Pukkelpop 2015

[Semprini]

If anybody's got some insight or advice for somebody travelling to the festival like myself I would love to hear it.

Welcome on board, you've made a good choice (despite the crap line up )!!

Aside from reading through the 40 or so pages in this thread, the only advice I can give you and your future wife is to do some research before you come. There will always be bands at PKP you know and love but to enjoy the full experience you really need to do some homework on the 'unknown' names. With over 200 bands and DJs on the line up it's hard to cover everything beforehand but it pays to spend a bit of time looking in to what's on offer. I personally don't like metal and that sort of music so I don't spend much time at the Shelter stage. I also don't tend to bother with many of the Belgian bands (who mostly play in the Wablief?) so that leaves 6 stages for me to check out.

PKP isn't Glastonbury so don't expect loads of other things going on - it's very much centered on the music. The advantage of that is it doesn't take long to move between the stages so you can see loads of bands in one day. People don't tend to 'camp out' at a particular stage, aside from the Main during the evening/night, so you can usually walk up just before a band comes on and get near the front.

The atmosphere is fairly chilled out and pretty much everyone is there to have a good time. If you're anyway into dance music then you'll love the far corner of the site once the sun goes down.

If you fancy meeting up then give me a shout - there's a fairly loose squad of us who get together each year so you'd be more than welcome to join in!

[Dietediet]

Kings of Leon playing a German festival early September. In other words: they're definitely still around during Pukkelpop, looks like the main competitor for that headliner spot now.

[DDave]

Kings of Leon playing a German festival early September. In other words: they're definitely still around during Pukkelpop, looks like the main competitor for that headliner spot now.

I'd be ok with that. Not sure it'd go down that well with it being the 30th Anniversary (this is having less importance with every announcement) and with them being RW stalwarts.

It's not going to sell that many more day tickets though is it?

[Semprini]

I'm not a huge KOL fan but they're one of a handful of 'headline' acts doing the rounds this summer. The last time they played was 2007 so wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being them.

[Dietediet]

I'd be ok with that. Not sure it'd go down that well with it being the 30th Anniversary (this is having less importance with every announcement) and with them being RW stalwarts.

It's not going to sell that many more day tickets though is it?

I think it would, I can imagine that a lot of people are just waiting for a real headliner before spending almost 100 euros on a day ticket. It would certainly boost the combi tickets even more, considering the mainstream/commercial vibe along the weekend.

[DDave]

I think it would, I can imagine that a lot of people are just waiting for a real headliner before spending almost 100 euros on a day ticket. It would certainly boost the combi tickets even more, considering the mainstream/commercial vibe along the weekend.

Yeah, to be fair I'm only a few good additions off buying a combi. Its just whether the names will be up to scratch. Still think Hot Chip will be announced so them, The Juan MacLean and someone like the KOL, Elbow or the Black Keys would get me closer to reaching for the wallet.

I'm reckoning Ice Age and Nils Frahm will be in the next announcement as well.

Edited May 2, 2015 by DiscothequeDave

[TheNewUnion]

Think I said earlier that I'd be interested to see KOL. I have seen then twice and they were boring both times. I do have a a little bit of faith in them though, they have some great songs and used to be a good solid rock band. Now they have extracted themselves from their own arses and seem to have left the horror of "Sex on Fire" behind they might be decent.

If they play, it should go like this. Come on stage, play "Sex on Fire" immediately (to get it out of the way) they play most of the first two albums, finish with Molly's Chambers. Job done.

I have never seen Hot Chip and would like to, so hopefully they'll be playing too.

Edited May 3, 2015 by TheNewUnion

[DDave]

Hot Chip are ace live, particularly with a festival set. The two times I've seen them at PP are up there with my favourite PP performances. Fingers crossed that Miike Snow are announced too. They're on a hiatus but have been sending out the odd photo on Facebook so hopefully they'll be on tour again come August. More likely to see their side project Galantis there though.

Edited May 3, 2015 by DiscothequeDave

[Dietediet]

Not sure about Iceage, considering they're already playing a fest close to Hasselt two weeks earlier.

Think we can write down TV On The Radio as well. They're currently announcing European August dates to make up for their recently cancelled tour. Amsterdam on 24 August is one of them, so Pukkelpop a few days earlier seems nailed on.

[DDave]

DietDiet..Christine and the Queens, are we talking main stagers here? Font seems pretty big.

[LexTron6K]

Welcome on board, you've made a good choice (despite the crap line up )!!

Aside from reading through the 40 or so pages in this thread, the only advice I can give you and your future wife is to do some research before you come. There will always be bands at PKP you know and love but to enjoy the full experience you really need to do some homework on the 'unknown' names. With over 200 bands and DJs on the line up it's hard to cover everything beforehand but it pays to spend a bit of time looking in to what's on offer. I personally don't like metal and that sort of music so I don't spend much time at the Shelter stage. I also don't tend to bother with many of the Belgian bands (who mostly play in the Wablief?) so that leaves 6 stages for me to check out.

