
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
The historical score shows how big an act was at the time of that edition, on a scale of 100 against the biggest acts of all editions. The letter is the level by the festival's own scale. How the points work ›
Chances for 2027
Probability estimates remain estimates and are not an official announcement.
No rumours, no inside knowledge. Tap Why? for the reasons.
Why?
Why?
Why?
Figures
indiepost-punkrockalternativesinger-songwriteralternative rock
Career
- Line-ups
- Rock Werchter 2018, Best Kept Secret 2022, Best Kept Secret 2026
- Active since
- 1983
- Albums
- Wild God 2024
- Ghosteen 2019
- Skeleton Tree 2016
- Push the Sky Away 2013
- Concerts per year
- 2026 43
- 2025 19
- 2022 34
- 2021 0
- 2018 33
- 2017 65
Older concert dates are still being added, so this may be incomplete.
Stature
- Discogs
- 129,379 times in a collection
- 21,271 on a wishlist
- 76 uitgaven
Most collected, times in a collection- From Her To Eternity 1984 · 6.278
- The Firstborn Is Dead 1985 · 4.446
- Kicking Against The Pricks 1986 · 4.827
- Tender Prey 1988 · 4.154
- The Good Son 1990 · 2.686
- The Boatman's Call 1997 · 2.514
- Nocturama 2002 · 2.803
- Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus 2004 · 8.401
- B-Sides & Rarities 2005 · 3.797
- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 2008 · 2.851
All 60 releases
- From Her To Eternity 1984 · 6.278
- In The Ghetto 1984 · 2.319
- The Firstborn Is Dead 1985 · 4.446
- Tupelo 1985 · 1.221
- Kicking Against The Pricks 1986 · 4.827
- The Singer 1986 · 1.511
- Your Funeral ... My Trial 1986 · 1.418
- Kings Of Independence 1987 · 29
- Deanna 1988 · 1.249
- Tender Prey 1988 · 4.154
- The Mercy Seat 1988 · 842
- Crime & Punishment 1989 · 98
- The Road To God Knows Where 1989 · 131
- Acoustic Versions Of Songs From "Tender Prey" 1990 · 559
- The Good Son 1990 · 2.686
- The Ship Song 1990 · 995
- The Weeping Song 1990 · 627
- Straight To You / Jack The Ripper 1992 · 479
- Live At The Paradiso 1992 · 140
- Henry's Dream 1992 · 84
- I Had A Dream, Joe 1992 · 180
- Live Seeds 1993 · 517
- Do You Love Me? 1994 · 483
- Let Love In 1994 · 1.121
- Loverman 1994 · 528
- Red Right Hand 1994 · 472
- The Wonderful World Of 1994 · 79
- Where The Wild Roses Grow 1995 · 764
- Murder Ballads 1995 · 125
- Henry Lee 1996 · 958
- Murder Ballads 1996 · 1.506
- (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? 1996 · 566
- Into My Arms 1997 · 755
- The Boatman's Call 1997 · 2.514
- Live At The Royal Albert Hall 1998 · 75
- The Videos 1998 · 70
- The Best Of 1998 · 6
- Morning Becomes Eclectic 2001 · 2
- As I Sat Sadly By Her Side 2001 · 415
- Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow 2001 · 400
- No More Shall We Part 2001 · 1.803
- Nocturama 2002 · 2.803
- Love Letter 2002 · 280
- Bring It On 2002 · 679
- Babe, I'm On Fire 2003 · 6
- An Introduction 2003 · 88
- Rock Of Gibraltar 2003 · 512
- God Is In The House 2003 · 606
- He Wants You / Babe, I'm On Fire 2003 · 519
- Abattoir Blues / The Lyre Of Orpheus 2004 · 8.401
- Breathless / There She Goes, My Beautiful World 2004 · 327
- Nature Boy 2004 · 448
- The Road To God Knows Where / Live At The Paradiso 2005 · 566
- Get Ready For Love 2005 · 307
- B-Sides & Rarities 2005 · 3.797
- The Abattoir Blues Tour 2007 · 1.032
- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 2008 · 535
- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 2008 · 226
- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! 2008 · 2.851
- Midnight Man 2008 · 237
- Biggest own venue
- Sportpaleis, Merksem
- ±23.000 plaatsen
- 2024 (Benelux, last three years)
Older concert dates are still being added, so this may be incomplete.
