The Haunted Youth

A London concert by The Haunted Youth, the Belgian indie rock band behind Joachim Liebens, at Village Underground, a venue that hosts concerts and shows in the capital. The act's catalogue runs from dream pop-tinged debut material to a second album of raw, emotional songwriting.

The Haunted Youth is a Belgian indie rock band and the project of Joachim Liebens. Their debut album, Dawn of the Freak, was chosen as album of the week by Rolling Stone France, and its single Gone was picked by Studio Brussel as single of the year in 2022. The earlier single Teen Rebel established the act as a dream pop presence in Belgium and further afield, built on hazy guitar textures and a melancholic tone.

The second album, Boys Cry Too, follows loss, despair, heartache, rage and hope across its tracks. It opens with an eight-minute song that ends in feedback and closes with the sparse strumming of ghost girl. The record debuted at number one in Belgium in its first week of release. Liebens has described its two halves as a portrait of a heartbroken young man who first builds defences and then becomes vulnerable.

On stage, the band has played festivals including Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop, Lowlands, Sziget and Iceland Airwaves. The Boys Cry Too tour included a sold-out run at Cirque Royal in Brussels. This London date brings the band to Village Underground, which hosts concerts and shows in the city.