Again, everyone rising at different times, coffee started flowing as we started the morning. Sadly, the final morning of Wildfest. Chef Justin once again took the helm of the good ship Breakfast providing yet another excellent start to the day. As we all gathered around the table to feast, laughter and stories of the days before flew around the air so thick you had to brush them away from your face. The absolute best of times with this crew at this festival!
The daily routines began as we took turns at the bathroom and shower, getting ready for the day. The rest of us spent the time in the sun of the back garden when it wasn’t our shower turn. Inevitably the Jupilers sprouted up at some point, how does that even happen?🤣. I guess the neighbours didn’t appreciate our conversations yesterday as today they had some music on rather loudly. Their 80s pop soundtrack even had us grooving along, at one point even “shazaming” the odd children’s song we heard🤦🏻♂️. Baited breath was held by us all, for surely we would hear the Belgian national anthem of Michael Sembello‘s “Maniac” at any moment. Which we actually did not, but the jokes surrounding it flowed freely even still.
To The Bar!
Having made our marks and impressions on the little neighbourhood pub, we felt it rude not to return! Plus that Bicky stuff was calling a few names too! Oddly enough the official Bicky Dealer (whatever that means) Burger cafe next door was closed up on this early Saturday afternoon. We arrived and commandeered our now “regular” table (to be fair, there are only 2 on the patio…..the rest are stacked up in the toilet if you recall from yesterday). The owner of the pub laughed along with us, hey we are a lighthearted friendly bunch. A couple of friends from France, Laurent and Andrew, joined us today as well.
As promised in yesterday’s blog, there was a new finding about the toilets! I swear I should start a “Weird Places I’ve Peed In” photo series! So, if you recall yesterday, when you walk in, it’s a large room with a hand wash sink and two urinals on the right-hand side wall. One toilet stall on the back wall and spare tables and chairs and assorted items lined along the left side. Stranger still is when you realize that if a lady needs to use the stall she has to walk past you while you’re using the urinal! Today Mike discovered the oddly placed (and for lack of a better word) “peepholes” in the toilet stall door. What in the actual fuck are those there for? So ladies can see if a bloke is peeing before they come out🤷🏻♂️? So weird. (Add pic in here)
To The Venue!
And so it was time to get down to the venue for the bands of the day. Absolutely stellar roster for my personal tastes this afternoon and one band more than yesterday as well. It all spelled out to another awesome day at Wildfest.
Notorious
This band out of Norway was totally new on my radar when their name appeared on the Wildfest posters. Thank you, Jan for this one! Awesome sleaze rock and I now often open my Friday night live radio show with the Notorious song “Friday Night“! The band kicked some ass on stage opening the day with flare, style and hard rock balls. They also played “Friday Night” too😁!
Jolly Joker
These Spaniards deliver some great punkish hard rock. Balls to the wall here and I’ve been spinning the albums for a while but this was the first stage experience. They charged through the set keeping the high energy level established by Notorious. Introduce yourself to Jolly Joker…. they’re no joke!
South of Salem
Thanks to Call of the Wild Festival I found South of Salem last year. And what a fucking show it was. Obviously here in this smaller and indoor venue we wouldn’t be getting the pyro and smoke bombs, but they came out forcefully. Everyone was visibly blown back as South Of Salem hit the stage, raising the already high energy bar to unreachable heights. I feel sorry for whoever follows these Brits in their first time off the island. Unfortunately, the lighting was horrifically bad for photographers…..not an excuse, I clearly need to learn more, just was difficult for even the more experienced.
Jan And The Shit Tickets
Inside the venue, the actual toilets were signed as “out of order” which I had to have someone translate for me yesterday🤣. Out in the courtyard in front of the venue entrance, there were two portable washroom trailers, one on either side. Just to show the efforts of organizer Jan De Greve, on my trip there between bands, he himself was actually filling the toilet papers in the stalls! That’s one hardworking and humble dude right there. No job too small for him to undertake himself. This is why you should support Jan and Wildfest alone!
Hell In The Club
I was really looking forward to what would be my first time seeing Hell In The Club on a stage. Thanks, Jan for this opportunity that I may never get again! They kicked some ass up there with their Italian sleaze in one of my fave performances of the entire weekend!
