Appelpop, Appelpop, Appelpop… sounds like a drink – but it’s not. Sounds good for you and intoxicating … and it was. It’s the Netherlands largest free music festival with over 170,000 punters through the door in two days. So Bruise and Kelly’s Heels drove to Dover, ferry to Dunkirk, drove through France, Belgium, The Netherlands (twice around Antwerp) to Tiel.

They had a line up to die for. Baring in mind that I’m ignorant of the Dutch music scene, the names were largely new to me, however the atmosphere spoke eloquently of the massive support and respect these acts carried. A main stage the size of a football field filled to busting with singing along fans going crazy for the likes of Nova Star, Vanvelsen and Kane and and …yes our total favorite for the festival Golden Earring  “ Been Driving all night my hands sweat on the wheel, dow na na nana naow…”. Class! Despite the fact that the organizers had some of Holland’s most current chart topping talent to look after they welcomed us warmly with a tour of the site, front stage , backstage, VIP the lot.

That’s a photo of the stage that Kelly’s Heels and Bruise were playing on , capacity of about 3000 people and Kelly’s Heels were up first of the two of us. Bob Kelly put in a sterling performance getting the crowd of 1000+ jiggling giddily to his million miles an hour power pop. There was a Ska band on next, New Sound Sistim, who really got the audience hyped up then it was our turn.

Franzie was on front of house sound and Gun was doing monitor sound and after a few moments collecting ourselves the band and the sound engineers walked up the ramp feeling invincible. We opened with ‘Excuse Me’ and I felt cool and confident, I love the addition of the sampler and the ambient sounds Jim fires for this opening track echoed across the festival sight like a siren. ‘Mr Rat’ ‘Miss Big Fish’ ’Don’t Make Me Wait’ though we’d  had a fair bit of dancing already the whole atmosphere changed with this song. I saw couples grab each other and slow dance, kisses and waltzes, it was very romantic. ‘Stranger in You’ got a fabulous response, the audience had made it clear that they were on our side but their response to this song blew me away. There was a group right at the front of the stage and in the stop sections they were add-libbing melodies, loudly and beautifully. I remember at about this point a couple of girls pushed their way into my line of sight and held up a hand made sign saying ‘HUGE’, I laughed inside. It felt great. ‘Coldburn’ ‘The Game’ and we were done, but not quite because we got called back for two encores. ‘Silvertown’ by special request of Johan one of the directors of the festival, which got another romantic response from the crowd, the slow dancers moved together, arms around waists and necks and kisses and a group of volunteers right at the front swaying in time. And we closed with ‘The Northern Line’  Aaaaah, lovely.

We sold CD’s and talked at the merch table for a good 45 minutes, Jim came away with a tattoo (temporary!) and I had a fist full of Euros and ears full of the lovely things the Dutch audience wanted to tell me. One couple (in very good English) told me that we ‘have made the festival very magical for us’.

We packed up and went to the after show party which was a whirlwind of friendly faces, beer and Frickendell. Johan and Ivo had sourced pint glasses so we would feel at home, and more beer than I’ve ever seen before. We received gifts and handed out CD’s and in a dizzy blur made friends again with this amazing group of people. Obviously we had a blistering good time, and I have to say that it was made possible the astonishing efforts of the volunteers. Every unpaid person on the staff there worked hard, willingly and happily for days and weeks to make it possible. We were astonished at the security guards responding subtly and effectively to situations that never got the chance to escalate, smiling warmly after working 16 hour shifts. The sound engineers exceptional attention to detail which made it possible for us to be our absolute best. Their team who seamlessly provided us all with the support we needed. I was moved and I still am. Thank You Every One! XXX