Crowd and Vibe Roadburn, photo Paul Verhagen

The more data-savvy readers might have already noticed a fatal flaw in the title, because it is, obviously slightly less. Still, doesn’t it hurt a bit when you see everything wind down at Roadburn? Slowly the circus is packing up.

Editor: Guido Segers

The circus is leaving town
Oh ruby, roll your stockings down
Circus is leaving town
Oh Ruby, dry your eyes.
– Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell – The Circus is Leaving Town

For me, and maybe for you too, nothing is as sad as seeing the stage crew take down their gear, the merch sellers putting their stuff back into boxes and the artists packing up their work. Every year we repeat this painful sequence again and it never stops hurting. I know that in 3/4 hours time I’ll be on a train, gazing out of the window and thinking of all the faces I met and enjoyed meeting. You might be too, but perhaps you can stick around as at Roadburn time seems to lose all it’s meaning.

Our team here has done its utmost to capture the festival, in word, photo, and video, but mostly in soul. Never really do we manage fully, but we try because it feels like the most important thing in the world. This is the pivot, the turnkey and crossroads. We’re all at that Robert Johnson point and we’ve taken the wrong turn (or the right one? I mean, we’re having all the fun).

For 4 days we either embrace whatever happens, or we bitch and moan and whatever in between, but somehow it all grows silent on Sunday. We know it is about to end and it makes us sad. No matter if we felt the cups were too small, the bands were booked badly or we just got too lost in our own meanderings to see the bands we love. We’re all grieving for a moment.

So let’s make a deal. We all go home, to wherever home may be. Let us all carry a bit of that spirit with us and make the world just a little bit more like Roadburn. Because if we do, everything gets a bit better. And honestly, stay in touch. Find your friends on Facebook and don’t let go. Another year is ahead of us, but not just one of the obstacles. There are tons of opportunities. Take each one of them.

Godspeed, bless and save travels from team Never Mind The Hype.

Grails, Photo: Justina Lukosiute

Molasses live op Roadburn, foto Roy Wolters

It’s been five years since The Devil’s Blood´ Selim Lemouchi left this world behind. Five years since his band members played his songs, that had such burning force behind them, such otherworldliness and conviction. Certainly, there have been other bands and the spark of his creativity has been carried on but not until today has it fully become part of the texture that is heavy music as Molassess takes the stage on Roadburn 2019.

Editor: Guido Segers

Molassess unites the forces of Farida Lemouchi, Oeds Beydals, Job van de Zande, and Ron van Herpen with Marcel van de Vondervoort of Astrosoniq, Bob Hogenelst (Birth of Joy) and Matthijs Stronks (Donnerwetter) to create magic once again. The commissioned piece may have been long overdue and much needed, and the road towards it has been paved with memories and impressions shared in many interviews. Expectations were high among people who have been somehow touched by the bands The Devil’s Blood and Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies. By word of mouth, we know that the band felt the same. It had to do justice to the past, but also be new. It was said that Farida Lemouchi was quite nervous to take the stage again.

Molassess live op Roadburn, foto Roy Wolters

So, it is a new beginning, but not a continuation as such. It is a tribute, but not dwelling on the past and this is tangible during the opening songs of Molassess. Band members look at each other, at the ground, nervously forward as the music sort of reluctantly touches, explores and wanders. It’s the familiar sounds, but different, ready to explode. It’s a path to catharsis, of working through, as perhaps not has been fully done in five years’ time, until we reach a crescendo. After a good 35 minutes in the set, the music seems to explode and come loose, the musicians straighten their backs, stand tall and shake of the dust. And from then on the spark is there.

As the band unleashes a torrent of their psychedelic, hard rocking tunes, the venue shivers, shakes and starts to move. Farida lifts her chin as she chants with a soaring voice, supported by Oeds Beydals as the band unfolds, plays and enjoys. Its’ moment of transformation is captured perhaps, in the light flickering off Farida’s dress, which carries the image seen on the promotion material. It reminds of a butterfly ready to fly out again. Who knows what the future may bring for Molassess? The spirit is set free, and like the substance, it sticks to everyone it touches.

Heilung live op Roadburn, foto Roy Wolters

Something strange happens in Tilburg on Thursday afternoon as the Veemarktstraat slowly turns into Weirdo Canyon. No one can tell you exactly where this normally quiet street turns into Roadburn territory, but we all know when it has happened. You get off the train, leave your hotel – or just your front door – and suddenly you’ve landed: Planet Roadburn.

Editor: Guido Segers

We carefully move out, like animals in the wild. Is it really that time? Are we really there? Eying passersby, you out check their t-shirts. We smile warmly when recognizing names or at obvious fellow burners, but most will not yet make contact. It’s too early and we’re still letting go of daily life. Not quite there yet, but halfway down the rabbit hole.

So where does it happen? Somewhere during those first shows, where everyone is shuffling about, checking phones, messaging friends. You run into familiar faces, shake hands, hug, share stories. And slowly, but surely, you submerge and you have absolutely, definitely, most assuredly arrived. When was your moment this year? Was it when Myrkur started singing her magical folk songs? Maybe it was the opening notes of Sherpa, or simply when you bit into the foam of your first beer near the Koepelhal.

For me, it was when I walked back through the audience during Crippled Black Phoenix. As I looked at every face I passed, I saw eyes lighting up. Not at me I think, though I like to flatter myself at times, but as the band slowly takes you in, captures you and pushes all our mundane worries away. And slowly, every face is illuminated and everyone has stars in their eyes. Open minds and full of wonder. And then we know, we have arrived on Planet Roadburn.

Love everyone, love music and enjoy.