Rock Werchter 2025

[northernangel]

2 minutes ago, thetime said:

Lots of negativity about the lineup, which i know is the rule for modern day festival punters.

 

On the scene early summer, what would make it less filler in your opinions? 

 

I should actually point out to be honest my mention above of Weezer wouldn't be filler. I think Bloc Party would be a great addition but obviously I like a lot of older bands vs new.

 

Just to make a point too, I'm not saying Werchter haven't just literally booked what's available and been able to but even based on this year with the one kinda poppier day with Dua Lipa, I genuinely would think that Werchter gave the reigns for Saturday and Sunday to a partnership event to curate and collab with or something.

 

This is also coming from someone who really wanted to grab on to it this year to give it a go and I'm still kinda hoping it pulls through.

 

If Download though manage to book a top end lineup one day though that's better than Rock Werchter doing it on their big year with the same headline band one of them has booked before and along the lines of band they are used to getting as apposed to the other festival then I've got a few reservations.

[thetime]

22 minutes ago, northernangel said:

 No but in general as an overall look the rock in rock werchter is lacking.

 

People have been saying that since I started going to werchter about 15 years ago. 

 

Festivals change, unfortunately people don't. It was the same when Jay Z headlined Glastonbury, same with reading lineups. 

 

For me the blockbuster lineups have gone, won't happen again. People need to realise that. 

 

 

Edited December 22 by thetime

[BlackFoxx]

23 minutes ago, thetime said:

Lots of negativity about the lineup, which i know is the rule for modern day festival punters.

 

On the scene early summer, what would make it less filler in your opinions? 

 

Generally I think this lineup has been pretty well received? I know on festileaks (Dutch language forum similar to here) most the feedback has been pretty positive and ticket sales seem to match this with two days sold out already. It's far too early to say that combi tickets aren't selling or anything else as we have no data on this and they usually wouldn't sell out in a good year until the spring anyway. 

 

Compared to competition like Mad Cool I'm not sure there's much you can be looking at on their lineup with jealousy. Would you really take Kings of Leon over Linkin Park for example, who have just sold out an EU stadium run and are one of the most in demand acts this summer?

 

Personally I've got a combi ticket for the first time and think it's probably one of the stronger and more varied Werchter lineups in a while, hence why I've finally decided to go. Sunday for example, which has been subject to some criticism, has two BST sell out headliners in Noah Kahan and Olivia Rodrigo, plus Olivia is likely to headline Glasto too. It's hard to objectively complain about them being a weak booking based on the number of tickets they can sell, as also shown by their day just selling out. 

 

If you really hate that genre of music, that's another thing, but there will be 4 stages that day. If that still isn't enough, then maybe other more genre focused festivals like Rock Im Ring or Download would be more relevant to you anyway. I'm not sure Werchter, having booked high profile acts like Black Eyed Peas, Pink, Macklemore, Kendrick, Stormzy and Dua Lipa has ever been that festival. I think the diversity of Rock Werchter's lineup is one of its strengths and matches how lots of people consume music across different genres and have eclectic tastes.

 

The great thing about music festivals is the diversity of current options, and I find the constantly negativity sometimes tiring. I understand there are good and down years given who tours and is available. However, if you look across a whole summer of different lineups in festivals in different countries and can't find something you like, at what point is the issue more with you than the festivals?

[tmolvik]

3 hours ago, thetime said:

I'm sure the lineups not curated just to suit just yourself. 🤣

The issue is not whether the lineup is curated for him, me or you. It's what RW historically has been selling and what people anticipate from them. A lot of people has for many years been buying combo tickets based on their track record of good bookings and always among the best (if not the very best) line-up for those looking for that genre. If they want to change that, that's in their right to do so and I'm not even going to debate if it's right or wrong, but at least be up front about it. 

