On Stage: Franz Ferdinand @ Woodstock'69

Haarlem's music venue Patronaat is working together with beach bar Woodstock69 to host concerts there. The beach bar is used to having DJs playing, as do many beach clubs there in Bloemendaal. But now they are also hosting band performances occasionally. This time Scottish band Franz Ferdinand are playing on the beach and that sounds like a good time to see them again.

Franz Ferdinand @ Woodstock69 Bloemendaal, September 5 2018

The last couple of days were quite rainy and it's clear summer has come to an end. Tonight we're lucky though and maybe it's not a warm summer's night at least it looks like it will stay dry. Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos is a big fan of post punk band Rats On Rafts from Rotterdam and brings them out as support act whenever he can. So the band is opening for them tonight and it's always good to see them. It's been a while since I've seen them and apparently they had a few line-up changes. But their music hasn't changed fortunately although some of the backup vocals aren't always in tune. At the end Kapranos himself joins the band for one song on guitar.

Later on he's on himself with Franz Ferdinand, the band that I still like a lot, although their best years are behind them. I like their new LP Always Descending which has a few songs that are quite good but can't match up to their best work. However Franz Ferdinand live is guaranteed to be a good time and tonight the setting seems perfect for a party. Indeed this is what happens when they start playing and the eager crowd starts dancing.

The band is playing with a lot of heart and Kapranos is his usual charming self, laughing and making contact with the people at the front. We find ourselves somewhere at the edge of the people at the front who are dancing wildly, and form a kind of jolly pit. But when they bring out their best songs, there's no holding back and we have to jump and dance like the rest. This band is still able to fire up a crowd and make them dance to their irresistible catchy songs.

Sometimes Kapranos will leave his guitar alone, grab the mic and starts crooning around the stage. Then the band will pick things up again and the crowd immediately goes wild. This band is at its best when it can get close to their fans and feel their energy. In the encore they poke up the fire a little more and let it rip completely in the closing song 'This Fire' where everyone sings "this fire is out of control" which couldn't be more true. What a great night at the beach!



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Setlist:
01. Lazy Boy
02. Glimpse of Love
03. Michael
04. Do You Want To
05. Walk Away
06. Come On Home
07. The Dark of the Matinée
08. Lois Lane
09. Finally
10. Outsiders
11. Take Me Out
12. Ulysses
Encore
13. Slow Don’t Kill Me Slow
14. Always Ascending
15. Love Illumination
16. This Fire


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On Stage: FFS

American synth pop band Sparks have been around for more than fourty years and influenced many artists along the way including Franz Ferdinand. They met each other years ago and decided to work together, which finally happened years later and led to their first self titled collaborative album earlier this year as FFS. When Franz Ferdinand released their last album it was clear the Scottish band reinvented themselves, which became even more obvious at their live shows. The show together with Sparks promised to be quite a night.

FFS at Melkweg Amsterdam, July 2 2015



The sold out show on this hot summer's night results in a sticky, but merry atmosphere in the packed main hall. It turns even euphoric when the band takes the stage and kicks off with the catchy 'Johnny Delusional'. Alex Kapranos and Russell Mael are both at the front leading the pack and tonight's festivities. It suits them well and the rest are in a great mood too, judging from the smiles on their faces. It's obvious both groups are enjoying the collaboration and their time on stage.



Even Ron Mael who always sits grumpy behind his keyboard, changes his act for a moment to do a silly dance. Next to the FFS songs that sound fresh and convincing, some hits from both bands are mixed in. Songs like Franz Ferdinand's 'Do You Wanna' and Sparks' 'The Number One Song In Heaven' are greeted with equal excitement. Although it looks like the biggest part of the crowd are Franz Ferdinand fans, everyone tonight has embraced this wonderful combination.



The catchy side of Franz Ferdinand that works so well in songs like 'Take Me Out' surprisingly mixes perfectly with the bombastic theatrical side of a classic Sparks song like 'This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us'. I guess it works so well is because they simply do what they each do best and don't try to force it. Despite they sing it themselves in the closing song of tonight, 'Collaborations Don't Work', this one actually does, simply because it's not a collaboration. It's more than that, it's a band.



