A Lesson In Belgian Punk Rock By Corbillard & Chump

by | Feb 24, 2020

At age 30, it is safe to say I have spent more than half my life listening to punk rock. First in French, my native language, then in Dutch and English. Belgium is famous for the huge music festivals and numerous venues. Yet, nearly 3 years ago, I took the plunge (well, actually it was the Eurostar) and moved to London.

London gave me career opportunities that never knocked back home. The rent prices are unbelievable, and don’t get me started on the chocolate. But being part of this hugely multicultural and creative hub has been extremely beneficial on all fronts. I have lost count of all the talented bands I have met and worked with, a lot of them thanks to Rockshot Mag. I live within walking distance of at least 5 music venues who produce shows every week-end. Most of my friends are skilled musicians or artists, and I was recently nominated in the finals of the British Photography Awards.

However, the current political climate is starting to become a little bit scary for touring bands and artists. And while I try my best to keep my political opinions quiet, I cannot help but worry about the future of the music scene in the UK. Venues closing down were one thing, but now, touring bands might need a visa to come visit us? And UK bands might need a visa to play in Europe?

For nearly 10 years, I was promoting and booking UK bands across Belgium and in the Netherlands, Germany and France with a little help from other promoter friends. Those were the best times of my life, and a lot of those bands became close friends. One of them even became my partner and he’s another reason why I moved to London. We met in March 2013… At the time, Graveyard Johnnys were scheduled to play 3 shows in Belgium and the Netherlands, but unfortunately had to cancel. That’s when they gave me a contact number for The Zipheads, a little rock’n’roll trio from St Albans. A brief phone call later, The Zipheads were on their way to their first gigs abroad. The rest is history. You guessed it… This would not have happened if they needed a visa to cross the Channel.

You’ll understand how I felt recently, and especially last Saturday 22nd of February, when I set off to Shepherd’s Bush to go see my friends Corbillard at the Escape Bar. It is always exciting to welcome Belgian bands to London, especially if we are from the same town and have known each other for years. They aren’t alone, as punk rock legends Chump came along for a week of madness. Their “Brexit won’t stop us” tour is taking them to London, Brighton, Norwich, Worcester, Bristol, Hastings and Chatham. A grand old tour of Britain and plenty of time for mushy peas, real ale and undercooked chips.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

I’m really happy to see my friends from back home on a stage in London. The Escape Bar is a newly open venue near Goldhawk Road station. They put on gigs every week and the entry is free! Isn’t this just what we need? Chump kicks off the night with an explosive set. Energetic and melodic, with a bit of skate punk thrown in the mix for good measure. They have been around since the early 00’s in Belgium, and have toured extensively in Europe. Last night was their first time in London, and they, of course, blew the roof off and proudly showed the crowd how punk rock is done in Belgium. This shows a promising start of their tour, and I personally cannot wait for everyone else in the UK to hear about Chump.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

About Corbillard… I was about 16 when I saw them for the first time and they have played a big part of keeping our punk rock scene alive since then. Like Chump, they have been playing all over the place in Europe and even Canada. They’re accustomed to bigger festivals such as Dour or Punk Rock Holiday, so a little tour of the UK wasn’t going to scare them. Their edge-cutting, fast sound is coming straight from the grave to your face. It was just a shame we could not hear the lyrics, because angry punk rock in French is just what I needed to cure the homesickness. If you’re after meaningful, brutally honest, assertive but poetic lyrics, Corbillard might be what you are after. They have a way with words very few bands have, and it seems every song dodges a bullet as they tell us the uncomfortable truth about love, friendship, death and life on the road in their own unique way. A real treat.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO) (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)

The rest of the evening was brought to us by Katie MF – a folk-punk solo artist, skatepunk masters Discover A Fire coming all the way from Norfolk, Our Lives in Cinema – hardcore punk with surprising influences from Whitney Houston and Captain Trips, a more technical approach to punk but no less angry than the others. A fantastic line-up and evening, a lesson to learn if we want to keep having a music scene. I sincerely hope the Escape Bar keep putting on gigs and bringing new bands in London.

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)Discover A Fire

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Our Lives in Cinema

 (PAULINE DI SILVESTRO)
Captain Trips

In conclusion, if you live near Brighton, Norwich, Worcester, Bristol, Hastings and Chatham and you are looking to let off some steam and discover some top-notch punk rock, there is no better time than now to support your local music scene, and international touring bands. It might be your last chance to do so… But punk has never been about following the rules, has it? And we will need it more than ever.

Live Review & Photography by Pauline DiSilvestro at Escape Bar for Chump & Corbillard on Saturday 22nd February 2020

The Avett Brothers + Mike Patton (Crackerfarm)

The Avett Brothers Team Up With Mike Patton For Surprise Album As AVTT/PTTN

In one of the year’s most unexpected and electrifying collaborations, The Avett Brothers have joined forces with Mike...
She Made Me Do It (Myura Amara)

She Made Me Do It Return With ‘Pulverised’ EP

London-based post-punk electro-rock trio She Made Me Do It have announced the release of their brand-new EP...
GeeJay (Phoebe Nightingale)

GeeJay Share New Track ‘Murder’ And Announce Biggest Headline Show To Date

North London soul-pop duo GeeJay have unveiled their brand new track Murder and announced details of their biggest...
YES (Gottlieb Bros.)

YES Announce 2026 UK Tour Celebrating ‘Fragile’

Progressive rock legends YES have announced their return to the UK with a nine-date tour in spring 2026, following the...
Hannah McFarland (Chris Ashlee)

“It Has Been a Whirlwind” — But Hannah McFarland Is Just Getting Started

Alabama country singer Hannah McFarland has barely had a chance to catch her breath. Since releasing her Broken Hearts EP in February, her career has skyrocketed with opportunities she once only dreamed of.

Lewis Capaldi @ Glastonbury Festival 2023 (Kalpesh Patel)

BST Hyde Park 2026 Kicks Off With Garth Brooks And Lewis Capaldi As First Headliners

BST Hyde Park has announced the first two headliners for its 2026 edition, setting the stage for another blockbuster...
Blondshell @ Electric Brixton (Kalpesh Patel)

Blondshell Brings Electric Brixton To Boil On First Night Of London Double-Header

Sabrina Teitelbaum — better known as Blondshell — has built her reputation on raw honesty and songs that cut deep, and...
Ash @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Ash Light Up Scala & Celebrate Ad Astra With Career-Spanning Set And Graham Coxon Collaboration

There was a palpable sense of anticipation outside North London venue Scala on Wednesday night as Ash returned for the...

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing