Rock Werchter 2025

[Ohad]

3 minutes ago, Matt86 said:

👎 I saw Guns & Roses or Metallica in the last 3 years, it was poor. Made me wanna puke.

👍 Foo Fighters and AC/DC on the other hand, although they also are 'old', were way better on stage. Performances talking AND investment.

 

👍About the "youngers", I for instance saw Maneskin and Dua Lipa putting on GREAT shows, while being headliners for the first time in their careers (saying Dua Lipa can't sing is just false and wrong, sorry dude. She's known in the business EXACTLY for being great on stage.)

👎 And then, I also saw young artists completely blewing it up at being headliners, like Justin Bieber, or Avenged Sevenfold.

 

 

My point is :

Age and Experience don't matter. You can be a headliner whether you're 22 or 65, that is not a guarantee of having a good show/ bad show.

 

No guarantee, but the correlation is strong, and THIS is data.

About dua - not gonna fight over it, but she's literally the girl give us nothing meme. She may have improved immensly since, which is kind of supporting my point. 🙂

Edited Monday at 02:29 PM by Ohad

[ParanoidTourist]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

Fully on board for macca to be the first headliner Thursday. That's currently the difference between attending and not. 

 

Totally agree! If Macca shows up; I´ll be there. If it´s an underwhelming artist, it will require a lot of good undercards for me to buy a ticket this year. 

[sisco]

I don’t want X, Y and Z playing I want established experienced headliners.

 

Name who’s about…..  as always you can only book who is available and who actually wants to play. 

I think barring the odd year anyone who attends festivals will have the same conversation.  Was the same at RW with Lenny, Dua and Maneskin last year, was the same with Sza for Glasto and there’s many many more examples 

[northernangel]

1 hour ago, ParanoidTourist said:

 

Totally agree! If Macca shows up; I´ll be there. If it´s an underwhelming artist, it will require a lot of good undercards for me to buy a ticket this year. 

 

I don't even know if he's likely but my assumption is if they could book LP and Macca then why book Fender. I guess there is that old one of they could get LP on a second year round and Fender cost makes Macca an option but I think I'm clutching.

11 minutes ago, sisco said:

I don’t want X, Y and Z playing I want established experienced headliners.

 

Name who’s about…..  as always you can only book who is available and who actually wants to play. 

I think barring the odd year anyone who attends festivals will have the same conversation.  Was the same at RW with Lenny, Dua and Maneskin last year, was the same with Sza for Glasto and there’s many many more examples 

It is true, a comment did make me look back though and think Werchter 23 was just for me, sh*t lol. Friday being a bit of an exception but for 22 goers RHCP again isn't great back to back years. 

Edited Monday at 04:15 PM by northernangel

[sisco]

Btw @northernangel I reckon you might be right with Fontaines DC subbing the Thursday.  Fully expect a Linkin Park/Fontaines DC 1 and 2

[northernangel]

3 minutes ago, sisco said:

Btw @northernangel I reckon you might be right with Fontaines DC subbing the Thursday.  Fully expect a Linkin Park/Fontaines DC 1 and 2

I didn't say they were subbing Thursday, just subbing. I really hope that's not the top two.

[sisco]

9 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I didn't say they were subbing Thursday, just subbing. I really hope that's not the top two.

I know, but with their own gig Saturday it makes Thursday the most logical.

 

Im more than happy with it tbf.  Tickets booked next week and the countdown is on 

[northernangel]

5 minutes ago, sisco said:

I know, but with their own gig Saturday it makes Thursday the most logical.

 

Im more than happy with it tbf.  Tickets booked next week and the countdown is on 

I don't really care for Fontaines. I'll be honest the festival booked a lot of what I'd have gone for last year. They've still got to do better than those 4 headliners and them as a sub for me. The more time that's gone on I think I just don't want LP

[Codhead]

40 minutes ago, northernangel said:

I don't really care for Fontaines. I'll be honest the festival booked a lot of what I'd have gone for last year. They've still got to do better than those 4 headliners and them as a sub for me. The more time that's gone on I think I just don't want LP

I have been to see LP 6-7 times and was at Chester's last gig in Birmingham, and I don't want to see them as headliners, as without Chester, they don't have the same appeal. I would still watch them but I hope for better.

[tmolvik]

It's interesting to see how this discussion ended up being a generation divide (again). We had pretty much the same discussing after Sam Fender. It's not really relevant if one likes or dislikes the artists, but it amazes me that anyone in their right mind can mean that Fender/Rodrigo/Måneskin/DuaLipa are bigger than the ones we have been spoiled with for years. Even now. They are no Metallica, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam etc, not matter how you compare (unless you're one of those counting Spotify-plays). It's therefore not even a question if these are smaller headliners than before.

