Landmark sold-out edition of Graspop Metal Meeting 2023
Another successful edition with 220,000 fans and over 150 acts
With a rousing evening schedule still ahead - Hollywood Vampires, Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard on the main stages, Kreator in the Marquee, Billy Talent on the Jupiler Stage and Monster Magnet in the Metal Dome to name but a few - the organisation can look back on yet another memorable and sold-out edition.
The festival grounds in Dessel welcomed 220,000 visitors for four full days of metal mayhem. True to form, the 2023 edition billed a varied selection of international top acts and homegrown talent. Over 150 bands gave it their all this year on two main stages (North and South), the enlarged Jupiler Stage and in the Marquee, the Metal Dome and the Classic Rock Café. The Graspop faithful ate it up and the atmosphere was exuberant in spite of the sweltering heat.
No fewer than 63 of the 150 bands this year were GMM first-timers. Graspop places a strong emphasis on up-and-coming bands of the new generation, giving them ample opportunities to ply their trade in front of a capacity crowd. For instance, Ghost, Gojira and Parkway Drive delivered the goods, proving themselves worthy of headlining status with convincing main stage performances. It's reassuring to see they are ready to replace some of the household names in the years to come.
The most surprising newcomer this year was undoubtedly Hellmut Loti Goes Metal. The Belgian singer who sold millions of copies with his classical oeuvre surprised friend and foe with a set of metal classics in the Metal Dome.
Another prominent feature of this year's high mass of heavy music: the blistering weather. The fans and festival staff heeded the guidelines issued by the organisers to help them deal with the extreme temperatures: hydrate, apply sunscreen, seek out the shade whenever possible and take care of each other. Free drinking water was available in the sanitary facilities and a misting system cooled the air in front of the main stages and the Jupiler Stage.
GMM2023 saw the introduction of a cashless payment system. The public were thoroughly informed before and during the festival. There were some teething troubles and technical issues at start-up but these were handled as swiftly and efficiently as possible. The organisers will take all the feedback to heart and following a thorough evaluation the system will be tweaked where necessary.
Graspop Metal Meeting would like to thank all volunteers, associations and public services for their contribution and a seamless collaboration but the biggest thank you goes out to the countless loyal and new festival-goers. GMM has nothing but the greatest respect and appreciation for its one-of-a-kind audience.
The festivities conclude this evening with a grand fireworks display and the official reveal of the dates fornext year's 27th edition of Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel: 20-23 June 2024. Ticket sales and the first confirmed acts will be announced in the autumn.
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Stay metal, stay safe & take care.
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