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Setlist:
01. Johnny Delusional
02. The Man Without A Tan
03. Save Me from Myself
04. Police Encounters
05. Do You Want To
06. The Power Couple
07. Little Guy From The Suburbs
08. Things I Won't Get
09. So Desu Ne
10. The Number One Song in Heaven
11. Michael
12. This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us
13. Dictator's Son
14. Take Me Out
15. Piss Off
Encore
16. When Do I Get to Sing "My Way"
17. Call Girl
18. Collaborations Don't Work


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Rock Werchter 2014 Day 4: Dancing In The Rain

On the last day of the festival we wake up to a nice sunny day. But the forecast is one that expects heavy rain storms. We'll just see about that. Nothing our friend Joe Piler can't fix. Here we go!

Rock Werchter 2014 Sunday, July 6 2014



Reignwolf
On the main stage a small band is opening the day. Reignwolf is the project of Jordan Cook. It starts out as a three man band, while Cook is climbing a loose bass drum at the front of the stage. His music is blues and classic rock and indeed he can howl like a wolf. Then the other band members leave the stage and Cook gets freaky. He's playing guitar while at the same time holding his microphone. Or he's playing the bass drum at the same time. Or, sure why not, he's actually behind the drum kit playing it, while playing the guitar and singing. This guy is a one man band! It's pretty impressive and quite entertaining. Still I want to see other bands so I leave before the end.



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Oscar & The Wolf
I want to see the Belgian band Oscar & The Wolf, who make nice dreampop songs that take you away to tropical islands. And the stage looks exactly like that with palm trees scattered around and mostly red and green lights. Their music is the kind where you close your eyes and let it carry you away. It may not sound too exciting or energetic but the band succeeds in creating that tropical atmosphere, the high temperature inside helps too, with sultry versions of their music.



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Parquet Courts
And now for something completely different. No tropical atmosphere with Parquet Courts, but excellent punk rock songs. Their new album Sunbathing Animal shows more depth and melody while it still sounds powerful. The four guys play them quite convincingly, although it doesn't light the fuse as you would expect. That's because the band doesn't exactly go wild on stage. Still because of their strong repertoire it is a nice show, but could have been a lot better.



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Royal Blood
There are only two musicians in Royal Blood and still they know how to produce a very big and solid sound. Singer and guitar player Mike Kerr uses a heavily distorted bass guitar to lay down heavy riffs where drummer Ben Thatcher is putting very tight grooves on top. The duo from Brighton are convincingly playing their blues rock songs and have no trouble entertaining the full tent. It's remarkable how these two can create this sound by just the two of them.



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Bastille
We take a break and have some food outside the festival side. While we're inside a tent to eat, a heavy rain storm passes by. We're lucky that we can sit this one out. We return to the main stage for Bastille, where the side has turned into mud and everyone is soaking wet. It's still raining, but not that bad anymore. No one is letting the rain get them down. It seems as everyone is eager to party anyway and Bastille has no trouble making the people dance. Their music isn't that brilliant or special but it's the right band at the right place at the moment.



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Franz Ferdinand
Although we have seen Franz Ferdinand twice in the last couple of weeks, we decide to go see them instead of Foals anyway. Not because we don't like Foals, on the contrary, but because we don't want to go inside another full tent. And of course because Franz Ferdinand never disappoints. It's the same set as the previous time, which is a perfect festival set. Again it doesn't miss its effect at all. The build-up in the beginning with some hits, then the middle part with some more down tempo songs, followed by the big blog at the end where the field explodes. Any festival should try to book this band.



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Kings Of Leon
We want to have a look at MGMT, but the tent is too full. We stand outside for a bit, but then decide to go check out Kings of Leon. The band is bigger than ever and you know what you're going to get. They play a decent set with many of their hits and some songs of their successful but quality wise poorer last few albums. We can even see Caleb Followill smile a few times. But the band just doesn't add a lot to the live experience. There are no surprises, no improvisations, everything is well rehearsed. It is actually quite boring. I wish they would spice it a up and look for a bit of adventure.



