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Scrumming in Fryslan

31 July 2006 in RecensieComments Off

Another glorious adventure to get ourselves Scrummed. Again a trip to a desolated place where hotels operate without rules, people speak an ancient language and taxi drivers have no clue about GPS trafic information systems or what roadmaps can do. Indeed peepers, we went off Scrumming in Fryslan, the part of Holland so pure and old that the European Union only give ‘m subsidies for innovation instead of preservation: De Veenhoop.

De Veenhoop (translation: Stack of Peat) is a tiny, tiny place somewere in the Province of Friesland (NL). It’s worldfamous (in Friesland) because of its wild music festival, the oldest of Holland.

The festival has a rough image, something we found out when booking a hotel: “Ah, you come for Veenhoopfestival? I’m sorry that I have to inform you that we don’t take festivalguests.” And thus we ended up in the one shaby place that did want to host us. A hotel without rules, but with service and kind people. I instantly knew why Friesland doesn’t want to be part of Holland. People up north are actually nice and do have a sense of humor. Disclaimer: this EXcludes cabdrivers.

The cabdriver was a nice fellow who only knew that De Veenhoop featured a big tent in some grasslands. Couldn’t be too hard to find. Riiiiiiiggggghhhhht. With Scrum scheduled to play around 16.00 and the taxi already being late (the hotel forgot to book one), the hunt was on to make it in time. With vivid turning around and backing up, we made it to the festival terrain around 15.45. Very nice … except for the fact that we were on the wrong side of a lake. We had to take a ferry across and the row waiting was huge. We would be 30 minutes late at least. The sound of Scotish music made us commandeer a small boat to get over as fast as possible. Lovely way to start your festival.

Despite being in midst of heavy preperations for the live act, Scrum-big-cheese Johan made time to supply us with backstage passes, while Scrum bass pimp (the one with the borrowed fat boys’ shoes) got out the beers. Really nice. Cheers!

Scrum was loud. Really loud … and a real crowd pleaser: instant party. Having spent 14 years in the middle of Neanderthaler party people (Achterhoek), I’m used to rough events and heavy slam pits, but boy those Frysians really are a league of their own. Basically they are ancestors of those brutal Vikings that made it south through coastal waters and it shows. Head first, direct assaults and heavy, heavy trashing. For me something NOT to get involved in and thus I retreated to the quieter areas in front of the stage. I’m either getting old, or commons sense has gained the upperhand in my mind these days.

In short, a majestic performance by a great live band. If only we knew what that Skottie is smoking or taking to keep up the fight. Unbelievably energetic chap that is … Thanks for the great show and the hospitality guys!

Scrum, tonight at the cycling event in Roosendaal (gives Skottie the perfect opportunity to replenish the stocks of uppers or to talk things over with his Spanish Dr). And there is some very good news for all of you wankers too lazy to visit a live show, as Scrum will be ‘doing’ Barbara Karel tonight from 01.00 and 02.00 on Hilversum 3 Radio 3 3FM.

Kilt on!