The first name is in for Rock Werchter's opening day. Arcade Fire will play the festival on Thursday 29 June. Rock Werchter hosts this five-star Canadian band for the second time. They were last here in 2010. Five massive names for Rock Werchter 2017 -which takes place from 29 June to 2 July in the Festival Park in Werchter (Belgium)- are now in: Arcade Fire play on Thursday 29 June, Radiohead on Friday 30 June, Linkin Park and System of A Down on Saturday 1 July and Foo Fighters on Sunday 2 July.
Every one of Arcade Fire's albums is an artistic and commercial triumph. So, in the style of 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die , with a silver lining: their amazing debut album, ‘Funeral’ (2004), is a fierce rallying call for beauty, emotion and absurdity in music. Artful rock with a punky outlook - a major lift in times of chaos and anxiety. ‘Neon Bible’ (2007) establishes the Canadian six-piece as one of the key bands of the 21st century. “It’s like standing beside the ocean at night”, or so its makers tell us. ‘The Suburbs’ (2010), their equivalent of ‘OK Computer’, is a prize winner, which - rightly, if a little unexpectedly - scooped a Grammy for Album of the Year. ‘Reflektor’ (2013) goes off ‘all guns blazing’ and shows what Arcade Fire still have to offer after all these years. Onwards and upwards to album number 5. That line just keeps on rising.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 AM via proximusgoformusic.be and ticketmaster.be. More comprehensive ticket info and general festival information can be found at rockwerchter.be.