Massive Attack to headline opening day of Rock Werchter 2027

Rock Werchter has revealed a new headliner for the 2027 edition: Massive Attack. The British trip hop band will close out the opening day on Thursday 1 July, returning to the festival grounds in Werchter for the first time since 2003, a 24 year absence. It's the latest name in a run of announcements as the festival fills in its lineup step by step over recent weeks.

Massive Attack has been a cornerstone of trip hop for almost four decades. Both their debut album Blue Lines and the groundbreaking Mezzanine from 1998 appear on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The band has sold more than 13 million albums worldwide and scored hits like Teardrop, Unfinished Sympathy and Angel that have become staples of popular music. On Mezzanine, the group proved itself a pioneer of a genre that was still in its infancy at the time. According to Dansende Beren, almost thirty years later the band is still urgent and relevant, partly thanks to the social engagement and activism that 3D and Daddy G weave into their shows.

Earlier this year, Massive Attack played a well received concert at Vorst Nationaal, which HUMO gave four out of five stars. The reviewer wrote that, almost forty years after Bristol invented its own musical language, the songs still sound like they come from the near future.

The Rock Werchter 2027 poster already features previously announced names like Tame Impala, SOMBR, Muse, Angèle, Sam Fender and Turnstile. Turnstile was announced a day earlier for the opening day. The festival runs from Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 July, and more names are expected soon.

Official ticket sales start on Friday 30 October at 10 am, with an exclusive presale a day earlier, according to Dansende Beren. You can already pre register. According to Festileaks, a four day ticket costs 320 euros, a new two day ticket 259 euros and a day ticket 142 euros. For Dutch music fans, Werchter is traditionally a great spot for a festival day across the border, and with Massive Attack closing out Thursday, there's an extra reason to consider the opening day.