Here we are again with not one but two BANDS OF THE WEEK for the 2020 edition of the Picking Bones Festival. As you should know by now, the festival takes place in Linter, Belgium on June 12 and 13… Tickets can be found in the link below…
No lack of solo acts or one-man bands in the genres we like so it should come as no surprise we have two on our line-up. Let’s start with Lone Wolf omb…
Bruno Esposito aka Lone Wolf comes to us all the way from Florida and that shows in his sound. If you have ever wondered how a swamp sounds… Listen to LONE WOLF omb! His raspy vocals, cool as fuck fingerpicking and that ever present harmonica is all he needs to take you on a twisted trip through the hot and muddy swamps of his home state. Bruno is a master on any stringbased instrument being it a banjo or a homebuild cane with two snares on it. He’ll play you a song on it!
If you expect modern blues you may want to stay far away while Lone Wolf is playing, because all that talent he’s got does not mean he’ll play smooth and polished blues licks for your “sunny sunday harley riding blues rocker” type of guys… Lone Wolf plays dirty, greased up blues with a punk attitude!
Up Next: Uncle Wormwood out of Finland! As far as we know no happy music ever came out of Finland and Uncle Wormwood is no exception… No Good Feel Bad One Man Junk Band as the man discribes it himself… It may not be the best marketing strategy to gain new fans, but that is not what Uncle Wormwood is about. This is about darkness, doom and death! Nighttime music that we will force feed you during the middle of the day! Imagine the Angel of Death playing the blues… And that’s what Uncle Wormwood sounds like… ENJOY!
As you know, after 3 years we’ve put Pirate Farm Fest in the grave and embarked on a new adventure called PICKING BONES! This festival is a follow through of PFF but with a wider range in musical genres. Still the same DIY spirit, still the same mindset, but BETTER!
With the change of name we also looked for a new location and we found it in a little town called Linter (Belgium). We have full support of the local government and even got some federal funding. How is that for a festival that only sells 500 tickets, I guess they like what we do… And we can not forget about our sponsors, small business owners, tattoo shops, bars… People with their heart in the right place. THANK YOU!
Let talk about the bands playing on friday. We have two stages. The Cowboy Trash Stage (CTS) and The Side Stage (ST). Both stages have a full PA system, so you can expect pitch perfect sound on both of them!
SLACK BIRD (fin) 18.00 CTS This amazing couple out of Finland opens up the festival with their dark folk punk. A banjo, suitcase drum, a harmonica and two beautiful voices is all they need. Sung in their native tongue, they will take you on a journey to the land of a thousand lakes. Their albums are nothing short but brilliant and live they are one big party! Make sure you are there on time, you do not want to miss this!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9-dE5StCWQ
ROTZAK (be) 18.50 ST Rotzak is a Belgian hardcore/rock band with a very personal sound. From rage to introvert musical madness and back again. This is a love or hate band, no in between. Their frontman uses the stage as his playground with over the top antics and in your face performance while not even caring if you are there… We love it, and we hope you will… (and to all the soundguys in the audience, that is HIS microphone and micstand… he can destroy the shit out of it, DO NOT TRY TO STOP HIM) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bm9btI7yeI
EVERYONE IS GUILTY (be) 19.40 CTS Is there something like the perfect mix between postrock and roots music? We think there is. They are called Everyone Is Guilty… And it seems like Mister Slim Cessna thinks the same… He recorded and produced their album together with Dwight Pentecost in his studio in Denver. Not many bands are givin this chance and certainly not a Belgian band. This is beautiful dark music, performed by such talented musicians. So much detail goes into their live show, keep your eyes on the drummer… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsHSo5o8_PM
SUBURBAN DRUGDEALERS (swe) 20.35 ST Our first band out of Sweden! With an English singer… Two FIRSTS! Hooray! So a bunch of punks, psycho’s and garage rockers get together and start playing country music… It didn’t take long before this bastard sound was born. A mix between the best Scandinavian punk rock and country music. Think The Hellacopters, mixed with some Bob Wayne and throw in a big shot of punk rock attitude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NahN-j3Iv-A
THE GECKO BROTHERS (hol) 21.35 CTS Hot Damn! The Gecko Brothers are back!!!! No, not those crazy fuckers from the movie, THOSE CRAZY FUCKERS from Holland! With Eric Haamers from the legendary pyschobilly band BATMOBILE and Mo from TIO GRINGO these guys bring you old school speedrock! With two albums released on DRUNKABILLY RECORDS you know they will bring you quality. It is gonna get loud, nasty and wet… Lemmy would approve! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtMweZIImT8
TOXIC SHOCK (be) 22.35 ST We went a little crazy on the heavy side of the musical spectrum on this first day of the festival as you have seen, but the heaviest is still to come! TOXIC SHOCK is a nuclear explosion of thrash metal and old school hardcore. They have played every big hardcore and metal fest in europe and every small venue in the world, and thing bring the party every fucking time! Now they will close The Side Stage at Picking Bones. With two full album and 5 ep’s or split releases these guys know how to bring it, one of them with the mighty Iron Reagan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZe8BVO0Cfg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hSHSOm0-io&t=6s “Holy Moly – this is a neckbreaker. Known from several quality releases (split with Iron Reagan) the belgium powerhouse Toxic Shock pushed their boundaries once again. No compromises! And so they went to bed with the godfather of metal producing Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica & Co.) to get things right for Twentylastcentury. They combine all good things of end of the 80s with good old hardcore like Suicial Tendencies did on their first two records. So you have Flanger Intros, loco-whispering, furious moshparts, fast circle pit parts. The LA-Mentality of late 80s Venice Beach. So if you dig razorsharp Guitars and cool groovy mosher like Leeway did you will did this 100% – Gangshouts, aggressive basslines, crazy leads and a fitting singer makes this a must have for all crossover maniacs out there. Listen to Toxic Shock and you will not bail the mctwist anymore – Promised!”
CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY (usa) 23.45 CTS Why is it that this band brings together bluegrass fans, punks, jazz nerds, metalheads and stoners? Because they are just that fucking awesome!!! This is one of those bands that as a music lover you can’t get around. They are here, just go with it! They may even be one of the best live bands in the world! It is not a bad thing if you and your mother-in-law can dance together to the same band while still holding your cool. She may even get some shady looks from that bitch next door because her dance moves are still fresh! BOOOM! Come join us, dance your ass off with Carrie Nation and make this a night to remember… Do they need to be on a big festival? HELL YEAH! But do we want to feel the spit coming out of the trumpet on our face while they are going mental in front of us? FUCK YEAH!!! What better way then to see your favorite band up close? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_amG_MYGWM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbiaYbFIOsU
Get your ass over to www.pickingbonesfest.com and get your tickets. We have free camping, parking, hot showers and cool toilets. Craft beer and ciders at normal prices, good food, meat, vegan, to each his own… Kids up to 14 get in for free…
UK artist Mike West is embarking on his first ever Euro tour in February. With shows in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands Mike will try to win over some new fans. It shouldn’t be to hard for him, he is an excellent songwriter…
More shows will be added soon, but for now, here is where you can go and see him on stage.
Check out the links below for his music. https://mikewest333.bandcamp.com/music
Welcome to all the info you need to know about Pirate Farm Fest 2018!!!
We’ll tell you about the location, the bands, the food, our sponsors and more…
BANDS:
mainstage- friday – Jimmy Chase
Just a guy with his guitar playing some punky acoustic songs for you all. Jimmy used to be in the now long-gone band Rattleshack, so you know he will kick some ass!
– The Detrimentals (be)
They couldn’t make it in 2017 because their drummer was rushed to the E.R. just hours before the show. But they’ll make it all up in 2018. It’s just straight forward psychobilly, you’ll love it or you’ll hate it, no in-between. https://www.facebook.com/The-Detrimentals-1495973410702331/
– Shotgun Sawyer (usa)
This will be the first time these young cats will tour in Europe and we are fucking proud to have them at PFF! Dirty blues/stoner with a BITE!