 

The issue is therefore expectations. People expect the same from RW as they did 5-10 years ago. They are therefore bound to be disappointed. What is most popular among RW target or previous audience (which is mainly the ones on their SoMe-sites), is so clearly visible that you don't even have to have the discussion. Just look at the different reactions to the three headline-announcements on FB this year. SoMe is by no means any conclusive survey, but it shows a clear tendency.

 

I don't follow Belgian media, so they might already have done something to prevent this, but as far as I see it RW is also setting themselves up to fail. They are not very good at communicating with their audience (understatement) and when they don't clearly communicate that times have changed, what challenges they are facing and what people can expect from the festival going forward, they will face all those Pop-Werchter comments and scare their legacy audience away. It's not a question if Fender and Rodrigo can headline, of course they can, it's what sized (and genre wise) festivals they should headline. I fully understand those that are disappointed about those announcements, but that doesn't mean that the bookings are wrong

In the end, only one thing counts for RW and that's ticket sales. I think most of us 40+ (which makes up the most spend for festivals) that has bought tickets "blind" because of their track record, will think twice about buying tickets going forward. At least until most of the line-up has been announced, which means that they have to fill that gap with new customers. That's not a bad business idea in itself, because you need new audience, but you need to know what kind you attract. Coachella was already mentioned, as a festival that failed heavily and now are more of a "see & be seen showcase" rather than a festival. Last year, RW also only had one major headliner. However they had two of the weak ones on Friday/Saturday, when they know their going to sell out anyway. This year Olivia Rodrigo will play Sunday and will really be the one to show if the younger generations turn up for the new artists or if the traditional major festivals are going in the direction I've predicted..  

[gingerevans84]

Wonder if there was outrage when these mega bands like Metallica, Muse, Pearl Jam etc etc headlined first time round..

[ParanoidTourist]

11 minutes ago, gingerevans84 said:

Wonder if there was outrage when these mega bands like Metallica, Muse, Pearl Jam etc etc headlined first time round..

 

I don´t think so actually. I think Werchter´s big strength in the past was that they had the ability to musically satisfy all generations.  

[Codhead]

47 minutes ago, gingerevans84 said:

Wonder if there was outrage when these mega bands like Metallica, Muse, Pearl Jam etc etc headlined first time round..

 

Metallica first headlined a major festival at the Monsters of Rock festival in England in 1985. By then, they had released three studio albums: Kill 'Em All (1983). Ride the Lightning (1984). Master of Puppets (1986)

 

Muse first headlined a major festival at the Reading & Leeds Festival in 2002. By then, they had released three studio albums: Showbiz (1999). Origin of Symmetry (2001). Absolution (2003)

 

Pearl Jam first headlined a major festival at the Slane Castle Festival in Ireland in 1993. By then, they had released two studio albums: Ten (1991) and Vs. (1993).

Not sure whether Metallica and Pearl Jam's were major festivals, but it looks like they were all going 2-3 years before headlining.

 

 Olivia Rodrigo has had 2 albums, the first being 2021, so fitting in with the above bands timelines of 2-3 years to headline.

(Disclaimer, if this is wrong blame google!)

Edit: I have just noticed the timelines are out on Metallica's and Muse's 3rd albums, but the general gist still stands.

Edited Monday at 07:14 PM by Codhead

[gingerevans84]

4 minutes ago, Codhead said:

 

Metallica first headlined a major festival at the Monsters of Rock festival in England in 1985. By then, they had released three studio albums: Kill 'Em All (1983). Ride the Lightning (1984). Master of Puppets (1986)

 

Muse first headlined a major festival at the Reading & Leeds Festival in 2002. By then, they had released three studio albums: Showbiz (1999). Origin of Symmetry (2001). Absolution (2003)

 

Pearl Jam first headlined a major festival at the Slane Castle Festival in Ireland in 1993. By then, they had released two studio albums: Ten (1991) and Vs. (1993).

Not sure whether Metallica and Pearl Jam's were major festivals, but it looks like they were all going 2-3 years before headlining.

 

 Olivia Rodrigo has had 2 albums, the first being 2021, so fitting in with the above bands timelines of 2-3 years to headline.

(Disclaimer, if this is wrong blame google!)

Top stuff, dedication to the cause. Glad I only mentioned 3 😂

 

Same timescale, Fender will be on album 3 as well by the warm summertime.

[charlierc]

8 minutes ago, Codhead said:

Muse first headlined a major festival at the Reading & Leeds Festival in 2002. By then, they had released three studio albums: Showbiz (1999). Origin of Symmetry (2001). Absolution (2003)

Looking at it, Muse sub-headlined Foo Fighters at Reading and Leeds 2002, which unless I'm mistaken may have been Foos' first major UK festival headline show.

 

At least that's how I'd class it looking at the poster:

 

As a big nerd of theirs, I seem to note that Muse's first big UK headline festival show was Glastonbury 2004, in a summer when they did headline shows all over Europe at festivals including Pinkpop, Vielles Charreus, Rock en Seine, V Festival and indeed Werchter as a co-head with Lenny Kravitz. I seem to recall reading that Muse's Glastonbury headline in 2004 was seen as a surprise that went down rather well.

