Rock Werchter 2025

[Crazyfool01]

Not sure of the beef here but the Rock werchter thread or Efests isn’t the place for it . Thanks both 

[sisco]

26 minutes ago, Crazyfool01 said:

Not sure of the beef here but the Rock werchter thread or Efests isn’t the place for it . Thanks both 

Fully agreed and apologies if my retaliation has become an annoyance.  Won’t be happening again.

 

Anyway…. Back to Werchter.  Do we think there could be more surprises considering they’ve still not done a poster yet? Would make sense why they’ve not with the additions of KOL and 2ManyDJ’s

[49Lawson]

2 minutes ago, sisco said:

Fully agreed and apologies if my retaliation has become an annoyance.  Won’t be happening again.

 

Anyway…. Back to Werchter.  Do we think there could be more surprises considering they’ve still not done a poster yet? Would make sense why they’ve not with the additions of KOL and 2ManyDJ’s

I did wonder if they're going to tie up the loose ends tomorrow and drop a poster with maybe one more act or two. Seems odd that they've done two in two days, not their usual MO

[Kempleton]

3 minutes ago, sisco said:

Fully agreed and apologies if my retaliation has become an annoyance.  Won’t be happening again.

 

Anyway…. Back to Werchter.  Do we think there could be more surprises considering they’ve still not done a poster yet? Would make sense why they’ve not with the additions of KOL and 2ManyDJ’s

Yes. There should be 1 more act on the Saturday, which will be a TBA until the festival happens. And then it will be The Cure. *
 

* This will absolutely not happen 

[gingerevans84]

This is all very unlike Werchter. Thinking we'll get one more name and the poster tomorrow.

 

Not long until we meet in the fields with a cold Jupiler in our hands.

[Mondo-kun]

Are letlive. still possible? Were leaked by Kerrang for Saturday a month ago (the date is still on their page).
 

[Floyd_Ams]

42 minutes ago, Mondo-kun said:

Are letlive. still possible? Were leaked by Kerrang for Saturday a month ago (the date is still on their page).
 

Considering that we are still missing one name (and of that calibre) for Saturday, I'd say that, yes, it is very possible. 

[bitterobvious]

3 hours ago, matrainertje said:

No they aren't. 😅

 

It makes sense to to something like this on the last day, at the very end of the festival, no? 

 

I'll be far too tired for this after 4 days of festivaling, like I said, I'll be going home at that point

[northernangel]

7 hours ago, BennyL said:

Trying to keep people back for the most popular headliner they have?

Might not be your cup of tea, but she’s been a major ticket seller

 

The most popular headliner they have there has clearly been LP though I'm still not sure how but thats another matter. Thursday absolutely flew out in sales and that's not usually the case, she does come second though. 

[sisco]

Just back from seeing Gurriers, very much a band on the up and thoroughly recommend them.  Looking forward to their slope performance already

[northernangel]

On 26/03/2025 at 20:02, BlackFoxx said:

Forgot how rock the Black Eyed Peas were tbh. Thanks for reminding us. 

Did you forgot how rock RHCP, Tool, Deftones, Death Cab on the same day as well?

 

Or how ATL, Social Distortion, Kaiser Cheifs, Kasabian, Grinderman, Iron Maiden played the same day as well as well as Werchter having dance closing acts every year on multiple days for years? You can't always have rock dance closer or you'll be booking The Prodigy every night.

 

Nice effort but terrible point.

Edited March 28, 2025 by northernangel

[northernangel]

On 26/03/2025 at 16:21, gingerevans84 said:

Ive seen all 4 headliners in the last 9 months. The Thursday is an all timer festival day..

 

But I'm lying..

 

Have a word with yourself.

No one is debating Thursday being fit for Rock Werchter so I can't disagree with you, like or dislike they are worthy editions for the festival. Noah Kahn, Gracie Abrams, Raye to name a few, spot the difference. KOL that late as a booking on the easiest day to sell out for a festival is the biggest sign of, we need to do something on the overall picture.