– The Grave Brothers (be)
THEY ARE BACK!!! And they’ll have a new album out by then. They probably are the best “hellbilly/rootspunk” band ever to come out of Belgium. With members from Los Putas, Demented Scumcats, Fifty Foot Combo and more…
– The Freeborn Brothers (pol)
Maybe you know this, but Belgium is a little country in Europe, and therefore we thought it would be a good idea to have one European headliner… And who better to end the party on friday then our good friends from Poland, The Freeborn Brothers!!! Expect some gypsy folk roots punk that will shake your ass so hard you wish you went to that gangbang instead… You will be sore the day after… 😉
White Trash Dating Stage – Saturday (these bands play for free, buy their merch and buy them beer!!!) – Big Daddy’s Breakfast Voodoo (hol)
Filthy blues from The Netherlands? Yep, but this is not your 13 in a dozen blues rock band. It’s dirty, slow and smells like a swamp…
– TH’ F’kk’n’ G’dd’mn’ Luckies (be)
The garage/punk scene is alive in Belgium more then ever and these two old fuckers know how to do it!!! https://thfkkngddmnluckies.bandcamp.com/
– Hollywood – Of the Wolves (ger)
In 2006 in a town called Darmstadt a punk/speedrock band was formed, The Wolves…
10 years later their singer decided to sit down and record some of their songs on his own and in a differend style. In 2018 Hollywood will play those songs for you at PFF!
– The White Trash Dating Service (be)
The WTDS is a busking band, no they don’t play original songs, they just bring an acoustic punk rock party to a street corner near you… And I’m sure you will enjoy it and sing along… It’s fun, it’s dumb, it’s good, it’s FUCKING AWESOME…
– The Evil Daltons (ger)
25 YEARS IN THE WORKS!!! These old school psychobilly veterans are coming over just to play this one show that they don’t get payed for because they want to play for you!!! I would say that is more then a reason to go bat shit crazy while they are destroying the stage. They will have a new album out by then and it is produced by non other then P. Paul Fenech from The Meteors.
Mainstage – Saturday
– Leonhardt vs. Reverend Red (usa)
These two guys are taking a break during the summer to travel to Europe with their family. But hey… why not play a festival or two while at it? They asked to play, I paired them up… You’ll have to deal with them…
Gipsy Rufina (be/ita)
In 2017 he helped us out on friday because The Detrimentals had to cancel. In 2018 he get’s a spot on saturday. Expect some dark folk songs… Should we put him all the way in the back of the stage so you can all sit on it while listening to him?
Cowboy Bob & Trailer Trash (ger)
If you where at the first edition of the festival you should remember that these guys opened up at the mainstage on saturday. We are glad to welcome them back! And if this new video is an indication to how awesome the new album will sound, fucking hell, we are lucky as fuck!
TIO GRINGO (hol)
Hellbilly/Cuntryscum from Holland? Yeah, but with some of the most awesome folks around in this scene, once you talk to them and don’t run into them drunk before… They can be a handfull… Just fucking around! We are pround to have them!
And funny video’s are a plus!!!
– Hopeless Jack (usa)
If you love good music, you love Hopeless Jack! The perfect mix between the most dirty blues, soul and that old punkrock spirit!!! I remember the first time I saw them, the video below, holy crow, I was blown away!!! And I’m sure they will blow you away in 2018!!!
– Steering Ships With Empty Bottles (s.s. WEB, usa)
Are we proud to have these dudes play PFF 2018? Not realy… It’s just Henry and Cris… But are we happy? FUCK YEAH!!!! And we ARE damn proud! These two should play the biggest festivals in the world and then come back to PFF and play just for us, the “in-crowd”… I’m joking… But then again I’m not.
The first video was shot in our backyard, the second in our livingroom. It’s going to feel like brothers are playing our stage.
– The Hooten Hallers (usa)
The fact that these guys and girl are playing PFF could be the sole reason to buy a ticket. And we don’t blame you. If you have ever seen this band on a stage you know why they got booked.
-THE HEADLINER
We are working on it… You’ll love it!!!
TICKETS:
LOCATION:
PFF 2018 will happen at the same place as the previous editions. For those that came in the past, you know what to expect and what to respect. For the new folks…
PFF 2018 takes place at an old farm, it’s no-longer an active farm but 2 families still live there and also grow crops there. Respect their stuff, their crops and most of all their privacy! The places you are not supposed to be are fenced off. You all know what a fence means… STAY THE FUCK OUT!!! 🙂 ps. This also goes for the backstage. If you are not a band- or crewmember, please stay out. We will kick you out of the festival in 2018 after in 2017 to much people disrespected this rule. If you want to talk or hang with a band or it’s members, they will be around before and after the show. You know they’ll come out, just respect the fact that they want to prepare and cool down before and after the show. adress:
Beurtstraat 42
Tielt-Winge
Belgium
CAMPING /PARKING:
The campsite is free. You are welcome starting Friday morning (if you want to come early, send us message). The campsite is tents only.
You can come with an RV/motorhome/caravan, but know that places are limited. The campsite for these is less then 500 meters away from the festival, but is next to the road and across from the families living on that street. So please keep the noise down and DO NOT enter their yards, unless they invite you!
You will get a garbagebag when you enter the campsite, please use it…
When parking your car, please follow the instructions from the people working the parksite. If you park illegal and you get a ticket or they tow your car… NOT OUR PROBLEM! You are a grown-up, deal with it yourself.
MONEY/CASH/ATM:
There is NO atm on site. Make sure to bring enough cash!!!!
FOOD:
We offer two foodstands for 2018. A Thai foodtruck and one gourmet hamburger foodtruck. Between the two of them you sure as hell will not starve! Yes they have vegi-food! On Saturday morning you will be able to get breakfast from the hamburger guys.
SPONSORS:
As a small independent festival we need sponsors and we are glad we have friends with great business’ that want to help us out.
We also like to thank our secret sponsor from Denmark, you know who you are. Thank you!
If you would like to sponsor our festival, get in contact, we have damn good deals. If you want to set up shop as a vendor… Same thing, get in contact!
oldstylemusicnights@gmail.com
On September the 22nd Canadian punk-rock band The Flatliners played a sold-out show at our local youth-center here in Diest, Belgium. I was invited to interview them and shoot the show. Yeah… It took me this long to get it done. Things happen in life…
Anyhow… Enjoy these video’s! (the interview is interrupted by the opening band sound-checking, but you should be able to figure it out…)
After a successful first edition in 2016 we will be back in 2017! Mark you calendar on June 30th and July 1st.
Friday will be all about psychobilly and heavy rock’n’roll, let me walk your through our line-up: The SideBürns will be opening the festival. This German band with members from Cowboy Bob and Trailer Trash plays some damn fine speedrock. Before they changed their name to The Sidebürns they where known as Mr. Sideburn And The Barons.
Next up we’ll have something special for you guys! The Detrimentals vs. The Wallaroos!!!
The Detrimentals are a straight forward psychobilly band with Joachim from Tequilla Tattoo’s on drums. If you where at PFF in 2016 you know what a great band they are. In 2017 they are teaming up with one of the most promising Belgian bands in the underground rock’n’roll scene. The Wallaroos remind me of a young Kings of Nuthin. Full of energy and ready to party hard!
So you partied with us in 2016? So you remember The Mullet Monster Mafia?
THEY ARE BACK!!! The best surf trash band from Brazil will make you swing so hard that your ass will hurt the day after! But that’s not all…
Our headliner will be the legendary UK psycho clowns The Klingonz!!! They fly in for this one show only, so do not miss this you freaks!!!
Here is a live version of Bitch a song of their brand new album!!!
