Sonic City

We are a bit late with this review, but that’s because only now we have fully recovered of what was of the most fun weekends of this year. After FarmFest, wolfaars and ATP there was this truly amazing festival in Kortrijk, called Sonic City! Kortrijk is a strange place, a place where you lose many years of your precious life. Kortrijkians are so chill, drink too many bears and are so generous. It’s safe to say that this festival could not be held in Antwerp or even Gent, as the ambiance and sheer friendliness makes up 90% of the fun and joy we had. The weekend started great with erratic performances of the finest belgian bands. i love sarah were very funny, had great bindteksten and make songs about throwing up on lasagna.  Three thumbs up! Sylvester Anfang blew everyone away with their psychedelic grooves and dark folk.  And after the show Sylvester Anfang continued their assault on the soul with a great impro show on the market place of Kortrijk. It was amazing to see all the little 6 year olds shaking their hips on Anfang while their anxious parents looked upon Maldegem’s finest with a unapproving, worried eye. You could tell they hoped their children won’t grow up like a stoned hippie from Maldegem. But it’s too late for their children, as they are converted to the funeral folk for good. Some members of Anfang went out of their head and started harrasing The Swans’ Michael Gira with loud sheers, annoying well, everybody. Truly a spectacular band! Or as Anfang member Bart Sloow would put it “Don’t get the shit down”. The other shows on saturday were not as memorable but nevertheless fun to watch and Sunburned got us grooving our wild hairs for an hour on a psychedelic trip that kept ringing in our ears for a couple of days to come. Only the after-party left us a bit cold and the outdoor hangout was a much better place to become bloodbrothers with hardcore guitarists.

Awakening on sunday without a hangover we were greeted by fresh coffee, perfectly boiled eggs and delicious buttercooks. Courtesy of Rock4 and Iza. Gave us all the energy to get through the day. Ignatz blew us away with his brunchy and sleepy kronkelblues. And well de portables played a strong set too. Jurgen never sang any better and when Wio and Jurgen haul together it’s goosebump time. For me – and I know I am totally unbiased – the belgian bands really stood out. OK, maybe the Dirty Projectors gave away a brilliant performance and they will sell millions of records. Their act sounded extremely tight and hooky. And Rise Above is a cover hitsong without comparaison. Deerhoof sounded sexy but by then I was so extremely washed out that the only thing I could do was hang out and hug strangers. Like I said, a truly fantastic weekend!

photo by wannabes, rave reviews on semtex