Today
- Radio
- Last 30 days
Studio Brussel 11 2,6 per week KINK 9 2,1 per week BBC Radio 6 Music 8 1,9 per week KEXP 7 1,6 per week VRT Radio 1 3 0,7 per week BBC Radio 1 3 0,7 per week FIP Rock 2 0,5 per week Willy 1 0,2 per week Since we track the stationStudio Brussel 543 3,5 per week since Nov 2023 KEXP 198 1,3 per week since Nov 2023 BBC Radio 6 Music 195 1,9 per week since Nov 2024 KINK 188 1,2 per week since Nov 2023 BBC Radio 1 4 0,0 per week since Nov 2023 VRT Radio 1 3 0,6 per week since Oct 2026 FIP Rock 2 0,4 per week since Oct 2026 NPO 3FM 2 0,0 per week since Nov 2023
Records
Studio albums, the highest position in the Belgian and Dutch album charts (Ultratop, Dutch Charts) with the number of weeks, gold and platinum (BEA, NVPI), and how many Discogs members own the record. Data provided by Discogs.
| Album | Year | Belgian album chart | Dutch album chart | Gold/platinum | Discogs collections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild God | 2024 | #1 (22 wk) | #1 (6 wk) | – | – |
| Ghosteen | 2019 | #1 (44 wk) | #4 (12 wk) | – | – |
| Skeleton Tree | 2016 | #1 (105 wk) | #2 (20 wk) | – | – |
| Push the Sky Away | 2013 | #1 (90 wk) | #1 (34 wk) | – | – |
| Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! | 2008 | #1 (15 wk) | #10 (10 wk) | – | 2.851 |
| Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus | 2004 | #4 (33 wk) | #7 (19 wk) | – | 8.401 |
| Nocturama | 2003 | #1 (7 wk) | #14 (8 wk) | – | 2.803 |
| The Boatman’s Call Outtakes | 2002 | – | – | – | – |
| No More Shall We Part | 2001 | #4 (12 wk) | #23 (8 wk) | – | 1.803 |
| The Boatman’s Call | 1997 | #4 (20 wk) | #58 (7 wk) | – | 2.514 |
| Murder Ballads | 1996 | #5 (10 wk) | #18 (11 wk) | – | 1.506 |
| Let Love In | 1994 | #159 (1 wk) | #57 (8 wk) | – | 1.121 |
| Henry’s Dream | 1992 | – | #70 (6 wk) | – | 84 |
| The Good Son | 1990 | – | #44 (7 wk) | – | 2.686 |
| Tender Prey | 1988 | – | – | – | 4.154 |
| Your Funeral… My Trial | 1986 | – | – | – | 1.418 |
| Kicking Against the Pricks | 1986 | – | #48 (2 wk) | – | 4.827 |
| The Firstborn Is Dead | 1985 | – | – | – | 4.446 |
| From Her to Eternity | 1984 | #171 (1 wk) | – | – | 6.278 |
Other albums in the charts or with gold or platinum (live, compilations, reissues):
| Album | Year | Belgian album chart | Dutch album chart | Gold/platinum | Discogs collections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live God | 2025 | #7 (11 wk) | #22 (2 wk) | – | – |
| Live Seeds | 2022 | #58 (1 wk) | #88 (1 wk) | – | 517 |
| B-Sides & Rarities - Part II | 2021 | #8 (9 wk) | #17 (2 wk) | – | – |
| Live At Paradiso 1992 | 2021 | #150 (1 wk) | – | – | – |
| Lovely Creatures - The Best Of | 2017 | #3 (62 wk) | #12 (5 wk) | – | – |
| Live From KCRW | 2013 | #21 (26 wk) | #46 (9 wk) | – | – |
| B-Sides & Rarities | 2005 | #11 (13 wk) | #67 (2 wk) | – | 3.797 |
| The Best Of | 1998 | #5 (17 wk) | #90 (1 wk) | – | 6 |
Discogs: 129,379 times in a collection. 21,271 times on a wishlist.
How popular is Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds compared with other countries?
Bigger in Poland and Belgium than you would expect.
Based on search volume and listeners from the various sources. Each country compared with the worldwide figure.
Best-known songs (Deezer)
Per edition, historical
Score measured in the twelve months before each edition, place = rank in that line-up. The letter differs per festival: an A at Best Kept Secret can be a C at Rock Werchter.
| Edition | Score | Level | Rank | Exceptional | Belgium | Netherlands | World | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Werchter 2018 | 52 | B | 6 / 82 | 23 | 50 | 55 | 52 | Wikipedia, charts, setlist.fm, stature |
| Best Kept Secret 2022 | 41 | A | 3 / 50 | 58 | 46 | 39 | 39 | Wikipedia, charts, stature |
| Best Kept Secret 2026 | 50 | A | 2 / 82 | 25 | 51 | 49 | 51 | Wikipedia, search volume, charts, setlist.fm, stature |
Reviews and reports
Reviews by Dansende Beren and Festileaks.
| Edition | Titel | Bron | Date | Soort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Kept Secret 2026 | Best Kept Secret 2026 (Festivaldag 2): Na regen komt rock-‘n-roll | Dansende Beren | 14/06/2026 | dagverslag |
| Best Kept Secret 2022 | Best Kept Secret (Festivaldag 3): En we leefden nog lang en gelukkig… | Dansende Beren | 13/06/2022 | dagverslag |
| Rock Werchter 2018 | Rock Werchter 2018: Festivaldag 4 | Dansende Beren | 09/07/2018 | dagverslag |
Over the years
◆ purple = album, ▲ red = festival in Belgium, ▲ green = festival in the Netherlands, ● grey = own concert. Click the legend to switch them on or off.