I’m damn sure we have a kick-ass line-up for friday, now let’s get on to saturday and see what we have in store for you nice folks…
The running order is not set yet, but you’ll get an idea of what we have to offer…:
We’ve got two Dutch bands this year, let’s start with them. First up, Baby Face Nelson. These guys will provide you with some sweet country punk rock’n’roll. I’ve seen them on stage a couple of times and they will get you going. Check out the video for the very catchy
“From Hercules CA to Maricopa AZ”!
Next one from the land of weed and shitty beer is CUDA. As the name may tell you this band plays fast, high powered cowpunk. It’s straight forward, nothing else to tell except they bring cheerleaders… Enjoy boys…
When we booked Call me Bronco we had to take 40RTY (so we did, it was this or nothing…)
It will be his first time in Europe so make sure to make him feel at home. We’re sure you’ll love his banjo driven folk punk songs! And he owns Beagles, so what could go wrong?
We sure are glad our friend Joshua James Esterline a.k.a. Acousta Noir will be back in our field. Without him and lots of others there would not have been a tent to party in last edition. I’m sure most of you know his music by now, so you know what to expect… If not here’s a video to remind you of his awesomeness…
The Dad Horse Experience… What is there to tell about this legend? You love him or you hate him, no in-between… We LOVE HIM!!!
Andrew Ellis came on tour in Europe for the first time in 2016, and I have to say, I’m in love with this giant! Besides being a great guy he is one hell of an artist. With his dirty and sleazy one man blues he’ll take you on a wild trip into his world…
If you don’t know who Joe Buck Yourself is, then I have no idea where you have been the last 10 years… This man is a living legend and we are damn happy to have him play our second edition!
We have an exclusive and we are damn fucking proud about it!!! Shawn James & The Shapeshifters will play their very first show ever in Belgium!!! We know Shawn is starting to get a celeb status (remember that viral video of two guys in a wolf sanctuary? That’s him…) so we had to book him now, because we will not be able to pay him in a few years 😉
Also make sure to check out his solo stuff.
This video, shot at Muddy Roots in 2015, was my first introduction to this band and I’m hooked ever since. I play one of their albums at least two or three times a week and I have a BUNCH of records… Are you ready for some DOOOOM!?!?
Last year we had The Goddamn Gallows as headliner, I got to see them play two songs, then it was of to the E.R. for me… Long story, I don’t hold a grudge, we talked it out… You guys better make sure I get to see Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy play their set in full! I’ve told you guys before and I’ll tell it again… Carrie Nation is one of the most entertaining bands in this “scene” or even in this world! But you don’t have to take my word for it, come and see them for yourself…
Here is a little promo-video we made with all the bands:
Can we buy tickets now?
yes! bit.ly/2hOkhbO
Friday: 20 euro
Saturday: 25 euro
Combi: 40 euro
Will it be sold out?
We do not know that… There will be 500 tickets, that’s it… We had almost 300 people in 2016… You do the math…
Where do you need to be?
Beurtstraat 42, Tielt-Winge, Belgium
Is there camping?
Yes and it is free if you have a ticket to the festival
Can I bring a camper or mobile-home?
Yes, we hope the weather gods will have mercy on us this year, so we can provide a better place to camp with them.
Can I bring my own drinks?
Yes and No… You can drink whatever the hell you want on the campsite, but please don’t bring your drinks on the festival grounds. You buying drinks is what keeps this festival alive…
Is it family friendly?
Yes, but we are not babysitters. If you bring your kids, please keep an eye on them. Kids left alone will be givin’ a bunch of redbull and a Florida Georgia Line cd… Try to deal with them after that…
Do kids need a ticket?
Kids up to 12 can get in for free. Please don’t be a dick and try to sneak in your 13 or 14 year old that looks like 10…
Why does the live music end at 12 on Friday and at 1 on Saturday?
Because we respect our neighbors and we hope you will too… Acoustic jams sessions are encouraged, yes even in the tent…
Will there be food?
DUH!!!! We love food, so we will make sure you have a choice between some of the best foodtrucks around. And yes even vegetarian… Breakfast will also be served on saturday together with that sweet sweet coffee…
The most important thing you have to know is this:
Come and have fun and don’t be a DICK!!! If you want to come to the festival and fuck things up, you’re in the wrong place. Leave your politics, religion and shitty attitude at home! This is about having fun, dancing, catching up with friends and PARTY!!!
Timetable friday:
23.00 – 00.00: The Klingonz
21.20 – 22.20: The Mullet Monster Mafia
19.10 – 20.40: The Detrimentals vs. The Wallaroos
17.30 – 18.30: The sidebürns
Timetable saturday: 13.00 – 13.40: Baby Face Nelson
14.10 – 14.50: 40RTY
15.20 – 16.00: CUDA
16.30 – 17.10: Acousta Noir
17.40 – 18.30: The Dad Horse Experience
19.00 – 20.00: Andrew Ellis
20.30 – 21.30: Joe Buck Yourself
22.00 – 23.00: Shawn James and The Shapeshifters
23.30 – 01.00: Carry Nation and The Speakeasy
Day 3… After The Melvins, Those Poor Bastards and The Hooten Hallers you would think I slept like a baby, but no… Babies don’t drink shine and rhum… My god did I feel awe-full on Sunday morning… The first regret on Sunday was that I missed Julian Davis‘ set, the second was not drinking enough water the day before.
I did get to see The Hardin Draw, and boy where they good. I apologize for only recording one song, I was not doing well…
By the time I got to the main-stage I got some BBQ in me and I was ready to go! I hope you enjoy this video I shot from Brooke Blanche of The Calamity Cubes. The man has a beautiful solo album out. I know I enjoyed listening to him. Oh and I’m sure Billy Cook is some kind of wizard, not only on mandolin, but because almost every time I zoomed in on Brooke my camera would focus on Billy in the corner… Please explain this to the world Billy!
J.D. Wilkes… I know he’s a musical hero for a lot of folks in this “scene”. He sure as hell earned his dues with The Legendary Shackshakers, but also as a solo artist, a film-maker and graphic artist. This show was a treat… He brought a little piano, something we hadn’t seen him doing in all those years and he killed it! And to top it all of he had a star line-up backing him up on stage with Mark Robertson on bass, Julian Davis on guitar (this kid is sixteen years old, can you believe this?) and Michael Oberst from The Tillers on fiddle.
With J.D.’s show done my excitement was reaching it’s top level for Sunday. Our boys in Carrie Nation and The Speakeasy where getting ready to hit the mainstage! If there was one band that I didn’t wanna this day besides Del McCoury it was these guys. In my onion they are one of the most entertaining bands in the modern day roots/punk scene!
With (not so) fresh blood on bass in the form of Dal Bulkleyl from Larry And His Flask and the funniest little Mexican in the world Josue Estrada on trumpet this show could only be out of this world… And it was!!! Enjoy the video folk!
We are very proud to have them headlining our own little Pirate Farm Fest in Belgium july 1st. 2017!!!
(the video stops just before the end, I have no idea what is causing this, I tried to fix it, I think the file is corrupted, I’m sorry)
So where are the rest of the video’s you ask? Well… The hard work during the day, the hard drinking during the night and the little sleep took their toll on my shoulder and rest of my body. We still had two weeks of vacation ahead of us and I was not going to fuck up my shoulder even more. It is in a rough enough shape as it is. I’m this close from surgery, and no video is worth risking that… But that doesn’t say we didn’t see any other bands. The Tillers did a great job as always, Del McCoury just killed it, it was great to see Reverend Peyton again and I still hit myself in the head for missing Bonnie Prince Billy.
Before I end this post there are some folks I need to thank. First things first, Jason Galas and crew, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR DOING THIS!!! You Sir are an inspiration, thank you!!!
