Sparks
LIVE IN HET PARK
Sparks might be the ultimate cult band of these times. The duo, which consists of brothers Ron and Russell Mael, hail from Los Angeles and have been releasing music since the late sixties. Their big breakthrough came in 1974 with the hits ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us’ and ‘Amateur Hour’. The duo’s sound has elements from pop, glam rock and new wave, but they never stick closely to any of them and prefer to experiment.
After all of those years, Sparks are still at the front line of pop music: they create new genres and have inspired many generations of musicians. They are “the favourite band of your favourite band”, as they have been cited by numerous artists that include Joy Division, Giorgio Moroder, Paul McCartney, Johnny Marr, Joey Ramone, Depeche Mode, Björk, Daft Punk, Beck and The Last Dinner Party. All of them, and many more, have expressed admiration for Sparks.
In 2015, they collaborated with British band Franz Ferdinand, creating the super group FFS in process. With this set-up, they featured on festivals like Lowlands and managed to reach a new generation of fans. They recently released their new album “Mad” (2025). This show, Sparks will play a selection from their impressive back catalogue.
