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Punk rock with a Dutch twist.
Kaat Van Stralen refuses to be pigeonholed. What started as an original solo project grew into a genre-transcending punk band, complemented by Melvin Slabbinck (drums), Anton Robberechts (guitar), and Faust De Vogelaere (bass). Kaat herself takes care of the vocals.
Strict but fair, Kaat calls all genres to account. From punk and psychedelia to alternative spoken word. Expect heated linguistic noise, crackling beats, biting guitar riffs, and pompous bass.
Kaat Van Stralen won Sound Track Vlaams-Brabant 2023, the stage and opportunity course organized by VI.BE and Het Depot. She was picked up by Het Depot as artist in residence.
In early 2025, Kaat Van Stralen released her debut single ‘Stop Met Wenen’ (Stop Crying), a punk rock anthem for all women, misfits, and sensitive souls. This earned her the Studio Brussel award De Nieuwe Lichting (The New Generation). With influences such as Amyl & The Sniffers, Wet Leg, and Fiona Apple—but in her own unique Flemish translation—Kaat put herself on the map in one fell swoop. ‘Stop Met Wenen’ marked her big breakthrough: in the space of a month, Kaat appeared on De Afspraak on VRT1, became a hotshot on Studio Brussel, spent three weeks at #1 in De Afrekening, graced the cover of Focus Knack alongside Uwase and Alice Mae, and was featured extensively on Studio Brussel’s Popcast.
The impact did not go unnoticed. Humo called ‘Stop Met Wenen’ “the most important Belgian song in ages,” De Standaard saw how the song went viral on TikTok, where young women appeared lip-syncing the song while looking defiantly into the camera.
Kaat Van Stralen played more than 25 shows last summer and made notable appearances at Pukkelpop, Lokerse Feesten, Best Kept Secret, Gentse Feesten, and Crammerock, among others. In addition to her own set at Pukkelpop, she also played ‘Stop Met Wenen’ with The Atomic Orchestra.
This fall, Kaat Van Stralen will conquer the screen in De Slimste Mens ter Wereld (The Smartest Person in the World) on PLAY. On December 8, she will present her debut EP live at Het Depot. Will we see you there? Enough reasons to discover her live, right?
Support act: Vieze Meisje
Vieze Meisje is the singing, performing, and all-encompassing alter ego of ordinary mortal Maya Mertens. She writes idiosyncratic poetry that is at once heartwarmingly honest, hilariously funny, and sometimes brutally elegant.
Vieze Meisje collaborates with her producer brother from another mother, Azertyklavierwerke, who composes acrobatic beats, loops, and sounds for a deconstructed dance party that ends in complete sonic chaos.
In 2022, she released her debut EP, LIFE IS A VIEZE CIRKEL. This fall, Vieze Meisje will release her debut album, CUT COPY GUT, on Roktat Records.
Vieze Meisje has previously played at Pukkelpop (BE), BRDCST (BE), Grasnapolsky (NL), Left Of The Dial (NL), Feeërieën Ancienne Belgique (BE), CTM (DE), and Insomnia Festival (NO), among others.