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Interpol
It looks like Interpol have found their balance again. After Carlos Dengler left the band, it was as if Interpol was somewhat disoriented. Today they prove there's still enough fire in them to play a convincing set. Their songs sound dark and threatening again, full of tension and power. The new song the band is playing, sounds promising and I'm really looking forward to their new album later this year.



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Stromae
Although it looked as if Kings of Leon were the headliner today, actually Stromae is the one to close the festival. And although some people were questioning it, no doubt he deserves it. It may be a risky choice by the Rock Werchters programmers, but one that works out great. From seemingly nowhere he rocketed into the spot lights last year with his hit 'Formidable'. And he proves to be a wonderful entertainer. I don't like his music too much, especially the songs that are more or less eurotrance, but boy what a great artist. His mimicry is great, the way he acts on stage, everything looks magnificent. He's a worthy ending to another great edition of this festival.



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What a blast it was again. I wonder though, why the festival didn't really celebrate their 40th anniversary or give it more attention. But maybe they wanted to let the line-up speak for itself, since it worked out in a great way. The crowd is always lovely here, full of energy, and many bands did feel this and played great sets. But next year we won't be there. We can't handle the four day camping anymore and we want to try out some new festivals. But I'm sure we will return some day to this wonderful place.

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Rock Werchter 2014 Day 1
Rock Werchter 2014 Day 2
Rock Werchter 2014 Day 3

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Best Kept Secret 2014 Day 2: The Party Is On

We wake up to the sound of chirping birds in a real bed. After a refreshing warm shower without waiting in line, the smell of fried eggs and fresh coffee fills the little house. We can even have breakfast outside at a real table with real chairs. This is such luxury at a festival and pure joy. I feel really great and am totally ready for day two.

Best Kept Secret Festival Day 2, June 21 2014

But it's so relaxed sitting outside sipping our coffee that we take it a bit too slow and by the time we make it to the main stage, The Bots are saying their goodbyes. So we walk back to stage Three for our first band of the day.



Pins
The four ladies from Manchester are like a younger and lighter version of Savages in a good way. They do bring that dark eighties sound, but add just enough punk and colour to it. And they also add plenty of smiles especially guitarist Lois McDonald who looks like she's having a blast on stage. This band could come a long way.

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Moss
Dutch band Moss released another good album earlier this year. They fully understand the concept of "less is more" and showcase that this afternoon. This doesn't mean they only play slow minimal songs, sometimes the band plays one of their more uptempo rock songs. The slower songs are a bit hard to chew for the crowd as the sun is getting brighter and warmer and the beers colder. But they are definitely one of the more interesting acts on the bill.

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Radkey
On stage Three we stumble on a full on rock party. Three young men, made up of the three Radke brothers, are completely killing it here, playing super energetic rock songs and totally look cool doing. Bass player Isaiah seems to have walked out of an eighties video while singer Dee is shaking his dreads. You wouldn't expect such a powerful voice from this little man. But they are growing big on stage and are one of the nicest surprises on this festival.

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School Is Cool
The second album by Belgian band School Is Cool is a lot darker and complex than their catchy debut. The band is clearly growing up and so is singer Johannes Genard who seems to be quite fond of his new hairstyle. The band had a few line up changes but sound pretty tight together. Not all of their new songs are very easy and they like to make it hard on their audience. But Gennard is clearly planning on getting every single one us on his side. It's definitely a band that is still growing and has a lot to offer. Their hard work is paying off and that is showing today.

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Wild Beasts
Another band that doesn't like to make things easy are Wild Beasts. But they also aren´t really appealing to me, mostly because of the falsetto vocals by Tom Flemming. Together with the slow and dramatic compositions it is getting on my nerves. They did bring nice lighting with them and I understand that it can turn magical when you're into their music. The foursome is playing a convincing and focused set but this is just not for me.

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Miles Kane
Another cup of tea and definitely mine is Miles Kane. More and more he is growing into a wanted festival act and for a good reason. He's playing his in-your-face rock music with so much energy and enthusiasm it's too hard to resist. Today is no exception. Kane is working hard as always and is enjoying every minute of his show in the sun. For some people it may not be refined enough or too simple, but they must admit that Miles Kane is able to throw a good party wherever he is showing up. And I think most people on this spot today are agreeing to that.



