Bad Religion:
4.5 stars out of 5
RECIPE FOR PINKPOP

Electric Callboy:
3.75 stars out of 5
HYPA HYPA!
Watched this band go from strength to strength over the years, from festivals in the U.K. to shows in Munich. Tekkno has seen the momentum amplify. It was a joy to see so many Electric Callboy costumes across the Pinkpop site (myself included). The energy in the crowd was electric and you could see how excited the band were by the response. The sound was superb. Hopefully they will be back soon (and in a higher slot).

Foo Fighters:
3.25 stars out of 5
THE PINK AND THE POP
Had seen the Foo Fighters a fair few times over the years and I often suffer Foo-xaustion. That said, casting my mind back I recall a pretty short but packed set (12-15 tunes?) and a great close to the festival. I loitered at the back, adjacent to a the bar 😀! Cute little acoustic interlude was a fun addition, My Hero, Skin and Bone as well as Everlong as a transition back into the full electric mode. Enjoyable, but wouldn’t call it a stand out headline set for the ages.

Incubus:
3.5 stars out of 5
NICE TO PINKPOP
Incubus are the perfect festival band. Timeless hits, era defining albums and a live show to match. Anna Molly, Circles, Nice to Know You, Wish You Were Here and more … would all have a packed main stage audience singing in unison. I still maintain that Mike Einziger is one of the most underrated guitarists to grace the industry. Superb band, superb catalogue and I can’t wait to see them back!

Queens of the Stone Age:
5 stars out of 5
SONG FOR THE DEAD!
Have seen Queens of The Stone Age many times over the years, but this was an amazing set and probably one of the best I’ve witnessed. For a Festival set they pulled out the big hits and we even got to see God Is In The Radio live, for the first time in over a decade. Superb, and a band revitalised.

Red Hot Chili Peppers:
4 stars out of 5
SUCK MY PINKPOP
A great set and a return to form for this iconic band! The set was well assembled from start to finish with plenty of classics, a sprinkling of deep cuts and some of the newer material. Topped off with the amazing sound quality of the Pinkpop arena. After the baking heat all weekend, I couldn’t help but love the cool rain shower which appeared mid-set!

Machine Gun Kelly:
4.25 stars out of 5
FORGET ME TOO!
Wasn’t sure what to expect from Machine Gun Kelly and a couple of my friends have never been too enthusiastic about him. But, everyone enjoyed the set. Sophie Lloyd was one of the best guitarists seen live in a long time and smashed it out the park. Well worth seeing MGK if you get the chance.

Goldband:
4 stars out of 5
NOODGEVAL!!!!!
Superb set with great energy. I wasn’t familiar with the band before hand, so checked them out purely out of curiosity. Perfect music for the sun and beers!

Rage Against The Machine:
5 stars out of 5
KNOW YOUR PINKPOP
We flew in from England as we couldn’t wait to catch Rage Against The Machine after they reformed. The crowd was filled with anticipation for the show as soon as the gates opened and in the campsite, we enjoyed conversations with many nationalities who shared the same idea as us, Italy, Germany, Australia, Sweden and more. As soon as the lights went out the band appeared, clad in their Guantanamo jumpsuits (faces covered too) and they burst into Bombtrack! Myself and a friend promptly lost our hats and sunglasses, as the lift of the crowd carried us. It was an atmosphere like no other, and truly special memories.

The Verve:
3 stars out of 5
PINKPOP SYMPHONY
I knew of The Verve and Richard Ashcroft (indie / Britrock icon). But, my attendance at their set was more the product of my beer induced inability to move, rather than my desire to catch their set. However, it turned out to be an awesome accident and it was brilliant. Hit after hit and a brilliant light display. Ashcroft an effortless entertainer with a stage presence to rival many. A set I look back on with great fondness.

Hollywood Vampires:
2.5 stars out of 5
PINKPOP’S OUT
It was fun to see Depp, Cooper and co do their thing, but just didn’t feel it. Lots did and the crowd was having a great time. It just didn’t do anything for me, sadly. If it wasn’t for the Johnny Depp hype, I suspect it would have been largely forgettable. The highlight was seeing Alice Cooper (legend), and Joe Perry doing his thing on guitar was brilliant. The Killing Joke cover, Death and Resurrection was also a nice surprise. But, regrettably … I wouldn’t go and see them again 🤷‍♂️

Flogging Molly:
3.25 stars out of 5
WHISTLES THE PINKPOP
A band I’ve watched many times over the years and always a great time. Supporting the new album Float, if memory serves me correctly - it was a bit flat (crowd energy) compared to other times I’ve seen them. But, Flogging Molly are one of those bands that have enough bangers and singalongs to enjoy and ensure it’s a blast. Tobacco Island, Whistles The Wind, Seven Deadly Sins… what’s not to like!!! *does Irish jig. A 10-12 song set flys by. Always worth checking out when they appear on a line up.

Hot Milk:
2.5 stars out of 5
HOT PINKPOP ☀️
A sweltering day with many a beer getting drunk, we popped over to the other stage to catch Hot Milk. The hype around these has been ongoing for a while, so curiosity ensured I went to see what the fuss was about. Sadly, the stage presence felt forced, the songs didn’t connect and on this occasion Hot Milk didn’t leave a lasting impression. I’m sure, for many - it was a great show. I wish them well, and will see them next time.

Metallica:
4 stars out of 5
MASTER OF PINKPOP
Have seen Metallica many times and always remember the Pinkpop set with a lot of joy. It was a stacked Pinkpop weekend, with Rage Against The Machine and Foo Fighters sharing headline duties. Metallica played a mammoth set which from the opening with the traditional Ecstasy of Gold burst into a blistering rendition of Creeping Death … from that, the pace rarely dropped. We couldn’t catch our breath before the opening chords of For Whom The Bell Tolls hit, and then Ride The Lightning. Pure Metal Heritage and there won’t ever be another Metallica.

Stereophonics:
4 stars out of 5
HAVE A NICE PINKPOP
I remember when they were announced the Phonics were a band I earmarked to check out and was super excited about. Even in 2008, they were considered a pretty veteran act with stacks of albums to draw on from the set. Kicking into Bartender and The Thief early on and going right into A Thousand Trees electrified the atmosphere and turned the energy right up. I don’t think we stopped dancing. Super fun band, and a safe booking for any festival.