 

So I don't think I need to have a word with myself.

[matrainertje]

8 hours ago, northernangel said:

Noah Kahn, Gracie Abrams, Raye to name a few, spot the difference. 

 

The difference between Raye and Noah Kahan is as big as the difference between Raye and Fontaines DC. 3 completely different acts. Also: Raye will smash it and almost guaranteed play one of the best shows of the weekend. 

[gingerevans84]

11 hours ago, northernangel said:

No one is debating Thursday being fit for Rock Werchter so I can't disagree with you, like or dislike they are worthy editions for the festival. Noah Kahn, Gracie Abrams, Raye to name a few, spot the difference. KOL that late as a booking on the easiest day to sell out for a festival is the biggest sign of, we need to do something on the overall picture.

 

So I don't think I need to have a word with myself.

Its just different. Alarming lack of 'rock' bands flying through to be near the top of the bill. And yet when they go for a new headliner, Fender isnt big enough wah wah wah blah blah blah.

 

Lets not pretend Raye and Noah Kahan will firstly have huge crowds, and secondly, be extremely good.

[northernangel]

8 hours ago, matrainertje said:

 

The difference between Raye and Noah Kahan is as big as the difference between Raye and Fontaines DC. 3 completely different acts. Also: Raye will smash it and almost guaranteed play one of the best shows of the weekend. 

 

Right, I'm glad we've established that but that's nothing that's not been said.

5 hours ago, gingerevans84 said:

Its just different. Alarming lack of 'rock' bands flying through to be near the top of the bill. And yet when they go for a new headliner, Fender isnt big enough wah wah wah blah blah blah.

 

Lets not pretend Raye and Noah Kahan will firstly have huge crowds, and secondly, be extremely good.

 

I think everyone has agreed Fender wasn't big enough over there for it and was by an absolute country mile the weak link lol so all you’ve done here is made a point against what everyone agreed lol. They've just booked a massive headliner for that day as well this late, I wouldn't say it saves it as it's still the weakest but helps it, a reason to go in if you like. So I'm not sure what you're point is here.

 

Extremely good will be subjective firstly, secondly I have never said they aren't sized acts.

 

[sisco]

5 hours ago, gingerevans84 said:

Its just different. Alarming lack of 'rock' bands flying through to be near the top of the bill. And yet when they go for a new headliner, Fender isnt big enough wah wah wah blah blah blah.

 

Lets not pretend Raye and Noah Kahan will firstly have huge crowds, and secondly, be extremely good.

Have you watched Raye’s Montreaux Jazz performance? Really recommend it.  
She really does put lots of emotion into her performances, was in awe when I saw her at Victorious festival. 

[tmolvik]

5 hours ago, sisco said:

Have you watched Raye’s Montreaux Jazz performance? Really recommend it.  
She really does put lots of emotion into her performances, was in awe when I saw her at Victorious festival. 

 

But that's not really the point is it? I don't think anyone is debating whether Raye (or any of the others) are good or not, as that is a matter of taste. The point is that given the festival's (at least previous) track record and positioning, they don't really fit in. And that is also not to say, that there is no room for them at the festival, but not in those numbers and the Sunday is a great example of that. The statement that Raye and Noah Kahan is different, is correct enough, it's just not relevant for that discussion, because none of them are in that genre that is being less and less represented.

I'm therefore quite amazed by how many "newcomers", some that might never have attended the festival, that are trying to convince those attending for the 10+ time that they are wrong. It's absolutely not wrong. We know, we have been there. For years and years. Does that mean that the festival is not allowed to evolve or change direction? Again absolutely not, but it would be nice if they had the guts to communicate it, not continue trying to ride two horses at the same time. 

So one can discuss taste until the end of the world, but that is not the point that some people here are trying to make. It's that they have shifted from their previous focus, and that's not really debatable, no matter how popular any of the artists in the other genres are on Spotify.

