I’m back from a great alternative music festival in Dour, Belgium. All round it was a great experience, but what a hellish ride getting there it became. Apart from the weak organisation on the first day, they pulled it off well.
Arriving the night before and after nearly a day of travelling, we found an area to sleep that seemed to be clean (read: clean = grass still growing). We stayed there two nights until one morning when we were forced to relocate due to unforseen circumstances, relating to someone emptying their bowels outside our tents. Yep.
After moving to what seemed like paradise, we were happy again. During the days, much of our time at the festival was spent queuing and hiking for beer and food for literally miles outside of the actual camp site. I am certain that we walked at least 15 miles a day for the four days we were there, likely more!
Anyway, the music… most of who we saw took place during the evening and night. The sun was hot during the day, reaching 34 celcius at its peak, making it too painful to stand for long periods of time in front of the unshaded stages.
I think I missed a few good’uns as a result, like Gym Class Heroes (they were on at 1pm. what is this?!), but I definitely made up for it:
The Blackbox Revelation
I don’t know much about these guys other than that they are a Belgian rock duo that really went for it on Day 1. It was amazing to see the energy that came from just two guys, one on drums and the singer guitarist. The video below is the track they opened with. Nice!
Video: Kill for Peace (And Peace will Die), The Blackbox Revelation
Bonobo
Also on Day 1 was Bonobo, who I only managed to catch a few minutes of – what I did hear sounded pretty unique.
He is a British producer and DJ, releasing material through the Ninjatune label. His music is very chilled out instrumental downtempo, and comparable to cinematic orchestra – who also performed at Dour. Check out his web-site or last.fm for discography, and if you like what you hear I recommend the Days to Come record, it’s in my playlist now!
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bonobo – flutter
Wu-Tang Clan
Suuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!! Wu need no introduction. The group (sans ODB R.I.P, Method Man and Cappadonna) did a classic performance, and as my long time favourite group it was the best to see them perform live again, this time on the huge Last Arena main stage at Dour. The Clan took some time as usual, to get out on the stage, but then Mathematics strolled out to the decks and everyone started shouting “WU! TANG!”.
Literally half of the festival goers crowded around to listen as they busted out and sang ‘C.R.E.A.M’. 
It was standard for the RZA to direct the Clan, and got the crowd chanting and throwing up the W’s. Deck bombed atomically but lost his voice midway, which is the second time I have seen it happen to him on stage. I wish Cappadonna was there though; before when I have seen Wu live it was Cap who ripped it up the most with the sick a cappella from ‘Winter Warz’ without a breath. ‘Triumph’ got a great reception, but a lot of the fans didn’t know the less known tracks they played and so got cut a bit short.
“How many of y’all motherfuckers is here? twenty thousand??? thirty thousand???” Everyone had their gunz up, RZA gave props to a fan with an impressively large W flag, then Gravel Pit dropped. I think everyone in the crowd new that one because they went mental.
It was funny at the end of their performance when clearly their time was over. RZA shouted to the soundman “Yo sound man, sound man. Put number seven on”. But the sound man ignored him!! I think RZA then became a bit pissed, getting the crowd to sing “Faggot sound man!”.
Wu-Tang Forever.
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Wu-tang Clan – Triumph
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Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Dour posts, I first need to figure out who I actually saw on Day 2. I’ll talk about some of the other artists at the festival we saw and some unforgettable late night DJ sets – I’m saving the best of them until last 
2 Comments
Hah, viva les toilettes @ Dour!
[ the pure genius of Les Ogres de Barback] etc. I might have some photos for you?
@ cactusrus: that would be great, thank-you. I missed out on Les Ogres de Barback but heard that they put on a superb performance!