ANOTHER EUROPEAN FESTIVAL CANCELS

Another early summer European festival has decided to wait before resuming; Belgium’s premier Rock Werchter is looking toward 2022 after canceling its 2021 edition due to continued COVID-19 concerns.

The Live Nation Belgium festival was scheduled for 7/1-4 with Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alt-J and Gorillaz as headliners. Promoters have confirmed that next year’s edition will take place 6/30-7/3, 2022.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly; in recent months we have been talking to governments, experts and colleagues here and elsewhere about how the festival could take place,” reads a statement from organizers. “With the great momentum on vaccine rollout, we had hoped that it might be possible. However, we have come to the reluctant conclusion that given current restrictions, we simply cannot prepare for a 2021 festival in the normal way. We want every fan and artist to enjoy the festival to the fullest and with the current situation, we could not achieve this for you.”

The scratching of Rock Werchter comes hard on the heels of last week’s cancellation of Germany’s seven major early summer rock festivals—Deichbrand, Hurricane, Southside, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, SonneMondSterne and Greenfield, all promoted by Eventim Live companies. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend the 2022 edition of these outings.

Continental Europe, where several territories have entered into new lockdowns, is a completely different story from what’s happening in the U.K., where major festivals, like the sold-out Reading and Leeds, have been going ahead with on-sales.