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Photo by Joris Bulckens

Pukkelpop - or Belgian Coachella as I like to call it due to its iconic ferris wheel, dusty field and, of course, its incredibly stacked line-up - was back again this year with an unforgettable four-day edition. I spent the last few days running between stages, hitting my 20k steps and enjoying some of the best Belgian and international acts I could have dreamed of. Take note, because the acts we saw are certainly ones to keep an eye out for:

1. Adéla

There are some people you look at and simply know that they have it, and that is certainly the case with Adéla. With her debut album Prima coming out in a few weeks, she and her dancers took the stage and brought us what I can best describe as "if your ballet class took place at the club." Combining her iconic bright pink hair, dance background and insanely catchy pop songs, she did not stop for a second and delivered some of the most exhilarating choreography whilst not missing a beat, in turn the crowd could not stop jumping if they tried. She also performed a stripped-down version of her single "Homewrecked", which showed off her incredible vocal ability. At some point she tripped and gave a little yelp, "at least you know it's live" she joked. There is no doubt that she is already a popstar and putting Slovakia on the map, but she is also well on her way to superstar status and proving that the baddest bitches don't need to be in LA!

2. Audrey Nuna

Clad in a mesmerizing white suit and matching toeshoes (which she had loved wearing on tour), Audrey Nuna kicked off the last show of her festival season with a bang. A powerhouse of a vocalist, with an arsenal of insane rap skills, Audrey blew everyone away and earned her fair share of cheering for her lightspeed rapping segments. Whether you know her or not, would not have mattered for this particular experience. She has an aptitude for keeping the audience hyped by teaching you little morsels of her songs to keep you singing, dancing non-stop, creating stunning moments through her movement and jumping like crazy. When she speaks she makes sure to remind us all of her whimsy, her fascination with teeth (which she even has a tattoo of) and how we need to keep going no matter what. The exciting news is that we may be getting a new project soon, with several of her songs being put to sleep and a new unreleased single by the name "elsa peretti" being performed.

3. Blood Orange

A thing that fascinated me about getting to witness Blood Orange live, is that your focus is not always on Dev Hynes, the musician behind the project. Dev won't be known for tremendous audience interaction or hyping up the crowd, sometimes even blending in with his musicians and letting his accompanying singers take the lead. This set is all about feeling the music and creating a full and well-rounded soundscape that almost makes you want to close your eyes. When he plays his most well-known song "Champagne Coast" I can feel the floorboards shake from the crowd jumping, but it is seeing Dev switch from cello to keys to guitar with no effort, that truly blows my mind. This is certainly one of the most sonically beautiful performances that I have been lucky to witness.

4. Dijon

I must admit that there is a little tab in my head where artists such as Blood Orange, Steve Lacy and Dijon can be found. Artists that have found this perfect blend of R&B, synth, some pop and indie and create magic with it. What first struck me when walking into Dijon's set was the wonderful semi-circle of instruments that he and his musicians are arranged around; it feels like they have brought an entire studio jam session with them. Playing songs from his latest album Baby!, I can feel that the audience is caught up in the sound, the high-energy drums which were incredibly played by Henry Kwapis and the all-encompassing rhythm that envelops you fully. What really drove that feeling home was how Dijon mostly had his eyes closed, feeling everything so deeply, creating one hell of a performance.

5. Dove Ellis

In late 2025 an album by the title Blizzard seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The artist behind it, Dove Ellis, had barely released his first single a few months earlier, but the music was enough to make the project explode. Making music that oscillates between folk and indie, I can truly close my eyes and see myself tucked away at a pub in Ireland, or preferably on a roadtrip across the Irish coast, listening to Dove sing. On stage, he has a humble presence and you can feel him almost getting drunk to the sound of the music he is playing, but the sound is beautiful and full of raw emotion. Accompanied by his three-piece band, the music is lively, introspective and Dove's voice has such a specific, but gorgeous timber that makes me think of Cameron Winter meets Nick Drake. All together it creates a serene, but exciting performance.