Festivals and own concerts
- ▲Saturday, June 2026 · Best Kept Secret
- ●31/10/2024 · Sportpaleis, Merksem
- ●30/10/2024 · Sportpaleis, Merksem
- ●27/09/2024 · Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
- ●26/09/2024 · Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
- ▲Sunday, June 2022 · Best Kept Secret
51 earlier dates
- ▲Sunday, July 2018 · Rock Werchter
- ●13/10/2017 · Sportpaleis, Merksem
- ●06/10/2017 · Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
- ●18/11/2013 · Lotto Arena, Merksem
- ●17/11/2013 · Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
- ●04/11/2013 · Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
- ●01/05/2008 · Vorst Nationaal / Forest National, Vorst / Forest
- ●28/04/2008 · Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
- ●20/08/2005 · Domein Kiewit, Hasselt
- ●24/11/2004 · Vorst Nationaal / Forest National, Vorst / Forest
- ●23/11/2004 · Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
- ●02/06/2003 · Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam
- ●10/06/2001 · Brabanthal, Haasrode
- ●06/08/1999 · Terrein Koudekotstraat, Dranouter
- ●16/06/1997 · RAI, Amsterdam
- ●15/06/1997 · RAI, Amsterdam
- ●30/04/1997 · Vorst Nationaal / Forest National, Vorst / Forest
- ●24/08/1996 · Domein Kiewit, Hasselt
- ●17/06/1994 · Luna Theater, Brussels
- ●16/06/1994 · Luna Theater, Brussels
- ●13/05/1994 · Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht
- ●12/05/1994 · De Oosterpoort, Groningen
- ●29/09/1993 · Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
- ●25/09/1993 · Kasteeldomein de Blondel de Beauregard, Viane
- ●29/08/1992 · Domein Kiewit, Hasselt
- ●03/06/1992 · Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
- ●02/06/1992 · Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
- ●10/05/1992 · Brielpoort, Deinze
- ●26/08/1990 · Vliegveld Sanicole, Hechtel
- ●24/05/1990 · Brielpoort, Deinze
- ●08/04/1990 · VPRO TV, Uddel
- ●21/03/1990 · Vara Studios, Hilversum
- ●14/03/1990 · Vara Studios, Hilversum
- ●14/03/1990 · VPRO TV, Uddel
- ●19/10/1988 · Brielpoort, Deinze
- ●18/10/1988 · Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht
- ●18/07/1988 · Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
- ●17/07/1988 · Tivoli, Utrecht
- ●06/10/1986 · Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht
- ●05/10/1986 · Brielpoort, Deinze
- ●12/10/1985 · De Doelen, Rotterdam
- ●19/06/1985 · VPRO Radio, Amsterdam
- ●19/06/1985 · Effenaar, Eindhoven
- ●18/06/1985 · Grote Zaal, Amsterdam
- ●09/11/1984 · Theater de Meervaart, Amsterdam
- ●26/05/1984 · Vera, Groningen
- ●25/05/1984 · Effenaar, Eindhoven
- ●19/05/1984 · Paard van Troje, The Hague
- ●18/05/1984 · Vrije Vloer, Utrecht
- ●17/05/1984 · Lantaren/Venster, Rotterdam
- ●21/04/1984 · Theater de Meervaart, Amsterdam
Place among all acts on this site: 80 = viewed or searched more than 80% of the other acts that month. The thick line is the average.
Studio Brussel since August 2023, NPO 3FM and KINK since 2020, the other stations since late October 2026. "Compare countries" shows the average per station.
Songs per station, last 18 months
| Station | Country | Most played |
|---|---|---|
| KINK | Netherlands | Into My Arms 2 |
| Studio Brussel | Belgium | The Ship Song 75 · Red Right Hand 30 · Into My Arms 20 · Into My Arms (live) 20 · Wild God 8 |
| VRT Radio 1 | Belgium | We No Who U R 1 · We no who U R 1 · Rings Of Saturn 1 · Wild God 1 |
| Willy | Belgium | The Ship Song 1 |
| FIP Rock | France | Nobody's Baby Now (2011 Remaster) 1 |
| KEXP | United States | Red Right Hand 11 · Wild God 10 · There She Goes, My Beautiful World 7 · The Weeping Song 4 · Into My Arms 4 |