In August 2025, British post-punk band IDLES—from Bristol and genre pioneers with their aggressive, cathartic sound on TANGK (2024), heralding a return to primal fury after jazz experiments—headlined Saturday night at Pukkelpop, marking the festival's 40th anniversary as one of Europe's oldest launched in 1985 in Hasselt, emphasizing alternative music's social and eco vibe. Their hour-long set, rife with chaotic breakdowns and Joe Talbot's emotive delivery, embodied their European tour climax, where political lyrics scaled to festival grandeur under summer skies, evoking collective ecstasy among tens of thousands. As part of their mental health advocacy, this performance transmuted the festival arena into a realm of rebellion and unity.