Graspop Metal Meeting
Coordinates: 51°13′48.15″N 5°05′2.36″E / 51.2300417°N 5.0839889°E
Graspop Metal Meeting | |
---|---|
In Flames performs at Graspop 2008 | |
Genre | Rock, heavy metal, punk |
Dates | Usually last weekend in June |
Location(s) | Dessel, Antwerp, Flemish Region, Belgium |
Years active | 1996–present |
Website | |
www.graspop.be |
Graspop Metal Meeting is an annual metal festival in Dessel, Belgium that has taken place each year since 1996. Despite the small size of the festival grounds (upholding a perimeter of only ~4 km) the festival draws a large number of international spectators, with a total of 152,000 visitors in the course of the 2015 edition.[1]
History
Graspop was not originally a heavy metal festival; rather, it was conceived as a local family Rock festival, first organised in 1986. In 1995, the headliners billed were Joe Cocker and Simple Minds. However, due to the public being oversaturated with family festivals, the number of visitors had dropped to an all-time low.
Founder Peter Van Geel realized that mainstream rock music held insufficient appeal to festival visitors. Reflecting on the most memorable acts of the preceding years (Motörhead, Ramones, Paradise Lost, and so forth) and on his own musical preferences, he decided in favour of a drastic reorientation.
After discussions with Werchter festival promoter Herman Schueremans, Van Geel contacted Bob Schoenmaekers, the owner of the Biebob concert venue and metal club in nearby Vosselaar. A couple of years earlier, Schoenmaekers had set up his "Midsummer Metal Meeting" in Vosselaar and because of space limits, he was considering an open-air festival. The initial contact soon led to close collaboration. The duo decided to launch a brand-new metal festival under the name of "Graspop Metal Meeting". The date of choice was to be the last weekend of June.
The new direction proved to be a successful one. The festival has seen a continually rising number of visitors over the years, and has been able to attract the most popular international bands in the genre. Since the festival's inception in 1996, Iron Maiden has been the most frequent headliner, with seven appearances. Other bands which have prominently been featured are Arch Enemy (6), Cradle Of Filth (6), My Dying Bride (8), Moonspell (7) and Saxon (8).
The current stages are :
- Main Stage 1 & 2 : The two main stages, host important bands and headlining acts. Before 2014, there was only one main stage.
- Marquee : A tent stage, which hosts mostly thrash metal, death metal, black metal or even stoner rock bands.
- Metal Dome : Host more intimist bands and local acts.
- Jupiler Stage : First held in 2014, it is a small open air stage, mostly dedicated to metalcore and deathcore music.
Location
The festival is located in Kastelsedijk, in Dessel and is situated about 60 km away from Antwerp, 99 km from Brussels and 35 km from Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
Dessel is a municipality with 9103 inhabitants in the province of Antwerp in Belgium.[2] The 27.03 km ² comprehensive community lies in the Flemish Region, also known as Flanders, this is the officially Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. The distance to the neighboring country, the Netherlands, is less than 10 km. The largest part of the economy of Dessel is determined by different regions of the nuclear power industry. Dessel is the twin town of Hesse-Lichtenau.
Tickets
Combination tickets for the Graspop Metal Meeting include camping from Thursday to Monday, parking for a vehicle and entry to the festival site. Day tickets are available, and before 2013 they did not include camping; camping tickets could be purchased separately. Camping tickets allowed day ticket holders to spend the night on the camping site. A camping ticket was valid on the same day as the festival ticket. From 2013 onwards, a day ticket included admission to the campsite.
In 2009 Graspop Metal Meeting introduced a VIP ticket. The VIP package consists of: parking space in the VIP car park; which is nearer the festival ground, access to the VIP lounge, and separate entrances to the campsite and the festival arena.
Ticket Prices | |||
Year | Combi Ticket | Day Ticket | Camping Ticket |
---|---|---|---|
1996
|
|
|
|
Accommodation
Most people who stay at Graspop Metal Meeting will camp in a tent. Campsite accommodation is provided in the cost of a combi ticket but festival-goers must bring their own tents.
Caravans and trailer tents are not allowed onto the camp site. However you can book a pitch in addition to the main ticket which allows access to Graspop Metal Town.
Graspop Metal Town
Graspop Metal Town is located at just 1 km from the festival site; and is a veritable open air hotel with its proper sanitary facilities, breakfast tent, bar and reception desk. You can either spend the night in a festihut or you can book a pitch for your motorhome, caravan or tent.
Festihuts
Introduced in 2008 the festihut is a wooden cottage equipped with beds or bunk beds and mattresses.
