Pukkelpop 2011

[Trufflehound]

Just so you know it's really happening:

I drove past the PP site on Saturday, and building work has started. The roof of the Club stage was up, and there was a big pile of scaffolding where the Main Stage will be. Otherwise lots of portakabins and scaffolding all over the place!

Not too many clashes for me this year happily. I wouldn't have minded seeing Explosions in the Sky AND The Naked and Famous AND Wolf People, but obviously that ain't going to happen. Besides that, no major dilemmas.

Actually, even that's not really a dilemma - for me, Explosions in the Sky win 100 times out of 100.

[Semprini]

To add to Trufflehound's verbal update on the site build, here's a link to some photos of how everything is coming along.

For anyone who has never been before or those of you who are a bit of a geek like me, the red and white tent is the Club and the blue and yellow one is the Boiler Room. They are both new tents from last year but don't look any bigger or smaller than the old ones. Most of the shots on the first page are of the Main Stage and artist hospitality area (also the rows of portacabins in the last page are the band dressing rooms). The big scaffold structure with the portacabins within them is the main entrance. It doesn't on the face of it look as if they've made any significant changes to the lay out of the site but if it's not broken....

In exactly two weeks time I'll be there and probably wandering round the Boiler enjoying the pre-party, bring it on!!!!

[august1]

right I have hotel and flights booked but no festival tickets (due to the advance on this thread to wait booo )

what else is there to see and do in the area?

any chance of picking a ticket up at the exchange, there is 2 of us, one of us is likely to get a ticket via the resale thing online, which is even more of a pickle

[august1]

has anyone got guestlist off a band? could you only enter for their day?

[TheNewUnion]

Another 2 cancellations. Das Pop (who I wanted to see)and Glasser. Seem to have been an awful lot of cancellations this year. Still, looking forward to it. Should be there this time next week.

[londonlax]

So what normally happens on the Wednesday night? Is the festival site open?

[TheNewUnion]

Yeah, the site is open and there are DJ's playing at the Dance Hall/Boiler (there were last year at least). All the locals have their stalls open so an opportunity to have a wander, a bite to eat and a beer too.

[londonlax]

Sounds good.

I love that excitement and anticipation of the day before a festival starts.

[august1]

do you need a ticket to get in the day before?

guest tickets sorted for thursday, luckily its the best day

[pryce]

can not wait for this!

a couple of questions .... all of these stalls are they on the road between the campsite and the arena?

and

where would the nearest supermarket/shop be?

any help would be much appreciated!

[TheNewUnion]

Yep, campsite on one side of the road, festival site the other. Local residents on that road sell from stalls in their gardens. Further down there are a couple of proper takeaway places, the pizza place is reasonably priced and pretty good. Most of the neighbours sell beer too, was 1.5e for a can last year, so not too bad.

As for a supermarket, there's a Spar not far away, a bakery too which our tent neighbours raved about (they went for breakfast every morning) Head out of camping, turn right and it's about 10-15 minutes walk. Depending on what you want there is a Shell petrol station the same way too, that was pretty well stocked (think it even sold booze)

[pryce]

awesome cheers

[Trufflehound]

As for a supermarket, there's a Spar not far away, a bakery too which our tent neighbours raved about (they went for breakfast every morning) Head out of camping, turn right and it's about 10-15 minutes walk. Depending on what you want there is a Shell petrol station the same way too, that was pretty well stocked (think it even sold booze)

[sthorpe]

Just starting to pack - leaving for Brussels on sunday.

Although this is our third year in a row, I was wondering how muddy it could get in the arena? I ask as I have a bit of extra room in my bag this year and may pack the wellies.

Two years ago it was stupidly hot (along with the famous thunderstorm during my crooked vultures) and last year was pretty mixed; I don't remember the arena areas being muddy at all.

Appreciate your input guys

[Semprini]

I've never brought wellies with me (and won't be this year unless the forecasts predict downpours) but a friend I know who has been to all 25 Pukkelpops told me that they have had complete mudbaths in the past. Even when it has rained in the time I've been there has been no mud but any rain I have experienced was short lived so it's a hard one to call. There's no doubt though that if it does rain for a prolonged period of time it will get muddy. Probably the best thing to do is check the forecasts on Sunday and if you're in any doubt throw them in.

So who's got their schedule all worked out then???? I know some people say you should just go with the flow but I've done my research and have a pretty concrete idea who I'll be seeing over the three days. This is my big music weekend for the year and I just want to see as many bands and DJs as is humanely possible - fair play to anyone who wants to hang out in the campsite or sit on the field socialising but I'm there for the music. Having said that, I'll definitely deviate from the plan and there's always times when I look at the schedule when I'm back home and think, 'where the f*** was I for that hour then?'

[sthorpe]

Thanks Semprini. Have packed them but hopefully won't need them!

We have our timetable planned - way too many clashes on the Thursday, a reasonably quiet Friday (with a welcome later start) and a well paced Saturday.

Especially looking forward to EITS and fleet foxes but actually have over 40 acts highlighted to try and see - it never goes to plan!

Have a safe trip everyone, and have a great time...

[TheOffspring]

I live in Belgium and Frank de Boossere is our forecaster. He said that thursday will be terrible... A lot of rain and lightning... When I was typing this message the sun shone for the first time in a week. I hope it will be good weather.

On the terrain of pukkelpop is now a other festival for older people(Rimpelrock). Yesterday night a waterfall fell on our head and the terrain looked still pretty good.

[Trufflehound]

He said that thursday will be terrible... A lot of rain and lightning...

[millionaire]

WOOOHOOOOOO I AM LEAVING THE MORO!!

Couple of last minute questions, chairs, camping ones, are they allowed? If yes, where are they sold in brussels or hasselt? I will not be a knob and camp out on my chair close to the stage.

Is there lockers for storing said chair, at the points when there is something I would love to be near the front for?

You'll see me and my friend for sure at Benny Zen and Black Cassette, I have flyers for free music. We are Scottish and slightly/alot mental, please say hi.

Edited August 15, 2011 by millionaire

[Semprini]

WOOOHOOOOOO I AM LEAVING THE MORO!!

Couple of last minute questions, chairs, camping ones, are they allowed? If yes, where are they sold in brussels or hasselt? I will not be a knob and camp out on my chair close to the stage.

Is there lockers for storing said chair, at the points when there is something I would love to be near the front for?

You'll see me and my friend for sure at Benny Zen and Black Cassette, I have flyers for free music. We are Scottish and slightly/alot mental, please say hi.

[Semprini]

Just getting ready to head off to the airport now for our flight and I'm a little bit excited!!!

Have a great festival everyone!

[august1]

anyone know what time the buses stop from the festival back to hasselt?

[Furious-Red]

Hope everyone is ok. Seems a massive storm has hit the site. Chateau and Shelter stage have collapsed

[jol33n]

Indeed, very bad news for the festival. waiting for official reports on injuries or worse..

[rexclark]

Four dead so far. Horrible news, especially after what happenedin Indiana last week.