My travel buddies, Jo and Kim, Indra and my darling bride Inny. Josh aka Acousta Noir and Cris Bissell for all the hanging out, even the days after the festival. We sure had a blast, didn’t we?!?!
Thank you to all that came, hung-out and shared drinks and stories with us. You know who you are, there are to many to mention… See you all next year!!!
ps. don’t forget to turn on the HD for the video’s
Day two didn’t start slow… That was something new. I held the promise to myself to not get wasted on day one. Good for me! And good for you! If otherwise I would not have being able to film the Rock Bottom String Band. It was the first time for me and I think many others in the field to see this band from Texas on stage and they sure didn’t disappoint!
Modern Primitives where another band on this years bill that was a complete stranger to me. Their dirty garage rock was catchy, maybe a bit out of place (if there is such a thing at Muddy Roots), but I sure enjoyed it.
Like every year there where some bands that I really wanted to see and Smokestack Relics was one of them. These two brothers from Denver kicked the Little Tent stage straight in the butt and everyone bended over for more. Sleazy swamp rock stripped to the bone, I hope these guys come over to Europe real soon.
The Drunken Cuddle, the Drunken “fucking” Cuddle!!! What a feast to see and hear. If only for Katie Marie’s funny faces while going wild behind her drumkit. But we can’t forget Erik, with just a guitar and drums they create a monstrous sound that will appeal to all that like punk, wild roots or whatever. If you love good music, you’ll love The Drunken Cuddle!
Hooray!!! Sailing Ships With Empty Bottles finally got to play Muddy Roots! Better known as S.S. WEB our boys from Milwaukee where more then surprised to see how many fans showed up and sang along with all their songs. As Criss would tell me later, “I’m oblivious about how many people actually like us”. As you can see in the video it wasn’t only the fans that had fun during this set. A big shout out to Guido Greaserag for joining them on bass for a couple songs. I miss his mug on stage…
I think last years show was Dylan Walshe‘s best show I had ever seen him do. So this year he had to do something special to top it, well he didn’t… He was just Dylan Walshe, and that’s all he needs to be, it was what it was, Dylan Walshe… And it was perfect as always!!!
Jayke Orvis‘ return to Muddy Roots was that of a Roman Emperor returning to Rome after a great victory… Glorious, grand and spectacular! He invited a group of friends on stage and that’s all I will write about this, the video speaks for itself. WHIPLASH!!!
After Jayke’s set I was done filming for that day, but Muddy Roots wasn’t, far from it. I missed Joseph Huber and Dex and Crash (I did see Dex the week after in Brooklyn together with JD Wilkes, it was beautiful) because we where hanging with our friends Leni and Shinto from Belgium (if you’re ever around our little country check out their Tattoo shop, Moonshine Tattoo Parlour) who where on their honeymoon with their son Lewis. What a cool kid this is, he’ll be heartbreaker for sure! But I was not going to miss the Melvins. All I can say is this: “it was loud, it was hard and it was FUCKING AWESOME!!!”
And then we still had Those Poor Bastards and The Hooten Hallers to finish us all off. If you where there you know how it was, if you where not… Pfff, your loss! Hahaha!
Read first: Sitting at home working on the video’s you’re about to see I came to the conclusion I’ve reached the edge of what my camera can take, so if some footage isn’t all that in focus, or the focus is not where it should be at some points… Deal with it, we made a trip to the bank for a loan to get new gear, the future will bring you crispy clear image… Oh and don’t forget to turn on the HD in youtube. One more thing, some video’s are a little more shakey then normal, I’m healing from severe shoulder pains, deal with it…
Friday, 2PM, we arrive at the holy grounds a little later then planned and my hearts skips a beat, it does that every year, but this year the skip was more of a “did my heart just stopped?” kinda skip… This year was going to be special, with all the bullshit going on on this ball of dirt we never know if next year is a possibility. I don’t want to get political on this page, but you know what I’m talking about… Just getting out of the car and we run into so many friends, friends we haven’t seen for a year and that’s one thing that makes this festival so special, it’s being a year, but it feels like yesterday….
An hour and a half later we have set up camp and it’s time for our first drink at the cabin, just sit our ass down, have a beer and take it all in. “It’s about to start guys, are you ready for this?”
BLAST OFF! we make our way to the stages and we learn that Lone Wolf aka Bruno Esposito already finished his set, damn, but the hug makes it all good, that and meeting is new pup! On to the Woodstage then for A Pony Named Olga, I’m not familiar with this German band, so I have no idea what to expect. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by their wild punkabilly sound and stage antics.
Trixie Trainwreck was next for us and it was nice to see she teamed up with Charlie Harpoon. If you don’t know Charlie, he’s a grumpy old man from England, but he plays a mean ass harmonica, so that makes it all good… I had never seen Trixie live before, but her dark blues songs really spoke to me, and what a voice this lady has…
Heavy Metal Honky Tonking… Yep, that can only be one band, Whiskey Dick took the stage and destroyed it! What I love about these guys is the versatility of their songs or songwriting. From a ballad paying tribute to fallen friends to a shredding heavy metal song and each done with so much heart and passion. Thank you guys!
The biggest surprise was Gary Lindsey hopping on stage with him! Bucket-list, CHECK!!!
The open mic stage was back this year, so that means discovering even more new bands and boy did I make a discovery! WT Newton & the Ozark Blood from Chicago, one of the many gems the American underground roots scene has to offer but that don’t make it out to Europe so easy even with this world wide web thing going on. Thanks Cris Bissell for pushing me to the stage even if it was just so you could be in a video…
Muddy Roots number 5 this was for me and Inny, can you believe I had never seen The Hillbilly Casino play? Sounds crazy, but it’s all true. There was no way in hell I was missing them this year. As the 20 plus minute video will show you I was front and center (left and a little off if you please). If even one of the previous shows was as good as this one, I hang my head in shame for not being there. But this one made it all up and I promise I will never miss a show again!
So people asked me, “Tom why are you so siked about this year’s line-up, it’s always a good line-up?” Because of The Voodoo Glow Skulls!!! That’s why! For me these guys play the same league as Rancid, and Rancid being one of my all-time favorite punk bands, nothing else has to be said…
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club… What is there to say? Besides that they are one of the best live bands in the world? Nothing! Just enjoy the video…
2016 marked the 10th anniversary of the Roadkill Festival in Waarschoot, Belgium. I knew about the festival, but I had never been there. I also knew that in the past they had some fantastic line-ups, this year wasn’t any different. With bands like Honky, Peter Pan Speedrock, The Goddamn Gallows, ANTI-SEEN, Fifty Foot Combo and so many more we where in for a treat.
The first thing that I noticed when we arrived at the festival was the lack of big corporate sponsors, but a real professional setting. The second thing was the layed-backness of the crew working the festival. No over the top security bullshit, no backpack checks, just pay at the door (or pick-up a press-pass, thanks Bert), buy some drinking tickets and have fun! From this moment on I knew we came to the right place and I wondered why we haven’t being coming here before.
We walked in the tent looking for Mikey Classic, we had some shirts to deliver, (pick one up at his solo tour this week!) and something very strange was going on on stage… Bleeding Antlers from the UK where providing the people with a bunch of noise and weird antics… Goat-masks, distorted vocals and shreddin’ guitars. It sounded like a mess, but I was intrigued… I’m waiting for their album to come out before I make up my mind if I like it or not… After this heathen mass Devastatiön from Belgium kicked it off at the outside stage. High speed blackened trash metal would be a good “label” for their music. I normally like this kind of music but I didn’t really pay attention to it, we had people to greet, first beers to drink and set up the camera’s… What I do remember was the vocals, and that I liked them a lot!
The Goddamn Gallows where up next. This would be their second to last show of the tour that took ’em all over Europe in 2 months. They where tired, I could see it in their eyes, but still hungry to make new fans and friends. Hardest working band in showbiz? THESE GUYS! The crowd went nuts!
