BEST KEPT SECRET
Hilvarenbeek, Holland | June 21st
As Crack made its way through the thick coniferous forest of Hilvarenbeek’s Beekse Bergen site we found ourselves lulled into peace by the scenic tranquillity of our surroundings.
Best Kept Secret immediately scored a blinder by choosing to set their event in the heart of a safari park (!), and while we were disappointed not to see any of the resident leopards, zebras or giraffes, we were astounded by the beautiful setting and outstanding atmosphere of this brand new festival. On the first day of Best Kept Secret’s maiden event we found out that some secrets are definitely worth sharing.
Navigating our way through the tall and tidy trees, between the hammocks and the fairy lights and the pop-up stalls stocked with classic vinyl, vintage clothes, and homemade jewellery, it was stunningly clear this was not your standard corporate-sponsored, commercialised event. If there was one thing that stood out more than anything at first entry it was the festival’s genuine charm. We were as inundated by the visual beauty of the place as we were taken by its emphatically uplifting atmosphere. And in the middle of all this romantic ogling we went to see Drenge, who were ‘orrible.
Brothers Eoin and Rory Loveless look like they’re barely out of school but the glorious racket they made on the second stage proved the Sheffield duo have got plenty of character. In an engaging set that made the most of a fantastic soundsystem, Drenge parried off any White Stripes comparisons they might have picked up from their studio recordings and replaced it with a hell-load of unrelenting noise. From Bloodsports to the unnamed tracks of their forthcoming album, they were consistent, precise, and deserve the utmost congratulation for it.
We became briefly lost on our way out but were handsomely rewarded as we came across a concrete circle lined by enormous steel cargo crates. It was populated by a mixture of Dutch lunatics and truncheon-bearing, gas-masked, uniformed soldiers who whipped the audience into the most bewilderingly carnal party we’ve experienced yet – seriously, why doesn’t more high-tempo dance music repeatedly incorporate the deafening sound of klaxons?
Our questions were left unanswered as we encountered fuzzy summer-pop band Splashh on the reed-enveloped third stage. The vibe in the coned, white tent was absolutely euphoric and the band glowed from it – smiles were beamed throughout as a loving audience were treated to tracks from the band’s forthcoming debut album, taking to each others’ shoulders and singing along to the brilliant Feels Like You.
As we approached the main stage we were finally presented with the festival’s pièce de résistance: upon the soft and sandy shore, the stage lies adjacent to the most voluptuous view of an expansive and strikingly serene lake. It was an aura to die for.
The Maccabees took it in their stride as the sun came out to greet them. They truly blossomed at the front of this fantastic scene with a set that encompassed all three of their albums. Bloc Party then caused a stir with the notable absence of drummer Matt Tong – the subsequent rumours were aplenty, but his replacement – New Young Pony Club / Hot Chip’s Sarah Jones – was outstanding, deservingly stealing a portion of the limelight from frontman Kele Okereke. The band’s move to drop the majority of their more recent work in a set that relied heavily on tracks from 2005’s Silent Alarm and 2007’s A Weekend In The City was a resounding success to boot.
Lastly, headliners Arctic Monkeys swaggered aboard with Alex Turner sporting his classic dour and sunglassed expression for a hit-laden set that featured a semi-acoustic version of Mardy Bum, the first performance of A Certain Romance outside of the U.K. since 2007, and the excellent new single Do I Wanna Know. With When The Sun Goes Down, we realised that our time was up, and upon leaving we had only one regret – that we couldn’t stay longer.
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Words: James Balmont
Photos: Nick Helderman, Juri Hiensch, Anton Coene
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