From Moshpit to polonaise: at Festival Paaspop all genres and dance styles pass by

At ‘Red, Red, Wine’ from Reggaand UB40, hundreds of Peacetekens in the air are swinging lovingly back and forth. Less than an hour later, a completely different energy is released: three Moshpits open at Joost’s uplifting Happy Hardcore. It all happens during Paaspop in Schijndel, which has been transformed for three days into the ‘Las Vegas’ of Brabant. The fair -be -like decor breathes a versatile world, in which no style is too crazy.

Traditionally, Paaspop opens the outdoor festival season for around 35 thousand visitors a day: diverse and grand. In the line-up, the Dutch pop does dominate: Roxy Dekker, Flemming, Goldband and Claude attract a young gene Z-audience. For the band lovers, Kensington and Son Mieux, among others, are on the main stage. But there is also room for emerging artists and for some major international acts, such as Danceband Faithless and DJ-DUO Bicep. And every performance has its own atmosphere, which is not only determined by the music, but also because of the way the audience dances.

The Giant

The popular YouTubers and pop group Bankzitters have the honor of opening the mainstage on Friday afternoon. A special scoop: this is the first performance in ‘The Giant’, the largest festival tent in the world. Under the huge, terracotta -colored sails there is room for 21 thousand visitors – more than in the Ziggo Dome. The young, singing visitors do not fill the tent completely at the first performance, early on the first afternoon. And also the multiple Swedish song festival winner Loreen (2012, 2023) Loreen will not be able to make the huge tent full later on Friday afternoon.

Kensington proves on Saturday that The Giant can certainly be full. A long line forms outside the tent, everyone seems curious about Jason Dowd, the new American singer of the band. « How do you like your first Dutch festival ever? » Guitarist Casper Starreveld asks the newest band member. Dowd looks overwhelmed, but sings as if he has never done anything else, in the recognizable Kensingtonsound. And that is appreciated by the public, which sings along with arms in the air.

From carnival to rock

In addition to all the big names, a different party is celebrated in every tent at the festival. For example, carnival crackers are played for the largely Brabant audience that comes to Paaspop, which pulls through the room without hesitation in polonaise. A carnival police car from artist Lamme Frans is auctioned for charity.

For lovers of sturdy rock, metal and punk music, there is plenty to get in the Thunderbolt: there rugged guitars rule and, of course, there is hood. The Irish Bambie Thug, who bundles pop, rock and metal, creates an explosive show in which the jumping audience is wet with water guns. At the end, he still calls a political message: ‘Free Palestine’ – a statement that can count on loud cheers.

The Dutch hip hop is richly represented on Paaspop. Names such as Ronnie Flex, Frenna, Lil Kleine, Shirak, Sef, Broederliefde and Bizzey move their audience. Fanatically multi -fitting youngsters jump on the beat, while with their phone they try to catch as many images as possible. The British hip -hop artist Dizzee Rascal also puts down a show to which people respond enthusiastically, again with a big moshpit.

Tribute

Special about Paaspop is the large number of tribute bands. No Metallica, but Meatallica, and not AC/DC but ACINDC. And also with Queen Must Go On and Abba Revival, the audience imagines themselves back in a different, nostalgic time.

But not in every tent is danced. Well -known comedians, including Peter Pannekoek and Rob Scheepers, laugh in the ‘Theater’, laughing at the audience, and not unimportantly. Because those who come to Paaspop will undoubtedly run tens of kilometers a day. In combination with dancing, it makes it an intensive and rich festival weekend. It remains a Brabant party, but one that extends over all the genres.

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