[h12101]

They've lost the plot, so much heavier a decade ago:

Edited March 29, 2025 by h12101

[sisco]

9 hours ago, tmolvik said:

 

But that's not really the point is it? I don't think anyone is debating whether Raye (or any of the others) are good or not, as that is a matter of taste. The point is that given the festival's (at least previous) track record and positioning, they don't really fit in. And that is also not to say, that there is no room for them at the festival, but not in those numbers and the Sunday is a great example of that. The statement that Raye and Noah Kahan is different, is correct enough, it's just not relevant for that discussion, because none of them are in that genre that is being less and less represented.

I'm therefore quite amazed by how many "newcomers", some that might never have attended the festival, that are trying to convince those attending for the 10+ time that they are wrong. It's absolutely not wrong. We know, we have been there. For years and years. Does that mean that the festival is not allowed to evolve or change direction? Again absolutely not, but it would be nice if they had the guts to communicate it, not continue trying to ride two horses at the same time. 

So one can discuss taste until the end of the world, but that is not the point that some people here are trying to make. It's that they have shifted from their previous focus, and that's not really debatable, no matter how popular any of the artists in the other genres are on Spotify.

I’m not trying to convince anyone at all.  If people don’t like a lineup then in my opinion they shouldn’t go.  
 

The festival (and festivals in general) have switched focus, they know what sells and also what bands/acts are around.  You only need to look at certain festivals that cater for a specific audience that just rotate headliners every 3 years to realise that keeping within a specific genre especially with a lack of alternative acts coming though will cause issues.
 

RW tickets don’t sell out and aren’t cheaper if you buy early (are they?) so maybe people should just wait and see in future? It certainly sounds like you will be. 

Festival lineups are mostly about tastes, seems yours and others have moved away from what RW is offering so surely there’s another out there for you.  However i 100% agree that  Sunday really should have provided more alternatives to the poppier show on the main stage.  
 

I guess the only question really to ask is do the organisers care…. All the time it sells out, I doubt it.

[pryce]

Worst thing about festivals ..their gatekeepers ..I've been to to the festival for 10 years ..so I'm more important than everyone else ..only my music tastes must be catered for. 

 

As we see from the festival 10 years ago this isn't monsters of rock that people are pretending it is and was ..it had heavy years when heavy music sold more tickets and more heavy bands toured, it bad more poppy years when pop sold more and more pop toured.

[northernangel]

10 hours ago, tmolvik said:

 

But that's not really the point is it? I don't think anyone is debating whether Raye (or any of the others) are good or not, as that is a matter of taste. The point is that given the festival's (at least previous) track record and positioning, they don't really fit in. And that is also not to say, that there is no room for them at the festival, but not in those numbers and the Sunday is a great example of that. The statement that Raye and Noah Kahan is different, is correct enough, it's just not relevant for that discussion, because none of them are in that genre that is being less and less represented.

I'm therefore quite amazed by how many "newcomers", some that might never have attended the festival, that are trying to convince those attending for the 10+ time that they are wrong. It's absolutely not wrong. We know, we have been there. For years and years. Does that mean that the festival is not allowed to evolve or change direction? Again absolutely not, but it would be nice if they had the guts to communicate it, not continue trying to ride two horses at the same time. 

So one can discuss taste until the end of the world, but that is not the point that some people here are trying to make. It's that they have shifted from their previous focus, and that's not really debatable, no matter how popular any of the artists in the other genres are on Spotify.

 

Mostly this. I don't think they have to communicate to people myself though.

 

I dont think the people going and like it are wrong but I equally think the people who have grown up knowing Rock Werchter as the bigger bigger can rightly see the shift and there is acts not relevant to it. For a fair amount now, it is just the Rock Werchter in name.

 

I also don't think the festival has to cater to me, not at all. Thursday is definitely not rock for me but that doesn't stop it being relevant to the scene. I do think it has to cater the rock broadly across the weekend though and people do have a right to expect that, that's not entitled, that's is in the name the festival perceive it to be. I've said before, Mad Cool book similar artists but they don't have a genre related name on their festival so they can actually book whatever very similar to Reading in a way. It needed mixing whichever way and undeniably they changed too much and even those happen with it can still accept it is different and not what you would expect from the festival which I feel is all the point being made it. Saturday and Sunday still very much stick out even with KOL. I'd even say that if you put Olivia on Saturday with KOL underneath and shift some undercard it becomes such a better scenario.

