3 Belgian Pop-Rock Bands You Need To Know

Salut and goeiemorgen, friends! I know—when you think of Belgium, you probably picture bad weather, fries, and trappist beer. Maybe the beer was invented because of the weather. Who’s to say. But despite a linguistic patchwork that would give Tolkien a headache and regional rivalries that make zero sense in a country you could cross faster than binge-watching a Netflix series, there’s one thing Belgians do surprisingly well. Drink. Kidding. Typo. Or... was it?

I meant music—I really did. You just have to dig a little and navigate the beautifully fragmented indie scene. Luckily, I’ve done the dirty work for you. Today I’m taking you on a mini tour of three Belgian pop-rock bands I’ve discovered during my countless Spotify spirals, obscure YouTube dives, and thanks to a few well-informed friends. Two of them are from Flanders (the Dutch-speaking north), and one from Wallonia (the French-speaking south).

Intergalactic Lovers

Straight out of East Flanders, Intergalactic Lovers craft melancholy indie rock with cinematic softness. Fronted by the magnetic Lara Chedraoui—singer and actress—they've released four albums so far. Think rainy windows, deserted streets, soft vocals wrapped around lyrics soaked in longing and bittersweet reflection.

School Is Cool

From Antwerp, with drama. This baroque-pop band doesn’t shy away from theatrical flair. Their sound blends synths, orchestral arrangements, and cinematic storytelling—all while keeping that underlying sadness we secretly crave. If you’re looking for the perfect soundtrack to your fictional biopic, School Is Cool would be your main character energy.

Sasha And The Lunatics

Time to head south to French-speaking territory—although their lyrics are all in English. With just three singles out and a sound inspired by a blend of Led Zeppelin flashback and modern sonorities, Sasha And The Lunatics are already making waves. Sasha Dehan, their fierce frontwoman, leads the way with smoky vocals and a bluesy, old-school rock backbone. A band to keep an eye on.

You just need to press play, choose your favourites and spread the word among your friends that these Belgians sometimes know how to do it. Bonne écoute and veel luisterplezier!