Festihut details:
- Four people per festihut, equipped with (bunk) beds and mattresses
- Dimensions: 3 m x 2.5 m (7.5 m²)
- Lockable door and insulated roof
- One window as a minimum
- Wooden floor at least 10 cm above the ground
- 1 rechargeable lantern per hut (to be charged at the reception desk)
- All huts have electricity (max. 300W)
- Guests must bring their own sheets
- Smoking inside the festihut is prohibited
Festihut Prices | ||||
Year | 1 Person | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
---|---|---|---|---|
€525
|
€550
|
€575
|
€600 |
Pitches
Metal Town has space for 250 standard pitches and 50 XL pitches, for people who want to bring a caravan, mobile home, or tent.
Pitch details:
- 1 pitch = max. 6 persons
- Pitch standard: 8m x 4m / pitch XL: 12m x 4m
- Every pitch has electricity (max. 300W). Electricity will be available but you still need to bring your own extension lead with you.
- (Folding) caravan owners must return their car to the car park after leaving their caravan at the pitch.
- Each pitch is rented for 4 nights.
- Owners who leave their vehicle behind will be fined €500/vehicle.
- Cars are not allowed to park next to your festihut or pitch. Guests must return their car to the car park after leaving their belongings in the festihut or at the pitch (except for mobile homes).
Pitch Prices | ||||||
Year | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6 People |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard/XL | Standard/XL | Standard/XL | Standard/XL | Standard/XL | Standard/XL | |
€150
|
€175
|
€200 |
€225
|
€250 |
€275
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 1996
Sunday June 30 | ||
Mainstage | Marquee | |
---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
Type O Negative
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 1997
Sunday June 29 | ||
Mainstage | Marquee | Skate Stage |
---|---|---|
Megadeth
|
My Dying Bride
|
Madball
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 1998
Sunday June 28 | ||
Mainstage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Black Sabbath
|
Paradise Lost
|
Primus
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 1999
Sunday June 27 [21] | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marque II |
---|---|---|
Manowar
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Danzig
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2000
Saturday June 24 | ||
Mainstage | Marque I | Marque II |
---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
My Dying Bride
|
Cro-mags
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2001
Friday June 22 [22] | ||
Marquee 1/Campfest | ||
---|---|---|
Action in DC
|
Saturday June 23 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee 1 | Marquee 2 |
---|---|---|
Judas Priest
|
Marduk
|
Suicidal Tendencies
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2002
Friday July 5 [23] | ||
Marquee I | Marquee II | |
---|---|---|
Agnostic Front
|
Saturday July 6 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Slayer
|
My Dying Bride
|
Biohazard
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2003
Friday July 4 [24] | ||
Marquee I | Marquee II | |
---|---|---|
Type O Negative
|
Stratovarius
|
Saturday July 5 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
Ministry
|
Stone Sour
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2004
Friday June 25 [25] | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | |
---|---|---|
Iced Earth
|
Exodus
|
Saturday June 26 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Alice Cooper
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Agnostic Front
|
Sunday June 27 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Judas Priest
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Hatebreed
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2005
Friday June 24 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
System of a Down
|
Nevermore
|
Kreator
|
In-Quest
|
Saturday June 25 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Slipknot
|
Anthrax
|
Sunday June 26 | ||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II |
---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
Lacuna Coil
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2006
Friday June 23 [26] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Whitesnake
|
Satyricon
|
Axamenta
|
Saturday June 24 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Guns N' Roses
|
Death Angel
|
Action in Dc
|
Sunday June 25 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | |
---|---|---|---|
Motörhead
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Arch Enemy
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2007
Friday June 22 [27] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Aerosmith
|
Blind Guardian
|
Therion
|
Saturday June 23 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
|
Bloodsimple
|
Sunday June 24 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Ozzy Osbourne
|
Amon Amarth
|
Mastodon
|
Stormrider
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2008
Friday June 27 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Judas Priest
|
Ministry
|
Morbid Angel
|
Firewind
|
Saturday June 28 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Kiss
|
My Dying Bride
|
Helmet
|
Sunday June 29 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
At the Gates
|
Arch Enemy
|
Action in DC
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2009
Friday June 26 [28] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Mötley Crüe
|
Dream Theater
|
Down
|
The Gathering
|
Saturday June 27 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Slipknot
|
Lacuna Coil
|
Volbeat
|
Wolves in the Throne Room
|
Sunday June 28 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Marilyn Manson
|
Children of Bodom
|
Sick of It All
|
Karma to Burn
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2010
Friday June 25 [29] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Aerosmith
|
My Dying Bride
|
Saxon
|
Nile
|
Saturday June 26 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Soulfly
|
Immortal
|
Airbourne
|
Eluveitie
|
Sunday June 27 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Kiss
|
Amon Amarth
|
Devil Driver
|
Finntroll
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2011
Friday June 24 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Scorpions
|
Iced Earth
|
Parkway Drive
|
Duff McKagan's Loaded
|
Saturday June 25 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Judas Priest
|
Cradle of Filth
|
Bullet For My Valentine
|
Pain
|
Sunday June 26 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Slipknot
|
Cavalera Conspiracy
|
Bring Me The Horizon
|
Soilwork
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2012
Friday June 22 [31] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Ozzy and Friends
|
Lamb of God
|
Kyuss Lives!
