JUL25: A REPRIEVE
One more show and then a hard break
NB for those who notice these things: unfortunately no time for the Dutch version of the email’d newsletter (see below) but we’ll post it on the substack page and our website at a later date
Hi all! We forgot last month’s newsletter, but that shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering how late the May one came about. It’s probably as good a time as any to cut the esoteric aphorisms and go for full frankness: it’s been a really rough couple of years over here. One could argue that our current team’s tenure ~ which begun in the portentous period that was early 2020 ~ has always had it rough, and one could also argue that running KRAAK has never not been rough. Arguments aside, the fact is that this small operation has its challenges embedded within it: organizing nomadic concerts in an ever-changing cultural landscape, releasing niche music in a struggling industry, building community in a grassroots way while upholding the requirements that allow us to remain a rare funded haven for artists making exhilarating and weird shit. The pressure to plod on starts to feel senseless when faced with life’s realest realities ~ in the span of two years the team has gone from three to two, and the two of us who remain have, in an absurd succession, dealt with the illness and loss of a parent. Maybe in our case bad things come in twos ha.
All in all, there hasn’t been a moment of true stability in our recent past, and while our priority has been to lay a stable foundation for us and potential future kraakheads, it just hasn’t happened. Save for a relatively smooth three months last fall, we’ve been on non-stop shaky ground and there’s really not much to be done about it. We carry on until we can’t. But we’d like to take this moment to send out our love and gratitude to all the friends and strangers who’ve shown their compassion and support for these most trying times. It’s because of you that KRAAK has held on for so long, and it’s with you in mind that it’ll keep going, even if that means downscaling all the way to temporary halts.
With that in mind::::
CLOSING THE SEASON AT DE NOR
TONIGHT last kraakin before an extended hiatus! In good Tyfusian company with legendary guitarist David Grubbs (Gastr del Sol, Red Krayola) and Brussels post-trad polyphonic sextet Ladr Ache. If you were planning on coming I guess you already are, but if this belated oldsletter is of any impact on your weekend plans you can get some soundbites & tickets thisaway.
ODDS AND ENDS
Radio roundup is only on the DNVG, with GG’s roughly delivered selection of summer songs up online. Next Kiosks and DNVGs are up in the air what with sporadic holidaying and all, but you’ll hear about them when you do.
Photos of sckruuhk are now up on our website to remember and relive last month’s friendly smorgasbord at Recyclart ~ a repeat would be a happy occurrence, but time will tell :)
Bandcamp order shipments will resume in late July, but our BLIND DATE promo continues until end of summer ~ playing matchmaker has been an unlikely new outlet for us, maybe we’ll start our own app
Our next show will be September 18 at SMOG in Bxl ~ you heard it here first! And an exciting new release will make its way shortly after, more on that in the fall 🍂