Out of the Crowd Festival delivered a wild, genre-jumping ride through underground music, with blistering sets, breakout local acts, and enough sweat and swagger to prove it's still one of Luxembourg's most essential one-day festivals.
Back for its 21st edition, the Out of the Crowd Festival brought another packed lineup of underground sounds to Kulturfabrik. With a mix of local newcomers, cult favourites, and heavy-hitting live acts, the day offered a solid reminder of what makes this long-running one-dayer such a dependable fixture in Luxembourg's music calendar.
The festival began with Luxembourg's own Waffle Killers, easily the youngest band on the bill but showing zero signs of nerves. Their single Playtime was a clear standout, and a couple of unreleased tracks hinted at what could be a bright future.
The trio's joint bow at the end of the set felt like a genuine moment – they may be at the start of the journey but they looked right at home on a bigger stage.
Over in the smaller room, Ultra Nothing delivered a full-blown assault of sound. Guitars screamed, vocals were drenched in effects, and the energy in the room built fast. Their set was chaotic and unfiltered, with a punk heart beating beneath the swirling noise.
Back at the main stage, Marathon took their time to dial things in, briefly disappearing after a warm-up that the crowd pretended not to hear. When they returned, the Amsterdam-based band tore straight into a blistering set built mostly around their new album Fading Image, released just two days earlier.
Frontman Kay Hoopmans was a blur of movement, leaping across the stage and always landing back at the mic in time to deliver every line with conviction. Guitarist Nina Lijzenga was magnetic throughout, whether stalking the front of the stage or headbanging through crescendos, her playing and presence were full of bite. They were a discovery for many, and they made their mark.
Péniche kept things local with a French twist and were the first band of the day to really get the crowd dancing. Their set was nimble and groove-led, with a sound that echoed early Foals in places, tight guitars, syncopated rhythms, and a relaxed confidence that made for one of the day's most fun performances.
Gurriers didn't leave anything to chance. After half a song of urging the audience to get moving, frontman Dan Hoff dove in himself, bringing the energy with him. From there, the set exploded into one of the most intense of the day – sweaty, charged, and powered by a crowd that finally woke up and matched the band's level.
Throw in a relentless stage diver and a few scrapes, and it felt like a proper introduction to Luxembourg. A full show from them here would go down a treat.
Then came Los Bitchos, who turned the room into a party the second they plugged in. "We are Los Bitchos, muthf*ckers!” yelled guitarist Serra Petale, and from there they raced through a fast-paced, instrumental set packed with fan favourites like Talkie Talkie, Charlie Charlie, and Las Panteras.
They wrapped up with a raucous version of La Bomba that raised the volume and the temperature in equal measure. They've built a steady following here over the years, and this set was another reason why.
Things got moodier as Peter Kernel pulled the crowd into their offbeat, art-rock world. Their set moved between sparse rhythms and noisy bursts, with an intensity that simmered just below the surface. It wasn't always easy to pin down, but that was part of the draw.
Delta Sleep followed with one of the more intricate sets of the evening. Their sharp, mathy guitar lines were balanced by moments of melodic clarity, and they managed to land somewhere between precision and emotional release. They played like a band with nothing to prove, and it worked.
Bambara took the room in a darker direction. With their swampy, post-punk sound and brooding stage presence, they delivered one of the more atmospheric performances of the night. Dense and deliberate, their set felt like a slow crawl into a shadowy world, and the crowd was more than happy to follow.
Big Brave brought sheer force. Their music moved like a glacier; slow, heavy, and relentless. Long builds and sudden peaks left the room in a daze. It wasn't showy, but it didn't need to be. It was the kind of set that left you standing still and feeling everything.
Closing things out were Warmduscher, stepping in last minute for Deadletter and immediately setting the tone with their mix of punk, funk, and chaotic swagger. The band didn't just fill the slot, they owned it. Loud, unpredictable, and full of personality, they sent the crowd out on a high note and made sure the festival ended with a grin and a beer spilled.
Out of the Crowd 2025 was less about polish and more about presence. With a crowd ready to move, bands willing to push, and a venue that always delivers the right kind of chaos, the festival once again proved its place in the local scene. Loud, sweaty, and completely worth it. Long may it continue.
