Don’t Keep This One Quiet, Best Kept Secret Should Be Spread Far And Wide!
In most cases, secret’s should remain well…secret. Thing is, once they’re out in the open, they travel like wildfire. Welcome to the superbly titled Best Kept Secret. We’re certainly not ones to encourage gossip but we’ll certainly make an exception for this weekend.
Buried in the woodlands of Hilvarenbeek in the south of Holland, the festival is explained by those who put it together as ‘a party they’d want to attend’. If it’s the likes of Mac Demarco, Christine & The Queens, Kraftwerk and DJ Koze on the bill this year, it means the organisers are mega fans and irrespective if you like them or not, they’ll book them to play. A bold way to craft a lineup.
While our eyes are always drawn to those names in large font, we thought it nice to shed some light on some of the smaller titles on the BKS poster for 2019.
Mildlife
No, this isn’t the return of Stranger Things. This is “Magnificent Moon” by the astronomical funk group Mildlife. These long-time pals from Melbourne are dedicated to making music that feels as though your dangling your legs over the rings of Saturn. As great at their debut album “Phase” is, the guy's true love is for the live jam. As proven above, when they play together it turns into something that seems as though it’ll never stop. And that’s certainly not a bad thing! We recommend checking out how much enthusiasm these Aussies put into performing live and direct. Championed by the likes of Harvey Sutherland & Khruangbin, they’re currently on a neat path with bookings Europe wide.
When & Where: 3:45 PM Saturday, Stage Seven
Paula Tape
The Chilean now Milan based artist, like her heritage suggests, is known for brewing up mix-matched sets. Raised in the colourful streets of Santiago, Paula bashed the drums in a few bands before gravitating to DJing, playing at night spots to help fund her studies in fashion.
Before too long, Paula became obsessed with discovering left-of-field electronic records. Having lived in multiple world cities her search goes wider than most. If you’d like some insight into Tape’s assorted record bag, tune into her radio residency ‘Music For Plants’. Trust us, it’s an encouraging experience for humans and plants alike. Grab a taste of nature with Paula this year!
When & Where: 12:00 AM Saturday, Stage Three
Snail Mail
Not too long ago, 19-year-old Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail) was writing stripped back songs in her bedroom about teen crushes and wanting to break free of routine. In 2019, she’s booked to play Best Kept Secret, Sideways Festival Finland and the almighty Primavera Sound. Her matter-of-fact, honest songwriting has been warmly received far and wide. Sometimes it sounds as though her voice may crackle and break mid-tune but along she drawls, determined to share her stories. Fans love her demeanour on stage too as she’s always brimming with enthusiasm.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams and Sheryl Crow, Lindsey soon knew this was how she wanted to spend her days — rockin’ out on stage! I think some slack rock amongst the flora would do you some serious good.
When & Where: 4:15 PM Saturday, Stage Five
David Vunk
If you’re after unparalleled energy and vigour in performance, your search stops here. A proud Dutchman, there’s no doubt Mr.Vunk will really turn the gas up for his time at Best Kept Secret.
Just weeks ago, I saw him go back-to-back with Skatebård in a warehouse in Amsterdam. I can tell you straight away, it was lunacy! Vunk was downing vodka shots, drinking a protein shake and puffing away on a joint all the while mixing in and out of hard-hitting electro! You really can’t teach this sort of thing! I’d be very curious to see what antics he brings to Safaripark Beekse Bergen.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a DJ get as excited about DJing than one David Vunk. Here’s proof.
When & Where: 8:00 PM Saturday, Stage Three
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
If I’m being honest, I don’t know a whole lot about the ‘Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’. That being said, if I was scanning a festival poster, a name like this would leap off the page. Out of sheer curiosity, I’d like to see what their deal is.
Here are the facts. The four-piece hail from Leederville, a neighbourhood in Perth, Western Australia. They sound like the lovechild of Tame Impala and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The inspiration behind their name is simply ‘a name for the ages’, something not easily forgotten. A swirl of unconventional riffs and vocals are a recipe for success for the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and it could be an idea to see what they’re cooking up on Friday.
When & Where: 8:00 PM Friday, Stage Five