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Afterpartees
A band that also knows how to throw a party, before, during or after, are Dutch rockers Afterpartees. This young band have moulded their punk and garage rock songs into super catchy party anthems and have just the right front man to perform them. Niek Nellen looks like he was born to perform, with a natural feeling for rock poses and the right amount of cheekiness. The band knows exactly what the people want today and give it to them in large amounts and lots of energy. The security guy is getting more and more desperate by the minute to keep an eye out for illegal crowd surfers. He never stood a chance.



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The War On Drugs
One of the most anticipated acts this weekend is probably The War On Drugs. The band is getting bigger every day and their latest album is bound to end up high in the end of the year lists. Today they prove this is all justified. Their music, a mix of Bob Dylan and Springsteen with a pinch of Dire Straits, may not be really appealing on paper but it definitely is. The warm and dreamy songs are also spot on in the nice evening sun. Many people subdue themselves to this band and let themselves slowly carry away.

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Franz Ferdinand
If you want a headliner that is guaranteed to throw a party, who do you call? Franz Ferdinand! Maybe not the most original festival act or music, but can we ever get enough of them? Not when it is performed with so much energy and aimed at people having a good time. Charismatic front man Alex Kapranos is looking totally relaxed again, while they fire away one hit after another. Resistance is futile so we keep the beer flowing and the jumping going. "This fire is out of control" you bet ya.



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And so we feel right at home at this festival that is turning into one of our favourites. Everything is in balance, everything is relaxed and musical wise there's something to everyone's taste. And having a few more beers in your jungalow before you climb into a real bed is just icing on the cake. Yes, I like the word "jungalow" a lot.

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Best Kept Secret Day 1
Best Kept Secret Day 3

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Jumping With Franz Ferdinand

At the height of their fame Franz Ferdinand started playing the bigger venues. At the same time it looked as if they weren't enjoying themselves anymore. Things had to change and the band took a long break. In the meantime their fame slowly started to fade again. But last year they returned with a strong new album and an impressive and energetic show at the Lowlands Festival. Now they were going to play Paradiso, a smaller venue than usual and this could only mean one thing: party!



Franz Ferdinand at Paradiso Amsterdam, June 12 2014

First Dutch new wave band Rats on Rafts are going to warm us up. It's no secret Franz Ferdinand singer Alex Kopranos is a big fan, so it's no surprise they are the support act. They play a rough and dark set of songs, heavy on reverb. The band has grown over the years and they start to sound really tight. Their newly released single 'Powder Monkey' sounds great as well, so things look really promising for this band.



Things have changed for Franz Ferdinand since their long break from fame. The band looks a lot more relaxed on stage and it seems they have found a way of dealing with their place in a famous band and with each other. Kopranos is smiling throughout the show, looks very pleased and is without a doubt enjoying himself a lot. No one can stand still when they start playing, including Kopranos himself, who is doing split jumps from time to time. There's a lot of energy on stage and in the crowd who have come here to party. On the last album the band is emphasizing that they want us to dance, by including disco influences like on 'Can't Stop Feeling'. This proves to be very effective live as well.



But of course the band did write so many great songs that no one can resist and should get everyone moving. They may not always be very original but they are so effective. Every single one of their records has at least a few irresistible dancing tunes. And they are all in the setlist tonight: 'The Dark of the Matinée', 'Tell Her Tonight', 'Do You Want To', it doesn't take much to get this crowd going wild. In the middle the four are kind of slowing down, but just when you think they are letting it slip away, they knock out one killer after one another: 'Michael', 'Take Me Out', 'Love Illumination', 'Ulysses' are back to back and Paradiso explodes.



On 'Outsiders' the band gather around Paul Thomson's drum set to hit the shit out of it. Then they leave the stage for a short break. Which hit songs didn't they play yet? Of course we're still waiting for 'Right Action' and 'This Fire'. They close the night with 'Goodbye Lovers & Friends', a fitting end to an amazing evening. And the best part? We get to see them again next week on the Best Kept Secret festival. Mental note to myself: bring dancing shoes.



