save the date 17+18 July 2026

Dressed Like Boys

Mainstage

Friday 18:10 - 18:50

You know Jelle Denturck as the frontman of DIRK., with whom he says he has “made a lot of noise in recent years”. But actually, he considers himself a huge softie, with a record collection full of melancholic indie pop and rock: Bowie, The Beatles, Lou Reed, Elton John, Nina Simone, Anohni & The Johnsons, Sufjan Stevens, Perfume Genius, Wilco, Tobias Jesso Jr. ... there is clearly a side to Denturck that doesn't easily come out in DIRK. According to him, it was about time for that. As Dressed Like Boys, he wanted to write songs and make a record that was entirely his own. Not as an ego trip, but as a form of self-exploration. Denturck sings about the search for his personal freedom, about his dearest friends, his homosexuality and relationship, but he also does not shy away from ugly themes such as gay bashing. It doesn't get any more personal or fragile than this. As much as Denturck likes to make noise with DIRK., with Dressed Like Boys he can turn the volume knob a little more to the left for a candid look into his soul.

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