|
Cannibal Corpse
|
Saturday June 23 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Limp Bizkit
|
Dimmu Borgir
|
Pennywise
|
Ihsahn & Leprous
|
Sunday June 24 | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Guns N' Roses
|
Children Of Bodom
|
Hatebreed
|
Texas in July
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2013
Friday June 28 [32]
| |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Twisted Sister
|
Soulfly
|
Katatonia
|
Saturday June 29 [33] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Slipknot
|
Iced Earth
|
P.O.D
|
Absu
|
Sunday June 30 [34] | |||
Main Stage | Marquee I | Marquee II | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|---|
Iron Maiden
|
King Diamond
|
Testament
|
The Sword
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2014
Thursday June 26 [35] | |
Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
---|---|
Diablo Blvd
|
Knives To A Gunfight
|
Friday June 27 [36] | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Avenged Sevenfold
|
Sabaton
|
Opeth
|
Graveyard
|
Emmure
|
Saturday June 28 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Volbeat
|
Limp Bizkit
|
Carcass
|
Dark Tranquility
|
Kylesa
|
Sunday June 29 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Sabbath
|
"Diablo Radio" (covers by Diablo Blvd)
|
Meshuggah
|
Metal Church
|
Architects
|
Graspop Metal Meeting 2015
Thursday June 18 | ||
Marquee | Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|
Present Danger |
Wolves Scream |
Bliksem |
Friday June 19 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
KISS |
Marilyn Manson |
My Dying Bride |
Ihsahn |
Stray from the Path |
Saturday June 20 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Slipknot |
Judas Priest |
At the Gates |
Alcest |
Every Time I Die |
Sunday June 21 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scorpions |
Faith No More |
Cradle of Filth |
Dragonforce |
Terror |
Graspop Metal Meeting 2016
Thursday June 16 | ||
Marquee | Jupiler Stage | Metal Dome |
---|---|---|
Eurostars Wrestling |
Your Highness |
Friday June 17 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black Sabbath |
King Diamond |
Apocalyptica |
Zakk Wylde |
Saturday June 18 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Volbeat |
Nightwish |
Abbath |
Rival Sons |
Sunday June 19 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Twisted Sister |
Behemoth |
La Muerte |
The Amity Affliction |
Graspop Metal Meeting 2017
Friday June 16 | ||
Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|
Friday June 16 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday June 17 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sunday June 18 | ||||
Main Stage 01 | Main Stage 02 | Marquee | Metal Dome | Jupiler Stage |
---|---|---|---|---|
External links
References
- ↑ http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/922/Nieuws/article/detail/2371744/2015/06/22/Recordopkomst-van-150-000-metalfans-op-Graspop.dhtml
- ↑ http://www.dessel.be/dessel%20in%20cijfers/3093/default.aspx?_vs=0_N
- ↑ http://www.virtualfestivals.com/graspop-festival-2002/tickets
- ↑ http://www.festivalinfo.nl/festival/1051/all_desc/Graspop_Metal_Meeting/2003/
- ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=451
- ↑ http://www.festivalinfo.nl/festival/2780/all_desc/Graspop_Metal_Meeting/2005/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20060430184725/http://www.graspop.be/pages/tickets/tickets_vlaanderen.php
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070602065243/http://www.graspop.com/
- ↑ http://www.graspopmetalmeeting.de/history/2008/
- ↑ http://www.graspopmetalmeeting.de/history/2009/
- ↑ http://www.graspopmetalmeeting.de/history/2010/
- ↑ http://www.graspopmetalmeeting.de/history/2011/
- ↑ http://www.graspopmetalmeeting.de/history/2012/
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/tickets_en.html
- ↑ https://www.graspop.be/en/tickets/prices
- ↑ https://www.graspop.be/en/tickets/prices
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/info/1086/Metal-Town.html
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/tickets_en.html
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/info/1086/Metal-Town.html
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/metaltown
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/19990825044018/graspop.com/bands.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010814232712/http://www.graspop.com/bands.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20021017064435/www.graspop.com/main.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20030207162340/www.graspop.com/uk/index.htm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040616025019/http://www.graspop.be/pages/kalender_tijd.php
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20060701153449/http://www.graspop.be/pages/kalender_tijd.php
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070601063805/www.graspop.be/pages/kalender_tijd.php?d=0
- ↑ http://img11.imageshack.us/f/graspop2009.png/
- ↑ http://www.metalstorm.net/events/event.php?event_id=38536
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/2010/en/day-schedule.php?tl=en
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/bands/days/index.html
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/bands/stages/friday
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/bands/stages/saturday
- ↑ http://www.graspop.be/en/bands/stages/sunday
- ↑ https://www.graspop.be/en/poster
- ↑ https://www.graspop.be/en/poster