time for the performance of Dua Lipa on the mainstage. The British singer, who adds electronica into her music, was a first highlight on the 1st day of Pukkelpop. Sick, by flu, she could effortlessly conquer the hearts with hits such as ’One Kiss’ and ’Be the one’. Discovering the impressive terrain followed on our program, including the DJ Booth, that’s placed at the end of the terrain and after a techno interlude of Nastia we went back to the mainstage for the visit of The War On Drugs. Rock from The States and known as an iron-strong band, our expectations were high. These expectations were fully filled in which the apotheosis was their hit ’Under The Pressure’. Walking back to the Boiler Room we were literally sucked into the Castello with the wonderful tunes of Kiasmos (live). An abundance of bliss by rhodes, strings, crystal clear bells and in general an adventure between deep house and progressive was thé highlight of our 1st day at Pukkelpop. Kiasmos is just fantastic!
Marcel Dettmann was next on our program and he opted for minimalist techno, inviting everyone with the vocal “I hope you’re ready”. Double kicks alternating with ravy techno was ideal for the numerous young techno fans in the Boiler Room. But just before the performance of Charlotte de Witte, many young girls asked if Charlotte had already started, which was a clear signal that our Belgian techno Queen is immensely popular. The Boiler Room was even slightly unpleasant as it was too crowdy and we decided to enjoy her DJ set outside the Boiler Room. Her set was filled with acid influences, but was clearly more harder than her performances at Tomorrowland. Charlotte will be closing the festival with a DJ set on the mainstage today as a replacement for Travis Scott.
A wonderful 1st day at Pukkelpop. (JL)