Smukfest Day 3: PIL, Mel C, Zar Paulo and Rock Hard Power Spray
Day 3 of this year’s Smukfest brought stark contrasts across the stages. From PIL’s confident breakthrough on the Bøge Stage and Zar Paulo’s party-fueled set on the Stjerne Stage, to an identity-searching Mel C and a nostalgic trip back to the 2000s with Rock Hard Power Spray. Here are our reviews of four of the day’s most talked-about shows.
PIL: The Queen of the Moon has moved up to the Bøge Stage
In ’24 she stood on the Stjerne Stage. PIL has now climbed up the ranks and this year got the Bøge Stage. Another young artist going through a growth spurt. PIL quickly settled into the big stage. Confident, calm and with no need to prove that she belonged there. She already had. A perfect start to Friday at Smukfest. And her voice certainly didn’t fail her. PIL has one of those voices you recognize instantly. It’s both fragile and powerful at the same time, and live it gets to fill far more space than it does on record.
The audience was with her from the start. They knew the songs, they sang along, and especially the big choruses were carried by the Bøge Forest. It’s always a bit of a moment when an artist you’d previously seen on a smaller stage suddenly stands in front of a much bigger crowd, and you realise the audience is already there with her.
PIL no longer feels like an up-and-coming name hoping for her breakthrough. She feels like an artist who has already had it and is now figuring out how far she can take it. There was no need to shout or make it bigger than it was. PIL just stood there. Calm, confident, and with a voice that did all the work. From the Stjerne Stage in ’24 to the Bøge Stage in ’26… That’s what you’d call a growth spurt.
Mel C: Mel C or Melanie Chisholm?
If only Melanie C could decide which one she wants to be, the concert might not have left us so confused. Mel C sounded like she used to, for better or worse. The music, on the other hand, amounted to nothing. It felt, more than anything, like she’s desperately trying to hold on to an image that disappeared long ago. And that’s a shame, because we’re pretty sure it could easily have been done better.
Melanie should have stuck with her own old albums, or switched genres entirely. Instead it became a strange mix of the past with the Spice Girls and something new… pop? And the whole thing ends up feeling like a waste, because there’s actually a genuinely talented singer hiding behind it all. She has both the voice and the experience to deliver a strong show, but this time it felt as if she had one foot in the past and the other somewhere we never quite figured out.
When you carry that much history with you, you’re allowed to use it, but you don’t have to let it dictate the entire direction. Our clear recommendation from here… “Pick a lane.”
Zar Paulo: Danish power
Zar Paulo on the Stjerne Stage was one of the best concerts at Smukfest this year. The show actually started quite simply. The lead singer stood alone on stage with his guitar, singing. But it didn’t take long before the rest of the band joined him, and the quiet start turned into a proper shot of Danish power. And what a transformation.
Zar Paulo doesn’t need many seconds to win the crowd over. There was energy from the very first beat, and the Stjerne Stage was quickly filled with dancing, singalongs and an audience that had clearly come to party. The band has a sound that blends pop, rock and synth in a way that feels both modern and distinctly Zar Paulo. It’s catchy without becoming boring, and live the songs get that extra layer of energy that makes them even better.
The lead singer has a natural confidence on stage. He commands the space without overdoing it, and he genuinely seems happy to be there. It’s contagious. You want to be part of the party, even if you’d really only come to hear a couple of songs. And that was exactly the feeling the whole way through: a party.
Zar Paulo delivered a show that had it all. The quiet start, the big arm gestures, the singalongs, and the energy that made the Stjerne Stage feel like exactly the right place to be. This wasn’t just a good concert. It was one we’ll remember from this year’s Smukfest.
Rock Hard Power Spray: We miss the 2000s!
And Rock Hard took us back. Just for a moment, if nothing else. It was like a 2000s concert at its best. Power, energy, raw and unfiltered music, and a stage show that didn’t apologize for anything. There were no cautious movements or polished pop production here. Just rock, attitude and full throttle. There were far too few people in front of the stage. MANY missed out on a great show and a nostalgic kick in the pants!
Those who did show up had a blast from the start. The battle vests had been dug out, the hair might have gone a little grayer, but the energy certainly didn’t fail. It felt almost like being sent straight back to a time when you could go to a concert without worrying whether your knees could handle it. Rock Hard Power Spray delivered exactly what the name promises. Hard rock, plenty of power and a good dose of madness. It wasn’t necessarily pretty the whole time, but rock doesn’t have to be.
And maybe that was exactly what made the show so liberating. No pretensions. No need to be modern. Just a band having fun playing the kind of rock they love themselves. We left with the feeling of having gotten a little piece of the 2000s back. Next time, the rest of Smukfest is welcome to join in. Because this party deserved a much bigger crowd.
Photos (c) Morten Holmsgaard Kristensen
