Rock Werchter responds to criticism about young leaders

Rock Werchter 2025 has a new ceiling: both Sam Fender (30) as Olivia Rodrigo (21) headed for the first time. The group has come under criticism from the old guard of festival goers. The festival responds: “We want to continue to serve a broad group of people.”

Rock Werchter’s social media comment sections have not been pretty lately. After Sam Fender and Olivia Rodrigo were recorded as the main line, the criticism was overwhelming: too young, too fast, too pop, too few hits, too few records released, too little guitar , too bad.

Renewal

For years, Rock Werchter has been receiving the same criticism: that they often book the same acts over and over again. But this year the festival is being renewed. They must, because that one old school leaders retire too early. Members of Peppers, Metallica, Rammstein: all over 60 now Two Lips in Moon at the top of the poster. Acts that won their popularity not in the previous decades, but in the last few years.

For some of Werchter’s audience, this innovation may seem hard to swallow. Also in the comment sections on it our own channels he wasn’t lying: ‘Closing event’, ‘Pop Werchter’, ‘I only count 1 headliner’, and so on endlessly.

Rock Werchter has now responded to the divided opinions. At the Newspaper spokesperson Nele Bigaré explained: “We think across genres. Our programming is broad and connected. That’s important, because our audience represents different generations. We want to continue to serve that broad group of people. Today’s stars and tomorrow’s talent can, can and must stand alongside established names. Olivia Rodrigo fits that bill perfectly. Sam Fender too.”

Criticism is timeless

The festival doesn’t seem to have noticed. Bigaré says the criticism has always been there. “Depeche Mode didn’t work in the 80s, Metallica didn’t work in the 90s. There was a statement when Robbie Williams came to Rock Werchter, when Stromae was about to close.

In retrospect, these tactics worked well. “All these artists fit that typical Rock Werchter DNA. They managed to connect fans of different ages, simply because they brought that new sound of their time to the festival. Anyone who puts on a headlining performance at the festival can count on a warm reception. Rock Werchter’s audience, young and old, is generous.”

Sam Fender and Olivia Rodrigo can prove it at Rock Werchter 2025. Legacy rock fans will also get their money’s worth: Green Day ending Friday, and it looks very similar that Linkin Park will do so on Thursday.

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Rock Werchter 2025

Place

Werchter, Belgium

Data 3-6 July 2025