Since DIRK. scored a Afrekening hat-trick with their breakthrough album 'Cracks in Common Sense' (2021) and accompanying singles 'Hit,' 'Artline' and 'Toulouse,' the band has grown from underground darling to one of our most popular and punishing live bands. On follow-up 'Idiot Paradise', released earlier this year, the band sounds even more focused, vicious and adventurous. DIRK. still harbors warm nostalgic feelings for groups such as Weezer, Pixies and Fugazi, and on 'Idiot Paradise' they supplement it with dashes of Blur, Sonic Youth, Pavement and Fontaines D.C. Occasionally the foot is allowed to ease off the gas pedal a bit, to be able to bang away like always on singles such as 'No' and 'Roman Numerals'.
As a leading magazine wrote after their passage at Pukkelpop, "DIRK. may compete with the best Belgian rock bands of the moment, and that shouldn't be surprising, because they are one themselves." After a ripping passage at the MaZ in 2021, we couldn't help but invite them to our new home venue once again with their latest album. DIRK. after the major release shows in 2023, is touring the small pubs and venues of Belgium in the spring of 2024. One more full club show is scheduled, in Bruges! Dust of and polish the air guitar and stretch the vocal chords for the rock show of the season. All together to idiot paradise!