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Setlist:
01. Bullet
02. No You Girls
03. The Dark of the Matinée
04. Evil Eye
05. Tell Her Tonight
06. Do You Want To
07. The Fallen
08. Fresh Strawberries
09. Walk Away
10. Stand on the Horizon
11. Can't Stop Feeling
12. Auf Achse
13. Brief Encounters
14. Lucid Dreams
15. Michael
16. Take Me Out
17. Love Illumination
18. Ulysses
19. Outsiders
Encore
20. Right Action
21. This Fire
22. Goodbye Lovers & Friends


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Lowlands 2013 Day 3: Girl Power!

After a sunny day we wake up to grey clouds and rain. But by the time we make it to the festival site the sun is breaking through. Within no time I'm eating an omelet in the sun. Ready to take on this last day.

Lowlands 2013 Day 3, August 18 2013



Jacco Gardner
More and more people are hearing about the boy wonder from the town Hoorn in The Netherlands, who got his inspiration from the psychedelic bands of the sixties. His album Cabinet Of Curiosities is full of beautiful songs in the same style. Live this may seem to lead to a static performance, but fortunately this is not the case. Gardner is chatting to the crowd from time to time in a relaxed way. His presence is kind of innocent and disarmingly. His music is doing the rest and it is creating a magical atmosphere. His band is his reliable support with his friends from Lola Kite and Mr Cool himself, Jos van Tol on drums. Surprisingly the India tent is only half full, but I'm sure next time he will draw bigger crowds.



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Haim
Another hype are the Haim sisters. Just like Jacco Gardner they knew to create something of a buzz, without even releasing an album. Already they are getting bookings for festivals and club performances. According to the MC who's announcing her, they partied hard the day before. The girls do look a bit hung over and their set isn't always really tight. They sound a lot more rough on stage than they do on record. Guitarist Danielle knows how to handle her guitar, but her vocals don't always sound powerful enough. They help out drummer Dash Hutton on percussion a lot as well. Bass player Este Haim sounds pretty groovy despite her funny faces. All put together it is an interesting performance. Although not legendary it does sound promising. I'm looking forward to their album that is coming out in a few weeks. By playing many shows they should be able to grow more tight and sound better. I'm sure they'll be a different band within year.



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Noah and the Whale
We decide to check out Noah and The Whale. The band from London make harmless indie rock songs. The band's performance is like their music: nice, happy and a bit too correct. It does make for an enjoyable performance though. And of course you don't expect to find a "wall of death" at their show. Despite some nice songs you could wish for a bit more bite though.



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Alabama Shakes
Of course Alabama Shakes should already have been programmed last year. This year they are already considered big enough to perform on the big Alpha stage. The band does have Brittany Howard who can fill any stage and I mean that in the most respectful way. Her voice is so strong and her presence is overwhelming. It's a delight to watch her sing. The rest of the band have gotten tighter because of all the shows they played. They sound very laid back and have made peace that they are performing in Howard's shadow. It doesn't take long for the crowd to surrender to the intense soul and blues songs. Although the faster songs are less impressive they are a welcome variation and make for a merry intermezzo.



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Foals
We rush ourselves to the other side of the festival site to catch the second half of the Foals show. I'm really glad to have made that effort. Their last album won many people over including myself. Their show is a lot more rocking than I expected. It sounds bombastic from time to time but always tasteful. The band is focused and knows what a festival crowd wants: dancing. The tent is more empty at the end of the show than at the point we came in, but that's probably because many people were already making their way to the Alpha tent for Franz Ferdinand. Foals deserved a bigger crowd for their hard work and convincing performance.



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Franz Ferdinand
Indeed many people show up for the glorious return of the Scottish band. They have been away for a while but apparently not forgotten. I haven't seen the Alpha more packed this weekend. We cannot even get in for a good spot and decide to party outside. Since it's a huge party the band is throwing. They have so many songs that get a crowd to go wild. People are dancing and jumping everywhere, even on the slopes at both sides of the tent. New song 'Love Illuminiation' fits in seamlessly and already sounds like it's always been in their set. 'Can't Stop Feeling' is probably a homage to the late Donna Summer containing a similar hook. The band even mix Summer's hit 'I Feel Love' into the song. I don't think anyone expected this big welcome back for the band. But they showed to be totally worth the wait. I can't wait for their new album.



