Features

Listen, we’re not elitist gatekeepers when it comes to punk rock festivals. Everybody’s more than welcome to enjoy the shouting, crowd-surfing, moshing and high-fiving. Better yet: the more the merrier. And if one band can convince even the most ardent EDM-fan to visit punk rock shows, well, that’s just swell and keeps our little “scene” alive. 

Now that’s out of the way, we should talk a little about Brakrock Ecofest. Since 2012, many a punk rock fan from all over Europe and beyond has found his, her or their way to the municipality of Duffel, Belgium. Yes, the same place where the duffel coat was invented. True story. This year, the idyllic park Ter Elst will be open yet again to another 4.000 music lovers. And you should come too. Unless… Unless… 

1. You are a dick

Seriously, this is obvious. As inclusive as the punk rock and hardcore scene is, as we stated in the introduction, Brakrock is not a festival where dicks will feel at home. By dicks we mean bigots, gropers, knuckleheads with a penchant for picking fights, intolerant f*cks and other dingleberries with less than half a brain. You get the point, right? 

Now, many dicks don’t really see themselves as dicks. So, we encourage you to take a good, long look in the mirror and ask yourself: “Am I a dick?” If the answer is “yes”, then you should not go to Brakrock. 

If the answer is “Hell no”, then please make sure to be one of the 4.000 visitors this year, because you’re in for a treat or two. 

2. You do not like punk rock

Jeepers. If you don’t like punk rock, then what in the name of Shania Twain are you doing on a website called PunkRockTheory? Brakrock has always been a punk rock festival, from year one on. This year is no different. You will be treated to the sweet tunes of some of punk rock’s best bands around, both old and new. 

If you are not into punk rock, you will feel a slight nausea coming up when being forced to watch Swedish legends Millencolin ripping through hit songs like ‘Bullion’ or ‘Mr. Clean’. And you’ll feel dizzy after receiving the French-sung gut-punches from the kickass Belgians in Corbillard.  

If you are into punk rock, however, you should buy a ticket. Because some punk rock bands are making a rare appearance in Euroland here at Brakrock. Such as Smoke or Fire, Nerf Herder, Sloppy Seconds, Save Ferris… Just to name a few. 

3. You do not like hardcore music

Maybe more so than previous years, Brakrock’s lineup is filled with a bunch of hardcore’s greatest acts. The festival even starts with one: the legendary MDC. Also making an appearance throughout the weekend are Pro-Pain, Battery, Cro-Mags, D.O.A. Bane, Raised Fist, Ignite, Agnostic Front, Circle Jerks and Madball. 

If you don’t like hardcore music, you should stay as far away as possible from Duffel because you’ll basically get immersed in the rich history of hardcore. 

If you don’t mind a little breakdown in your punk rock or a tad of metal in your riffage, you should definitely hop on your bike or hitch a ride to Duffel. 

4. You think skateboarding IS a crime

Remember those stickers that said: “Skateboarding is not a crime”? It was a thing in the nineties. Brakrock has a skate area, with demos and stuff. So in between bands you can go watch a bunch of daredevils rip it up on the vert. Who knows, maybe skateboarding legend Steve Caballero will make an appearance. He’s playing with his band Urethane. So why not drop in and do a kickflip or something?  

If you don’t like skateboarding, with all the clicking and clacking of wood and metal on wood and metal, and spectacular tricks and stunts and people falling and yelling “aaah” when they dislocate a knee or something… Yeah, don’t come to Brakrock. 

You do like all of the above or you ride? Grab your board and come on down! 

5. You do not like outdoor festivals at unique locations

Hey, we get it, it’s nice sometimes to just sit on the couch and watch ‘Friends’ or ‘Gloryhole Adventures VII’ for the zillionth time. But Brakrock has better views to offer. The festival takes place in a small park and it has an actual castle ruin in the middle of the festival grounds. Which lights up beautifully once the night falls. Then there’s the River Stage, on the banks of – yes, indeed – a river. You can stare at the river and ponder deep thoughts instead of watching the bands play. 

You don’t enjoy a nice view? Stay out of the park. 

You do yearn for loud music in a picturesque setting? Tickets are €143 for a full weekend of sightseeing in Duffel. 

6. You hate being around cool people

For a festival featuring some of the bigger punk rock and hardcore bands the world has ever seen, Brakrock remains fairly small. Total capacity is 4.000 people. That means it never really feels too crowded anywhere. And since dicks are seriously discouraged to visit the festival, most – if not all – visitors are very cool people. It’s incredibly easy to meet new people and bond over a proper Belgian beer in between bands. Hell, yours truly even got invited to a wedding in Manchester after making new friends at Brakrock. (Yours truly still regrets not being able to make it. Sorry, Dan and Briony)

If you are not too fond of cool people and making new friends, please stay home and watch ‘Friends’ or ‘Gloryhole Adventures VII’ for the zillionth time. Or ‘Gloryhole Adventures VI’. You know, the one with that insane plot twist. 

If you like good people and you are good people, Brakrock is your place with your kinda people.