British folk rock band Mumford & Sons will be replacing Belgian icon Stromae at Rock Werchter 2023, becoming the festival's headlining act on Thursday 29 June, the organisation announced on Monday.
Stromae was supposed to be the festival's big draw, but the Brussels artist cancelled his entire 'Multitude' tour a few weeks ago due to persistent health problems, requiring Rock Werchter to look for a replacement.
"It was almost impossible to fill the gap Stromae left in the programming, but our friends from Mumford & Sons have accepted our invitation to headline," the festival organisation announced on social media.
In recent days, there were rumours about a possible performance by Foo Fighters, but the choice fell on Mumford & Sons, four years after their previous headliner show at the festival. The British group will close the main stage on the first festival day.
"We are very happy that we are returning to Rock Werchter sooner than expected. It is one of our favourite festivals in the world and we love Belgium. We did not have to think long when the question came, because we are close after all," Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford reacted on Flemish radio.
The band is on tour in Europe until mid-August and will play in Stockholm on 1 July – two days after Rock Werchter.
Mumford said that while he is very enthusiastic about the show, he has mixed feelings about it as he is a big fan of Stromae himself. "As a headliner for a Belgian audience, he is so great: those shoes cannot be filled by any other artist. We wish him the best and hope he gets better soon."
It will be Mumford & Sons' fourth show at Rock Werchter, after performances in 2012, 2015 and 2019. "What a festival: the scale is huge and the line-up is always great. Entering the Rock Werchter stage as a band: that's a moment of pure rock and roll. Belgium was quick to like our music too."
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Rock Werchter has also announced two other changes to the programming, after losing a second artist who would have taken to the main stage as well as Stromae: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats.
The American band have cancelled almost their entire tour (except for one show in England), including the show at Rock Werchter on Thursday 29 June. The Dutch singer-songwriter Froukje will take over their time slot. The Belgian singer-songwriter Berre, who broke through via TikTok, has been added to the bill: he will open the Klub C tent on Friday 30 June.
