JERA ON AIR 2024: Fourth & Last Day Sees Muddy Fields & Great Bands

As Jera On Air is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the festival expanded to a celebratory 4th day: Sunday. After last night’s storm, the night can only be described as turbulent. Torrential rainfall and an absolute mud-fest on the festival grounds on the bonus day made some attendees take an early leave. As a result, Jera On Air was not as packed as it was on the previous days. But, let bygones be bygones, even with a handful of people lacking, the line-up was still great and so was the atmosphere.

Boston Manor

For us, our bonus Jera On Air day started with the British rockers from Boston Manor. Their music blends elements of punk rock, emo, and alternative rock, making them popular with the younger crowd. For those who came out early, they were in for a treat, as Boston Manor played a great set with high crowd participation. The musicians showcased their high-energy style and strong connection with the audience. The setlist featured standout tracks like Foxglove and I Don’t Like People (& They Don’t Like Me), both of which were clear fan favourites. The crowd’s enthusiastic response to these songs highlighted their popularity, with many attendees singing along passionately. Throughout their performance, Boston Manor maintained an impressive level of intensity, ensuring that the energy never waned. Definitely a band to keep track of in the coming years.

Caskets

Speaking of bands to keep track of in the coming years, next up for us were yet another relatively new band who burst onto the scene and are doing exceptionally well. With their two albums Lost Souls (2021) and Reflections (2023), Caskets are sitting on an impressive 1.7 million listeners a month via Spotify alone. In 45 minutes, Caskets proved that their popular post-hardcore songs also resonate in a live setting. The band focused on their music, leaving the crowd participation to a minimum but that’s quite alright. Caskets are doing incredibly well and I am sure as the years go on and the festival slots become longer and at later times, the live show will grow with them. Definitely yet another band to keep track of in the coming years!

Atreyu

This bonus day also saw the legendary Atreyu take the stage! Atreyu’s performance at Jera On Air was a testament to their exceptional musicianship and enduring legacy in the alternative scene. From the moment they took the stage, it was clear that the band have been going for quite a while. Each member’s technical prowess was on full display while keeping crowd engagement high. Their sheer joy on stage was infectious. The band’s energy never waned, and their enthusiasm was evident in every song, making the performance not just a concert but a shared experience. As entertainers, Atreyu proved they are more than just musicians; they are showmen who know how to engage and excite a crowd. The setlist was a perfect blend of classic hits and newer material, showcasing their evolution while satisfying longtime fans. Overall, Atreyu’s set at Jera On Air was solid entertainment from a band that continues to define and dominate their genre.

Enter Shikari

After a quick dinner break, it was time for the first of the last two acts. This band might have been the headliner for a lot of the festival attendees. The popular Enter Shikari did play the Vulture stage rather than the Eagle stage, but they played for an hour and they were the last set on that stage.

Enter Shikari‘s set kicked off their mainstage set with frontman and vocalist Rou Reynolds walking on stage and starting the spoken intro of System…. When it was time for the instrumental part of System… and its counterpart …Meltdown to kick in, Frontman Rou Reynolds and his bandmates wasted no time in ramping up the energy. Their dynamic stage presence was infectious, igniting the audience from the get-go. The set kicked off with a mix of newer tracks and classics. Highlights of the show included the anthemic Live Outside, which had everyone singing along, and the explosive Sssnakepit, which transformed the crowd into a sea of movement and energy.

On stage, they brought out two cube-like screens alongside the backdrop for an immersive experience and apart from the usual suspects on the setlist, Enter Shikari also mixed in a bit of remixed songs and extended in and outros, making the set a more techno-induced show, filling up the quiet moments in-between songs with electronic bits and pieces.

Unfortunately, the stage setup was the same as it was at Rock Am Ring earlier this summer. Deep down, we were hoping for a bit more given their timeslot, but it makes sense that the band did not bring along more special effects on their extensive trek through the continent. Overall, it was a great show and we are excited to see them on their next tour.