 

I've always bought my combo tickets, knowing that from time to time headliners hasn't been to my taste (because you always know up front), but until last year, they've never disappointed in making the total package looking very good. I can accept a young up & coming headliner and even something that is not related to rock, but If they want to turn one or two whole days into some kind of Coachella/Lollapalooza-circus, I expect them to notify me about such a change in festival category in advance. It will also affect the whole vibe of the festival, which up to know has had a mix of people and ages that has contributed to it's success. 

 

Although I've hated that obvious "joke" of it's not Pop Werchter but Rock Werchter for many years now, maybe they actually should do themselves a favor and remove the rock from it's brand to mark the new direction. It will at least save themselves for a bunch of hassle... Again, we don't know how it will end up looking this year, it might be the Sunday will look completely different when the timetable comes, but I've got a sneaky feeling it won't and RW has always been terrible when it comes to communication. 

[Semprini]

I've no experience of booking festival line ups but I know enough about them to say that it's nowhere near as simplistic as many people on this forum believe.

All this talk about specific days being curated for a particular demographic, massively misses the main points which are a) when artists are available and b) what are they willing to do? If, for instance, LP or ORod are free that weekend, and RW want them as headliners, then the fact of the matter is they will book them on whatever day they are available. I doubt all these massive acts go to RW first every year and ask, 'When would you like us to play? All the other festivals taking place in Europe that weekend can work around you so just tell us what you want and we'll sort it?'

Reality is that the whole negotiation process is a big game of chess, with the main objective being to get the acts you want on your line up at a price that's agreeable. It's an added bonus if you can get them to play on a specific day but Glastonbury is really the only summer festival that has that sort of pulling power.

 

There's also far too many people making definitive judgements about the line up when it's nowhere near complete. If you don't like the look of it now, no problem - hold off for a bit but accept that it might sell out in the meantime and you can't go. The other alternative is to book your ticket now, knowing there's a chance it won't live up to your expectations - that's the gamble you take in these situations.

However, if you're into music and festivals then the likelihood is you'll have an amazing weekend whatever the final outcome is!

Edited December 22 by Semprini

[Ferda]

42 minutes ago, Semprini said:

I've no experience of booking festival line ups but I know enough about them to say that it's nowhere near as simplistic as many people on this forum believe.

All this talk about specific days being curated for a particular demographic, massively misses the main points which are a) when artists are available and b) what are they willing to do? If, for instance, LP or ORod are free that weekend, and RW want them as headliners, then the fact of the matter is they will book them on whatever day they are available. I doubt all these massive acts go to RW first every year and ask, 'When would you like us to play? All the other festivals taking place in Europe that weekend can work around you so just tell us what you want and we'll sort it?'

Reality is that the whole negotiation process is a big game of chess, with the main objective being to get the acts you want on your line up at a price that's agreeable. It's an added bonus if you can get them to play on a specific day but Glastonbury is really the only summer festival that has that sort of pulling power.

 

There's also far too many people making definitive judgements about the line up when it's nowhere near complete. If you don't like the look of it now, no problem - hold off for a bit but accept that it might sell out in the meantime and you can't go. The other alternative is to book your ticket now, knowing there's a chance it won't live up to your expectations - that's the gamble you take in these situations.

However, if you're into music and festivals then the likelihood is you'll have an amazing weekend whatever the final outcome is!

 

Well said.

 

I would add just one but imho important point - once the headliners are locked in, you can TO A CERTAIN DEGREE influence who else is playing on that particular day, ie. if you go for the lineup diversity or rather catering towards the headliner (sub)genre.

That being said, they can also influence the announcement timeline, e.g. we already know that Weezer and Franz F are playing but they weren't announced yet - just 7 acts out of ±25 for Thu/Sun are public, so it's possible that the rest of the day will be different but some names were held back to create a perception of pop Sunday and rock Thu?

Anyway, putting the festival lineup is super complex and people will always complain no matter what 🙂

 

I am looking forward to whatever they have in store for us, we have 65 pages long thread already and I am sure it will be much longer before July.

