Another year, another edition of Vainstream Rockfest has come to pass. After unfortunately having to skip 2022, in June I found myself back to Munster for my favorite festival, and one of the best lineups it's had so far. VS24 expanded over 2 days, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June, bringing together a crowd of over 30.000 music enthusiasts and a wide variety of international artists, from metalcore (duh!) to celtic punk. But let's dive in, shall we?
Words & pictures by Dearohwell photography
My return to Hawercamp was nothing short of chaotic. The festival grounds have expanded by a lot since my last visit in 2019 and despite seeing the area plan, I couldn't fathom the actual distances between the stages and the bars/food stalls (and how difficult it would prove to be finding the merch stand but that's a different story). After queuing for about an hour, I made my way to the venue, trying to become familiar with my surroundings. Neaera was already on by the time I made it to the main stages, being, well, Neaera. The vocalist was in the crowd, screaming from the top of someone's shoulders, briefly returned to the stage and then went back down again. This time a circle pit formed around him, and people reciprocated his excitement. It truly felt like a family moment, and for a band as legendary in their scene as they are, it's also humbling to have such a strong bond with the fans. I returned to the main stage after a while to see Alpha Wolf, a first-timer at the festival. Despite the early slot, the Australians were TIGHT, sounding as good as they do on record and putting on an exquisite performance. The fans responded very well to their groovy riffs and participated in the madness. Heading back to the MoreCore stage, our friends in The Iron Roses were about to take the stage. The band released their sophomore album last year and as expected, after solidifying their sound and lineup, the setlist was a fine selection off of it. Also as expected, it was a big dancing party as vocalists Nat and Becky spent the set channeling their gratitude of the "surprising" amount of people who showed up. It was a great pleasure to see the Roses back on stage, and see all the positivity of their show. And in typical Roses fashion, they ended the set with "No Way", and both singers in the crowd.
Back to the main stage for Fit For A King. I haven't seen these guys in a really long time so I was eager to be re-acquainted with their powerful stage presence. Even under the scorching sun, vocalist Ryan Kirby is an incredibly versatile vocalist, ensuring that the quality of their music remains consistent. Also special mention to bassist Ryan O'Leary who blessed our lenses with a plethora of jumps as always. I returned to the MoreCore stage where I'd be camping for the foreseeable future, impatiently awaiting Bane. The Bostonians were one of the three bands I was anticipating the most and they certainly didn't disappoint. While on stage, they didn't stop moving around like erratic puppies, playing to an eager audience. The setlist consisted of fan-favorite bangers ("Some Come Running", "Can We Start Again", "My Therapy", "Non Negotiable", "Calling Hours", "Speechless", "Swan Song") and vocalist Aaron Bedard didn't miss the opportunity to climb on the barrier and share his microphone with the kids at the front. Up next was Comeback Kid. The Canadians are one of my comfort bands and I always enjoy catching them. The band was energetic as always, celebrating the release of their recent EP, "Trouble", without of course forgetting their older material ("False Idols Fall", "GM Vincent &I", "Heavy Steps", "Do Yourself A Favor", "Talk Is Cheap", "All In A Year"). Their sound was really good and the members fed off the vibes of the crowd, constantly jumping and hyping them up, with the singalong of "Should Know Better" getting the warmest response. Vocalist Andrew Newfeld also found himself on the barrier, screaming with the fans, but it was raucous "Wake The Dead" that caused the biggest reactions.
I then kidnapped my new friend who wanted to see Dying Fetus, to catch ZULU and we weren't disappointed. My second time catching them at a festival setting was equally as impressive as the previous one; the band's raw energy is truly captivating and the small stage made the show even more intimate, with the packed venue sweating more and more by the minute. Despite the lack of space, people were moshing and pushing each other throughout the performance, responding amazingly to ZULU's enthusiasm. Time had come for the headliners of the main stage, the almighty Parkway Drive. The Aussies have become a staple at summer festivals over the recent years and at VS24 they also were the hosts/co-organizers of the first day, fittingly dubbed "Parkwaves". At this stage of their career, they truly are unstoppable; their stage production is next-level while Winston McCall is a force of nature, able to dominate thousands of people with one move, and in the seconds he breaks character be a massive smiling goofball. The thing I've come to notice is that, the more they play with fire and pyros, the more confident they have become, and it shows. I overheard somewhere that PWD has a "trick" to bring together fans of their different eras, and that is to start and finish the set with new material, playing older things in the middle -and it's brilliant. The set as expected spanned over their entire discography but didn't stray far from what they've been performing in the recent tours ("Glitch", "Prey", "The Void", "Soul Bleach", "Wishing Wells"). On "Idols And Anchors" Winston got in the crowd, getting us all to sing along to the intro. I left around "Crushed" to secure my spot in the clubstage for Incendiary but I did catch a glimpse of the entire stage being on fire. Immaculate.
My decision to leave early proved to be wise, seeing as the small venue was once more packed with people queuing to get in. When Incendiary went on, my 25-year-old self lost it. The NYHC veterans know how to get people moving, especially when they themselves are so inviting. One thing I noticed and absolutely love is how different frontmen command different crowds; the singer may not have had Winston's charisma on stage, but his lively attitude and willingness to engage with people made the performance so much more attractive. Fans didn't care that they'd been on their feet all day, walking miles upon miles to see all bands, but the second they get in they are just lost in the sea of heavy riffs, forgetting about their fatigue. And that's the beauty of hardcore for me.