Edited Monday at 07:16 PM by charlierc

[thetime]

Fender would be a better booking for werchter than macca. 

 

[Karlos12345]

I can see Macca doing stadiums. IF he tours. Baudouin maybe.

[DDave]

It's nothing more than the complete lack of headline-worthy big guitar bands in the last 20 years finally coming home to roost and festivals having to look at the alternatives to shift tickets. 

[thetime]

21 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Looking at it, Muse sub-headlined Foo Fighters at Reading and Leeds 2002, which unless I'm mistaken may have been Foos' first major UK festival headline show.

 

At least that's how I'd class it looking at the poster:

 

As a big nerd of theirs, I seem to note that Muse's first big UK headline festival show was Glastonbury 2004, in a summer when they did headline shows all over Europe at festivals including Pinkpop, Vielles Charreus, Rock en Seine, V Festival and indeed Werchter as a co-head with Lenny Kravitz. I seem to recall reading that Muse's Glastonbury headline in 2004 was seen as a surprise that went down rather well.

Used to love muse, saw them over 40 times on the 1st 2 albums. Even did Skunk Anansee shows just because Muse supported. 

[VolkIreland]

Holy Moly, that was some read. 

 

Here's my two cents. I don't care how much you love or hate OR. Someone else should have that closing slot. Simple.

 

You can give me all her pros and cons all day long and how she is really popular right now and how she's been performing for x years and blah, blah, blah. 

 

They are making a big deal out of this “50th Anniversary” and all that. If It's so big and important, they should have gone big. Much bigger than her. Allocated some extra budget etcetera to bring in one BIG headliner. Sacrifice some undercard names or something. Regardless of the genre, just someone bigger.

 

She shouldn't be there.*

 

*Shouldn't be the closing headliner

Edited Monday at 07:46 PM by VolkIreland

[charlierc]

26 minutes ago, DDave said:

It's nothing more than the complete lack of headline-worthy big guitar bands in the last 20 years finally coming home to roost and festivals having to look at the alternatives to shift tickets. 

Exactly. This is a shift that's been going on for years and is just going to carry on doing it. 

 

As I think I said elsewhere, Rodrigo's Good 4 U is the closest to a rock song to top the UK singles chart since 2009, so I'm aware as a genre, guitar music has not had the crossover appeal it once had.

[charlierc]

23 minutes ago, thetime said:

Used to love muse, saw them over 40 times on the 1st 2 albums. Even did Skunk Anansee shows just because Muse supported. 

Got me beat. I've seen them 11 times, but first time was in 2009 when they were on album 5, so a long time after that Showbiz/Origin era madness.

 

Albums 2/3 looked like great fun live from YouTube tbf.

[northernangel]

55 minutes ago, charlierc said:

Looking at it, Muse sub-headlined Foo Fighters at Reading and Leeds 2002, which unless I'm mistaken may have been Foos' first major UK festival headline show.

 

At least that's how I'd class it looking at the poster:

 

As a big nerd of theirs, I seem to note that Muse's first big UK headline festival show was Glastonbury 2004, in a summer when they did headline shows all over Europe at festivals including Pinkpop, Vielles Charreus, Rock en Seine, V Festival and indeed Werchter as a co-head with Lenny Kravitz. I seem to recall reading that Muse's Glastonbury headline in 2004 was seen as a surprise that went down rather well.

Saturday on that poster is madness. Muse we're good but fell flat quite badly after 2010, some would say earlier than that.

 

40 minutes ago, thetime said:

Fender would be a better booking for werchter than macca. 

 

 

Heavily disagree, we can't be going down a route that Fender is a better booking that Macca. 

36 minutes ago, DDave said:

It's nothing more than the complete lack of headline-worthy big guitar bands in the last 20 years finally coming home to roost and festivals having to look at the alternatives to shift tickets. 

 

Yup and also when you look at the poster above, we don't have the depth of acts anywhere near that level that can take up undercard spots.

[charlierc]

16 minutes ago, northernangel said:

Saturday on that poster is madness. Muse we're good but fell flat quite badly after 2010, some would say earlier than that.

 

Eh. I actually like a lot of songs from 2009 onwards, though I agree the first 4 albums are their finest work and there's a quality imbalance between them.

 

Though if we're talking crazy Reading line ups from days of yore, Reading 2000 feels like a shout for the ultimate madness poster...

Edited Monday at 08:29 PM by charlierc

[Newjem]

45 minutes ago, VolkIreland said:

They are making a big deal out of this “50th Anniversary” and all that. If It's so big and important, they should have gone big. Much bigger than her. Allocated some extra budget etcetera to bring in one BIG headliner. Sacrifice some undercard names or something. Regardless of the genre, just someone bigger.

What big headliners are around and available? You can't just throw money on a big name and expect they will come. It doesn't work like that...