August, the time of the year a small part of Ieper city gets submerged by a few thousands of hardcore fans from all over the world. Three days of singalongs, everything vegan, stagedives, serious debats and highfives while the heavenly festivalsmell from dust or mud will conquer the place together with a crazy atmosphere.Yes ladies and gentlemen, it is the one and only Ieper Hardcore Fest.
Twice a year hardcorefans seek for satisfaction in Ieper. Since 2009 Ieperfest also takes care of a (compared to the summer edition) more modest winter edition each February.
This festival is not just about music, Ieperfest is much more. “Say, what?” Let me explain you what this is all about.
First of all, Ieperfest won the ‘OVAM Groenevent award 2010, this is an award that goes out to the greenest event in Flanders. Of course the organization is willing to win the award again this year, which means that Ieperfest will be greener than ever thanks to these things:
- 100% biodegradable shower gel for free for everybody on the festival
- a bubble gum tree to spit your all-lost-taste-bubblegum on it.
- goodbye water in plastic bottles, hello new good water system, which means clean and tasty tap water for everyone.
- The organization asks everyone to put their garbage into the right bins, since there has been some problems with that the previous years.
- Composting Toilets. Before I forget, here are some holy words from Ieperfest I would like to put an emphasis on: “We also ask everyone, men and women, to use the toilets to piss and shit.” Yes, people, please do so.
For more info about the recycling system: http://www.ieperfest.com/2011/garbage
Second of all, Ieperfest brings attention to the so called ‘More than music’ (MTM) initiative. The MTM tent brings people together for debats about politics, social awareness and ethics.
This year the issues about whaling will be discussed, the consequences of taking too much fish out of the sea are told in the film ‘Sea the Truth – in 2048 the oceans will be empty’, a documentary about Shock Doctrine about America’s “free market” will be shown, a documentary called ‘LoveMEATender’ will reveal 'the world of meat as it has never been seen before, a documentary about the Orange County Hardcore Scenester hardcore/punk music scene from 1990 to 1997 and much more.
You can check out to the online schedule to know which debat or documentary will take place at what time: http://www.ieperfest.com/2011/mtm
And last but not least the MTM tent is also full of:
-Bookfair / NGO-stands
-Oxfam Fairtrade Bar
-Vegan Snackshop
-Organic Meltdown Chocolate saves trees.
-Ieperfest Zine Library
-Ieperfest Zine Workshop, UP YOURS!
-Vort’n Vis Benefit
-Diabolixx + workshop
-Help Solve World Hunger!, here you can donate the food that you were about to throw away, to somebody else that is hungry.
Third of all, Ieperfest’s kitchen is entirely vegan AND the food is served with re-usable plates and cutlery only. The menu is the following:
Snacks:
· Burger: served between bread with mixed salad and lovely sauce
· Bread with a homemade spread, with fresh vegetables (every day another one, collect them all !!)
Hot Meals:
· Chili con tofu, with some nice rice & fresh vegetables (will be served 3 days long)
· Seitan stew (sounds worse than it tastes, be sure to taste it once), with potatoes and vegetables (available on Friday and Sunday)
· Gyros à la Ferm & Fameus, along with some pasta and fresh vegetables (eat it on Saturday and Sunday)
Miscellaneous:
· Fries with ketchup / veganaise (vegan mayo) or the well-know homemade pepper sauce
· Various fruits (while supplies last...)
· Various pastries (while supplies last...)
· Vegan ice-cream to lick & like
I’m not vegan, but I can tell I look forward to this food more than any other food on any other festival.
Ieperfest
What started 19 years ago in a garage grew out to be a successful underground festival for hardcorefans. The following bands that headlined Ieperfest through all the years can give you an idea of what to expect from the festival: Misery Index, Darkest Hour, Das Oath, Caliban, Sworn enemy, Maroon, Madball; The Black Dahlia Murder, Bane, Rise and Fall, Parkway Drive, Annotations of an Autopsy, Terror, Agnostic Front, Converge, Comeback Kid,…
The start off is Friday already and Brutality Blog will be there to interview a few bands: First Blood (US) and Betrayal (US) + three more interviews with... The Carrier, For The Fallen Dreams AND…
Check Brutality Blog out the next coming days because this one is a surprise for you guys.
Carl from First Blood will tell us some more about the green hat that is glued to his head and of course there will also be some serious talk about their new album as well.
Betrayal will explain why the good die young and what it inspired them to write the music from their newest album ‘Abandoned’, which was released last April.
The Carrier will reveal the key to their success and Brutality Blog decided to bother For The Fallen Dreams with some questions about their story from 2003 until 2011.
This year's headlining pearls are: Comeback Kid, Meshuggah and The Dillinger Escape Plan
Bands: Blood For Blood, Bury Your Dead, Kvelertak, Drums Are For Parades, Stick To Your Guns, First Blood, Angel Crew, The Carrier, Oathbreaker, For The Fallen Dreams, Betrayed, Headshot, Cheap Girls, Horse The Band, Ghostlimb, Sheer Terror, Soul Control, City of Ships, Reiziger, Ignite,... and many more
See you at Ieperfest!