Garage rock has always been an underground phenomenon, but in Belgium new bands seem to emerge everyday, The Glücks are one of those bands holding the flag high and making sure they make a lasting impression with every show they play. Drums and guitar, that’s it, but the sound they create is the equivalent of ten suicide-bombers going of at once.
HONKY out of Austin, Texas came to Roadkill to provide us with the best Superboogie Rock on the planet. The band has a cult status for a reason and they made that very clear with their show. Groovin’, hardrockin’ madness!!!
If there is one band in the world that punks, metal-heads, psycho-billies, crusties or whatever sub-genre you wish to label yourself with all like the same, it’s Peter Pan Speedrock! Eindhoven’s best export product has toured the planet more then once and are now on their goodbye tour. Nothing on stage indicates this, they are still playing hard as ever, with a huge smile on their face! What a great show it was!
We drove to our B&B in Eeklo while Peter Pan was still playing, we needed some sleep, it had been a long week and a long day, but a good day…
These last two weeks or so I had the pleasure to hang around with Andrew and his lovely wife Mary for a couple of days while they where on tour in Europe. I hooked up with them as much as I could while playing in Belgium because apart from Andrew being a great musician and singer, he and Mary are just fun to hang with! Down to earth, beer drinking, fun loving human-beings! And in the end, that’s what it’s all about. Havin’ fun, making new friends, talk life and be happy with the times you can spend with those you love.
Andrew played “Roots in het Park” in Aarschot July 21st, a little one day free festival, put on by Kurt “Da Bomb” from Rootstown Bookings. In the video you can see some of the songs he played.
Today I went to see his last show of his European tour, and that’s always bitter-sweet. I hate saying good-bye… Don’t be sad, plans are being made for a next tour, and make sure to come and see him on a stage near you.
If you forgot to buy your shirt or cd while you where at one of the shows, or like what you see in the video, contact us. We got some shirts and cd’s to sell. Yes… all money will go back to him, you do know who’s writing this shit don’t you?
East Cameron Folkcore from Austin, Texas are on a two week tour in Europe. I first got to see them at Muddy Roots last year and their performance was so incredible that there was no way I would miss them playing in Europe. There was no date in Belgium, but lucky for me there was one in Aachen, which is only an hour drive from where I live.
I got there early, so I got to hang out with them, talk life, have a drink and do an interview. They played a great show which you can see below. Last year they released “Kingdom of Fear” and for me this is one of the best “indie” albums ever made! Make sure you get your copy…
5 years of Muddy Roots Europe! Time sure does fly… When I think back to the first one I can’t imagine the impact this little get-together had on the European roots scene. The friends and family I’ve gained are all thanks to this. (and don’t forget all the friends we’ve made going to Cookeville the last 4 years, see you all in september) Here’s to you, Muddy Roots Europe crew, Cheers!
For the 5th edition it looked like the bands playing where a little less “punk” or rowdy then the years before and much more European. That European part, I don’t care about, but I did miss that edge and “danger” on stage a little this year. But who are we or you to complain? If you want to see and hear other bands, do it yourself! (we did, so can you, there is so much space, music, beer and fun to go around in Europe, so do your thing!) But i sure did enjoy the bands that I filmed and the campsite… Oh boy… the campsite… I can talk about the mud, we’ve all seen it. But the fun, camaraderie and family, that’s what’s important to me! Hanging with friends, making new ones, meeting long lost family members (or so it feels like) sharing stories, drinks and food and music. Life sure is good to us!
Because of work and THE MUD I missed the first bands, and Moonshine Wagon was on my “need to see list”… If you did see them, I hope you enjoyed it.
The first band I did get to see was the talented Muddy Roots Recordings artist Dana Sipos from Canada. Great show, lovely voice and good songs. People where a little chatty during the first part of her set, but I hope you enjoy the video!
The Dad Horse Experience was up next, and this is a love it or hate “act”. I for one, love it!
Dirk came to Waardamme to present his new album, “Eating Meatballs On A Blood-Stained Mattress In A Huggy Bear Motel”. I hadn’t heard the album before and damn, the man throws a mean curve-ball from time to time. That psychedelic tune at the end of the video… WTF was that?!?! I loved it, but I sure didn’t expect it!
Muddy Roots has a special bond with Brazil and to celebrate this bond Mary Lee & The B-side Brothers are the first Brazilian band on the Muddy Roots Records roster. And they deserve it! What a great band, from country, honky tonk to wild swinging dance tunes… There’s gonna be a Muddy Roots Festival in Brazil, I hope we can make it over there one day…
Spain… From all the countries in Europe, Spain is providing us with a bunch of great roots bands. Who would have thought… Dead Bronco took the whole tent by surprise with their very catchy and wild Honky Tonk Country songs. You’ll see in the video how much the people enjoyed it! Moshpits and country music, you gotta love it!
On Friday the music ended with Reverend Beat-man, and you can say about him what ever you want, but Beatman puts on a show! I was a little skeptic, because the last shows I’ve seen where more of the previous shows I’ve seen. But the old fox learned some new tricks, COOOOL tricks, you’ll see…
Saturday started slowly for me as every year… Waking up, asking myself “why did I had this much to drink?” and then the smell of bacon and eggs… Thank you Sophie! After breakfast a well needed shower while The Most Ugly Child plays in the background, bit cold, but it woke me up… Saturday in the tent also started with camera-problems. You’ll see it in the video I tried to make from Philip Bradatsch. Technology, you’re a bitch! I got bits and pieces, but I wanted to share it anyway… Philip, as always played one hell of a show, I can’t wait to hear his next album.
Them Old Crap from Brazil where one of those bands this year that had that “punk” spirit I love so much in my roots music. I’ve seen them play on this tour a bunch of times with our friend Jayke Orvis, but this was by far their best show that I’ve seen on this tour. So much power, joy and I love the “show” they put on. The shots I took of the crowd are so much fun to watch, if you look close you can see a little practical joke between friends that haven’t seen each-other in a while I think. THIS is Muddy Roots! Oh and in spirit The Freeborn Brothers where with us…
What would Muddy Roots be without James Hunnicutt? It just wouldn’t be the same…
James doesn’t surprise much with his shows if you have seen him before, but man, does he deliver! I’ve seen him play so many times, and every-time he gets to me.
Sorry about fucking up “bad girl”, I was filming and then something popped in my shoulder, I had to put the camera down, it was weird and hurt like fuck… But hey, it’s James on stage, get your shit together and pick it up boy! We all know that we want to see and hear “teardrops” and this time was special. Part of The Wallaroos joined him on stage and Kris from the Bacchus Crew stepped in on trombone. The joy on those faces on stage and in the crowd, priceless! Thank you James, thank you for being who you are and thank you for the songs. We need this!
Sunday, Sunday bloody Sunday (bono is a little bitch, just so you know…)
I missed most of the bands on Sunday because I had people to talk to, friends to drink with, family to take care of… You know… Muddy Roots stuff… But I was not gonna miss WhiskeyDick! Once a metal-head, always a metal-head I guess… I can write pages about this show, but there are just a few things you need to know. It was kick-ass good! They payed tribute to Owen, they had the crowd going and they are awesome guys to hang-out with. Here’s to WhiskeyDick, “to the union”! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI81pFMwCHg&feature=youtu.be
Belgium is a small country, but we sure are big when it comes to music festivals. The whole world knows about the big commercial ones like Pukkelpop, Werchter and Tommorowland. But that’s not what we’re about, we’re here to support the UNDERGROUND! And starting the end of June it all kicks in high gear. Almost every weekend, lovers of underground music, being it punk, metal, roots, garage or whatever floats your boat can go out and party their ass of at one or another festival. Let me be your guide…
The last weekend of June Muddy Roots Europe will celebrate their 5th birthday with as always some amazing artists. I always look forward to see Possessed By Paul James unleash his demons on stage. Dana Sipos is another great performer to keep an eye on. I’ve seen her play at Muddy Roots in Cookeville last year and I’m damn sure you’ll love her. With Mary Lee & The B Side Brothers and Them Old Crap on the line-up we can only hope they bring us some sunshine all the way from Brazil! Willy Tea Taylor and Reverend Beatman, both excellent one man performers will show us how different a one man band can sound. Moonshine Wagon from Spain is high on my “have to check out” list. Before they where on the flyer I had never heard of this band, but if you check out their video’s on youtube you’ll know what I’m talking about! With Dad Horse Experience, Whiskey Dick, Philip Bradatsch, James Hunnicutt and The Reverend Peyton Big Damn Band also playing I know good times are heading our way.
