That is precisely why, despit the short format of every gig in a Music festival like « les Ardentes », I love being there. You have the possibility to discover some talents, singer, groups etc.. That you might never heard before if it wasn’t for this particular day. Today, after the awesome « Hollywood Porn Stars« , time for « The Bellrays » and « Nneka », two artists that I now want to hear in my headphones.. Discovering talent every now and then is just so nice
Didn’t really know what to expect between the HPS that I’ve talked about before and « The Kills » that i was all excited about (eventough 2nd gig seing them). Didn’t even heard one single note of « the bellrays » before this moment. And now I can say I was really impressed by them.

It’s a strange mix between what could have been a « soul/ rythm n blues » voice for the lead vocal, and true rock with guitar riffs and Drums. Starting really strong in our hears, we get used to that mix, and that felt good. The musicians are really good, the voice is just really having it’s own presence and making the show totally worth it. Seriously. I was impressed, seems they were happy to be here. I know I was. Really, I got to look more into that, but i was really happily surprised to see this band on stage singing like they were in front of 25 thousands people. Just nice.

Less than an hour, but it definitely stuck me. Now i’m saying that this is a really good day. I wasn’t at ‘les Ardentes » yesterday, so doesn’t seem to be as tired as some people around ^^

And so it was time to go the smallest stage of the event. Just out of curiosity, to see « Nneka ». I didn’t had a clue of what I was going to see. And that’s part of the fun isn’t it?

So Nneka is germano-nigerian. At first, she strongly looks like Asa for example (this is a cliché, I admit it). But what I think at the beginning was going to be wayyyy to dub/reggae for me is actually a candy, sweetness, pure one, with a vibrant voice.

This was a really nice thing knowing those two groups « without really wanting to ». And I know she’s somewhere around my town in November, might go and make sure I’m able to see a whole concert of her. Also she has nice lyrics, about what is nowdays in Nigeria, how Oil is treated, earth being raped on a daily basis. really, impressed, an artist that as something to say and is not afraid of saying it.

Nice one. lots of emotions in her songs, definitely. Just the time to go out for like 5 minutes, realise that some are extreme walking bear feet because they, like I do, don’t have any boots. But maybe a lil too much extreme for me.

Some animation of Capoeira was made in front of the 2nd stage. nice ^^ not in shape enough to do such thing. Didn’t try (but that was obvious and so meaningless to say :p )

Back inside, puying some chip to be able to grab a coke. and yes, the people of the organisation are as nice as the mood/ambiance of this festival. good laugh, smiling, young, wild, FUN.

  »Les Ardentes » Music Festival in Liège, 2ème partie (En Français dans le texte). Here I was. Back in Liège, Belgium, for the « electro Rock Festival ». 2nd part, but actually 3rd day, (1st day with Camille amongst other is here) meaning Saturday, didn’t went on Friday, got to work, u know the drill, and the only artist that really made me wanted to come (M.I.A.) as cancelled. No Biggie. Today will be nice. Starting with Devotchka , will then come the Hollywood Porn Star.
So here is Devotchka, a band known for having a track in the « little miss sunshine » soundtrack. It’s festive, warm, nice, but didn’t heard that much ’cause I wanted to see the next gig from close ^^ But the good thing is that the mud that was on the first day has been replaced, at some specific points,  by some metal plates on the ground. Not perfect, but better for the « oupsi, I forgot my boots » kinda guy like me!

So going to the other stage, smaller, and inside a warehouse. Going to see the Hollywood Porn Stars (HPS), that I’ve discovered a month ago, for « la fête de la musique » in Brussels. The name sounded familiar. But at that time, I didn’t actually recall knowing any of their songs. Now I do, and I do know why I like this really nice gig I’m about to see…

And so here it was, once again. An hour of fury, of guitars, and drums, converging to a nice couple of songs, some of them just awesome in live like this. Really, now I know their albums, so easier for me to say. All make sense on stage. They are cheering with the crowd, they are happy to be here, it is said that the drummer will soon become a father..the lead singer « go on daddy, show them the way to the next song » A nice spirit is coming from the crowd. They are in a festival, playing at home. But like. AT HOME. It’s their town. I can only imagine how nice this must feel honestly.

