Pukkelpop 2013

[Semprini]

Watching it too on my laptop as my wife has commandeered the TV for Mumfords. Visuals look great and they sound fantastic too but don't think the down-tempo beats will cut it for me at that time of night when I'll be in full-on party mode. Will definitely be at Jamie's DJ set afterwards though.

Tried to watch as much of the Glasto coverage as I could this weekend, particularly the bands that will also be at PP. Was really impressed with Foals on Friday night, think that will be one of the performances of the weekend. Johnny Marr and Miles Kane were both excellent and will make a great double-header in the Marquee. Looked like a good atmosphere for Chase and Status and will be nice to hear some of their new stuff live. Disappointed Jagwar Ma didn't make it on to the live stream and I wasn't too convinced by Haim so will see what the timetable looks like before making a decision on that one.

[pryce]

im with you ... dont think i would be in the mood for XX .. looked decent but i will be probably watching Nosia

[Semprini]

Just reading through the Glastonbury chat forum and there's quite a lot of people complaining about the amount anti-social behaviour they encountered, ranging from people pissing everywhere to thefts, barging in crowds and fights. Many of the replies basically say this sort of behaviour is inevitable and comes with the territory at large scale events like this, which made me think of how that compares to Pukkelpop. I don't think I (or my friends) have been lucky in that none of us have experienced any of this sort of behaviour in all the years we have been going. I think the only remotely 'bad' experience I've had was in 2008 or so when I got a bit too smashed during the day and feel asleep at the back of the Main Stage field. Someone threw some water or beer on me to wake me up but they just laughed and waved in a friendly way when I got up to see what had happened - I thought, 'fair play, my fault for passing out'. I can't even remember anyone barging past me or pushing in to get a better spot for bands, people just seem a lot more respectful and chilled out on the whole.

The friends I go with think nothing of letting their wives go off on their own at 1am to watch bands they don't want to see - I wouldn't let my wife out of my sight at a festival in the UK let alone wander off in the early hours to see bands. If you couple that with the fact there's hardly any security around (and zero police presence in the arena) it really emphasises just how different the mentality is of the people who go to PP. Sure they want to enjoy themselves and let loose but it seems like they are able to do this without spoiling anyone else's experience or fun.

I sat at home this past weekend thinking to myself, 'I have to get to Glastonbury soon' but the more I read about the type of behaviour that sadly seems to be quite common even there now, the less appealing it becomes. I'm not saying of course that it's all like that (and I'm definitely not having a dig at Glastonbury) but I think back to experiences I've had at some of the bigger festivals in the UK and it's hard to avoid anti-social behaviour, whether it's people simply being selfish or just too hammered on drink/drugs to know they're behaving like an idiot. It's no wonder many people are now favouring smaller or niche festivals in the UK to get away from the hordes. Makes me very thankful I can enjoy all the amazing elements of a big music festival without having to put up with the negative aspects that many people here seem to now begrudgingly accept as being part of the 'experience'.

[TheNewUnion]

Semprini, that's all a tiny tiny (tiny, tiny) part of the Glastonbury audience. It's a wonderful place with wonderful people. Regrettably, it's also representative of British society as a whole so there are a few knobheads. As a festival it is without compare.

What stands out at Pukkelpop for me is the lack of drink culture, you can buy beer at 16 yet you still see young lads and their mates getting a coke or a fanta. If it was in the UK, everyone would be on the beer. Love the more positive and respectful attitude to booze over there.

Edited July 2, 2013 by TheNewUnion

[DDave]

True about the booze culture. No-one seems intent about getting smashed apart from us. I've also never seen anyone gurning their head off on pills in the 3 times I've been there which is strange due to the heavy slant towards dance music.

The earplugs thing is still something ill never get used to though. never seen anyone wear them in the UK.

[thetime]

True about the booze culture. No-one seems intent about getting smashed apart from us. I've also never seen anyone gurning their head off on pills in the 3 times I've been there which is strange due to the heavy slant towards dance music.

The earplugs thing is still something ill never get used to though. never seen anyone wear them in the UK.

[Dietediet]

True about the booze culture. No-one seems intent about getting smashed apart from us. I've also never seen anyone gurning their head off on pills in the 3 times I've been there which is strange due to the heavy slant towards dance music.

The earplugs thing is still something ill never get used to though. never seen anyone wear them in the UK.

[The Marquis]

Hello, newcomer.

Just came back from Glastonbury myself and I can say to the poster a couple of posts up that I didn't see any trouble whilst I was there. I was in Oxylers campsite as usual and there were a fair few tent thefts there but as soon as police and security were told they pretty much swamped the area. Anyway, I'm coming over to this with my housemate and it's my first foriegn festival. I've been to G/bury 8 times and Reading & Bestival and that so what's different when you go transatlantic? Do you still get dealers waltzing around singing their song "Coke, Pills, MDMA"? Are there bars in the campsites? Can you easily smuggle cans in? And after having seen them last Friday, I'm praying to God that Disclosure get added. It was electric in that tent.

[TheNewUnion]

Can't answer all your questions, but I wouldn't bother with campsite bars. All the people that live up and down the street sell food and drink out of their front gardens, so you can walk up and down the street having a beer here and there €1-€1.50 for a can last time I was there, plenty of them have benches and such so you can have a sit and a drink. If you come out of the festival, turn left, there is a thatched house down the road on the right that has a big BBQ and loads of tables and chairs, we normally hang there for a bit, it's decent food, decent price and everyone is really relaxed over there.

