Ulrikes Dream and The End of Ernie in Kinky Star

Ulrikes Dream is a Dutch-language punk band from Leuven that has been delivering a quirky mix of punk and metal since 1997: hard, fast, and uncompromising. What once began in a Leuven youth center has grown over the years into a staple of the Belgian underground. By playing non-stop – in rehearsal rooms, youth centers, squats, clubs, and at festivals – the band has developed a recognizable and unique "Belpunk" sound that is both raw and melodic. In their nearly three decades on stage, they have performed in very diverse places: from Het Depot in Leuven to the ADM festival in Amsterdam, from the Paranoia festival in Dresden to Maloka Fest in Dijon. But you can just as easily find them in small cafés, youth centers, and other DIY spaces where the energy of the audience is just as important as the music itself. The End of Ernie is a Belgian punk/hardcore band that has been active since the late 80s and is known for their raw, brutal sound. They formed around 1989 and combine 80s chaos punk with influences from hardcore, crust, d-beat, crossover, and metal. This results in an energetic and frenetic sound. The band has always remained true to the underground scene and played in squats and small venues in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and other European countries. Despite various lineup changes, the band remained a tight-knit five-piece formation that upholds their DIY ethics. Over the years, they have shared the stage with numerous well-known punk and hardcore acts and released multiple records, including "The End Is Near (2013)", "When The Fun is Over" (2017), and "Controversial Comfort" (2024). You can see both bands live in action at Muziekcentrum Kinky Star on the Vlasmarkt in Ghent. Free.