Having arrived on Wednesday evening to Amsterdam airport I was met by Anja and whisked away to the small town of Hasselt but the festival was in a village on the outskirts of Hasselt called Kievit. Getting over my jet lag in one night was a challenge but I think I did it as the festival started the next day on Thursday 14th. The weather was really nice for all three days - we were very lucky!
We saw many bands and here are the ones I think are worth mentioning:
Thursday 14th August
The Pigeon Detectives were not as good as I hoped. I didn't know many of their songs but they didn't have such a great stage presence.
One Night Only are a band I've only recently liked, they are pretty young and again they don't really have 'it' yet I think!! But they weren't bad my any means.
Next up was Ian Brown - I was really looking forward to this as I never saw the Stone Roses perform. He was really good, a bit cocky though but I guess he would be seeing how famous he is. He even sang a Stone Roses song which was unexpected!
The Editors were good - I saw them at Glastonbury last year and they didn't dissapoint me this time either. I really like their live performances.
I came across a band called Mercury Rev which sounded really good and I'd like to look into them further.
After sleeping under a tree for two hours I saw the Killers play at 12.30am - 1.30am. It was so stupid to put them at that time becuase they were one of the headlining acts and it being the first night I was half asleep!! Maybe I'm just lame but it felt really badly placed. They did a fantastic performance though as I'd never seem them before.
Friday 15th August
We went into the towon of Haseelt on this day as we needed a bit of a break from the loud noises!
But next we saw the Stereophonics. I didn't realise that they were so popular as it turned out I knew more than half their songs! I really enjoyed this one :)
I'd heard that Within Temptation were not very good live but they dress up and do a nice show. I like some of their songs and the performance was pretty good. I thought the video effects were a little wanky though!!!
The main headlining act for Pukkelpop 2008 was Metallica. They were lost on me though because the style of music was a little off centre from the rest of the bands that played Pukkelpop. Since I'm not a fan I sat back and dranks some beers in the background and listened from a distance!
I got a henna tattoo that day and there was the most adorabe kid getting in the way!!
Satruday 16th August
The Wombats were on the Main Stage which I wasn't surewas the best idea but they played the part. The Plain White T's were next and I don't know them well at all but I found them really good!
I was very impressed also by the 'Special Beer' Tent! They were selling Wiekse Witte as well as Grimbergen and other tasties that weren't Maes! And it was the same price - yay!
Lastly came the band I had waited for the entire festival - and also the last few years to see; the Manic Street Preachers. They were as good as I had hoped and I'm so glad I saw them. They played a lot of old stuff which was great and a few new songs which everyone likes as well. And I was so impressed with Nicky Wire - he looks so happy to be on stage doing what he does!
All in all Pukkelpop was a great success and I'm so glad to have gone! It was a long drive home that night as we left a little early before the festival had ended but I got to see the Manics and we'd had enough of camping by then! Very happy!!