 

If you take Reading for example, they removed the rock from Reading years and years ago, so although it's what many of us growing up in the 2000s and 2010s knew of it as overall, you might say it's gone down hill or whatever people's opinions are but you can't say it's a rock festival as it hasn't claimed to be for years.

 

2 hours ago, h12101 said:

They've lost the plot, so much heavier a decade ago:

 

Oh look, dance closing closing headliners after two rocks bands, well I'm sure if Maiden and Linkin Park accepted it then Mumfords and Faith No previously can. Go and check out the editions surrounding it, even with the very clever decided option on 2015 the rock options are at least spread better over the days. 

 

The Chems, Faith No More, Florence

 

Pharrell, Mumford, Ben Howard

 

The Prodigy, Lenny Kravitz, Noel

 

Muse, Kasabian, The Script

 

 

Linkin Park, Deftones, Fontaines

 

Green Day, Simple Minds, Girl in Red

 

Sam Fender, Raye and KOL late in otherwise it's Sam, Raye, Damien

 

Olivia, Noah, Gracie

 

Even on the poor year you pick, the overall difference is there to see and that's just the top 3.

Edited March 29, 2025 by northernangel

[BlackFoxx]

 

24 minutes ago, northernangel said:

The Chems, Faith No More, Florence

 

Pharrell, Mumford, Ben Howard

 

The Prodigy, Lenny Kravitz, Noel

 

Muse, Kasabian, The Script

 

 

Linkin Park, Deftones, Fontaines

 

Green Day, Simple Minds, Girl in Red

 

Sam Fender, Raye and KOL late in otherwise it's Sam, Raye, Damien

 

Olivia, Noah, Gracie

 

Even on the poor year you pick, the overall difference is there to see and that's just the top 3.

I can't really spot all that much of a  difference, apart from that the 2025 Sunday might be more consolidated into similar genres (which is a point I don't think anyone has tried to refute?). 

 

2015's Pharrell Williams and Mumford and Sons day isn't too far from 2025's Olivia and Noah Kahan is it? If anything Olivia has more guitars and rock influence, and I don't think genre wise there is that much between Noah Kahan and Mumford and Sons.

 

For those who think Rock Werchter has significantly shifted identity this year, who of acts touring this summer would you want or have previously expected them to book instead? If Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, etc had been touring summer 2025 in Europe and not been booked in favour of Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender and whoever else represents "Not-Rock Werchter" that would make your argument more persuasive. As it is, I'm not sure who the acts of that type that Rock Werchter has missed out on are, and the 2025 lineup feels more like they've booked the best they could from who is available. Some years that will include all 'rock' headliners, and other years like 2015 and 2025 that won't.

 

I guess the real test of this argument will be next year. If aforementioned bands like Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, Oasis and whoever else are rumoured to be touring Europe next summer, will Rock Werchter book them? 

 

 

Edited March 29, 2025 by BlackFoxx

[northernangel]

23 minutes ago, BlackFoxx said:

 

I can't really spot all that much of a  difference, apart from that the 2025 Sunday might be more consolidated into similar genres (which is a point I don't think anyone has tried to refute?). 

 

2015's Pharrell Williams and Mumford and Sons day isn't too far from 2025's Olivia and Noah Kahan is it? If anything Olivia has more guitars and rock influence, and I don't think genre wise there is that much between Noah Kahan and Mumford and Sons.

 

For those who think Rock Werchter has significantly shifted identity this year, who of acts touring this summer would you want or have previously expected them to book instead? If Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, etc had been touring summer 2025 in Europe and not been booked in favour of Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender and whoever else represents "Not-Rock Werchter" that would make your argument more persuasive. As it is, I'm not sure who the acts of that type that Rock Werchter has missed out on are, and the 2025 lineup feels more like they've booked the best they could from who is available. Some years that will include all 'rock' headliners, and other years like 2015 and 2025 that won't.