[thetime]

1 minute ago, Ferda said:

 

Well said.

 

I would add just one but imho important point - once the headliners are locked in, you can TO A CERTAIN DEGREE influence who else is playing on that particular day, ie. if you go for the lineup diversity or rather catering towards the headliner (sub)genre.

That being said, they can also influence the announcement timeline, e.g. we already know that Weezer and Franz F are playing but they weren't announced yet - just 7 acts out of ±25 for Thu/Sun are public, so it's possible that the rest of the day will be different but some names were held back to create a perception of pop Sunday and rock Thu?

Anyway, putting the festival lineup is super complex and people will always complain no matter what 🙂

 

I am looking forward to whatever they have in store for us, we have 65 pages long thread already and I am sure it will be much longer before July.

 

For me they've nailed it on this lineup. Something old, something new. A bit of rock, indie, dance, pop it's all in there. Some quality older acts for us festival veterans, then some more upto date stuff as well like the Olivia day and fender day. 

 

Then again I'm also going to rock for people, for a weekend of the rock stuff. 

[VolkIreland]

On 12/11/2024 at 9:58 AM, h12101 said:

Hive Resort prices are out: https://www.rockwerchter.be/en/info/camping/the-hive-resort/the-hive-resort-packages.

 

Ouch. 62% increase for the same package we had last year (€680->€1105), others have literally doubled in price. If we'd have known this in advance, we'd have probably thought twice about diving straight in for Combo tickets.

the price increases are a f**king joke

[VolkIreland]

On 12/11/2024 at 11:56 AM, BlackFoxx said:

Quick camping question. If I'm going on my own, and bringing my own tent from the UK, is the recommended option to go for a two-person Hive My Space?

 

That should get me a reserved spot to pitch my tent and avoid the general chaos of trying to find a space in The Hive (where it's seemingly opened up section by section)? Or are the concerns with The Hive more overblown and less of an issue if you're going on you're own - i.e. without needing a big space for a large group to be together?). Any experiences from previous years would be appreciated to help decide between options.

 

If some other friends decide to join at a later date and I go for The Hive My Space is there anyway to let the organisers know and try and get pitches that are closer together? 

 

Thanks for any advice! 

 

P.S. if I do end up making the journey alone, and anyone from here fancies a festival pint or can of Jupiler together, let me know!

 

If you go for a two person pre-pitched and then your friends decided to go along as well, you can just arrive up and ask to be placed next to each other (if there is space, of course). We've done that for the last 2 years with a mix of pre-pitched 2 and 4-person tents. 

 

I can't answer how it works for the space booking. 

[charlierc]

59 minutes ago, VolkIreland said:

the price increases are a f**king joke

So many things have had an insane price jump in recent years. Standing ticket for 3 days at the British Grand Prix was £175 in 2014 and is now £315, with a huge amount of that increase coming after 2020. Bloody covid.

[charlierc]

9 hours ago, thetime said:

 

I'm sure the lineups not curated just to suit just yourself. 🤣

If only we had the money to make a bespoke eFestivals festival for everyone's dream line-up.

[thetime]

19 minutes ago, charlierc said:

If only we had the money to make a bespoke eFestivals festival for everyone's dream line-up.

 

Bjork headlining it is then...

[northernangel]

On 12/22/2024 at 1:22 PM, thetime said:

 

People have been saying that since I started going to werchter about 15 years ago. 

 

Festivals change, unfortunately people don't. It was the same when Jay Z headlined Glastonbury, same with reading lineups. 

 

For me the blockbuster lineups have gone, won't happen again. People need to realise that. 

 

 

 

On 12/22/2024 at 4:49 PM, tmolvik said:

The issue is not whether the lineup is curated for him, me or you. It's what RW historically has been selling and what people anticipate from them. A lot of people has for many years been buying combo tickets based on their track record of good bookings and always among the best (if not the very best) line-up for those looking for that genre. If they want to change that, that's in their right to do so and I'm not even going to debate if it's right or wrong, but at least be up front about it. 