Edited July 3, 2013 by TheNewUnion

[Semprini]

I completely appreciate and understand that what I've read about Glastonbury applies to only a very small % of the people who go there and my comments were more a sad indictment on the state of UK culture/society than anything about the festival itself. I suppose I saw Glasto as being the last bastion of civilised festivals in this country and it's disappointing to hear this sort of selfish and anti-social behaviour is now sadly prevalent there too, even if it is fairly isolated. The comments about the booze culture here compared to Belgium are all spot on too - the vast majority over there seem to attend festivals to be with mates, have a good time and listen to music. This is a far cry from why many people here go to festivals - I've got mates who used to go to V each year and would sit in their tent all day getting smashed without really watching any bands. Anyway, each to their own and all that etc etc....

The Marquis - Dietdiet is right in that you won't see much visible evidence of drug taking at Pukkelpop and, if previous years are anything to go by, you definitely won't hear anyone going round advertising their wares. Rather than there being any dealers present, people tend to bring what they want for themselves and you may be fortunate enough to find someone who will sell you something they have left over. Smoking is tolerated in the arena but again you might have a job finding anyone who will sell you some. I have spoken to people in the past who used to catch the bus to Maastricht to get a bit but that's not an option now due to the tourist ban that came in last year. If you're on a mission though and really want to find something then I've heard your best bet is to try the rave behemoth that is the Boiler Room.

The website tells me it's just 39 days until the festival, which seems like touching distance considering the last full day I had there was in 2010. I've got two and a half weeks left at work and then I'm off until PP - can't come soon enough!

[Muppetmark]

Drugs are rather invisible in Belgian nightlife, certainly compared to what I saw when I spent a couple of weeks in London.

And the number of people under 30 with tinnitus and/or hyperacusis (sensitivity to sound) is shockingly high around here. That, combined with a public suicide letter from one of the victims, caused a massive ear plug campaign in the media and among event organisers.

[NineInchRuiner]

Hi fellas.

I have tried to find some information online but failed to do so (or it isn't published yet).

What I want to know is this - will there be additional buses that go from the festival site to Genk late at night?

[DevB]

Hey all,

Camping newbie here coming all the way from India... and it's only my second European festival (1st being Bestival). We've got our combi tickets for campsite C.

Have a few questions:

1. Is there food & alcohol available in the campsite/nearby?

2. Are there utility shops (if we've forgotten to get something)

3. Are there shuttles from the site to the camping area?

Any help would be awesome, also a few tips for a newbie would be amazing! haha

Cheers and cannot wait to party it up there soon!

Dev

[amfest12]

are there any ATM stations near the festival site?

"wanna see me stick Nine Inch Nails through each one of my eyelids"

did you notice that line from Eminem song my name is?

ha ha ha

Edited July 8, 2013 by amfest12

[benrothwell]

For food and drink, the road leading to the festival has a number of food and drink outlets. Each of the houses sets up their front gardens to sell beers/burgers and other food. Its quite a remarkable sight really.

So yes, within 1min walk of the campsite you can get beers and food. From recollection beers are usually 1e50 and burgers 3e50 the closer to the campsite, but a couple of minutes further out will bring those prices down to 1e and 3e.

For utility shops, your best bet would be to get the train back into Hasselt where there are plenty of shops that will be able to help you out. There's nothing particularly close to the festival itself, although there is a corner shop for food and drink about 5min walk away.

The main campsite A is literally opposite the arena, 30seconds walk max. The other campsites are served by shuttles I believe but are 10 min walks away max.

Enjoy, its a great festival

[DDave]

Sold out! Maybe now they can announce the Saturday night headliners!!

[Dietediet]

Sold out! Maybe now they can announce the Saturday night headliners!!

[NineInchRuiner]

Hi fellas.

I have tried to find some information online but failed to do so (or it isn't published yet).

What I want to know is this - will there be additional buses that go from the festival site to Genk late at night?

[Semprini]

Anyone?

[amfest12]

just ordered the e-ticket for the train but I didn't see during the order that it is possible to change the destination on the return.

the departure station is Brussels Midi but I need to get back to the national airport

do you know if it is possible to change it or that I would have to get down in Midi station and buy a full ticket to the airport station?

(I know that I need to pay diabolo fee)

and also I didn't see anything about timetable

so does it mean that this is an open ticket for all day?

(14/8 and 18/8)

thank you

Edited July 17, 2013 by amfest12

[johnybegood]

just ordered the e-ticket for the train but I didn't see during the order that it is possible to change the destination on the return.

the departure station is Brussels Midi but I need to get back to the national airport

do you know if it is possible to change it or that I would have to get down in Midi station and buy a full ticket to the airport station?

(I know that I need to pay diabolo fee)

and also I didn't see anything about timetable

so does it mean that this is an open ticket for all day?

(14/8 and 18/8)

thank you

[amfest12]

that's good to hear thank you!

what about the timetable?

I can take which train I want those days?

[johnybegood]

that's good to hear thank you!

what about the timetable?

I can take which train I want those days?

[keekee]

Another e-ticket question: My friends and I are travelling to Pukkelpop on 14th from Charleroi, but we want to stop in Brussels for a few hours. Can we do that and still use our e-ticket for the whole journey? Or do we have to buy the train ticket to Brussels and then use the e-ticket from Brussels to Pukkelpop?

[DDave]

There isn't a train from Charleroi to Brussels. Its a coach/bus which costs about 14 euros each way. Your train ticket will be from Brussels to Hasselt/Kiewit.