Micro Festival: maximum effect! | The Echo

July 30, 2022
Today at
00:55

On the occasion of this 12ᵉ edition, the organizers saw the big picture, offering three days of musical discoveries, without sacrificing anything of what makes the specificity of their unmissable event.

By repeating that the Micro Festival seduces by its conviviality – “on a human scale”, we have become accustomed to writing, emphasizing in recent years that it “is part of a sustainable and responsible approach” –, we would almost end up putting the quality of the poster proposed each time by the programmers in the background. In the urban, but airy setting of the Saint Léonard district in Liège, they are putting the cover back following the canceled edition of 2020, and the successful one of 2021, at the time one of the few festivals that might take place.

The alternative rather than the mainstream. Discovery rather than the obvious gondola heads: that’s the Micro Festival!

Three days, two stages and around fifty artists. The alternative rather than the mainstream. The discovery rather than the obvious gondola heads. And the clearing rather than the beaten track: that’s the Micro Festival! It’s also a lot of Belgians this year, with in particular big heartrock band distinguished at the last Du F Dans Le Texte competition, Commander Spoonspearhead of the new jazz scene in Brussels, or even Surprise Knight, between raw poetry and boogie rock. As for Under The Reefs Orchestrathe trio that brings together guitarist Clément Nourry, saxophonist Marti Melia and drummer Jakob Warmenbol, will take us between jazz and post rock, before the release of a second album, “Sakurajima” expected for September 23 (distr. Capitane records).

Pearls from elsewhere

The poster for this 12ᵉ edition will also be somewhat French. And Dutch, cold wave/new wave/synth pop trend with From Embassy and, on the same label (Knekelhuis), the two daughters of Spill Goldor rock with Tramhaus, or five young people from Rotterdam for those who love eardrum-stripping post punk. In our Batavian neighbors, they have already been described as “Dutch little brothers of the Viagra Boys” and “furious nephews of the Pixies”.

With Scalping, the quartet from Bristol, we will be treated to a mixture of rock on the edge of metal and almost hardcore techno. Live, he knows how to build a “physical” set that never misses its climax, between slamming sounds and projections that impress the retinas. Other name spotted on the poster: Taqbir. There, we go to Morocco, and watch your ears too. The title of their 4-track ep released last year on a small English label says it all: “Victory belongs to those who fight for a right cause”. It’s punk and rebellious, so everything you shouldn’t do in the Cherifian kingdom to stay in the regime’s little papers…

As the other said, at the Micro, we are never safe from a good surprise!

Micro Festival – From Friday 5 to Sunday 7 August.
Rue de la Brasserie 2, 4000 Liège.
Info and program: www.microfestival.be.