PKP isn't Glastonbury so don't expect loads of other things going on - it's very much centered on the music. The advantage of that is it doesn't take long to move between the stages so you can see loads of bands in one day. People don't tend to 'camp out' at a particular stage, aside from the Main during the evening/night, so you can usually walk up just before a band comes on and get near the front.

The atmosphere is fairly chilled out and pretty much everyone is there to have a good time. If you're anyway into dance music then you'll love the far corner of the site once the sun goes down.

If you fancy meeting up then give me a shout - there's a fairly loose squad of us who get together each year so you'd be more than welcome to join in!

Cool. I'll definitely take you up on the offer to meet up with you and your squad. Thanks!

[DDave]

TV on the Radio (and Kendrick) announced for Frequency.

Sinkane also lining up some European festivals. Good chance of him being there too.

Edited May 5, 2015 by DiscothequeDave

[DDave]

Lot of announcements today. Blur for Electric Picnic the pick of them - the line up for EP is the best I've seen so far outside of Glastonbury.

[johnybegood]

After all, and being KoL the favourite ones for saturday headline slot, do you think that Blur is 100% ruled out?

[LexTron6K]

Being that we're travelling overseas for the festival, we're trying to figure out what to do in regards to camping. We probably won't be bringing a tent, instead we're thinking about bringing a couple hammocks and sleeping in those, but for this to work we'll need to find some trees to attach to hammocks to. We'll be staying in Campground A. Does anybody know if there are any trees in or around Campground A that we could hang our hammocks on?

[DDave]

To Johnny Be Good. - I don't think they are ruled out, no.

Edited May 5, 2015 by DiscothequeDave

[DDave]

Being that we're travelling overseas for the festival, we're trying to figure out what to do in regards to camping. We probably won't be bringing a tent, instead we're thinking about bringing a couple hammocks and sleeping in those, but for this to work we'll need to find some trees to attach to hammocks to. We'll be staying in Campground A. Does anybody know if there are any trees in or around Campground A that we could hang our hammocks on?

Not many on this board have camped but I'd say the chances are slim. The campsite is very tightly packed over a large field. type in Pukkelpop camping in Google images to see what I mean.

[TheNewUnion]

I've camped in the camping once and I don't recall any trees in there at all. The camping, in my opinion, is awful. I'd try and find something else.

We've camped in someone's garden once then stayed in the hotel the other times. Hotel prices are high and getting higher so I'd book ASAP if you favour that option. That aside, there are places you could get a tent in Hasselt if you don't want to bring one with you.

Edited May 5, 2015 by TheNewUnion

[LexTron6K]

Not many on this board have camped but I'd say the chances are slim. The campsite is very tightly packed over a large field. type in Pukkelpop camping in Google images to see what I mean.

I've been checking out images on Google of the campsite, and it looks like it's ringed with trees and that's about it. I'm hoping that somebody who's beenthere might have some insight on the tree situation, or even some insight onto how to best acquire a tent on the cheap, or any sort of camping insight really.

[TheNewUnion]

If I remember rightly the trees were the other side of the fence on the camping, so not accessible. Hasselt is a decent sized town and I remember at least two "outdoors" shops and one massive supermarket which would likely have tents.

Edited May 5, 2015 by TheNewUnion

[DDave]

Had a bit of time on my hands at work today so decided to predict the stage splits. I've written the Thursday off so am not expecting anything else from it. Its pretty much done anyway.The odd good band here and there would be great but im not that hopeful.

It does look to me at least like the Friday has plenty of main stage and Marquee slots to fill though. This is the day where with a few good additions it could really turn the festival around for me.

[Dietediet]

Looks like we found the reason for Run The Jewels cancelling, with them playing the FYF festival in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Wouldn't be surprised if Kele cancels Pukkelpop as well. He's playing Pukkelpop solo on Friday, then Los Angeles with Bloc Party on Saturday...

[TheNewUnion]

Money? Our Pukkelpop going early on the announcement before final confirmation?

That said, with The Who and Paul Weller shenanigans at Glastonbury, seems bookings and contacts count for nothing.

[DDave]

Looks like we found the reason for Run The Jewels cancelling, with them playing the FYF festival in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Wouldn't be surprised if Kele cancels Pukkelpop as well. He's playing Pukkelpop solo on Friday, then Los Angeles with Bloc Party on Saturday...

Just seen that. I've asked them on Twitter. Wouldn't be missed, personally.

[DDave]

Looks like we found the reason for Run The Jewels cancelling, with them playing the FYF festival in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Wouldn't be surprised if Kele cancels Pukkelpop as well. He's playing Pukkelpop solo on Friday, then Los Angeles with Bloc Party on Saturday...

Morrissey ruled out as headliner as well.