 

I've always bought my combo tickets, knowing that from time to time headliners hasn't been to my taste (because you always know up front), but until last year, they've never disappointed in making the total package looking very good. I can accept a young up & coming headliner and even something that is not related to rock, but If they want to turn one or two whole days into some kind of Coachella/Lollapalooza-circus, I expect them to notify me about such a change in festival category in advance. It will also affect the whole vibe of the festival, which up to know has had a mix of people and ages that has contributed to it's success. 

 

Although I've hated that obvious "joke" of it's not Pop Werchter but Rock Werchter for many years now, maybe they actually should do themselves a favor and remove the rock from it's brand to mark the new direction. It will at least save themselves for a bunch of hassle... Again, we don't know how it will end up looking this year, it might be the Sunday will look completely different when the timetable comes, but I've got a sneaky feeling it won't and RW has always been terrible when it comes to communication. 

 

On 12/22/2024 at 1:22 PM, thetime said:

 

People have been saying that since I started going to werchter about 15 years ago. 

 

Festivals change, unfortunately people don't. It was the same when Jay Z headlined Glastonbury, same with reading lineups. 

 

For me the blockbuster lineups have gone, won't happen again. People need to realise that. 

 

 

 

You can't come and post saying that 10-15 years ago, even 5 years ago the festival as a lineup looked the same as it does now.

 

To be fair Jay-Z didnt headline Glastonbury promoting a rock festival. 

On 12/22/2024 at 4:49 PM, tmolvik said:

The issue is not whether the lineup is curated for him, me or you. It's what RW historically has been selling and what people anticipate from them. A lot of people has for many years been buying combo tickets based on their track record of good bookings and always among the best (if not the very best) line-up for those looking for that genre. If they want to change that, that's in their right to do so and I'm not even going to debate if it's right or wrong, but at least be up front about it. 

 

I've always bought my combo tickets, knowing that from time to time headliners hasn't been to my taste (because you always know up front), but until last year, they've never disappointed in making the total package looking very good. I can accept a young up & coming headliner and even something that is not related to rock, but If they want to turn one or two whole days into some kind of Coachella/Lollapalooza-circus, I expect them to notify me about such a change in festival category in advance. It will also affect the whole vibe of the festival, which up to know has had a mix of people and ages that has contributed to it's success. 

 

Although I've hated that obvious "joke" of it's not Pop Werchter but Rock Werchter for many years now, maybe they actually should do themselves a favor and remove the rock from it's brand to mark the new direction. It will at least save themselves for a bunch of hassle... Again, we don't know how it will end up looking this year, it might be the Sunday will look completely different when the timetable comes, but I've got a sneaky feeling it won't and RW has always been terrible when it comes to communication. 

A lot of this 100%. Changing the name at least would definitely highlight they've reazlied what they did do isn't sustainable.

 

On 12/22/2024 at 6:21 PM, Semprini said:

I've no experience of booking festival line ups but I know enough about them to say that it's nowhere near as simplistic as many people on this forum believe.

All this talk about specific days being curated for a particular demographic, massively misses the main points which are a) when artists are available and b) what are they willing to do? If, for instance, LP or ORod are free that weekend, and RW want them as headliners, then the fact of the matter is they will book them on whatever day they are available. I doubt all these massive acts go to RW first every year and ask, 'When would you like us to play? All the other festivals taking place in Europe that weekend can work around you so just tell us what you want and we'll sort it?'

Reality is that the whole negotiation process is a big game of chess, with the main objective being to get the acts you want on your line up at a price that's agreeable. It's an added bonus if you can get them to play on a specific day but Glastonbury is really the only summer festival that has that sort of pulling power.