Junkyard Drive
I’ve seen Junkyard Drive before, but it was at SRF when so much was going on at the same time. So I don’t count it. I really didn’t get to see that much. Here at Wildfest, I finally got my chance. I found them on their first album Sin & Tonic, which I reviewed. I’ve followed the band since throughout all the subsequent strong albums. Today these Danish sleazers did not disappoint and delivered a high-energy rock show right in line with their music. I didn’t even track the setlist, just exited the photo pit and enjoyed the rest of the show in all my dancing, headbanging glory!
In The Courtyard
Also, the courtyard itself, which I didn’t mention yesterday, is a great hangout and meeting place for everyone outside while band changeovers are underway. There were several picnic-type tables around and one food truck. I understand the difficulty Jan has had in getting more food trucks, but it is definitely something to improve on so there’s food selection. Perhaps a deal could be struck with the Bowling Alley next door to provide some sort of food options or buffet even for a reasonable price?
Blackrain
One of the best things about Wildfest is the opportunity to see some bands that I may not otherwise. France’s Blackrain is just one of those. With their latest album, last year’s Untamed, the strongest yet Blackrain hit the stage in another ripping set this weekend. This is yet another band that more people need to know about!
Art Nation
Wow! Did Art Nation ever make a friggin’ liar outa me! I was asked by someone before they took the stage and I said they were good but very “Eclipse” and a little too soft for me. Then Art Nation came out strong, hard and at points were almost Heavy Metal. Awesome! They also had the coolest moment of the entire festival when they brought a little girl from the crowd up on stage to sing her favourite Art Nation song with them! I almost cried! What a thrill for that young fan! Now I can’t wait to see these guys again!
Let’s Go Bowling?
Speaking of the Bowling Alley, it was also, thanks to John‘s discovery, a great place to sit quietly away from everything and chill out. Plus they have an awesome selection of Belgian beers at decent pricing as well. Since John discovered the place several of us have popped in at moments during the days. On one occasion Justin was there…..and he got “Maniaced!“. That’s right, he heard Michael Sembello‘s “Maniac” yet again this weekend🤣.
Eclipse
Eclipse is a great band with so many solid songs and albums. The sound here tonight was spot on, much better than when I’d seen the play The Monsters Of Rock Cruise just over a week before. While they were hitting all points tonight, I had just seen them and TBH have seen them a lot. So I gave in to my sore feet and rumbling stomach, taking an early leave about halfway through the set.
I Need Pizza!
Having just seen Eclipse two weeks before on MORC, and I was tired, I took my leave about halfway through their set. Plus I was hungry as hell and had my thoughts set on Domino’s pizza. They must be open on a Saturday evening! Ah, excellent I thought as I approached, “the light is on“! And as I got closer, “even better, Justin is in there“! Upon entering I learned that they were actually closed. “But your door was open🤷🏻♂️” and “Justin is here🤷🏻♂️”. Sadly it seems that Justin was the final customer and in talking with the guy learned that Geraardsbergen has a hefty fine for any establishment serving food past 11 pm! WTF is that? It’s a Saturday night for crying out loud! Ah well, Justin happily shared his pizza so I didn’t die of starvation.
As we consumed said pizza at the kitchen table back home, he and I traded some embarrassing stories. I don’t need to re-tell those here, but the laughter we expunged towards each other actually hurt my tear-streamed face and pizza-filled stomach. Classic bonding moment that will provide us each with joke material against the other for years to come!🤣 The rest returned after Eclipse had wrapped up, not even that long after Justin and I’d finished our pizza.
And that my friends is the tale of my time at Wildfest 2023! What a great event, top bands and the absolute best organizer/promoter in the business. Thanks, Jan De Greve and also to everyone involved with Wildfest, whether playing attending, volunteering or working! I shall return…..you have been warned!🇨🇦😁
OFFICIAL WILDFEST WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE
To listen to Jan guest on my live radio show go here: COMING SOON
2023 Photo Galleries of all bands coming soon to CGCM Rock Radio!
Wildfest 2023: Pre-Fest / Wildfest 2023: Friday / Wildfest 2022: Blog Link
Cheers,
The Meister
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