A two-day celebration of global psychedelia and all things fuzz, reverb and drone, the festival (founded by the London-based label of the same name and now on its fifth edition) returned to the Effenaar in Eindhoven, the Netherlands this past weekend. The line up contained bands from 16 different countries, and we did our best to see as many as we could.
After a blistering first day, day two has a lot to live up too. And with a stacked line up, chances are high it will.
Opening the day are Australia’s Los Palms. I’ve loved this band from a far since their debut LP in 2022, and after a late pull out of the line up in 2024, seeing their name on this years billing filled me with joy. Being the first band on on a line up like this is no small feat, but Los Palms stepped up to the bill and put their best string forward. Their set invokes images of dive bars on desert highways, tumbleweeds and strip joints, basically the perfect soundtrack for a Lynch meets Tarantino crossover. Fans are enthralled, and none fans are captivated. Simply brilliant.
If any band could follow that set, Golden Hours are more than up to the task. The Berlin based quartet are stacked with talent and have the capacity to entertain. The dulcet tones of the vocal interplay between Hakon and Wim drift into your ears as you ease deeper into each song through clever repetition of elements. The hypnotic visuals of Innerstrings and Dwavehed only add to the feeling of falling down the rabbit hole, in the best possible way. GH are always one to watch on any festival line up, this afternoon they stunned.
A quick break to refuel, its back in time for the mighty Helicon, the finest Scotland has to offer. This band have gone from strength to strength, fine tuning their sound so that now its so minutely organised and intricately complicated it really is quite a sight to behold, let alone marvel how so many of them fit on the stage. These are another band its very hard to do justice to in writing, words reduce what they present down to something without feeling, where as every note they play does the exact opposite. An inspiration to many in the crowd and a mainstay in the scene, we need more like them.
Zamrockers W.IT.C.H. (We Intend to Cause Havoc) started back in the 70s, and have become an institution. After you have seen them, you are never quite the same again. From the stories behind the songs, to the overriding message of empowerment, the music almost becomes secondary – and that is what makes it all the more powerful. There music makes you feel good, and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes its the simple things that carry the most weight.
Brazil’s Firefriend are no strangers to this crowd, having garnered an almost cult like following in these circles. Unfortunately due to the importance of the main event upstairs, and having seen them many times, I only catch three songs before its off to nab a good spot. All three songs are, as to be expected, delivered perfectly, without fuss and a whole lot of panache. Great people, and fantastic musicians, masters of their craft. They more than deserve a place on the billing and so its only right I give them an honorary mention.
Dead Skeletons are very important to me; it was through their music everything followed on the path I remain on. The gigs I went to, the people I met and still know, and the music that found its way into my life. I won’t deny I shed a tear when I saw their name on the announcement for this year. Their set is an experience, every note is harnessed to effect the psyche, putting listeners into a trance like state. Not a set I will ever forget, and for many of those involved with Fuzz Club, a pivotal time on fate’s journey.
Its a quick dash down to catch French trio Servo, who specialise in the dark, heavy and moody. For a three piece they make an absolute racket, and that’s a very good thing. They see the whole room dancing, moshing, nodding or foot tapping, whatever it is no-one can keep still. A nice nod to a fan who’s birthday it is sees a cheer from the crowd and shows despite their impressive rise in popularity, they’re really nice guys at heart. Always a pleasure to watch these guys, watch out for them coming to a town near you as they are one of those that need to be experienced rather than just listened.
And just like that, FCE2026 is over. All the build up, all the excitement, all the anticipation and it’s done in what feels like a blink of an eye. Was it worth it? Yes. Will I do it again? Yes.
Fuzz Club to many now means family.