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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
So after this high, Nick Cave was going to close the festival. How was he going to top the party loaded set of Franz Ferdinand? By doing what he does best: play a dark and intense performance as if the devil himself is on his tail. Cave is all over the place in his usual fashion. Sometimes hanging backwards, his arms raised in front of him, like he's enchanting the crowd. Other times he's hanging over the front row, pouring out his sharp words on the first few rows. Or balancing skilfully on top of the fence, supporting himself by holding the hand of one of the fans. The terrific Bad Seeds know exactly how to back him up. Gently playing along in the slow and intimate songs, but wild and rough in the louder parts, sparing no one to enforce Cave's words.

This doesn't miss its impact. The performance is spot on. A vicious and evil 'Stagger Lee' follows the dramatic 'The Mercy Seat' and brilliant 'Higgs Boson Blues'. Songs of the new album sound just as strong as his best songs. 'Push The Sky Away' is dark, spooky and fills the big tent with silence. I've never heard a big crowd go so quiet. Many people were questioning if Nick Cave was a good headliner to close this last day. With this magnificent performance there's no doubt any more. He closes the set with the always gorgeous 'Into My Arms' which make this performance a perfect one.



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Still stunned from the performance we get ourselves some of the last bitterballen and some beers. So what about finally going to the Titty Twister? Another huge line!? Crap! Grolsch Beugelbar it is then.

Another good edition of Lowlands has come to an end. I really noticed an increasing number of people come here to party and music comes in second. The Lowlands organization seems to targeting that group more and more, which is a real shame. Hopefully music will never come in second for them. Or should I start looking at a different festival?

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Lowlands 2013 Day 1
Lowlands 2013 Day 2


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Into The Great Wide Open 2012 Day 1: Happy To Be Back

We were so lucky to get tickets to this little festival on the Vlieland island off the north coast of the Netherlands. After our first time last year, we couldn't wait to get back to this special place. It sold out in not time and we were really happy to be one of the lucky 5000 able to buy a ticket. And even the weather gods were on our side once again.

Into The Great Wide Open 2012 Day 0, September 6 2012

It was a good choice to book our boat ticket for the day before the official start of the festival, since the organization already booked a few acts to warm us up.



Rats On Rafts
And even this great band was included that I was dying to see. And they don't disappoint for a bit. The band is playing the stage in the forest while it's already dark, which only adds to their 80s new wave punk sound. Vocals and guitars full of reverb break the silence that normally can be heard in these small woods. The foursome are looking determined and confident. The repetitive elements in their songs, suck you into the music, like you're in a trance. A great way to warm up for the festival.

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Into The Great Wide Open 2012 Day 1, September 6 2012

The first full day of the festival always starts a bit late. So we have plenty of time to try out our bikes and have a nice lunch at the beach. The sun is out and is covering us with a feeling of an endless summer. Time to soak ourselves into the festival vibe.



Anne Soldaat
Many years ago this Dutch musician was part of the highly acclaimed alternative band Daryll-Ann. Now he's on his own and releasing his second album as a solo artist. That self-titled album is full of beautiful songs that are a mix of The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. On stage he's bringing an all-star band with keyboard player Matthijs van Duijvenbode (Tim Knol, ex-Johan), guitarist and singer Maurits Westerik (GEM), drummer Bram Hakkens (Kyteman, Dazzled Kid) and bass player Jeroen Overman (Tim Knol). This is a good choice. These confident musicians are looking comfortable and are playing very tight. And their faces are showing they are enjoying it a lot too. Soldaat meanwhile is concentrating on his music that goes down very well on this warm and sunny afternoon.

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Case Mayfield
It's time again for one of my favourite musicians. He released his début album just over half a year ago but is already planning a new release next month when his second album 10 will come out. Today he's playing the full album on the new stage at the lighthouse stage. This stage is set in a beautiful environment in the dunes down from the lighthouse and with a sea view. A perfect setting for Mayfield's impressive and intimate songs.

