It’s that time of the year again… What time you ask? That time you see punkrock and hardcore kids getting excited about this little crazy festival happening in Meerhout, Belgium each year… Yep, Groezrock is just around the corner! Coming April 29 & 30th the whole province of Antwerp will be shaking on it’s foundations while thousands gather to slamdance, drink beer, pogo, eat greasy festival food, stagedive (wait an hour after eating, just like swimming) and just have a real good time!

This year the nice folks at Groezrock have provided us with a sublime line-up, some of them long-time personal favorites, some of them new discoveries that I can’t wait to check out live on stage. If you have visited this site before, you know I like making lists… Let’s GO!

Friday… Let the party begin!
RANCID
Yep, the boys from Cali are back! And they are playing their hit album “And Out Come The Wolves” from front to back. Do you need another reason to come to the festival? I don’t! But that wouldn’t be fair to the other bands, would it? But damn, I have to say I did a little jump and screamed like a little girl when I heard the news. No shame in that is there?

SIBERIAN MEAT GRINDER
The media is trying to scare us with wild stories about Putin, but the real Russians you should fear are the boys in Siberian Meat Grinder. They take no prisoners and go straight for the kill with their addicting mix of hardcore, rap and metal. I can see the pit before me, and it is GLORIOUS!!!

LESS THAN JAKE
If these ska-punk legends don’t move your feet you’re a lifeless robot or just stupid, it’s up to you… I know I’ll be skanking like a mad man! Pick it up, Pick it up, Pick it up!!! And after that throw it in a trashcan, do you know how much crap get’s left behind at a festival?

TERROR
Does your festival day needs a little more anger? You ask, Terror provides. Yes dear folks, it’s that simple. These guys live and breathe hardcore, and looking at the tremendous following they have gathered over the years they don’t stand alone in keeping the faith. GO NUTS!

FRANK TURNER AND & THE SLEEPING SOULS
“Let’s relax a little and go see Frank Turner” nobody ever said. You know why? Because seeing Frank Turner is one big party, that why! It doesn’t matter how punk, hardcore, metal or whatever you call yourself you are. It’s ok to like Frank, it’s ok to enjoy his songs and just be happy… Ssshhhttt… It’s ok…

Saturday… Let’s dance that hangover away!
PEARS
Nope, never heard of them… While I was going over this years line-up I came across these guys. Damn, I like! No fancy shit, straight forward punk-rock with a hardcore vibe. Yep, I like! Oh, and that “metallic” guitar sound is furious! Them being from my favorite city in the USA, makes it even better!

NIGHT BIRDS
The guys at Groezrock HQ sure know how to take care of those that like the old school vibe. Night Birds from New Jersey takes you back to the glorious eighties when everything was shit and sniffing glue was cool… Fucking hell, what a great band!

SNFU
Hey kids, wanna see some old guys show you how to do it? Got see SNFU! That’s all…

JULIETTE AND THE LICKS
Remember that movie Natural Born Killers? Yeah, it’s that chick, the one that was crazy as fuck, who jumped around like a little girl when her boyfriend shot her abusive dad. Yeah that one…(how awesome where the 90’s?)  Besides being a great actress Juliette is a great singer. I always look at her as being a bit of a  female Iggy Pop. She has this vibe around her on stage that reminds me of Iggy and that same kind of sleaze in her songs. You would expect her to play at Wercher or Pukkelpop, but I think Groezrock is perfect for her. And that is a compliment, you judgmental fuck!

SICK OF IT ALL
What do you want me to tell you about these guys? I’ll tell you one thing, if you ever meet a hardcore kid that doesn’t like SOIA, kick him in the nuts! He can’t sue you because every judge will tell you, you did the right thing!
Remember Headbanger’s Ball on MTV? This was the video that introduced me to these guys… I loved it, still do…

Groezrock, you did it again! Thank you! See you in the field… Come say hello and buy us a beer…