Day 02 (29/6)
Started the day feeling sore but it didn't stop me from getting a good spot to see Scowl. I've been following them for a while now and I was really curious to see their act. Kat is a very graceful creature, balancing between two-step and femininity in the most inspiring way. Up next was The Rumjacks and if you know me, you know I have a soft spot. Having seen them already playing under the sun, I know how tough that slot is but the Aussies braved the heat. They started with a small delay, blasting a new song which was received very warmly. The addition of a live accordion really elevates their performance, enhancing the folk experience that the multitude of instruments offers. Their setlist was quite similar to when I saw them earlier this year ("Bullhead", "Through These Iron Sights", "A Fistful O' Roses", "Sainted Millions", Bloodsoaked In Chorus", "Kirkintilloch") but unfortunately I had to leave on the last song to run to another stage, so I missed "An Irish Pub Song". I'm certain though that the crowd loved every second of it. On to the second stage where Counterparts were set to melt our little hearts. Their sound was a little muffled at first, and you could tell that contrary to The Rumjacks, these guys absolutely despised being under the sun. They did their best given the circumstances, finding shelter in the shadows cast by the roof of the stage. Fans were still into it, singing along to some bits. The setlist definitely has my approval ("Love Me", "Choke", "What Mirrors Might Reflect", "No Servant Of Mine", "Wings Of Nightmares", "Rumors Of Your Death", which Brendan dedicated to his late cat, Kuma), even though I would have loved to hear "The Disconnect" or "Burn". But that's me. The Canadians were good but I believe we can all agree that their craftmanship thrives the most in intimate club settings.
I caught Neck Deep from the distance; despite some minor technical problems, they seemed to have a good time, and their fans were enjoying themselves. Back to the front for ZSK. While I understand their importance in their scene, and the extent of their message which became a country-wide motto, musically they're not my cup of tea. People were very eager to participate though and despite their apparel they were quite familiar with the band's discography. The band themselves had a really good sound and, being seasoned veterans on stage, they made every second they performed entertaining. After a while I quite reluctantly dragged myself to the Redrum stage to see Lionheart. Don't get me wrong, I love these guys but at this point I just don't find their open-air festival performances entertaining because I feel they lose big chunks of their trademark intensity. In my opinion hardcore is best experienced in smaller settings or indoors, where the artists have the opportunity to engage with the fans. I also found the stage production a little gimmicky, with pyros shooting out of trashcans, and people in full-face hanging out in the back of the stage... Silverstein on the other hand are always a sight for sore eyes. They managed to get fans off their feet right away, getting big singalongs as they played some of their biggest hits such as "Infinite", "My Heroine", The Afterglow" and "Smile In Your Sleep". Their enthusiasm to perform is always remarkable and they make sure to give their 100% each and every time. I doubt I've ever seen these guys play a bad show, and even on such big stages, they always deliver a spectacular performance.
Back to the main stage for Ice Nine Kills. With a menacing inflatable Shadow dominating the back of the stage, the Salem, MA outfit took the stage with "Hip To Be Scared" and "Rainy Day". The band (minus drummer Patrick Galante), dressed in bloody camp counselors outfits, is known for their interactive shows and this was no different. Vocalist Spencer Charnas was at the top of his game, as were his bandmates. The fans seemed to appreciate their shenanigans with constant waves of crowdsurfers keeping security busy, as the band was cruising throughout their discography, paying extra attention to the last couple of releases. Off to the clubstage to see Better Lovers, the supergroup consisting of ex-ETID members Jordan Buckley, Steven Micciche and Clayton Holyoak, The Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato and producer/riff machine Will Putney. Another band I was beyond eager to catch, and they most certainly didn't disappoint. Their performance is insanely energetic; the stage size didn't stop the guitarists from jumping the entire time, while Puciato proved over and over why he's considered one of the most exceptional frontmen in his scene. They didn't have a huge turnout compared to other bands in that stage, but those who came were invested. With their debut album coming out later this year, I really hope I'm able to see them again soon.
Back to the MoreCore stage to see Of Mice & Men. I've only seen these guys at festivals and they're always really good. I must admit I'm an oldschool fan so while I haven't followed them in the recent years, I'm always excited to hear the OG songs like "O.G. Loko" (with the legendary "Hard In The Paint" breakdown call), and "The Depths", and I don't think I was the only one. Vocalist Aaron Pauley invited fans to jump with him and get wild, and they gladly complied. Their last song was "Second & Sebring" and -fittingly- it started to rain. Pauley didn't hesitate to leave the safety of the stage and climb on the barrier to sing along with the crowd at the front. "Faithfulness at its finest", one could say.
The Dropkick Murphys were scheduled to headline the second day and they made a great deal out of it, with pyros, smoke and sparks. Two songs in, however, the organizers announced that due to a weather warning they'd have to pull the plug on the festival for safety concerns. Ken Case argued that he wouldn't leave unless DKM played three more songs, and that if he got electrocuted on stage singing for us, so be it. The selection of the remaining tracks was quite expected, and people enjoyed singing along to "The Rose Tattoo" and "Shipping Up To Boston".
On our way out, the festival set off fireworks, signifying another edition for the books.
Thank you Vainstream, see you next year!
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