The rumor machines are running at full speed, and they are making no exception for Rock Werchter 2023. The website and socials have already been set up in a new house style, so an announcement is in the air. Festival-goers are speculating: who will headline the 46th edition?
Last year, the Belgian festival was allowed to write beautiful names at the top of the poster. Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Imagine Dragons and The War on Drugs settled in Werchter. While we are still enjoying the aftermovie, the first rumors for Rock Werchter 2023 are already emerging. We list them for you.
museum
The rumors of Rock Werchter 2023 would not be complete if Muse was not paid attention to. A (very) well-known at Werchter. With a new record Will of the People in our pocket and already announced some tour dates for next year, we can’t help but find Matt Bellamy and co. will see at festivals. In the Netherlands, the British are doing a show at the Malieveld in The Hague, but there is no Belgian date yet. Let Muse’s tour have a nice gap during Rock Werchter…
Update: pre-sale website Tixr has now revealed that Muse will indeed be at Rock Werchter 2023. It’s not official yet, but the English rock band looks set to headline the festival on Saturday July 1.
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys has new music ready. The CarThe sequel to Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, is very near. A new tour cannot be missed. Last summer they were allowed to play a few festivals later in the season, including a headline show at Lowlands 2022. But the festivals earlier in the summer were skipped, including Werchter.
Fortunately, the tour will continue in 2023. In the spring, the Monkeys will be shown in Amsterdam, among other places, but a Belgian date has not (yet) been confirmed. The band will hit UK stadiums and halls in June, with Glastonbury Festival likely to follow at the end of June. Without much effort Alex Turner & co. then immediately continue to Werchter.
Gorillaz
The previous album seems only just finished, but Damon Albarn has not been sitting still. The British act’s eighth album will be released in February. Gorillaz already headlined RW in 2018. A place on the main stage was also reserved in 2021. This edition was cancelled, but there is a good chance that the band will make a comeback next year. Includes new material. Although hits like ‘Clint Eastwood’ will and ‘Feel Good Inc.’ keep coming by.
Stromae
After a long break, the Maestro is back with an amazing show. According to readers of Festileaks, he gave the best performance of Lowlands 2022. He also visited Werchter this year. Not for Rock Werchter, but as headliner of Werchter Boutique. Due to the resounding success, he added a few more concerts to his multititude tour, which sold out in no time. There are no more tickets available for the six (!) planned performances in Belgium. But who knows, you might see Stromae headlining at Rock Werchter next year. Given the unprecedented success this year, a headline show at the biggest festival in his home country would be a fitting lap of honour.
Kendrick Lamar
Hip-hop should also not be missing from the top of the poster. And who better to ask than Kung Fu Kenny? With catchy hits and energetic performances, Kendrick Lamar has been playing the festival grounds for years. In 2018 he showed at Pukkelpop that he can turn a crowd upside down. But: this year he was only seen at Glastonbury. In the autumn he will already visit the Benelux for some hall performances, in support of his latest album mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
Will the rapper continue these concerts with the festival summer of 2023? Given his new album and tour, it would be a logical moment for it. Add to that the fact that Lamar would still headline Rock Werchter in 2020, and you have the perfect reason for this booking.
The Cure
Although The Cure has been around for over 40 years, the band is still wildly popular. And the men themselves like it too. Last year they announced a whopping 44 shows for their new tour. The Sportpaleis is also present. Only three years ago, the British were allowed to put on an amazing show on the main stage of RW. Also now the rumor mill around The Cure is getting going again, because a new album is on the way. A performance in Werchter is certainly not excluded.
Dua Lipa
In 2022, no one can ignore the infectious songs of this singer. Although Dua Lipa already visited the Sportpaleis twice, she skipped all Belgian festivals. Now it is speculated whether she will come back next year. This pop princess has now outgrown the Klub C (where she could only be found five years ago). A big performance at Rock Werchter would be a nice end to her Future Nostalgia tour. A hit machine that puts on a pop show of a higher caliber. Sitting still is not an option.
Florence + The Machine
Quite recently, Florence Welch and co. still adorn the top of the Werchter poster. In 2016 and 2019 they enchanted the audience with swooning hits. Florence + The Machine was then busy making new music and released the new album this year dance fever from. That was accompanied by a new world tour. The United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand: they all come along, but Western Europe is missing. This means that there is a nice spot available on the Belgian meadows for a performance at the end of June.
Taylor Swift
It would be a first. Taylor Swift at a Belgian festival. In 2020 she was already scheduled for Werchter Boutique. A unique booking, because it would be her only festival appearance in the Benelux. Unfortunately, the show had to be postponed due to corona, and eventually the concert was canceled permanently. A logical choice to make up for this performance next year. With new music she no longer limits herself to the country pop genre. Indie and folklore are also within her capabilities. An excellent combination for a versatile headliner show.
Rumors Rock Werchter 2023
As strong as the rumors may be, we won’t know for sure until Rock Werchter announces the first headliners. Are you convinced that you already know the new headliners of RW 2023? Or are you already speculating about the rest of the poster? Let us know on the Festileaks forum!
And when that first name is there, you will immediately hear it via the push notifications of the Festileaks App. Free to download for iOS and Android.