The Prodigy

Jera On Air‘s special 30th birthday extravaganza came to a close a bit earlier than the previous days, which makes sense on a Sunday night. I do not think there are many festival attendees who did not take off work the next day, but for those for whom the grind starts again on Monday morning, a cut-off time of 23:00 is rather considerate.

The Prodigy‘s headliner show was a dynamic spectacle that left a lasting impression on the audience. From the moment they took the stage, the energy was intense, despite minimal use of lighting effects. The focus was on their powerful performance and the cool stage set-up, which featured an array of equipment, large screens, and an assortment of The Prodigy flags that added a unique visual element to the show.

The crowd erupted in excitement as soon as the opening beats of Firestarter hit. The familiar riffs and aggressive vocals brought an immediate, enthusiastic response from the fans. The band maintained a relentless pace, delivering hit after hit with remarkable intensity. Smack My Bitch Up was another highlight, its iconic status evident as the crowd sang along and moved in unison to the pounding rhythm. The performance was raw and visceral, showcasing The Prodigy‘s ability to connect with their audience through their music alone.

Overall, the show was a testament to The Prodigy‘s enduring appeal and their commitment to delivering a powerful live experience. Despite the sparse lighting, the stage set-up and the band’s high-energy performance created an unforgettable atmosphere, ensuring the audience was left thoroughly satisfied.

And that wraps up another spectacular year of Jera On Air. What this organisation achieves year after year is nothing short of spectacular. 4 days of partying and a very quick and clear response when disaster struck in the form of a short but relentless storm. We would like to extend our gratitude towards the festival for yet another great year of being involved as media partner and we cannot wait for next year!

JERA ON AIR 2024: Pop-Punk Dominates Friday Line-Up

As the summer sun blazed down on the picturesque village of Ysselsteyn in the Netherlands, the last weekend of June saw thousands of alternative music enthusiasts converge for the much-anticipated 30th edition of Jera On Air Festival. This year’s edition was no exception to the Jera On Air rule, delivering an unforgettable weekend brimming with high-octane performances, passionate fans, and an undeniable sense of community. The lineup boasted a mix of legendary acts and rising stars, with among today’s highlights being Sum 41, Simple Plan and the theatrical Ice Nine Kills.

Join us, as we delve into the highlights of the festival, capturing the essence of what makes Jera On Air an unparalleled experience in the alternative music scene. From the most talked-about performances to the unique festival atmosphere, we’ll explore how Jera On Air 2024 lived up to its storied legacy and set the stage for future gatherings.

Silverstein

The day kicked off with the iconic Silverstein, who have been doing this for a very long time now. On stage, the band announced that there’s a 25 year anniversary tour coming next year, on which they will most definitely not skip over The Netherlands. In or around March, the band will be playing at the Melkweg, with the announcement being imminent. Stay tuned! There are very few bands who are as comfortable on stage as Silverstein are. There’s a lot of routine in their performance and instrumentally and vocally it is rock solid. The setlist consisted of mostly singles from throughout the years, with the audience’s response peaking at the iconic My Heroine and Smile In Your Sleep.

Neck Deep

Neck Deep brought a tidal wave of pop-punk energy to Jera On Air, delivering a set that spanned their dynamic discography and ignited excitement among the crowd. From start to finish, their performance was a whirlwind of high-octane beats and anthemic choruses that had everyone jumping around and diving into mosh pits. Opening with tracks that showcased their evolution as a band, Neck Deep immediately set a blistering pace. Fans were treated to a mix of their earlier hits and newer material, with many fan favourites being played this evening. Tracks like In Bloom did extraordinarily well eliciting a massive response from fans who sang along passionately.

