Ten years of LSD on one stage - that in itself is reason enough to come to Houtrak. The project of Luke Slater, Function and Steve Bicknell has existed for a decade, and Awakenings Upclose is celebrating that anniversary with a full-fledged live show. That alone makes the May 16 and 17, 2026 edition worth seeing. The full lineup has now been revealed, tickets are selling faster than ever and the Saturday program is as good as gone.
The names on the bill leave little to be desired. Nina Kraviz is there, as are Ben Klock and Alarico who are playing a set together. Ben UFO and Four Tet - Kieran Hebden - are doing the same: two DJs, one set, and that promises something. Cio D'Or is hosting Sunday on May 17, giving that second day its own character. In addition to these names, live acts like Colin Benders x Dasha Rush and Planetary Assault Systems are also on the schedule, giving the whole thing more layers than a regular festival day full of back-to-back sets.
Awakenings Upclose is deliberately kept small. It is the more intimate counterpart to the big Awakenings Festival that takes place in July, and you notice that difference. The emphasis is on dancefloor conditions: few distractions, lots of sound, audience close to the artists. Hybrid live and DJ configurations are a regular lineup in the program - this year including Ignez x Rødhåd, Anetha x Pegassi and Freddy K x Marrøn. These collaborations are not a gimmick; they suit a festival that consciously chooses to do something different from the standard setup.
LSD is celebrating 10 years as a project and doing it live at Upclose - and that's exactly the kind of moment you plan a festival day for.
LSD is celebrating ten years as a project and doing it live at Upclose - and that's exactly the kind of moment you plan a festival day for. The combination of anniversary show, strong international names and a venue that keeps the big festival circus just outside the door makes this weekend stand out. The big Awakenings Festival will follow in Hilvarenbeek in July. Upclose is the warm-up that isn't actually a warm-up.