I know I’ll see them once again on the 22nd of August, once again a free gig, but I wouldn’t mind paying to see them on stage trust me This is just the perfect beginnig for today, where « The Kills » that I saw at the AB some months ago will be on that same stage in a couple of hours… *excited* ♪ « She wears short dresses to catch attention/ And she knows how to cause attraction/ Everytime I’m falling right into her arms/ It’s worst than hell, but it makes me shine » ♪

And to finish. Here’s a sum up of what could be my next gigs. Any idea what I shouldn’t miss at all. What’s not worth going to see? but yeah, i’m kinda a concert freak this year. Just a phase I think. Will not last. :p don’t worry ^^09/08 : BXL : Rock in da city : Arid/ Puggy/ Freaky Age.
22/08 : BXL : Hollywood Porn Stars
24/08 : BXL : Puggy : Bruxelles Music Festival
24/08 : BXL : Matamatah/ The Tellers
25/08 : BXL : Concert  WARANDEPARK  : ISABELLE A + LENNY & DE WESPEN  /ÓLÖF ARNALDS + ÓLAFUR ARNALDS
26/08 : BXL : Concert  WARANDEPARK : GUIDO BELCANTO + KING FREDDY /        PIERRE ANCKAERT TRIO + BORD DU NORD
28/08 : BXL : Concert  WARANDEPARK : HANNELORE BEDERT + FLIP KOWLIER /       THE IDEAL HUSBAND + LONELY DRIFTER KAREN
29/08 : BXL : Concert  WARANDEPARK :        LIEVEN TAVERNIER – DE NIEUWE SNAAR /LUCKY FONZ III + JEFFREY LEWIS & THE JITTERS
29/08 : CHARLEVILLE : Arno
30/08  : BXL : Sebastien Tellier/ Cassius/ Superlux
30/08  : CHARLEVILLE : Emir Kusturica
31/08 : BXL : The hoosiers/ Arid/ Girls in Hawaii/ Aaron
01/09 : STRASBOURG: Coldplay
05-14/09 : DEAUVILLE : Festival du Film US
17/09 : BXL : Colbie Caillat
20/09 : LUX : R.E.M.
23/09 : BXL : Primal Scream
27/09 : BXL : Melée/
27/09 : STRASBOURG : Puppetmastaz
28/09 : BXL : Tom Helsen
29/09 : MONS : Biffs n’ Riffs (Cali)
14/10 : BXL : Heather Nova
15-19/10 : LUX : Festival DirActor’s
19/10 : BXL : The Last Shadow Puppets
21/10 : STRASBOURG : Minor Majority
22/10 : BXL : Arthur H
29/10 : BXL : Novastar
30/10 : LUX : Tito & Tarantula
03/11 : PARIS : Dionysos
07/11 : DUBLIN : Floggin Molly
11/11 : BXL : Black Kids
12/11 : LUX : Nneka
14/11 : LILLE : The Foals
16/11 : LUX : C.S.S.
17/11 : LILLE : MGMT
18/11 : BXL : Sarah Bettens
22/11 : BASEL : Flogging Molly
23/11 : BXL : Roisin Murphy
24/11 : BXL : La chanson du Dimanche
03/12 : GENK : Flogging Molly
04/12 : BXL : Camille
17/01 : BXL : Arid
26/01 : BXL : Les Cowboys Fringants

So it was the time for the French Singer « Camille ». What do I know about her? not much I have to say. For me, she’s from the generation of new « French singer who have lyrics that are nice, and are never, willingly or not, to have 2 or more instruments in their tracks ». Guess after the real nice demonstration I was going to experience that I was far away from that. Should have listen to one of my ex who was only talking about her a while ago. Camille is now at is, I think, 3rd record, and we can see than on stage, she do more than the job.
Ok, I was wrong, damn it, I just had a cliché, I was fed up of those French « Yes, I’ve lived things, let me just say -not sing, say- it behind a piano or guitar ». I was heavily wrong. Camille is the kind of Artists that are true to themselves. Singing in French (not like those guys of Empyr who are actually even worse in English than anything at all, trust me). She’s here, on stage, surrounded by her crew. And it’s just the beginning. This little kinda Orange hooded phenomenon is singin, well, and followed by the people on stage that are mainly following her on the track without instruments. Rythm, rythm is everything. In that case. a good bass will just be the 2 guys jumping (in sync of course) on a big box. Doing that for a whole track. I’m honestly kinda impressed.

