Features
UK/Euro Lineups: RHCP Return To Werchter, Travis Scott At Rolling Loud Portugal & More
The lineups for Europe’s 2023 festivals are coming in fast. Here’s the latest roundup.
Rock Werchter Takes Shape
Rock Werchter just announced that the Red Hot Chili Peppers will include the Belgian mega festival on their festival run next summer.
The Californians will take the stage at Werchter Festivalpark on Friday, June 30, joining a bill that already includes Stromae, Aurora, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The 1975, and Sam Fender (June 29); Cavetown, The HU, slowthai, The Interrupters, Wadruna, Tamino, and The Black Keys (June 30); Adekunle Gold, Dean Lewis, Sigur Rós, Xavier Rudd, Paolo Nutini, Machine Gun Kelly, Fred again.., Oscar and The Wolf, and Muse (July 1); and Arctic Monkeys, Lovejoy, Pip Millett, Amenra, Puscifer, Gabriels, Jacob Collier, The Lumineers, and Queens of the Stone Age (July 2).
Red Hot Chili Peppers closed out Rock Werchter 2022. Their return just one year later is part of the band’s recently announced world tour, which includes several European festivals aside from Rock Werchter.
Also on their itinerary are Pinkpop in the Netherlands, Tinderbox in Denmark, I-Days in Italy, NOS Live in Portugal, and Mad Cool in Spain.
Tickets for Rock Werchter 2023 are on sale.
Travis Scott To Headline Rolling Loud Portugal
Travis Scott, who was recently unveiled as headliner of Rolling Loud California, will also headline the festival’s European offshoot in Portugal, July 5-7.
Travis Scott had been the first choice for the Portuguese debut of Rolling Loud, originally scheduled to take place in 2020, but since it got postponed twice, that never materialized.
UK/Euro Lineups: Rolling Loud Takes Over Europe
Instead, Rolling Loud’s first full-fledged European festival was headlined by J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, and Future. The three-days also saw memorable performances from European and UK rappers like Central Cee, Skepta, and D-Block Europe, plus local artists from the buzzing Portuguese rap scene. Rolling Loud Portugal 2023 promises a similarly eclectic lineup.
Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 9, at 10 a.m. GMT.
Electronic Elite At Balaton Sound
Balafon Sound, one of Europe’s most beloved beach festival for electronic music, has announced the first wave of acts to perform on the shores of Lake Balaton in Hungary, June 28–July 1.
The lineup is led by Armin Van Buuren, Dimension (DJ set), Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Don Diablo, Hardwell, Joel Corry, KSHMR, Kungs, Ofenbach, and Vini Vici, in alphabetical order.
Balafon Sound festival manager Anna Filutas said, “In this very first announcement, we can see that we already have performers from the very top of the DJ Mag’s ‘Top 100 DJ list’, such as Armin Van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Don Diablo, KSHMR or Vini Vici’. Balaton Sound is an unmissable place for evening parties with an unforgettable Balaton beach’s sunrise, but it is also a great destination to recharge during the day. Adding to this we try to satisfy all the festival-goers needs from adventurous campers to visitors looking for comfort and 5-star services.”
Tickets are on sale.
First 25 For Airbeat One
Another mega event for electronic music comes from Germany. It is called Airbeat One, and just announced the first 25 acts for its 2023 lineup, July 12-16, at the airfield in Neustadt-Glewe in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.
Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, as well as German top DJs Boris Brejcha, Neelix, Paul van Dyk, and Scooter, Anne Clue, Claptone, and SKIY, are joined by Deborah de Luca, Nora En Pure, HBz, Lexy & K-Paul, VIZE, YouNotUs, Brennan Heart, Headhunterz, Noisecontrollers, Sickmode, Wildstylez, and Klangkarussell.
Some 300 artists in total are expected to take one of five stages, as are 65,000 visitors from more than 50 countries. Tickets are now on sale.
See: DEAG Acquires Airbeat One Festival Germany
Honorable Mentions: Kite, Kala & Elbjazz
Kite festival has revealed its line-up for the second edition of the festival in Oxfordshire, England, which describes itself as “a curated journey of cutting-edge debate and a rich program of ideas with spectacular musical performances for audiences seeking an alternative festival experience.”
Hot Chip, Suede, Candi Staton, Lynks, Sarathy Korwar, and more will take the stage at Kirtlington Park near Oxford, June 9-11. Comedy, keynotes and readings will also be part of the festival’s varied program again.
Festival director Ciro Romano said, “Ideas and music have always co-existed; they are linked in our history, but, for the most part, there has been a clear dividing line between ideas/literary festivals and music festival. So, we are thrilled to have developed a new greenfield festival that puts music and ideas on an equal footing and be back again. At KITE, thinking and dancing can co-exist. KITE 2023 will engage with the most vital artists, musicians, writers, and public figures in one setting over three days. We couldn’t be more excited and look forward to having you join us at Kirtlington Park next June.”
Early bird tickets are on sale.
In 2018, Kala premiered on the sun-drenched beaches of the Albanian Riviera, offering a dreamy blend of beach vacation and music festival, and building a reputation as a new dance paradise and that could elevate Albania as a festival hotspot without a tent in sight.
The fourth edition of Kala will go down May 31–June 7. Promoters say they value “quality over quantity,” which is why the top DJs on the bill are invited to play extended sets. The confirmed bill features Hunee & Antal, and Moxie & Leon Vynehall filling two out of the five all-night slots.
Marcellus Pittman, CC:DISCO!, Prins Thomas, Paula Tape, Yu Su, Secretsundaze, Maurice Fulton, Lena Willikens, Vladimir Ivkovic, Ciel, Brian Not Brian, Jan Schulte, Jamie Tiller, John Gómez, Lauren Hansom, and Nick The Record will make sure there’s something for fans of all the various electronic music genres, from melodic to hardcore.
Kala’s marketing manager Juan Lopez commented, “In a fast-changing festival landscape, Kala offers a new way of experiencing a summer festival, pairing a beach holiday at an exciting offbeat destination, an intimate and friendly festival atmosphere, and a curation that sets it apart from its peers with a healthy amount of live music, extended 5-hour sets by the headline DJs, and an eclectic yet coherent selection of talent across decades and genres.”
All tickets available here include accommodation and a festival wristband. There is a range of options available, from exotic beach huts to fancy 5* hotels, and most are within walking distance from the festival site.
Elbjazz Festival, which will take place June 9-10 at the port of Hamburg, Germany, has announced Meute as its first headliner.
Pollstar recently took a look at how the German 11-piece marching band conquered markets outside of their home country with their unique fusion of brass band sounds and techno, all made using only acoustic instruments.
Elbjazz features artists from multiple genres related to jazz, including nu soul, neo-classic and singer songwriters, and the 2023 bill also features Michael Wollny Trio, Hania Rani, Steve Turre Sextet, Tomeka Reid Quartet, Sarah McCoy, Lambert, Cherise sowie Norwegian Wind Ensemble with Marius Neset and Erlend Skomsvoll.
Tickets for Elbjazz 2023 can be ordered here.