 

There's also far too many people making definitive judgements about the line up when it's nowhere near complete. If you don't like the look of it now, no problem - hold off for a bit but accept that it might sell out in the meantime and you can't go. The other alternative is to book your ticket now, knowing there's a chance it won't live up to your expectations - that's the gamble you take in these situations.

However, if you're into music and festivals then the likelihood is you'll have an amazing weekend whatever the final outcome is!

While is might not be near it's outcome, we can't deny that many of the big hitters that sell the tickets are out yet Green Day have been beat close updates by the Sunday which is do far from a Werchter lineup.

 

Also judging by the bottom of your post they can book whoever and you'll have an amazing time?, how does that even make sense.

[sisco]

It makes sense as a lot of us are happy to embrace it all, having a great weekend away with our friends and will have an amazing time whatever just being with the people that make us happy and listening to new and old music.

[thetime]

1 hour ago, northernangel said:

 

 

To be fair Jay-Z didnt headline Glastonbury promoting a rock festival. 

A lot of this 100%. Changing the name at least would definitely highlight they've reazlied what they did do isn't sustainable.

 

 

 

Pink has literally headlined twice, once over a decade ago. 

 

Unfortunately people come across entitled. 

[northernangel]

51 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Pink has literally headlined twice, once over a decade ago. 

 

Unfortunately people come across entitled. 

You're comparing this and it's undercard to a lineup with Pink on featuring her on a co-headline slot with Rammstein?, along with Elbow, Bastille, Brockhampton, Richard Ashcroft.

 

There is no entitled in it, there is a simple case of spot the difference.

[thetime]

7 minutes ago, northernangel said:

You're comparing this and it's undercard to a lineup with Pink on featuring her on a co-headline slot with Rammstein?, along with Elbow, Bastille, Brockhampton, Richard Ashcroft.

 

There is no entitled in it, there is a simple case of spot the difference.

 

It really isn't. 

 

People on here are posting, that festival organisers should tell them they have a pop headliners and changing direction. 

 

Or changing the name, due to having pop headliners. 

 

Totally entitled modern society. 

 

[Name taken]

Whatever!

 

It is and has always been a popfestival with relevant names, and the name is Rock Werchter.

 

I’ve been to New York… Jesus, some new buildings but a lot more old buildings. Shame!

 

[northernangel]

4 hours ago, thetime said:

 

It really isn't. 

 

People on here are posting, that festival organisers should tell them they have a pop headliners and changing direction. 

 

Or changing the name, due to having pop headliners. 

 

Totally entitled modern society. 

 

What's entitled about it thetime? The fact it's bene point out it's in general as undercard too, not just headliners but you seem to keep pulling out the card about just poo headliners when no one has said that. I don't think they should tell me they should they have pop headliners and are changing direction but i get the debate that of you called yourself Rock Werchter and you were identifiable by that, that if sustainability means a change why on the bigger picture announcing it as Rock Festival still comes with reservations. You called out and agreed on one of the headliners being very weak early on and now they've nailed it for you.

 

You've also pulled out two occasions and references the same act on both years and had it explained to you that the rock support backed it up and the act in question also had multiple rock influences so where is your point and where you trying to go with this? 

 

Are you trying to say nothings changed since 2010 because they are still booking, Muse, Editors, Arcade Fire, Pearl Jam, Rammstein, Stereophonics now or that they still booked what will be 6 years ago one day with Pink and light bands while still featuring rock band one day while they booked Muse, Tool, The Cure, Florence, New Order, Weezer, Parkway Drive....and I'm pulling that from an average year

 

Or shall we use 2022 with PJ, The War on Drugs, Pixies, Metallica, Great Van Fleet, TOP, Yungblud, NBT, Maneskin, RHCP, The Killers, Keane, Sum 41, Royal Blood.

 

As you can see, the change happened 15 years ago lol. It's not being entitled, it's the fact there only two days of 4 that had really been booked up to the name of the festival. See I've used bands in there too that I don't actually like but I still recognise them as rock bands.

