Features
European Festivals: BST Hyde Park, Rock Werchter, ESNS & More
The first news concerning the 2023 festival season in Europe is starting to come in, and here’s a selection.
Take That, Pink, Billy Joel At BST Hyde Park
BST Hyde Park celebrated a huge edition this year, and the confirmed acts for the 2023 will only cement its reputation for bringing the world’s most legendary headliners to London, England.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band had been confirmed straight after this year’s edition, which turned out to be the biggest BST Hyde Park so far. The Boss will grace the Great Oak Stage on two nights, Thursday, July 6, and Saturday, July 8, 2023.
See: 530,000 Tickets Sold For Biggest BST Hyde Park Yet
Since then Pink (June 24, 25), Blackpink (July 2), and Billy Joel (July 7) joined the bill, as did the most recent announcement, Take That. One of “the biggest and best loved UK groups ever,” according to AEG Presents, will give their only UK performance in 2023 on July 1, in the lineup of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen.
Take That last performed at BST Hyde Park in 2016. When they return in 2023, they’ll be joined on the July 1 bill by The Script, and Sugababes in their original lineup comprising Siobhán Donaghy, Keisha Buchanan and Mutya Buen.
Stromae, Muse & Arctic Monkeys At Rock Werchter
The dates for Rock Werchter 2023 are June 29–July 2. Live Nation Belgium just announced that electronic music phenomenon Fred again.. will be joining the lineup, performing at the Werchter Festivalpark on Saturday, July 1.
Fred again.. joins previously announced headliners Stromae, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, and Queens of the Stone Age. Tickets are on sale.
See: Rock Werchter Encore & TW Classic Merge Into One In Belgium
ESNS First Acts
Supplying festival bookers with some of the most promising up-and-coming artists is ESNS, which returns to Groningen, Netherlands, Jan. 18-21.
Newly added to the lineup are (in alphabetical order) Avalanche Kaito (be), Azahriah (hu), Bolis Pupul (be), Catherine Graindorge (be), Duo Ruut (ee), Elia Lombardini (fi), Fo Sho (ua), Fran Vasilić (hr), Ila (be), Kings Elliot (ch), Klangphonics (de), LASS (fr), Monsieur Doumani (cy), Naaz (nl), Robin Kester (nl), S1mba (uk-eng), Suistamon Sähkö (fi), Takeshi’s Cashew (at), Tautumeitas (lv), The Jordan (nl), The Mary Wallopers (ie), The Scratch (ie), Tinlicker (nl), Tramhaus (nl), and Yavi (bg/BNR).
Each January, ESNS showcases 350 emerging European artists to over 40,000 visitors. The list of artists who’ve made a name for themselves performing to the hundreds of festival representatives on site each year includes Altin Gün, Arlo Parks, Alyona Alyona, Daði Freyr, Dua Lipa, Fontaines D.C., Hinds, Go_A, girl in red, Meduza, Meskerem Mees, MYD, Priya Ragu, Pip Blom, Pongo, Sigrid, Wet Leg, and more.
See: ESNS 2023 Focuses On Spain
Rolling Loud Returns To Portugal
Following the successful (and delayed) premiere of Rolling Loud in Europe, the festival announced its return to the Algarve coast of southern Portugal, July 5-7, 2023.
While no lineup has been announced yet, promoters promise “the finest rap music from the U.S., UK, and Europe, hosted in a picturesque seaside setting,” to entice fans to join the pre-sale, which has started.
Rolling Loud’s Portuguese premiere this year saw headliners J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, and Future top a bill that also included UK rappers like Central Cee, Skepta, and D-Block Europe, plus local artists from the buzzing Portuguese rap scene.
It’s been a big year for Rolling Loud, with five festivals in four countries: the Canadian premiere of Rolling Loud Toronto in September, headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave; the flagship Rolling Loud Miami festival in July with Kendrick Lamar, Kid Cudi, and Future; the brand’s first camping festival in The Netherlands, in cooperation with Woo Hah Fest; Rolling Loud New York in September, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, and Future.
For 2023, Rolling Loud has also announced Rolling Loud California at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles in March, and Rolling Loud Thailand, its first foray into Asia, in April 2023.