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Rock Werchter Encore & TW Classic Merge Into One In Belgium
Rock Werchter Encore, the one-day event created to celebrate the return of Rock Werchter after two years of forced downtime, has merged with TW Classic, June 25.
This means that Florence + the Machine, and other artists originally booked for Rock Werchter Encore, will join the TW Classic bill, which is led by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Placebo, and The Smile.
TW Classic takes place on the weekend before the sold-out main event Rock Werchter takes over the Festivalpark in Werchter, Belgium, June 30-July 3. This year’s massive Rock Werchter lineup is led by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Metallica, The Killers, Twenty One Pilots, Imagine Dragons, and many more.
See: Big Names For Rock Werchter 2022
Rock Werchter Encore, scheduled for June 26, was announced earlier this year, after the Rock Werchter main event had sold out its 88,000 daily capacity in February.
Sales have been going well, according to orgainizers, who were expecting some 25,000 to purchase a ticket for Encore. Still, according to a promoter statement, “the timing was just not right.” Full statement below.
The merger of Rock Werchter Encore with TW Classics means that the two more stages will be added to the June 25 event, stages that Rock Werchter visitors will be well familiar with: The Barn and KluB C, which will complement the main stage.
Encore tickets remain valid, of course, and have been added to TW Classic’s tally, meaning TW Classic was close to selling out all 60,000 available capacity at press time.
See: Tomorrowland & Rock Werchter Partner For Core Festival Premiere In Belgium
Werchter Boutique on June 19, headlined by Gorillaz, already sold out all available 60,000 tickets. Promoter and head of Live Nation Belgium, Herman Schueremans, told Pollstar, “our three festivals with a solid tradition do well. Festivalgoers know they get value for their money and that they are treated well. They are our kings and queens, after all. Music unites!”
Thanks to the merger with Rock Werchter Encore, TW Classic now boasts an even more impressive lineup. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Placebo, The Smile, Courtney Barnett, Sleaford Mods and Whispering Sons were already on the TW Classic bill. They will be joined by Florence + the Machine, The Kid Laroi, The Specials, Zwangere Guy, Intergalactic Lovers, Sky Ferreira, Noordkaap, AG Club, and Sylvie Kreusch.
Said Schueremans, “we never shy away from challenges, and we are creative entrepreneurs. We’re very happy that we are bringing Florence + the Machine, who’ve just released an amazing album, Dance Fever, and all the other top acts that [had already been] booked to perform at Rock Werchter Encore. TW Classic tickets have also sold really well. Moreover, partly because of the addition of the two tents, there is enough ticketing capacity left to combine the two festivals. It’s going to be a beautiful festival day.”
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In their full statement, promoters explained, “Everyone’s eagerness to experience festivals in all their glory again after two years of silence is great. Some challenges, however, have put a damper on the festivities.
“Consumer confidence is down, the live entertainment industry is struggling with staff shortages, and production costs are soaring. The extra day festival Rock Werchter Encore is doing well, as 25,000 fans are expected.
“But, given the circumstances, changing course was the better option, so Rock Werchter Encore will merge with TW Classic. This means there will be programming on not one but three stages: The Main Stage, The Barn, and KluB C. The double good news is that the ticket price of TW Classic remains unchanged and that Rock Werchter Encore tickets are valid for TW Classic.”
Tickets for TW Classic 2022 are on sale at ticketmaster.be. Tickets cost €96 ($102), including booking fees and mobility contribution. Rock Werchter Encore ticketholders unable to attend on Saturday, June 25, can request a refund.