Tickets are still on sale, so if you don’t have one yet, get over to the muddy roots website and do your thing.
Just a week after Muddy Roots Europe, July 1st and 2nd we’re hosting our very own little festival for the first time. PIRATE FARM FEST is a little monster created by us (old style music nights), Pirate Farm Radio and loyal friends with a love for music and crazy enough to give this thing a go! Two days of insanity and good times in a field in Tielt-Winge, a small town in the middle of Belgium. I would be lying if I told you we’re not proud of the line-up we put together for this first edition. With The Mullet Monster Mafia from Brazil headlining on Friday we have an exclusive in Belgium. These diabolical trash surf maniacs will take you on a wild ride surfing the flames of hell! Also on Friday we have Tim Holehouse from the UK and Vincent Slegers from Belgium teaming up to bring us something real special. We have no idea what’s it going to be, but with these two talented blues soldiers we know it’s going to be of the hook! Not enough for friday? Well then, here’s another exclusive! The Sad Hill Outfit will play their very first show, opening the festival. This new band with Jumpin’ Jim and Sweetboy from Black Cat Bone Squad has being working hard in the rehersal room to bring you their take on bluegrass, string-band music and other roots songs. Completing the line-up on Friday are The Detrimentals, a fairly new Psychobilly band from Belgium ready to get you wrecking in the pit!
Do we have exclusives on saturday you ask? Well, YES we do! Starting with a sad one… Black Cat Bone Squad will play their last show ever… So make sure you come out in full force to send them on their last goodbye! Now a happy one, Mikey Classic from The Goddamn Gallows will play his first EVER solo show in Belgium!!!
So what else we have on Saturday? We have hard hitting noise punk with State Of The Pigs, angry, political and loud. We have crazy funny outlaw bluegrass/country/punk from Holland with Batenburg Hellbillie and The Ditchrunners from America. We have Fishgutzzz providing us with the best kazzoograzzz around, we all love to hate Fishgutzzz and that’s why we love him! Do you know Acousta Noir? No? Come check him out, this lonesome traveler will teach you a thing or two about playing music and being on the road.
Now… How can we make this festival even better? I would say THE GODDAMN GALLOWS will do the trick! By far the wildest, most awesome and raddest band around in this “scene”. If you don’t like the gallows, you can suck a carrot!
And as for every good party there is a cherry on top. Because we like the neighbors and we respect their sleepy-time, the gallows will not close down the festival. Jayke Orvis will have the last say on stage! This master songwriter is back with the gallows but when I asked him to close the festival he didn’t hesitate for a second. I’m sure there will be some guests joining him on stage.
So… We have a big tent to keep you all dry if needed, the camping is free and tickets are only 35 euro. get yours at: tickets@oldstylepiratefarm.be
Foodtrucks will be there to fill your stomach, drinks are 2 euro, kids up to 12 get in for free and we have no showers (we like the way you stink)!
See you in our field and come say hello!
On to the next one… The weekend after Pirate Farm Fest, Sjock Festival is putting up their tents for edition 41, yep 41!!! This dinosaur in the alternative Belgian festival scene will provide you with all that is loud, wild and swingin’.
The line-up is crazy as fuck, I can go on and on about it, but I’m not gonna. Check out their website, buy a ticket and go nuts!
That’s it for now, I’ll be back with a bunch of other great festivals in a few days…
Fuck You Thor! You would think the god of thunder and strength would make sure that one of Europe’s best punk and hardcore festivals could bath in sunshine, warm temperatures and cold beers… The beer was cold, for the rest of it, he did a terrible job!
Groezrock 2016 was wet, cold and muddy. Thank you Dr. Martens for keeping my feet dry, I love you… Oh well, enough with this silly talk, all shoe brands, deities and weather jokes have being shared during the festival. Let’s talk about the music, the bands and the fans.
We’ll start with the music. For being known as a punk and hardcore festival Groezrock offered us a very versatile line-up. They have always done this, but this year I had to scratch my head more than once about this or that band on the line-up. But maybe I’m just getting old. “Punk” is not what it used to be, a friend of mine told me this weekend, and he’s right, but then again, punk from the 70’s didn’t sound anything like punk in the late 80’s, so who are we to judge…
Let’s get to the bands, that’s the main reason we go to these festivals, no?
If you visit this page more then that one time your friend in that one band was mentioned here, you know that Coma Commander from my hometown, Diest, is a band that I hold very dear to my heart. And this year they where invited to open the Watch Out Stage! I was able to shoot most of their show, and because I’m a nice guy I’m not going to talk about their show and just show it to you… Enjoy!
After Coma Commander it took me some time to check out an other band, I was wandering around the backstage of the festival and it gave me a nice inside of what’s going on on these festivals. For most of us, Groezrock is just another show, a weekend of fun and boozing. But behind those stages there are so many people working their ass off so the bands and everyone else working their ass off is taking care for. From catering, security, sound and stage-crews… All these people need food and drinks, a place to warm up, a place to relax and let me tell you, that money you pay for your ticket is well used. All these folks deserve your respect, without them… NO GROEZROCK!
The next band I got to see was Less Than Jake, earlier that day I got the chance to interview their drummer Vinnie, who is a real nice guy and was happy to answer my questions. They played a real fun show and had the crowd eating from their hands. Check out the interview, the sound isn’t that good, the press-room was filling up and with sound-checks going on it got a bit noisy…
Besides Coma Commander there was one more band (Rancid not included) that I could not skip. Siberian Meat Grinder from Russia! With their mix of trash metal, hardcore and hip hop we where in for a treat! The sound at the Back To Basics stage wasn’t that great, but the band put on one hell of a show. It took the crowd some time to let go, but once they did, so did the band, and the result was one of the best shows all weekend!!! HAIL TO THE TSAR!!!
We’rewolves, another band with roots in my hometown had to go up against the hardcore legends Terror who where playing the Back To Basics Stage at the same time. It was so great to see that the field in front of the Watch Out Stage was packed with folks ready to rock out! We’rewolves is one of those bands that with their sound don’t fit into any genre and that makes them so damn good. No idea who made this video, but thank you!
I hooked up with some old friends to check out Hatebreed, never being a fan and never will be… I do understand why people like their music, but it’s just not for me…
We where all waiting for Rancid, so it was time to just hang around, walk from one bar to the other, have some drinks and laughs, check out Youth Of Today while walking by and joke around why we could not enter the tent with beer in our hands… But we’re fearless! So we did. Sadly enough the youth of back in the days isn’t what they used to be. And even with all my hatred towards straightedge, I was sad about this. I really liked their music. And before you nail me to your vegan cross, this is my opinion, maybe you liked it, I didn’t. So go suck a carrot!
RANCID was next with “Out Come The Wolves”! And that’s all I have to say about this… You didn’t like it? I did…
With Rancid done, we headed back to the press-tent for some final beers and warmth before we embarked on our long journey to the car.
