Pukkelpop line-up all but complete on the cusp of summer. It’s all systems go for a wonderful festival season and the Pukkelpop organisers drive the point home with 30 new additions including Nothing But Thieves, King Hannah, While She Sleeps and Kills Birds.
FRIDAY 19 AUGUST
What do Nothing But Thieves and Kills Birds have in common apart from their appearance at Pukkelpop this year? Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl heaps praise on them at every turn. King Hannah are also scorching hot right now: another band to play on Friday 19 August that’s been collecting rave reviews. Also billed on Friday: English metalcore with While She Sleeps, their Flemish peers Fleddy Melculy, acid-fuelled techno with Klaps, the entrancing music of Pitou, her compatriot and Eurosong surprise S10, the forbidding techno of OGENN, techno star Anfisa Letyago and all-rounder DJ St. Paul.
They’re more than happy to share the bill with the likes of Slipknot, Cypress Hill, Goose, Camelphat, James Blake, Pendulum (live), Skepta, Tamino, Rüfüs Du Sol, Goldband and Merol.
SATURDAY 20 AUGUST
More newbies on Saturday as well with Kills Birds, as mentioned above one of Dave Grohl’s personal favourites, killthelogo - heirs to the legendary Belgian hardcore outfit .calibre, the North African hypno trance of Al-Qasar, the adventurous power rock of De Staat, tormented guitar melodies with Mooneye, an eclectic DJ set by séa in her backyard, and last but not least Eppo Janssen & Friends, who obviously know the lay of the Pukkelpop land.
They can swap jaw-dropping stories backstage with, among others, Charlotte de Witte, Tame Impala, Limp Bizkit, Dave, Jungle, Sean Paul, The Opposites, George Ezra, GAYLE and Wet Leg.
SUNDAY 21 AUGUST
On Sunday you can look forward to Brussels jazz band ECHT!, noise rock with HEISA, lalma - the black metal project of Arsenal’s Joan Roan, DJ & producer Naethan, shoegaze with Slow Crush, sound freak Biesmans (live), tech house & techno DJ Axel Haube, Studio Brussels radiostars Stijn Van De Voorde & Thibault Christiaensen and panache pop with Milo Meskens. In short, Belgium’s finest firing on all cylinders.
In addition to the literal fireworks Sunday also offers more fireworks of the musical variety with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon, Oscar and the Wolf, Glass Animals, Jack Harlow, Kölsch, MEAU and Sigrid.
PRE-NIGHT: NOT YOUR RUN-OF-THE-MILL PARTY
Just a few words on Thursday, the traditional check-in day for our campers. PKP Thursday is shaping up to be a phenomenal festival day thanks to a string of top-notch names including Hindu Radio Djs, The Sore Losers, Willy Organ XL and Lander & Adriaan, or how about Chibi Ichigo, Coely, Dikke, Eva De Roo & Double D, Froukje, Heideroosjes, Kwijt Trek System, Stikstof, Sylvie Kreusch and Omdat Het Kan Soundsystem feat. Average Rob?
TICKETS & INFO
Day tickets are €115, combi tickets are €245. Festival tickets include public transport. On the Pukkelpop website you can order your festival and camping tickets, food & drink vouchers at a preferential rate but you can also switch festival days or upgrade your ticket to a combi ticket.
The final names, stage schedules and stage times will be announced over the next few weeks.
Unfortunately you will no longer find Willow and Soulwax on the bill as both have been forced to cancel for production reasons.
Whether you like indie, rock, pop, hip hop, electronic or simply everything, Pukkelpop is a must-see festival for any music enthusiast. As usual, foodies, culture lovers and street art fans will also get their fix during this four-day musical journey of discovery.
Let’s Pukkelpop!