Once again, we invite you to kick off your Roadburn experience on Wednesday night at The Spark. Our traditional pre-fest show gives you a way to ease into the festivities with some special performances to get you warmed up for the main event the following day. The Spark is free to attend – whether you have a Roadburn ticket or not – and we look forward to seeing you there!

The Bird Experience will kick things off on Wednesday night – one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the current Dutch underground.  Centred around harmonica player and singer Mees Vullings (also of Heath), they channel the spirit of Screaming Jay Hawkins, Paul Butterfield, and Eric Burdon and War. The Bird Experience excel at voodoo-infused psychedelic blues rock and soul; but this is not a throwback to the heady 60s and 70s, it’s Mees proving that these genres are still relevant and alive and well in the 21st century. For Roadburn, Mees will bring the big band version of The Bird Experience – adding a brass section and gospel singers to the fold so they’ll total 12 people on stage  – giving a bewitching glimpse into the world he’s created on their upcoming debut album, which will be out in May.

We’re so looking forward to seeing Crippling Alcoholism for the first time we squeezed in a bonus round with them. This will be their first ever show in Europe, so this is your chance to say you were there when in years to come people speak of this day. Many of you have been anticipating this occasion even prior to the release of last year’s Cam Girl album, so now’s the time to experience their gothic post-punk up close and personal.

Bad Breeding will also be doing double duty at Roadburn this year. Their frenetic live energy is the perfect way to round out the night, but as if that wasn’t enough they’ll be treating us to a special show too. This set will consist of a full play though of their 2024 album, Contempt. If life’s got you seething and roiling in discomfort, Bad Breeding’s angular punk will give you a way to let off some steam and purge those feelings.