Ice Nine Kills

After a short dinner break, it was time for one of our personal highlights of JOA 2024: Ice Nine Kills. We saw the band open for Five Finger Death Punch mere weeks ago, but that did not take any of the excitement away. Ice Nine Kills have emerged as one of the most exciting bands in the alternative scene, steadily rising since the release of The Silver Scream in 2018. Their live shows have evolved alongside their growing popularity, reaching new heights on this European tour. Each song from their two The Silver Scream albums, inspired by popular horror movies, was brought to life on stage with band members and actors re-enacting movie scenes. This dramatic flair has expanded with every tour; this performance was no exception. Over their 45-minute set, they entertained the audience with nine songs, including fan favourites Hip To Be Scared, Rainy Day and the latest addition, Meat & Greet.

Of Mice & Men

Next up were Of Mice & Men, who are no stranger to the European festival circuit. The band is still very actively touring and we feel like they set foot in The Netherlands at least on an annual basis. Unfortunately for us, while the band play very well live, the band’s new repertoire from which they generally pick the setlist does not stand out. In our experience, the crowd also gave the biggest response during the live rendition of an older song Would You Still Be There, but we could be biased. Let me emphasize that the band are extraordinarily well live and everything sounds good, but the flame that Of Mice & Men once had has been doused if you ask us.

Sum 41

Up until a week ago, a lot of Dutch Sum 41 fans were under the impression that Sum 41‘s set on Jera On Air would be the very last time that the band set foot on Dutch ground as a band. Luckily for us, the band announced another massive headliner show to take place in October of this year before they officially call it quits. For a lot of the festival goers, however, tonight could have been the last Sum 41 show and they sure went out with a blast.

With a setlist spanning the band’s iconic discography, Sum 41 pulled out all the stops. With confetti, inflatable backdrops of Satan, a digital screen and more CO2 cannons and pyrotechnics than you could count, Sum 41 performed as well as anyone could expect.

Throughout their set, Sum 41 seamlessly blended old favourites like In Too Deep and Still Waiting with newer tracks that showcased their evolution as musicians. Each song was delivered with such intensity and precision that it was impossible not to be swept up in the infectious enthusiasm radiating from the stage.

The band’s interaction with the audience was equally ecstatic, with Whibley rallying the crowd into frenzied sing-alongs and encouraging mosh pits that erupted like controlled chaos in front of the stage. There was a sense of camaraderie and bittersweetness as fans of all ages and backgrounds united in their love for the music, knowing in a few months, the iconic band would be no more.

Simple Plan

Speaking of iconic Canadian bands, as soon as Sum 41 played their last note, Simple Plan kicked off their set on the Vulture stage, for which the majority of the audience that was in the tent with Sum 41 trickled in over the course of the first few minutes of their show. Luckily for the older fans who grew up with both these Canadian powerhouses, Simple Plan have shown no sign of slowing down.

Simple Plan took the stage at the festival with their trademark energy and enthusiasm, delivering a set that resonated well with the audience, especially the older fans. Their performance was solid and engaging, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd throughout. Fans sang along to their well-known hits, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and nostalgia. Especially after another nostalgic set from Sum 41, Simple Plan‘s set at the festival was a highlight for many attendees, showcasing their enduring appeal and ability to connect through their music. It was a great day for older pop-punk fans.

Dropkick Murphys

After what felt like two headliner sets from Sum 41 and Simple Plan, the night had not yet come to a close until the ‘real’ headliner took the stage. At 23:45, Dropkick Murphys took to the main stage under loud jubilance from the audience. There’s very little about a Dropkick Murphys show that is left unsaid, and that is because the band have their ‘party formula’ sorted out. The band play their mix of Irish folk and punk rock with so much verve, that it’s hard to stand still watching the band perform. As a result, the moshpit whirls from the first moment onwards and beer flies through the sky all over the place. The entire tent was filled with people dancing, jumping and moshing around to the many well-known songs from the outfit.

Check out the photos from the headliner below and stay tuned for more Jera On Air 2024 content, as we will return tomorrow!