Belgium’s Music Festivals – 2007

Rock Werchter is regarded by many as one of Europe’s best open air music festivals. But there is more, much more in store for music fans this summer :

• The massive Dour Music Festival takes place 12-15 July.

It is a 4-day event held in an old coal mining site in the village of Dour, just by the French border. This year it will feature Wu-Tang Clan, Agoria, The Rapture, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Sean Lennon, Bright Eyes, Dave Clarke, Justice, Two Gallants, Vitalic, Wilco, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, DJ Shadow, Katerine…and local groups such as Girls in Hawaii, Mud Flow, Sharko, The Tellers, My Little Cheap Dictaphone, Vive la Fête, Gabriel Rios, Les Anges, Minerale, Uman, The Van Jets, Superlux, Experimental Tropic Blues Band, The Diplomat, Showstar, Joshua…

Getting there

Tickets 

• 10 Days Off : 13-23 July in Ghent

Just 56 km from Brussels, this well established festival drains an enthusiastic crowd of Techno lovers. The program features Martin Solveig, Laurent Garnier, Tiga, Makossa & Magablast, just to name a few,

The Gentse Feesten, of Ghent Festival takes place at the same time. Indeed, for 10 days every July, Ghent loses its conservative feel and embraces the youth-oriented street festival. Local bands perform free outdoor gigs throughout the town, and the place seems to become a haven for every type of street performer : comedians, actors, puppeteers… There is also an outdoor market, selling everything from jenever (a gin-like traditional Ghent liquor) to handmade crafts.

Getting there

E40 Brussels-Gent
E17 Antwerpen-Gent
Exit Gent
Exit Gent Centrum
Follow until T-junction, then turn left
Stay to the left side of the street, take the first to the left after 10 (!) meters
Take a left turn again and then cross the bridge to the right.

Tickets

Ghent will also be the theatre of the Blue Note Festival (From 6-17 July)

• Francofolies de Spa : 18-22 July

This 5-day festival is a major affair. The sets are a balanced mixture of confirmed artists and new talents : Arno, Maurane, Obispo, Zazie, Voulzy, Renaud, Bruel, Abd Al Malik, Zoé, Jeanne Cherhal, Zita Swoon…

Getting there 

Tickets 

• Esperanzah : Floreffe, 3-5 August

A world music festival staging emerging artists. The event takes place on the beautiful site of the Abbaye de Floreffe, in a family atmosphere. This year’s edition will feature Groundation, DJ Shantel, Salif Keita, The Peas Project, Mamani Keita, Frédéric Galliano, just to name a few.

More details on Esperanzah's offical web site

• Pukkelpop : Kiewit, Hasselt – 16-18 August

Pukkelpop  is a 3-day music festival. Over the past years, Pukkelpop has evolved into one of the biggest alternative open air festivals in Europe and presents the most progressive, contemporary and alternative music : Tools, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Lacuna Coil, Sharko, Mudflow, Hollywood Porn Stars, the Tellers, Ignite…

For the full line-up, schedule, tickets and how to get there, please check Pukkelpop official web-site.