Then it just starts to anoy me. What the hell are all those Almost 20ish kids here for. Most of them are drinking, most of them are smoking illegal stuff. WTF? Do we need to get high or drunk to death to be into a concert? C’mon. This is just bull****. Maybe the fact that I actually never smoke didn’t really help me getting pissed off to those people. but god damn it. I’m treated like a criminal bc i’m trying to come inside and make nice photos, what the hell with those guys. Maybe the rain didn’t helped, but I just really don’t get it. I just don’t see how, being in an other state will help understanding Camille’s Music. Maybe Tomorrow, when we’ll see « The Mars Volta », who was more… « Noise » than « Music », but not here.. anyway.. just not my kind of stuff I’d guess…

Back to the artist. There’s no big set on stage, no big light show, no, just half a dozen of people, that get’s the attention of the whole 7 or 8 thousands-ish crowd just by miraculous rythm and communicative happiness. The good thing about creating the rythm just by claping his hands/chest/jumping is that it’s astonishingly efficient. Everyone stopped and just looked at this. This one and only moment where a true artist reveals herself on stage. A moment where we wish we actually did knew more about the songs to really understands how they are sung.

I should have listen to this ex and try to look more into the records.. you know.. sometimes… But well… now the weather is alright (not nice, jus.. alright….), but well, my shoes are still kinda like a pound of mud with some sands and wet parts… ewww…. making « sploch sploch » at every steps.. argggg….

 Everything is running really smoothly, nice mood, nice people, nice crowd cheering and having a heck lot of fun… That’s one of the best moments of the day. Not as strong as the Mollys cause… it’s the Mollys, but nonetheless. Camille is coming back to Brussels at the end of the year. I’ll definitely go and see her in a more « private/smaller » place

 One last song, the time for her to change herself with a cute new dress… Starting singing… and then turning around to with her chorists and band.. and then. The crowd shouted. Her cute body was shown to the assistance, making everyone react ing (see the header). Then it was time to go back home, an hour drive. Tomorrow, work, but on the day after that, I’ll be back, don’t worry ^^ And Camille, I’ll definitely come back and cya on the 4th of December in Brussels ♪ « Lève toi c’est décidé/ Laisse-moi te remplacer/ Je vais prendre ta douleur/ Doucement sans faire de bruit/ Comme on réveille la pluie/ Je vais prendre ta douleur » ♪

So here I am, clearly frustrated by the security guy at the entrance… ewww… C’mon… I love photo, not my fault… So after the awesome Flogging Molly Concert… Just went to ask « but well, ya know, it’s a small camera, and I see some in here that are 4 times the size… » the lady « well.. ok… if it’s not too big »…. The camera is not don’t worry. It’s the eye of the photographer behind it that’s needed ^^ (right now, u can just throw flowers at me, no biggy). So here I was, on the tracks where going to be Empyr, Brisa Roché and Yael Naïm…

Now I was on the inside, with my camera… yay Just the time to cross a little fella (that sounds not belgium and who spoke to me in English) « yeaaaaaahhhh Floggin Molly rulesss » me astonished, realising I had a Molly’s Tee « hell yeah, as usual » him « saw them in brussels » « really? same for me, who would have known… » « rock on man have a nice festival » « you too, slainte! » I actually saw him once again inside, he grabbed my shoulder « hey, wazzup? » « fine fine, u know, taking pictures, did u get ur camping pass? » « yup, now the party can begin » Love those moments, dat’s also why i’m taking pictures of the people surrounding me, those kind of stories are awesome

Then realising there is actually a cigarettes shop inside… weird… never understood it.. the happiness of being a lifetime non smoker i’d guess

Then it was the time to dive in the first gig. Brisa Roché. Known as the new Björk, the cd is actually nice, the live is not. She made a rock set.. I mean.. WTF?

