REDNIK’s festival guide: Rock Werchter 2010
Oké guys, here is something I’ve been trying to do every year, but for some reasons always ends up in the trash can. Summer is all about music festivals and every year I try to do atleast 2 or more. I’m planning on writing up two festival guides (maybe a third about Pukkelpop) first up Rock Werchter 2010 (this post) and short after it Les Ardentes.
Rock Werchter isn’t immediately a “dance” festival (the name probably gave that away already) but does feature some interesting electro-pop-indie-rock bands that wouldn’t look bad on this blog. I’ll pick out the more interesting ones that are definitely on my to see list and should be on yours!
Phoenix vs The XX
The first day already sets me for a huge dillema between Phoenix and The XX, both playing at the same time. Oké I’ll admit, I didn’t had to think long about it. I’m definitely going for Phoenix, tracks as Lisztomenia and 1901 have summer festival written all over it and are just so damn catchy!
Muse vs The Bloody Beetroots
As writer of an electro blog that already featured dozens of posts about The Bloody Beetroots you all probably expect I’m going to the Death Crew live performance of TBB. Wrong, I’ll be standing at the main stage for Muse. Why? I saw Muse before and their show is always amazing. The live performance they each time deliver is just one of the best there is and I think The Bloody Beetroots don’t have that live experience yet (I hope I don’t lose half my subscribers now). I’ve heard and seen some recordings from Death Crew and I just wasn’t convinced from the live concept that a part from Live drums didn’t seem very live to me (yet again, please don’t unsubscribe!).
LCD Soundsystem
I feel a bit ashamed I don’t know much of their older work, but when I heard “This Is Happening” would be their last studio album and this summer’s tour would also be the last one I decided too get me that latest album. I absolutly love the album, track as “One Touch” are a good example why LCD Soundsystem are such good friends with Soulwax. James Murphy’s vocal work is top notch and sticks in your head. Last tour guys, so see them now while you still can!
Delphic
Delphic is an alternative rock/dance from England and I’m addicted to their debut album to say the least. Acolyte, the name of the album, got a lot of attention and was very popular in the UK. It was reviewed as “the first great album of 2010″. My Momentary, one of the tracks on the album, had it’s single release on the famous Kitsuné label. This is the show I’m looking forward the most of the 4 day line-up. I’m absolutely sure they’ll gain a lot of fans in Belgium during this summer!
Yeasayer
I kinda missed the whole Yeasayer blog hype. A numerous of remixes popped up during their remix competition for O.N.E. but in the end it was still the original one that got me convinced to check out their album. Fresh sounding indie/alternative band with some nice electronic influences. They play on the same day as Delphic, so that will be a nice little combo!
Vampire Weekend
Another band that brings summer to mind while hearing them is Vampire Weekend. “Giving up the gun” is reason enough to check these guys out. Their genre is somewhat of an experimental indie rock band with influences coming from Afrika, Europe, etc … while they are actually from New York! Nice summer breeze, a cold beer and this music in the background. Damn! that’s what summer is all about!
Vitalic
He will be closing the marquee stage the last day and I’m absolulty certain it will be with a big bang! I loved his latest album Flashmob but the most credit he received for Ok! Cowboy and Vitalic live. Cool fact about this last live album: it was recorded at AB (Ancienne Belgique) being of course in Belgium. Strong electronic live set that will maybe get the crowd even more fired up than the Bloody Beetroots.
If you still need some more warming up for Rock Werchter, check out this mixtape made by Medfunc. The tracklist has only names on it that are also on the Rock Werchter line up!
Oké so this was my first festival special post, I hope you liked it. I’m certainly planning on doing one for Les Ardentes which has much more interesting names (blogwise). I’ll probably will be doing it in two parts, so stay tuned for part one!
8 Comments to “REDNIK’s festival guide: Rock Werchter 2010”
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To bad i’m not going to werchter this year
, but I have to share your opinion on Vampire Weekend.
Saw them the last the they played at Werchter, woow what a summer vibe! For others, make sure you check them out!
Nice post, although I liked it most because of the short album reviews. Definitely gonna check some of them out!
PS. The line up from Dour is sick as well
The Werchter line up this year is verry weak actually… Other years their are so much better bands performing.
Pukkelpop is really really really really nice this year! The names are sooooo big! And they have paid enough attention to all the genres. Maybe it could have a bit more dubstep but I’m not complaining !!
Btw: nice mixtape !!!!!!!!
Cool post. Made my think about my Rock Werchter as i can use every distraction there is during the exams
First of all i hope we’ll get nice,warm,sunny weather or at least no rain. I agree Pukkelpop’s line-up is much better this year but there definetly are some acts i would really like to see and we are going with a small group so it’ll be fun anyways
THURSDAY
-After arriving and setting our camping gear up (and downing our first Werchter beer) we’ll start with De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig. I myself would like to check out the Hip Hop Orchestra but i don’t think my friends will join but no problem , we’ll get the party started with DJVT.
-Will follow topic poster with Phoenix
-Dillema Muse/Death Crew … i think i’ll go with Death Crew. I know Muse’s live show is great (haven’t seen them yet though) but if i go watch Muse i’ll just be standing there listening to the music. With Death Crew i’ll be partying my ass off even though it isn’t really live , the atmosphere and crowd should be awesome.
-Faithless >>>> Crookers , don’t know why they booked Crookers. I’d prefer Soulwax or Goose but i’ll see them at Pukkelpop. Makes the choice easier => Faithless
FRIDAY
For me personally the ‘weakest’ day regarding line-up.
-Will probaly check out Gaslight Anthem,Editors and LCD
-I hope for some sun so we can chill @ camping or festival ground and meet some new people or something
SATURDAY
i think that show is gonna be epic 
-Will follow the recommendation for Delphic and i’ll add Das Pop,Yeasayer and Gossip
-Will ride out The Ting Tings and Pink to secure good places in the crowd to wacth:
-RAMMSTEIN
SUNDAY
-Van Jets : they are cool
-Shameboy : party-time , think it’s gonna be a good set and atmosphere. Everybody will give everything they got left on the last day.
-Vampire Weekend … would like to discover them
-Them Crooked: Grohl,Homme,Jones … ’nuff said
-After that off to the Marquee to see the last two acts: Blackbox Revelation and Vitalic
Whoop whoop
The date of pukkelpop isn’t very well picked let’s say.
but the line-up is indeed amazing. I only went to Dour once, but the festival is a bit too chaotic in my opinion.
and @Quinten you won’t regret seeing Delphic, got high expectations for that one!
Arrived home from Rock Werchter a couple of hours ago. I only went to Werchter today (i.e. Sunday), but hell, it was worth the money. Arrived at the festival ground while local rock-band The Van Jets where rocking the half-dead bodies alive, under a scorching sun. It only was the beginning of a series of amazing concerts. Sweet Coffee (BE),Shameboy (BE), The Black Keys, Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Them Crooked Vultures, and last but not least Pearl Jam were excellent and served the visitors some world class music.
my friends and I are thinking of travelling over from the UK for this festival this summer… we need some information on what there is to do beyond the music acts during the day! what is there to do on the night? are there parties and DJs?
nice blog! thanks for the help.