It's obvious he's making the transition from solo artist to band leader. The new songs are more of a band effort and sound a bit lighter. Although I like his darker songs best, the new material sounds promising and I'll be eagerly awaiting this release. Mayfield is turning the afternoon into a cheerful one with small chats and his unique combination of a shy appearance with a great sense of humor. Every time I see him play he has grown more confident and it looks like he's enjoying the combination with a band. Mayfield doesn't give his best show ever, but doesn't disappoint at all and I gladly buy the limited 10" after the show. Thanks for the small calculation "10 + 1 - 1 = 10" you wrote on it Case! Time for some amazing grilled mackerel. Did I mention the food is great here?

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Ben Caplan
The heavy bearded Ben Caplan from Canada wasn't on my list to see, but we happen to end up seeing him anyway in the forest. His raspy voice and outgoing stage appearance make him an immediate hit. He knows how to play a crowd and has every one eating from his hand within no time. He's enjoying every minute of it. It's easy to compare him to Tom Waits, because of his folkrock songs and sandpaper voice. But that wouldn't be fair to the master himself. Caplan, who's only 25 which isn't obvious from his appearance, can't come near Waits yet. His songs are too light for that and miss depth. But today, on this amazing forest stage, the balance couldn't be more right. Backed up by his band The Casual Smokers, his roar can be heard far beyond the forest. I bet he will be howling to the moon later tonight.

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Kampvuur (eng: Campfire)
On that same stage in the woods, writers and musicians are proving that literature and poetry match really well with music. The idea is to combine a writer, who's reciting some stories and poems, with a musician who is supporting it with music. First up are writer Maartje Wortel and Anne Soldaat. Soldaat is combining the absurd story about a couple and their dead dog, with tasteful and subtle guitar playing. Only Wortel's story telling is pretty monotonous and she could make it more exciting.

The second writer is doing it a lot better. Dirk van Weelden is a charismatic writer who confidently puts himself behind the mic. His stories and poems are well written and especially the obituary for Dutch writer Martin Bril is giving many goosebumps. The music by Awkward I, or Djurre de Haan, is well chosen and totally fits. When the electricity goes out, the duo continues unstirred with flash lights. The crowd goes dead quiet so every one can hear them, turning it into an more than impressive moment.





Franz Ferdinand
We leave before the last writer and musician to see the return of britpop band Franz Ferdinand. It's a big name for such a small festival, but I believe they wanted to play on this island so badly, that they worked it out with the organization. It turns into a greatest hits show with a few new songs. If these songs are going to be representative for the next album, we can expect a lot of disco. They even manage to slip in a bit of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love'. Singer Alex Kapranos is singing quite a bit off-key tonight, but it isn't really disturbing. The band is looking a lot more relaxed than the last time I saw them. Their time away must have paid off. They are enjoying themselves today, where Kapranos even joined Rats On Rafts on the small stage opposite the one they're playing now. Of course hits like 'Take Me Out' and 'Burn This City' go down well tonight. They look like a garage band again, ready for the world and great music ahead of them. Hopefully this will turn out to be true.



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Time to head for the camping site's bar to do a little more dancing. And drinking.

More Pictures

Into The Great Wide Open 2012 Day 2
Into The Great Wide Open 2012 Day 3

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Ronald Scribbles

It's time to scribble! This time there's news about Dead Weather, Iron Maiden, Coachella and more.


Iron Maiden's "Flight 666" doc takes off
The Iron Maiden documentary "Flight 666" will debut 21 April worldwide. DVD and CD packages will follow.

Jack White's Dead Weather played first gig in New York
Jack White and his fellow band members of the new formed band Dead Weather performed live for the very first time at New York’s Bowery Ballroom. Watch some video's below. They have also announced a tour.



WFMU's Free Music Archive goes online
WFMU, a radio station in America, has launched its Free Music Archive. It's an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads.

Coachella awards
The last gigs have been played on 2009's edition of Coachella. So it's time to wrap it up. Who was hot and who was not? And who had the worst make-up?

Franz Ferdinand to release split-single with Dutch band
Franz Ferdinand and Dutch band De Kift will release a spit-single together with both bands covering songs of each other.
Read more!