21.05.2025 Last Train

Graspop Metal Meeting

Dessel (Belgium)

After the dark and gloomy atmosphere inside the tent, it was time to head back out into the sunshine for Last Train from France. It still wasn’t particularly crowded in front of the stage, but their lively, rock‑driven sound immediately invited everyone to join in.
The five guys first came together during their school years and have been shaping their path as a rock band ever since, slowly but steadily working their way upward. This year, they’re appearing at several major European festivals and brought along a fantastic cross‑section of their three released albums. And they made it clear right from the opener “Home” from their current album III that they were fired up. Singer and guitarist Jean‑Noël Scherrer was jumping and running across the stage, it was a miracle he could still sing at all. His bandmates Julien Peultier on second guitar, Timothée Gérard on bass, and Antoine Baschung behind the drums were in no way less energetic. The spark immediately jumped to the crowd, who sang along loudly and celebrated with them. Hardly anyone could resist. By the third song, “On Our Knees” from the 2019 album The Big Picture, Scherrer couldn’t stay on stage any longer. On impulse, he stormed into the crowd with his guitar, let himself be lifted onto shoulders, and continued playing right in the middle of the audience. Peultier and Gérard also kept seeking interaction with the crowd again and again. Unfortunately, the band only had a very short 40‑minute slot, with the second half of the set shaped by the somewhat melancholic title track “The Big Picture.” And so it was already time to say goodbye to the sounds of Ennio Morricone’s “The Lonely Shepherd”.
This was a performance that was simply fun. A young, energetic band eager to show what they can do. A crowd that let itself be carried away by the great mood on stage. And a musically impressive setlist that showcased all their facets. What more could you want? More stage time, I’d say. With how strong Last Train presented themselves here, this surely won’t be their last appearance at Graspop. Next time, I’d bet they’ll be playing in the larger Marquee and with a better slot. Let’s see where their train journey leads — but it’s definitely far from over.