As the first act at a festival’s final edition, many people expect the atmosphere to head in the right direction, and the six-piece All I Know succeeded in doing just that, with a Def Leppard-inspired vibe and a keyboard groove. Even though they didn’t have the fashion typical of the glam/80s era, their overdrive and active interactions were a great start to set the mood. A nostalgic intro, featuring the opening notes of “The A-Team,” along with the vocal duo of Ward Dufraimont and Veerle Vanrysselberghe, gave the signal for two days of pure rock. 

All the way from Atlanta, USA, came Kickin’ Valentina. Unfortunately, they experienced a malfunction during the song “Dirty Rhythm,” where the guitar’s input wasn’t sitting correctly. But they managed to keep their poker faces on like true professionals, and bassist Chris Taylor launched into an unexpected freestyle, keeping things wild. A wonderful solution to keep the show at a high level! With a rugged attitude and raw power in the vocals, balanced with D.K. Revelle’s sense of humor, you quickly realized that the foursome has a dedicated fan base. Riffs with influences of classic rock and echoing solos from guitarist Heber Pampillon give the songs a distinct sound with their own charm. 

From America to France! Our French neighbors BlackRain from Annecy showed that glam rock can also have a more melodic side, harmonizing with heavy uptempo drums and guitars. With songs like “Demon,” you saw the audience go wild, jumping in the air. The showmen know exactly how to set the mood for everyone. Mix this with plenty of headbanging, an epic atmosphere, and band members who can’t possibly sit still, and you get BlackRain! Jerem G gave a fascinating sound to the solos and an emotional edge to the calmer parts of their setlist. This mastery, in interplay with the high vocal range of Swan Hellion and the fancy dance moves of bassist Matthieu “Matt” de La Roche, left an amazing impression on everyone! 

Known to Belgian audiences, Wildheart takes the stage with self-confidence and ambition to make Wildfest go crazy. This band was present at every edition of Wildfest and is clearly loved by many. With Sven Berckmoes also known as ‘Thunderberck’ on the drums and lead singer ‘Farty’, who are 2 of the 3 founders of Wildfest, is this a band that is impossible to miss at the last edition! A combo of aggressive riffs that have a catchy feel and insane finger tapping guitar skills showcases their passion of the golden 80s in rock and roll. The band gives a very different feel versus their predecessors due to the clean bridges and pre chorus. And in terms of sound, nothing sounds too loud and everything is in harmony with each other. Overall, you can conclude that Wildheart has something for everyone, and is the true spirit of Wildfest! 

To finish off the first day, the audience was treated to a classic genre one last time, with a sound that leaned more towards a classy, refined atmosphere, thanks to The Treatment! With an album released just a year ago, they balanced their setlist with songs from other records, including “Departed” from their first LP, This Might Hurt. The band showcased their musical evolution over the years, which was fascinating to hear in several tracks. The group from Cambridge still consists of young band members and will also be performing at Graspop this summer. They finished strong and loud—nothing more the crowd could ask for!