Interview: Planet Groove
Planet Groove is music collective and community operating between Belgium and London. 5 years on the scene, with parties on both home turf and recently also across the channel, these four music lovers are taking their concept to the next level. We sat down with Thomas, Louis, Julot & Flor to discuss their upcoming Festival and what the future holds for them.
Who and what is Planet Groove, and how did the concept come about? Thomas: Planet Groove is a party concept and a community that began in 2018. We’re three good friends who’ve always been passionate about music and nightlife. Flor often played at Kompass and was fully plugged into the techno scene, while Julot and I grew up in the house and disco scene. We were all active in and around Ghent and Kortrijk, and if we weren’t DJing, we’d be out exploring the nightlife. We’d go to Antwerp, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin or London. The one thing we always had in common was the fact that we needed very little convincing to explore the nightlife scene. Julot: That has always been, and still is, a huge inspiration and influence on what we do today. Nightlife varies significantly from places like Amsterdam to Antwerp, but the sense of togetherness and connectivity you find on a dance floor is universal. That’s exactly what we wanted to replicate and bring to our hometown. Flor: In Kortrijk, there really wasn’t much happening. There were no clubs or festivals, and the music and vibe we loved so much were absent from the area. So, we decided to create it ourselves for our community and the city. Thomas: Our first event took place in the underground car park of a hospital slated for demolition. Aroh, Thang, and our collective played that night, and it turned out to be an instant success. Five years later we can look back on an incredible journey with events in Kortrijk, Gent, and even London. I think we can be proud of the impressive roster of artists we’ve worked with and the passionate, ever-growing community of “groovers” we’ve built. As you say, you’ve had an array of nights in Gent and even London, but for the open airs you always come back to Kortrijk, why is that? Julot: We all grew up here, this is where everything started, and the idea for Planet Groove was always to establish Kortrijk as a city with a vibrant music scene. That's gradually becoming a reality. We’ve seen other concepts emerge recently, with more events being organized—exactly what we hoped for.Can you tell us a bit more about the thought process behind the new location for Planet Groove Festival? Thomas: For the last two editions, we opted for a more industrial setting, which was really fun. However, this year we want to return the festival to a greener location. The first two editions took place in a similar greener setting, which better aligns with what Planet Groove is all about - happy, good, summery vibes. There's just something magical about the combination of the first rays of sunlight, blossoming trees, and great music—that's what Planet Groove is all about. Flor: This year marks our first expansion into a Planet Groove Festival, moving beyond just an Open Air event. We’re focused on enhancing the overall experience, focusing especially on our production, stages, and scenography. This is also the first year we’ll have two stages, allowing us to create a more intimate, cozy, and engaging dancefloor setting. The new location is just perfect for this vibe.
What does the line-up look like this year and why did you choose specific artists? Is there anyone in particular we need to look out for? Julot: At Planet Groove, we always aim to book and promote relatively unknown artists who are starting to gain recognition abroad. Each year, we aim to curate a lineup that features a mix of local and international talent, bridging the gap between emerging and well-established names in the music scene. This year is no exception. We have acts like Kirollus making his Belgian debut, and some truly unique back-to-back sets, such as the one between Bjeor and Jennifer Loveless. Thomas: What’s exciting this year is our two-stage setup. It’s a game-changer for us. It allows us to showcase a much broader range of acts and really double down on the experience for the crowd. The Playground Stage will focus on high-energy, progressive house and techno, while the Bodyswerve Stage will take a more groovy tone with underground, soulful disco and house music. Our headline acts this year, are DJs who play the most iconic clubs and are festival favorites across Europe. We have Berlin-based Roi Perez, who just released his first Boiler Room set (definitely worth checking out!). Alongside Roi Perez, we have an exclusive b2b set with Jennifer Loveless and Bjeor. Jennifer is not only a phenomenal DJ but also gaining a reputation as an excellent producer. Her sets are energetic and there’s absolutely no way you can sit still when she’s behind the decks. Bjeor is a Planet Groove favorite and a stronghold in the Belgian nightlife scene. London-based disco superhero Kirollus will be headlining our Bodyswerve stage. Julot: On the rise, we’ve got Ariane V from London. She’s returning to Planet Groove for the second time after delivering an incredible set at Planet Groove x The Cause in London last summer. We simply had to invite her back for a second round on our home turf in Kortrijk. And of course, we’re proud to spotlight local Belgian talent from Kortrijk, Ghent, and Antwerp, like the emerging Ava Eva, for example. You guys have been very active in London the past year. How did that come about? And what else can we expect from this in the future? Thomas: Louis, my brother, has been living in London since 2019 and like the rest of the Planet Groove team, he’s always been incredibly passionate about music and nightlife. When I moved to London in 2023, Louis pitched the idea of organising a Planet Groove night in London, which resonated well with the rest of the team, who were, of course, already familiar with the London scene. Louis: Our London debut took place at the Pickle Factory, a small intimate club and iconic place in Hackney - a club where Thomas and I had previously spent many nights (laughs.) The night surpassed our expectations as we sold out and received amazing responses from those who attended. Since then I officially joined the Planet Groove team and we’ve put on two more nights. One at The Cause in September and another at the Pickle Factory this past January with Orpheu The Wizard & Make A Dance. Thomas: We aim to grow organically and keep building our community here, much like we did in Belgium. London has quickly become an essential part of the Planet Groove story. We've connected with so many incredible people already, and the London scene is truly unique. It feels like our concept is finding its groove here. Pun intended.
What does the rest of 2024 look like? Thomas: We’re not taking our foot off the gas. After our festival, we're heading back to London to host a night at The Carpet Shop in June—can't reveal much more about that yet. We're also going to be hosting a stage at a festival this summer, details of which are still under wraps. Then, by the end of September, we'll be doing a very cool club night in Ghent. And for November, we're planning another exciting night in London, potentially in partnership with another promoter. Julot: Apart from that, we're continuously brainstorming ways to stay relevant in the scene and to continue promoting quality music, which remains at the heart of what Planet Groove is all about. Louis: That's why we're also exploring the idea of a monthly radio show here in London, though it's too early to confirm anything about that yet. A lot of exciting stuff in the works! www.planetgroove.be