Saturday morning hit me pretty hard, the beer from yesterday took it’s toll… Or maybe I’m just getting old… Because of bad planning, not from my side, I arrived at the festival later then I wanted to. But my mood quickly changed when I walked in on Night Birds. Holy Crow!!! What a band! Raw, fast and angry with a authentic old-school feel. I forgot to pick up their album “Mutiny at Muscle Beach” and I still regret it. I hope to run into these guys again damn soon!
If Friday was mostly wet, Saturday was COLD! The icy winds raging over the field dropped the temperatures to almost freezing and that didn’t add to a “happy happy joy joy” festival feeling. I decided quickly that I was not going to stay for very much longer, but not before I had seen SNFU. Ken Chinn looked lovely in his little gold dress, and together with his band, was in a great mood. It wasn’t one of the highlights I hoped it to be, but still a damn good show.
So now it was time to head home, right? Well no, because for some strange reason we walked the other way and bumped into Me First & The Gimme Gimmes… I have a diabolical hate towards cover bands, but can you really call these guys a cover band? I guess we can call them a “Hey I like this song, I wish somebody would play this faster and make a joke out of it” band, if that’s a thing? With their last song, so ended my 2016 edition of Groezrock. I was done… Cold, tired and beaten.
Now the long wait begins for next year, dreaming and hoping for that perfect line-up and SUNSHINE. Thank you Groezrock crew and congrats on this great 25th edition.
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…
Unless you’ve been living under a rock these last two days you have heard about this new festival in Belgium. So here’s a little more information about the whole thing.
As music lovers it has always been a dream to put on our own festival and inspired by many others, some months ago we teamed up with The Pirate Farm Radio and some close friends to form a new organization. After a few meetings we gave this little demon it’s name and so it became, “Old Style Pirate Farm”vzw was born… Under this moniker we combine all the things we do, love and want to do in the future. Organizing shows, broadcasting radio, art expo’s, food stuff… if we like it and we can make it happen, we will do so!
Now back to the festival…
We not only teamed up with The Pirate Farm Radio, we are very proud to work along side the talented crew from Tequila Tattoos. They will be providing art work, logistic help and are our main sponsor. Thanks guys!!!
THE LINE-UP
Friday july 1st Jumpin’ Jim (be)
As front-man for Black Cat Bone Squad Jim is known to dance around the stage in a sweaty mess. His solo work is a little more laid-back. An old Gibson, a banjo and his voice, that’s it. Expect some dark folk songs, BCBS songs in a different setting and some tributes.
Tim Holehouse and Vincent Slegers (gb and be)
Tim and Vincent are no strangers to one another, and they are damn excited to play this show together. They are even planning to record an album together. Tim, hailing from Great Britain is well known in the underground roots scene and he should be! Vincent is a young Belgian blues guy with the voice of an old man. His more than great guitar picking will take you back to the days of yester-years…
The Detrimentals (be)
Joachim of Tequila Tattoos is the drummer for this band and because of his involvement in the festival we could not say no to him… So here’s The Detrimentals! Psychobilly madness created to make you wanna dance and wreck in the pit! Have fun, watch your beer and go WILD!
The Mullet Monster Maffia (bra)
Holy Crow! We are damn proud to have these guys from Brazil playing their Surf Trash Mayhem at our first edition. All the way from Brazil they will headline our pre-party on friday. Get your surf on!
Saturday July 2nd Batenburg Hellbillie (hol)
Kuntry, bluegrass in Dutch? Hell yeah, why not? Funny stuff if you ask me…
Fishgutzzz & His Ignorant Band (usa)
Have you seen Fishgutzzz on his last European tour? You did? Then you know why we wanted him for our festival. King of his own shit-castle and king of kazoo-grazzz!
State of the Pigs (be)
Pissed off, political, sludge punk… These guys will kick you in the butt with their message and their songs. Like it ot not, we don’t care.
Acousta Noir (usa)
We ran into Joshua when he was touring Europe last year and I was hooked on his music the first time I heard it. Dark Americana, upbeat at times, always great! You’ll love this dude…
Black Cat Bone Squad (be)
In my opinion these guys should have been way bigger by now, but hey… If you live on the wrong side of the track, you’re fucked! They released an incredible split album with S.S. Web last year, two more full albums and some e.p’s. Kick ass roots rocking psychobilly punk!
Mikey Classic & his lonesome Spur (usa)
For the first time solo in Belgium! With the release of his solo album The Goddamn Gallows frontman blew everyone away. Dark, and haunting Punk Folk Blues.
The Ditchrunners (usa)
Playing their Honky Tonkin’ Gypsy Gutter Grass as they call it, for the first time in Europe. Before we take them on stage they’ll have played some shows in your town, so we know you want to see them again! Come and dance your ass off, so we can put it back on you at the bar…
The Goddamn Gallows (usa)
PROUD AS FUCK!!! For us this is a dream come true. Yeah, we all know these guys, call them friends and what not… But to have them play at our very first edition… That’s awesome! You like punk, metal, country, bluegrass, polka or whatever? Even if you don’t like it, you’re going to love it! Their live performance is crazy as fuck and will blow you away!
Jayke Orvis (usa)
After the Broken Band called it quits a lot of people thought this was the end of the road for Jayke. But damn, you guys are dead wrong! I’ve seen Jayke play solo in Oakland last September and he kicked it hard! After the madness of the gallows, Jayke will end our first edition with a solo set that you will remember for a long time.
TICKETS Earlybird: 30 EUR. (limited to 100 copies)
mail to def@oldstylepiratefarm.be to get your hands on one of these. They are going fast! Normal: 35 EUR. Door: 40 EUR. Normal tickets will go on-line when the earlybird are gone. Price includes the two days of festival and free camping.
LOCATION
Beurtstraat 43
Tielt-Winge
Belgium
FREE CAMPING!
Mobilehomes and caravans welcome
We hope to welcome you all. Come and have drink with us, say hello, dance your booty off, have fun, be nice to the neighbours, respect the location and HAVE FUN!!!
Cheers!
Inny, Ann, Sophie, Busa, Def, Trixie and Tom
Your Old Style Pirate Farm crew
Day 3 started slow… Real slow… I was trying to figure out what went on last night. I remembered flashes of a dance-off between me and Grubb of Carrie Nation together with a strange girl climbing in a tree… It was all very fuzzy. But I had fun! It sucked that the Slim Cessna set didn’t really happen, but hey… what can we do…
Dylan Walshe
By now you should know that I love Dylan as an artist and as a person. And I was really looking forward to what he would bring us this time. He opened his set with a Townes song and that takes balls. If you have been following his stories on facebook you know that the man was on a cloud from all the great encounters he had the last few days and you could tell by his big smile on stage. With his first album under his belt we can expect great things from this guy!
Yes Ma’am
Thank you Cracker Swamp guys for yet another great discovery this year. I’m damn sure I have seen this band play on a street-corner somewhere in New Orleans when I was there on one of my visits to this amazing city a few years ago, and damn why didn’t I stayed longer and listened to what they did? Who will tell?
What I do know, is that I’m happy I did it at this years festival. And I wasn’t alone, this was a party from start to finish!
The Tillers
This Muddy Roots Records recording band is becoming a new household name in the modern “roots” scene and we all know why that is. People in Europe are waiting for these guys to come over and perform their beautiful music, let’s hope it will happen in 2016. For now, here’s a short video…
Dr. Ralph Stanley
What can I tell you about this man that hasn’t been said before and better? Nothing I guess? I have some thoughts about this whole thing, but nothing I want to make public here. I will discus it with you in private if you want. Watch the video and maybe you will see what I’m talking about. Everything aside, it was a privilege to be on stage with this legend and shoot this video.
Harley Poe
Yeah sure… Find some new favorite bands at Muddy Roots they say… Hooray… I did… And now they stop playing? FUCK THIS SHIT! Hahaha… Oh well, I’ll always have this video. More punk then anything else Harley Poe set the tent on fire and took everybody in there on a spooky trip. Lordy, Lordy, did we have fun!!!