6. Love Spells

Cigarettes After Sex but in the Wild West, but add a rock edge and Michael Jackson's dance moves - that's exactly how I describe Love Spells to anyone who asks. The very aptly named musician, released his album LOVE IS THE LAW a month ago and it has already become as iconic as his signature spiky hairstyle. From the second he got on stage I felt like I was witnessing something great. He has a toothpick tucked in his mouth and a swagger in his walk, when he sings his falsetto á la Greg Gonzalez is absolutely mindblowing, but it is the way he moves around the stage that makes the performance memorable. He plays the tambourine with his boots, does the splits, breaks into choreography during the song's bridge and keeps the crowd bewitched all the way through. I don't know if he has actual magical powers, but his sincere lyrics and delicate sound is enough of a siren song to keep you wanting more.

7. Natasha Bedingfield

Pure uplifting joy is the best way to describe Natasha. In a career that spans more than 20 years, it's amazing to see how her messaging has stayed the same and it's all about positivity, strength and uplifting each other. I think that these are traits that we need in the world now more than ever, and seeing how people were spilling out of Puekklpop´s Wave stage was a testament to it. Natasha sang the classics with an incredible energy, and electric blue raincoat that made her easy to spot if, like me, you were standing outside the tent. Her vocal prowess is incredible, she hits insane notes easily and delivers them all with pure joy. Towards the end of her set she delivers "Dot Dot Dot", her latest single and after many years without new music, a promise to finally return with more. And of course, saving the best for last, she sang "Unwritten" which after more than 20 years since its release, still had every soul in and out of the tent screaming it at the top of their lungs. A once in a lifetime experience!

8. Sombr

In true rockstar fashion, Sombr's set starts with him pulling up in a car, special guest Adéla in hand. As they run up to the stage which is inspired by New York City, Sombr stops to do push ups, stare at the camera and invite the audience to scream. As he takes the stage, it's surprising to remember how many hits he has managed to produce in just a few years. Song after song he manages to drive the audience crazy, get them to sing all of his words and jump for their lives. He is a true showman and delivers a high-energy extravaganza. At some point he spat paints "Sombr <3 Belgium" onto a flag and runs through the audience with it, taking his time to hug fans and touch fans as he goes. As someone who truly enjoys his music, it's incredibly fun to shout his lyrics live, but at times during his performance I am also constantly reminded of how fast and how young a lot of his fame has come. Meaning that sometimes it feels like he is playing out the idea of what he thinks a rockstar should be, rather than the rockstar he knows he is. I´m sure though, that with time he will figure it out.

9. Wet Leg

I have failed to see Wet Leg on three different occasions already, so finally, I feel a sense of victory. So much so that when lead singer Rhian Teasdale lifts her arms in her iconic strong pose, I feel exactly the same power I can imagine she is feeling. Wet Leg has had somewhat of a visual change since releasing their sophomore album Moisturizer, going from the ironic cottagecore aesthetic they were known for, to an absolute bold and brazen one - they look like true rockstars. What hasn't changed is their sound, which full of ironic lyrics, catchy hooks and upbeat, enthralling rhythms, make you want to jump non stop. For a main stage show, their layout is rather simple - no visuals, no props, no gimmicks - they rely on their music and stage presence, and they succeed. With keyboard and guitarist Joshua Mobaraki hyping up the audience, and Rhian moving around the stage with her iconic neon yellow guitar, they do enough to keep you watching and singing along and cursing at your ex - no better way to spend a Saturday!

10. Zara Larsson

Guinness needs to confirm, but Pukkelpop broke a record for most people doing Zara's dolphin pose at the same time … I am sure of it. Even though it's a festival, what struck me about Zara's performance is that it truly feels like you could be at her concert, and that's because the quality of production and attention to detail is so high. Standing atop a tropical mountain, her all-female band and all-female dancers (hell yes!) all clad in summery outfits, help Zara deliver an unforgettable performance. Delivering all of her hits with perfect vocals, an unbridled sense of joy (she is a literal ray of sun) and insane choreography, the show makes you want to dance and sing non-stop. The audience couldn't stop jumping, and being hoisted in the air to do dolphin poses, which caused Zara to break song and genuinely laugh, a moment that felt authentic and reminded us of why we love Zara. She is real, she is talented and she is the queen of summer.