Festival Preview: Rock Werchter

Preview: Rock Werchter

Since 1976 Belgium has hosted a festival which has won the Arthur award for best festival in the world an impressive seven times. That festival is Rock Werchter. This year from the 25^th to the 28^th of June the four day festival will play host to various acts spanning many genres and nationalities. Topping the bill on Thursday night is none other than multi-award winning critically acclaimed rock five-piece Foo Fighters (pictured) who with a new album to show off will be drawing in one of the biggest crowds of the festival. Elsewhere, the headliners are Mumford and Sons, The Prodigy and Muse. On Thursday, The Chemical Brothers who have recently unveiled a new track will be bringing their spectacular live show to the fields of Belgium and they are sure to give the crowd something to remember. Florence and the Machine, Elbow, Patti Smith, Eagles of Death Metal and Brit award winner James Bay will also appear on the Thursday of Rock Werchter.

Friday sees the ever-popular Mumford and Sons (pictured) headline. The four-piece have their new album Wilder Mind to show off and as they have played at the festival before you will expect a performance that is precise and well drilled. Another band who will follow suit with their intricate and precise performances are grammy award nominated Alt-J. As the festival has the word “Rock” within its title, you might think that the festival is genre specific. You would be wrong. Friday has the likes of Pharell Williams, FKA Twigs and Roisin Murphy to appeal to a wider audience. Friday seems to have the feel of a pleasant day, Ben Howard and Of Monsters and Men will also feature creating a relaxed atmosphere around the site.

Saturday is the day of the big hitters. Another group who are out to show off their new album are The Prodigy who are Saturday’s headliners. Known for their on stage power and diversity, the trio will no doubt prove a hit at this year’s Rock Werchter and with ‘The Day is my Enemy’ added to their repertoire they are a force to reckoned with. Another big hitter is none other than multi-award winning Lenny Kravitz who will be returning to the festival after releasing his tenth album ‘Strut’ in 2014. Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds are also returning to the festival having first played there in 2012. British rock duo Royal Blood (pictured) who rose to fame after securing number one album on the UK and performing a series of storming performances in 2014 will also appear on the Saturday of Rock Werchter. The War on Drugs and Hozier are another two stand-out performers on the day.

The final day of the festival sees a celebration of musical diversity. Muse who have reignited the world of rock music take the final headline slot along with their immense live show and blistering songs. Their British counterparts Kasabian still riding high after headlining Glastonbury in 2014 join them on Sunday. Pop band The Script are another group to return to Werchter in 2015 along with Jessie J. Maxi Jazz – famous for dance group Faithless – will also be at this year’s festival along with the E Type Boys. Alabama Shakes, The Vaccines and Enter Shikari, who will also take to stage. This year’s Rock Werchter 2015 is full of diversity and range. It’s not one to be missed. 

Foo Fighters to Headline Glastonbury

Foo Fighters Confirmed to play Glastonbury

It has been confirmed this evening (18 Feb) that american rock legends and arguably the biggest band in the world at the moment Foo Fighters will headline Glastonbury festival this year. The band who won an NME award for best international group announced during the ceremony that they will be headlining the Somerset based festival via a video message.

Foo Fighters are the first headline act to be announced for the festival and will fill the Friday headline slot. There are still many rumours as to who else will headline the festival including Fleetwood Mac and Florence and the Machine neither of which have been confirmed.

Foo Fighters released their eight studio album Sonic Highways in November 2014 through RCA records and it peaked at number two in the UK album charts hit number one in America.

News: Dave Grohl calls Royal Bloods debut album 'so encouraging'

Dave Grohl calls Royal Bloods debut album 'so encouraging' 

Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl has described Royal Bloods recent rise to the top UK album charts as 'so encouraging'.

The Brighton duo's self titled debut album went straight in to the UK album charts at number 1 when it was released back in August 2014. It has become the fastest selling rock debut since Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' release in 2011.

 Speaking to the NME, Grohl recalled watching footage of the bands set at this years Glastonbury Festival. "I saw some live footage of them, and I was so excited to see a band that was heavy, had riffs, had songs, and could really perform, and an audience that was genuinely excited to watch them play," said Grohl.

"And then someone tells me that the album went to number one, and for another guy with a guitar to see another guy with a guitar getting the number one record, it’s so encouraging".

Foo Fighters are favourites to headline one of the nights at Glastonbury Festival next year after Grohl himself told the NME that he's interested in the slot. Fleetwood Mac are also in line to headline despite Mick Fleetwood stating that the band will not perform together next year. 

Quotes from NME