Rock Werchter 2019

About:
Held annually in the village of Werchter in Belgium, Rock Werchter is a four-day music festival that features a lineup of popular international and Belgian artists across multiple stages and attracts tens of thousands of music fans from around the world.

The festival has been running since 1976 and has grown to become one of the largest and most renowned music festivals in Europe, some of the biggest names in music have performed at Rock Werchter over the years, including Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Beyoncé, and Foo Fighters, among many others.

Famous For:
The festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere and attracts tens of thousands of music fans from around the world each year.

Creation Purpose:
Rock Werchter was envisioned and founded by Herman Schueremans, who was a young student at the time. Schueremans had a passion for music and wanted to create a festival in Belgium that would feature some of the biggest names in rock and pop music. He was inspired by the success of other major music festivals around the world, such as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, and saw an opportunity to bring a similar experience to Belgian music fans.

Fun Facts:
The festival was canceled only once in its history, in 1997, due to financial difficulties.

In 2019, the festival sold out all 122,000 tickets for its four-day event in just one hour.

In 2015, the festival's main stage called the "Pyramid Marquee," was renamed the "Main Stage" to reflect its importance as the festival's centerpiece.

In 2018, the festival introduced a new ticket system that used facial recognition technology to prevent ticket fraud and ensure the safety and security of festival-goers.

Rock Werchter has been awarded several awards over the years, including the "Best Festival" award at the European Festival Awards in 2015, 2016, and 2019.

Impact on the Music Industry:
The festival has also played a role in shaping the direction of popular music, with its diverse lineup of rock, pop, and EDM acts influencing the tastes and preferences of music fans across Europe.