We’ve seen so much more great bands that we didn’t film, but we want you to check out. So here we go… Denver Broncos UK, side project of Slim Cessna’s Auto Club members with Munly at the wheel. Shawn James and the Shapeshifters, stoner metal roots music? These guys were brutal! Cannibal Ramblers, dirty low fi blues brought to you by an evil Santa and his minions? That band with the song “Fuck Cops”… Liz played with them… I have no idea who they were… I have the video… Help me out!!!!
I woke up with a smile on my face in our cabin after a perfect first day and night. My troops were in good spirit, they survived day one of what is the emotional rollercoaster, called Muddy Roots! Kim (the little city girl) slept in the car because we had an eight legged uninvited guest. She made our rental KIA her nightly home for the rest of the festival… Kickboxing skills don’t kill spiders! After a shower and a “healthy” breakfast we were ready for day two. My list of bands to shoot was huge, but I should have known better. I have this weird habit of talking and drinking with people I like and love. And Muddy Roots is packed with people that I like and/or love… Damn you all to hell for being so awesome! Thank you!
Thinking back I feel like such a fool for missing out on the opportunity, but I did see every band I wanted to see. My camera wasn’t always near and by the time the sun went down I just put it away. I know myself, and I know that I like to party, camera’s and parties don’t mix. But what we got is priceless. The energy, the love, the musicianship, the passion. I would kill for just a little piece of the talent that these guys have. I just point the camera and press record… Enjoy folks… One day this will all be over, all good things come to an end. Let’s just hope we will be there when the fat lady sings! Don’t worry, the fat lady is still a skinny girl, we have years of mischief in Cookeville coming to us!
Lou Shields
I love Lou! I love him as a person and as a musician. What he does is so different then what anybody else does. His weird rhythms, his voice, the way he uses his feet… It’s a package of pure joy to watch! I was bummed out when I learned that Lou was playing at the same time, James Hunnicutt was, I didn’t really understand why, but hey… who am I to judge? But the folks at Muddy Roots have a good taste in music and Lou had a fair amount of people dancing to his tunes. I sure was one of them. Maybe that’s why I only shot two video’s?
Make sure to check Lou’s website and order some of his albums, you will not be disappointed.
James Hunnicutt
After catching me some Lou Shields to start the day it was of to James on the main stage. I prefer to see James play at a smaller stage because it feels more intimate, but the man deserves to be on the biggest stage in the world! I see no point in writing about his show. Just check the video, and the interview we did some months before the festival at our house in Belgium. (I think James’ aura is to big because the camera had trouble focusing on him…)
One more thing, I’m always amazed how good of a singer Geoff Firebaugh is. I mean, he’s a kick-ass bass-player, I just never see him as a singer, and every time he gets behind a microphone I’m blown away! Here’s to you Geoff!
Whiskey Shivers
“Oh boy, Oh boy, Oh boy” I was very excited to see these guys play! I heard some of their songs before but never had the chance to see them on stage. And from what I’ve heard, this was going to be one hell of a party, and it sure was. Another reason I wanted to see them was because this band is the biggest FUCK OFF to racism in the “roots” scene! They maybe don’t sing about it, but just being on that stage all together says enough to every idiot that ever made a claim that this movement is a “white” thing, and I know there’s a bunch of them out there. Fuck you, WE LIKE TO PARTY!!!
Hopeless Jack
You know what’s so fun about Muddy Roots? I’ll tell ya… Walking past a stage and thinking, “DAMN, this sounds good, who are these guys?”. That’s how I got to know Austin from The Hangdog Hearts, and that’s how I got to know Jack Beisel. We where looking for a place to sit and have another drink, and what do I hear coming out of the Cracker Swamp tent? This raw sounding blues, “blasting girls panties off” primitive energy… Holy Crow, these are just two guys having a bunch of fun and this is the result? I haven’t had fun in a long time I guess… And you know what’s the best part of this? Jack is such a nice guy! If they play in your town, go see them, even if you don’t really like blues, it’s so much more. You can bring your dad, but don’t bring your girlfriend, she may not come home with you…
Joseph Huber
Ex-.357Stringband, master song-smith Joseph Huber… What more can you say about him? Just enjoy the songs.
Muddy Roots Music Festival 2015… Number four for Inny and me. It’s becoming “normal” you would think, but every time we drive up there, a feeling of coming home takes over. This was number four in Cookeville, we did them all in Belgium, but this time it was extra special. We brought close friends with us and hoped they would have the same experience we had those three previous years. A feeling of freedom, friendship, honesty and pure joy (unless monday morning…) that’s what we where hoping they would feel. I’m damn sure they did.
Sophie, the rebel, doing her own thing, getting on my nerves, buying moonshine, handing out gifts and beer. I tried to take care of her, but I knew better, she’ll be alright where ever she is. Jo, my brother from an other mother (I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true), a wild-man if he wants to be, a caretaker if needed, a great songwriter and a friend for life. Kim, the little loud city girl, a heart of gold, a head full of lovely chaos and the temper of a furious cat (unless she encounters a spider…). And last but not least, Inny, my wife for eight years, my soul-mate for 15. My rock, my know it all head-buster, my Goddess. This was my troop, these where my travelers, these where my fellow pilgrims on the road to mud… We survived… These are our stories…
Mikey Classic and his Lonesome Spur
Muddy Roots without The Goddamn Gallows? HELL NO! Well yeah… but don’t worry, Mikey took on the heavy burden and we all knew he would deliver the goods… Check out his solo album. Is it Gallows Light? I’m not sure, some folks think it is, but for me it’s just Mikey doing his thing and doing it good! I had the chance to do merch for them at some of their European shows earlier this year and they welcomed me as an old friend. I love Mikey and the rest of them crazy idiots, even Avery…
The Barnyard Stompers
Casey and Megan… First time we ran into these guys, they where playing the open mic stage a few years ago. Casey was drunk as fuck and still being one hell of a frontman, while Megan kept the rhythm going on her drums like an army general pushing his troops into battle. The Barnyard Stompers do what they do, they don’t take shit from nobody, follow no trends and get shit done! I love it. They have songs that I wish ANTiSEEN would play, and they should!
East Cameron Folkcore
One of the bands on this years line-up that I never heard of. I gave them a quick listen while making preparations. They made it to my “must watch list”. And boy was I glad I went to see them and even more glad I filmed them. I shot more than just this, but for some reason the camera fucked up two other songs. But for the rest of their set I was dancing my ass off. They gave me a “Refused goes bluegrass” feeling. I know it doesn’t do them justice, but I think you know what I’m talking about.
The Urban Pioneers
Is there life after The Broken Band? Sure there is! Jayke is doing his thing, James always did it and Liz and Jarred are proving everyone wrong as well. What started as an in between project became a solid band playing all over the world. If you got talent, you got talent, it’s that simple.
Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy
“It’s my party and cry if I want to”, that’s the song that pops into my head every time the boys from Kansas come on stage. I don’t think they ever played this song, I’m sure they hate this song. But the fact is, that when they are playing, it’s going to be a party, and if you’re not feeling it… YOU SUCK! In this “scene”, I hate the word, these guys are on the same level as The Goddamn Gallows, and people may not yet know this, but I’m sure that they will make their mark and I wish them all the good things coming to them. TETTE BLOEWET!
The Calamity Cubes!
I know there where people at the festival only to see Dr. Ralph Stanley, I also know that some people came only because these guys where playing. Can you blame them? The Cubes are that good and anyone that says otherwise is a dick… Simple as that! They are responsible for some of the best songs going around our little ball of dinosaur shit and you better learn to live with it…
Sean and Zander
The Legendary Duo! That’s all… Enjoy!
After the Sean and Zander show I put my camera away, it was rum o’clock…
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