 

The difference with somewhere like RAR is they haven't anything to notice a difference. And if there wasn't go to be so much of a noticeable difference this year then Ken who is the reliable guy on here wouldn't have made a point of he's interested to see how the new direction goes.

[northernangel]

6 minutes ago, Name taken said:

Whatever!

 

It is and has always been a popfestival with relevant names, and the name is Rock Werchter.

 

I’ve been to New York… Jesus, some new buildings but a lot more old buildings. Shame!

 

Dude! When has it ever been until kinda now a pop festival? There is 27 bands inside the top 3 since 2022 alone that want to have a word lol. And another 25+ in the 3 years previous.

 

It's been a rock festival with a side of pop.

[BlackFoxx]

3 hours ago, northernangel said:

Dude! When has it ever been until kinda now a pop festival? There is 27 bands inside the top 3 since 2022 alone that want to have a word lol. And another 25+ in the 3 years previous.

 

It's been a rock festival with a side of pop.

 

Rock Werchter has always had a pretty diverse lineup. As mentioned before, in the last 10 years you've had Dua Lipa, Stormzy, Oscar and the Wolf, Pink, The Chainsmokers, Macklemore, Ellie Goulding, Pharrell Williams and more playing in prominent spots. I'm not sure you'd get them playing Download or Rock Im Park anytime soon.

 

I'm not sure this year represents such a radical change in direction or genre for Rock Werchter as you've suggested. We've only got maybe ~25% of the total lineup announced so far? This seems premature to be making statements bemoaning about how the festivals changed when we don't know what most the acts will be yet!

 

If you're interested in going to a more narrowly rock focused festival, then there are plenty of other festivals this summer catering to that market like Download, Rock Im Park, Rock For People, etc. I'm not sure Werchter is, or ever really has been, exclusively a rock festival in the same way as these other festivals mentioned above. 

 

 

[thetime]

1 hour ago, BlackFoxx said:

 Download, Rock Im Park, Rock For People, 

 

 

 

I'm amazed there's no outrage at Rock am ring, when you think  that most of the bands play at PM. 😄

[thetime]

1 hour ago, BlackFoxx said:

 

Rock Werchter has always had a pretty diverse lineup. As mentioned before, in the last 10 years you've had Dua Lipa, Stormzy, Oscar and the Wolf, Pink, The Chainsmokers, Macklemore, Ellie Goulding, Pharrell Williams and more playing in prominent spots. I'm not sure you'd get them playing Download or Rock Im Park anytime soon.

 

I'm not sure this year represents such a radical change in direction or genre for Rock Werchter as you've suggested. We've only got maybe ~25% of the total lineup announced so far? This seems premature to be making statements bemoaning about how the festivals changed when we don't know what most the acts will be yet!

 

If you're interested in going to a more narrowly rock focused festival, then there are plenty of other festivals this summer catering to that market like Download, Rock Im Park, Rock For People, etc. I'm not sure Werchter is, or ever really has been, exclusively a rock festival in the same way as these other festivals mentioned above. 

 

 

 

Rock werchter has always had non rock acts. It's always been littered with pop through the lineups. 

 

Black eyed peas, a trac closing. 

[FestivalJamie]

Is there any chance that London grammar could be added ?

[tmolvik]

17 minutes ago, thetime said:

 

Rock werchter has always had non rock acts. It's always been littered with pop through the lineups. 

 

Black eyed peas, a trac closing. 

 

You're missing the point (again). No one cares if there are pop acts (or EDM, R&B etc) at the festival. Diversity is to a certain degree nice and makes sure that everyone can find something they like. It's if/when pretty much whole days are being set aside to other genres than what people have been used to the last 15 years, it becomes a problem. I don't know how many years you've attended RW, but it's becoming more and more obvious for some of us. This was the case this year, and next year's Sunday currently looks like another example, although one still can hope for something different.