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In 2025, Belgian Rock Werchter festival will celebrate half-century of existence

Over the past five decades, the world of music has undeniably changed and the very concept of rock seems almost obsolete.

In 1975, the first edition of the festival (still labelled blues) took place under a tent in front of a few hundred spectators in the small Brabant village of Werchter. Absolutely no one suspected that fifty years later, Rock Werchter would attract several hundred thousand spectators over four days and at least as many stages. Most of the artists (all Belgian) scheduled for this first edition (followed by a Dancing T!) have now disappeared into history's dustbin with the exception of the bluesman Big Bill, now 74 years old, who was performing with Sock & Soul. The ticket cost the equivalent of 1 Euro! 

As with many major events these days, ticket pre-sales have become a devilishly serious affair. Although it officially opens today, November 22, fans of headliners such as Olivia Rodrigo or Sam Fender (neither of whom were of this world in 1975) were nevertheless offered to register on a waiting list in order to be among the first to obtain the coveted sesame. At the time (as the veterans of Rock Werchter would say), tickets in real paper (yes, yes, from a tree!) were distributed in a few dozen points of sale, often record stores, and it was enough to be in their good books or among the regular customers to be sure to be among the lucky ones. A time that those under 20 have not known! 

And the music, you might ask? Since the end of October, the first big names have been announced bit by bit: the returnees of Green Day who have already come three times, Sam Fender, Olivia Rodrigo and Linkin Park. In order to draw the interest, fourteen new names were revealed on November 21, on the eve of the opening of pre-sales. While you can discover all of them on the festival website, we will nevertheless highlight the presence of Jim Kerr and Simple Minds who, on July 8, 1984, were already headlining the festival. The prize for longevity, so far, among the artists invited to this anniversary edition...

All the information on the poster and pre-sales here: www.rockwerchter.be

(MH with AK - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Jim Kerr with Simple Minds at the Rock Werchter festival see four decades on July 8, 1984

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