Yeah, that’s true her new record is more.. punchy let’s say.. nonetheless… wasn’t what I was expecting.. obviously sometimes it’s a good thing, but in that case.. not really.. can’t barely remember much…

Time to get something to eat. There’s like a whole « Food street » that has been set up between the 2 main stages. Yay It was honestly really afordable and tast. One damn good point for this Festival

So here we are, on the 2nd stage (an inside one). Going to see « Empyr ». You dunno who they are? me neither. It’s basically a sum up of some French Rock groups (the singer is from one, the bassist from another etc…) and it’s just… interestingly not promising at all…

It’s honestly a total disapointement, the voice of the singer is better than back when he was singin in « Kyo », but nonetheless, dunno, feels like everything is fake/ not honest.. A total disapointement, and in regards of how few the people in front of the stage where… I’m kinda guessing I wasn’t the only one… And did I mentioned that they are actually saying that they are singing in English to be able to sell more in the whole world more than just French Speaking country? well. At least it’s honest. Doesn’t mean badly sung yoghourt is more tasty than French Camembert.

Back to the Main stage, back to some fun activities that are surroundings the festival (there’s a special picture for @msiou in it.. guess which one :p )

The « ambiance » is nice actually, not that many drunk around, people happy even if it’s kinda muddy because there’s a slight rain.. until.. until it rains for real.. Obviously if I might say.. But the crowd is still there, even if the next show is kinda quiet…

Indeed it will be.. the next one is Yael Naïm. She’s the one who’s singing ‘New Soul ». She’s here. Like the skinniest ever.. wow… but well, for talent, size doesn’t really matter does it? His set is nice and quiet.. but damn the rain starts to become heavy… it’s not really mud at the moment, it’s… like a sponge let’s say, but in the next hours, it will become a nightmare for sure I do think…

It’s a strange crowd where little kids (but well protected, THAT is definitely some responsibles parents) can be next to some artists that will be on stage really soon. In that case, the Drummer, Guitarist and Bassist of the « Hollywood Porn Stars », that I saw in Brussels on the 21st of June, and that will be on stage on Saturday. The fact that they are originally from Liège is not the only thing, it is said thee have this habit

Well, so far, not that interessting, nice, but not mindblowing at all… wha can I say.. was I expecting too much? Next one is Sebastien tellier, other than the fact he put France something like 17th out of 23 in the last Eurovision Context, this artist, produced by one of the Daft punk, is actually fun. He’s having is own « Character », beardedn Sunglasses, and his way to act/dance/move.. a whole show just by himself. I’m an electro fan. it’s not new, eventough it’s not known by many. That’s just the way it is. I had my best memories of dancing on electro, and in several countries, dunno, maybe more universal than any other kind of music? sure not.. but well.. I definitely remember « I like the way you move » in London near Picadilly Circus.. damn this group of girls… that was a wild night.. the same as « the man with the red face » in the Aussie Pub near West end also in London, and last but not least.. let’s say…Dublin, « the spirit » club… « Crazy » by gnarls Barkley is in the air.. dancing, wildly, with Claire, finishing the trip by Underworld… wow… can’t even believe I’m remembering all of that now ^^

So here was Sebastien Tellier, kinda loved it, not sure my friend (who’s a « real » musician) did. i’m sure he didn’t at all actually ^^ But, hey, that’s the wonderful thing about Music, everyone feels differently what is at the beginning common to everyone. What we lived, what we remembers after hearing something… a hand on a shoulder, a smile, a hip movement, a lyric.. what do we know. Maybe that’s why I’m such a music addicted (amongst other things), just that I like feeling things that will be there forever. Like the first time I sung « Hey there Delilah ». Dunno why. Just feels alive, just feels in harmony, just love it.