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History

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Wâldrock 2008 will be the 21th edition of this festival and makes the 17th Wâldrock concentrated on heavy music. The last few years Wâldrock has found her own steady place between the overload on festival in and around of the Netherlands. The list of names ever played the festival is getting longer en more impressive over the year with the likes of Iron Maiden, Type O Negative, Cradle of Filth, Twisted Sister, Slayer, Ministry, Monster Magnet, Megadeth, Dream Theater, Deftones, Murderdolls and My Dying Bride. Just to name a few?For all the bands that have played Wâldrock, check here.

From ’mainstream‘ to loud

The first three years (1988, 1989 en 1990) the festival was a mainstream pop festival, organized by a couple of people that thought nothing ever happened in their hometown of Burgum (between Leeuwarden en Drachten, in the north of the Netherlands). Mainly Dutch bands played the Wâldrock-stage that year. About 1500 people visited the festival those first years.

When in 1990 the number of visitors no longer grew, it was time for a change. Wâldrock 1991 became the turning point in the programming of the festival: the festival became a metal festival. Among others Sepultura en Mucky Pup played at Wâldrock ‘91.
The change turned out to be a good one; the number of visitors rose from 1400 in 1990 to about 3000 in 1991. The organization decided to hold on to the concept of loud music. Years following the festival grew to about 5000 visitors in 1995. Those year Morbid Angel, Venom, Bad Religion, Gwar, Napalm Death en The Gathering, amongst others, appeared on stage.

Breakthrough

In 1996 the festival, again, made a big step forward. The number of visitors doubled to 10.000 people. A great line-up with amongst others Ministry, Slayer, Fear Factory and Type-O-Negative was reason for that success.
In 1997 it was clear Wâldrock had become a known name in the world of festivals. In spite of the fact the line-up was not as good as in 1996, still 7500 people came to Wâldrock. The same number of people visited Wâldrock in 1998, 1999 en 2000. On stage those years were a.o. Dream Theater, Machine Head, Soulfly, Paradise Lost, Sepultura, Mercyful Fate, The Kovenant, Nashville Pussy, Rammstein and Motorhead

From one to two stages

A change again in 2002. Next to the main stage, the organization decided to add a second stage, indoors. Thanks to this second, smaller stage Wâldrock found the opportunity to broaden the program. It meant that in 2002 15 bands played Wâldrock. Among them Within Temptation, Tristania, Alec Empire, Kreator en Agnostic Front.
Reason for the organization to add a second stage was the fact that every year it is harder to contract the really big bands. This is due to the fact that a lot of bands are getting more and more expensive, but also the growing numbers of festivals has got a hand in that. Wâldrock still is, and always be, a small festival between the lager fests as Wacken and Ozzfest. Being a relatively small festival also means a relatively small budget for bands.

For the festival the addition of a second (tent-)stage hasn‘t got big consequences. The max number of visitors still is 12.000. That means Wâldrock will stay a relatively small festival, but has now got the possibility to offer more bands to make sure the festival day is even more attractive.

Not that big!

Again, this year Wâldrock will be a relatively small one-day festival in between the big festivals that last for a couple of days. Reason for the organization to stick to the maximum number of visitors of 12.000 is that they want to keep Wâldrock small. Because that is what makes the festival known as ’cosy‘ and ’relaxed‘.

Finally: Wâldrock is a festival organized by and working with volunteers. Without these hundreds volunteers, who make the festival what it is, the organization of Wâldrock would be impossible. Besides that the enthusiasm of the volunteers makes the pleasantness before, during and after the festival.

Bandlist

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