 

I guess the real test of this argument will be next year. If aforementioned bands like Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, Oasis and whoever else are rumoured to be touring Europe next summer, will Rock Werchter book them? 

 

 

If you can't spot much of a difference between Girl in Red, Simple Minds being a weak sub, Fender being a weaker headliner agreed across the board even by sisco eventually for the Saturday plus Raye, Noah and Gracie Abrams as just the top 3 on days then I don't know what to tell you. Again, size of the act isn't the question here, it never was.

 

I think many people have tried to refute Sunday as just being strong rather than the actual points of the said artists people have made. Strong for Werchter and strong as artists are totally different. Saturday and Sunday compared to the first two stood out as totally different options and KOL haven't been booked without recognising that. So if everyone who's simply made a point about being too much difference and change were wrong and greeted with the usual....how can this be seen as week was correct then they would have just left Raye subbing, put another band lower down and not booked KOL in. I'm under no illusions as I don't think anyone is that Olivia has done most of her selling and I'd say so for Green Day too. Simple Minds got some stick for being sub to Green Day at IOW last year and IOW do have a tendency to have some weaker subs so it's not the sub you expect there.

 

Some might say why does it bother me so much, I'm actually just engaging in the convince and with not having Glastonbury this year as yet this was my next plan so that's why. So better options for a full plan would have been good, it's a disappointment and maybe acceptance of the festival changing rather than they should cater to me so I can go, they should they their name or I'm entitled to get what I want, not at all that.

 

On the next year thing, I will say that apart from Olivia, The Cure as a booking would be better for me that any of the other top options there this year. I sadly don't think they will get Metallica unless offered double. I would be surprised if they get Oasis, the only festival I can see them wanting to do is Glastonbury. 

Edited March 29, 2025 by northernangel

[BlackFoxx]

I think we're very lucky in Europe to have a lot of really good festivals that are relatively easy to travel to. If "Not-Rock Werchter" is a thing and is here to stay, it's not like there aren't other European festivals that do market themselves as more genre-focused rock festivals you could go to instead, e.g. Rock Im Park, Nova Rock, Download, etc. These alternative festivals will vary a bit in how narrowly they define rock music, for example Download aren't likely to book Maneskin any time soon, but they did headline Rock Im Park last year. Regardless such genre-focused festivals do still exist if that is what you're looking for.

 

Personally I think that Rock Werchter is (and has historically been) closer to broader booking, genre-diverse festivals like Mad Cool, Nos Alive and Roskilde than it has been to these kind of genre-focused rock festivals. However, for those that disagree and argue that Rock Werchter has lost its way as a 'rock' festival then I'm not sure why you wouldn't just go to something like Rock Im Park instead, as this feels to offer some of the solution to the criticism levied at the Rock Werchter lineup?

 

[BlackFoxx]

@northernangel somewhat overlooked in your reply to my last post. But I'm genuinely interested in your thoughts on this part of my previous post.

27 minutes ago, BlackFoxx said:

 

For those who think Rock Werchter has significantly shifted identity this year, who of acts touring this summer would you want or have previously expected them to book instead? If Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, etc had been touring summer 2025 in Europe and not been booked in favour of Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender and whoever else represents "Not-Rock Werchter" that would make your argument more persuasive. As it is, I'm not sure who the acts of that type that Rock Werchter has missed out on are, and the 2025 lineup feels more like they've booked the best they could from who is available. Some years that will include all 'rock' headliners, and other years like 2015 and 2025 that won't.

 

I guess the real test of this argument will be next year. If aforementioned bands like Pearl Jam, The Cure, Metallica, Radiohead, Oasis and whoever else are rumoured to be touring Europe next summer, will Rock Werchter book them? 

 

 

Who did Rock Werchter not book from touring bands this summer that would've improved the current lineup or better fit with the lineup expectations you have from the festival?