SKATE & ZIK Festival w/ MIKE McCOLGAN & THE BOMB SQUAD - MAID OF ACE - DO OR DIE - WAKE THE DEAD - EIGHTS SINS - NORTHERN LIGHTS - START OF THE END - DEAR LIARS - MRWL & Skate Contest ! 04.07.2026 - Caudry (Fr)

Somewhere in the north of France... Caudry, July 4th, 2026 — Forget about high-budget festival polish; Skate & Zik at Stade Louis Sandras was pure, DIY guts. It was all sweat, sun-baked concrete, and the rhythmic, metallic clatter of boards on coping. As the afternoon wore on, the heat became a tangible force, baking the park under a radiant sun, though a light, steady breeze fortunately cut through the stifling air. The vibe was loose, friendly, and honest—the kind of place where you could grab a beer, watch a skater shake off a nasty bail, and soak in the noise against a backdrop of clear blue skies.

Just a few meters from the stage, the skate contest was a chaotic, beautiful dance. Skaters of all levels were throwing themselves into the mix, attempting tricks that were nothing short of ambitious. Success was definitely a variable—some landed, some bailed—but the atmosphere was anchored by a genuine sense of solidarity. No one was keeping score; it was pure, unadulterated support. Whether a local skater was nailing a basic move or a veteran was pushing the limits of the ramp, the encouragement was universal. It was a no-judgment zone, perfectly mirroring the raw energy emanating from the stage.

Opening a festival is a thankless, heavy task, but these four acts didn't just show up—they poured their guts into every note. While maybe not every single gear change was flawless, their motivation was impeccable. They came to give their best, and the audience, receptive and attentive, gave it right back.

MRWL: They kicked things off with a sound that was as heavy as a lead weight—a brutal mix of Hardcore and Slam Death. The hook? Their lyrical obsession with local gastronomy. That’s right, MRWL stands for Maroilles, and their set was a crushing, pungent homage to the legendary local cheese. With dual vocalists trading off relentless, guttural growls with hardly a moment of clean singing, they brought  infectious good humor that set a killer, uncompromising tone for the day.

DEAR LIARS: These guys were pure, unadulterated fuel. They leaned into a gritty, high-octane Hardcore style, infused with the chaotic, swaggering rock 'n' roll grooves. It was a direct, raw set—no concessions, no filler, just sheer, abrasive energy that hit the audience like a freight train.

START OF THE END: They hit the stage with a clear mission: to grab the last few hesitant souls and drag them into the fray. With a modern Hardcore/Screamo sound, they delivered a masterclass in stage presence and pure chaos. They played like they were fighting for their lives, taking absolutely no prisoners and leaving the crowd buzzing.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: By the time these guys stepped up, the vibe was already good ! Their brand of high-octane Hardcore Metal was the ideal closer for this first block. With captivating rhythms and massive, hooky choruses, their onstage chemistry was undeniable. They brought everything together, successfully firing up the crowd and leaving everyone feeling primed for the rest of the night.

The atmosphere at Skate N Zik shifted from high-octane to absolute bedlam as the evening progressed. If the first half set the bar, the second half just set it on fire. Here’s the report from the pit.

Grenoble’s EIGHT SINS kicked things off on the main stage to a sparse early-afternoon crowd, but they didn’t need a packed house to manufacture immediate chaos. Their frontman, armed with a razor-sharp, sardonic wit, spent the set needling the audience, successfully dismantling that typical early-day reservation. He challenged, provoked, and stirred the crowd until forming a pit became mandatory. Once they found their groove, the band’s crossover thrash tore through with controlled violence, turning the area in front of the stage into a sonic battleground fueled by the singer's caustic charisma. It was a masterclass in stage presence, turning a polite gathering into a completely unhinged frenzy in record time.

Coming from Marseille, WAKE THE DEAD: ... Following the soundcheck, the audience had succumbed to a severe case of festival lethargy, opting for a collective sprawl across the grass. When WAKE THE DEAD hit the stage, they were staring down a crowd that was literally sitting on the lawn. But the band lived up to their name. After three tracks of blistering hardcore, combined with a sharp, no-nonsense sermon from vocalist Aleksandra, the atmosphere shifted instantly. They shook the apathy right out of the crowd, turning a lazy afternoon into a full-blown riot. By the end of the set, the lawn was a distant memory, replaced by an unrelenting cycle of circle pits, moshing, and non-stop pogoing until the final note.

Belgian legends DO OR DIE took possession of the stage, and every single member was absolutely on fire, pouring every ounce of energy into their performance in its rawest form. This wasn't just a set; it was a non-stop barrage of sonic punches to the face. With over thirty years in the game, they delivered their cult-classic anthems with a terrifying ease. No gimmicks, no effects—just heavy, punishing, old-school hardcore that hurts in the best way possible. A true lesson!

Then came MAID OF ACE. The four sisters from the UK absolutely tore the open-air stage apart. It was a relentless barrage of raw, insolent, high-speed punk rock delivered with surgical precision. With hooks that stick in your brain and a stage presence that radiates pure, unfiltered adrenaline, they didn’t just play a set; they initiated a reaction. The field in front of the stage instantly erupted into a chaotic, swirling mass of bodies. It was a sonic onslaught that grabbed everyone by the throat, leaving no room for anything but total immersion. Easily one of the defining, most intense moments of the entire festival.

And to top it all off... THE headliner.... MIKE McCOLGAN & THE BOMB SQUAD blew us away with the entire “Do Or Die” album by the DROPKICK MURPHYS. No frills: the guys came to deliver a monumental punch. As soon as “Cadence to Arms” kicked off, the place turned into an urban Boston squat. “Barroom Hero,” “Boys on the Docks”… The crowd screamed every word until they lost their voices. A true COMMUNION with the audience—the kind of concert where you forget about time and the passing years. It ended in an incredible atmosphere—magical!—we walked out dazed, but with smiles from ear to ear, feeling as though we’d just taken a wild trip back in time!

Beyond the decibels and the raging mosh pits, what remains once the amps are turned off is that special atmosphere. At Skate & Zik, the intensity of the pit has never overshadowed respect. Between shared beers, handshakes after helping a guy who fell in the pit back up, and the sense of brotherhood that binds everyone together, this is a far cry from an impersonal festival. Here, it’s all about authenticity, community, and that hardcore solidarity that makes you feel right at home—even in this stadium tucked away in the far north of France (a magnificent region, by the way!).
For a first edition, it’s a total success. The organization already has all the makings of a major event: a killer lineup, volunteers working their butts off, and that unique mix of concrete, wood, and heavy sound. The festival is already establishing itself as a must-attend summer event in the North. A first edition that proves the scene is nothing without this sense of unity. We’ll be back!

All photos courtesy of MESS WITH ME Photography - thanks so much for the great shots !