Tomorrowland opens with rebuilt stage after blaze destroyed original setup
Organisers said the newly constructed stage was part of an 'alternative setup' designed to replace the festival's 'beloved main stage,' which went up in flames on Wednesday. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the blaze.
'Our teams are working day and night, with heart and soul, to turn the impossible into reality,' organisers said in a statement. 'Tomorrowland will unite, stronger than ever!'
NEW STAGE ERECTED IN 48 HOURS
Local television footage showed hundreds of attendees entering the festival site in Boom, near Antwerp, on Friday afternoon. Fire and police officials gave clearance for the rebuilt stage to open at 4pm, two hours after the rest of the 16-stage event.
The new main stage, constructed in under 48 hours, is smaller in scale but designed for a more intimate experience.
'It's a new concept, the artists will be very close to the audience, in a more intimate way,' said festival spokeswoman Debby Wilmsen.
FOOTAGE OF FIRE WENT VIRAL
The original stage featured elaborate set design, including a frozen fairytale theme with snow-covered castles and a towering ice lion. Videos of the blaze tearing through the structure spread widely on social media.
Despite the fire, organisers expect around 400,000 people to attend the two-weekend event, which features top electronic acts including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Charlotte de Witte.
Tomorrowland was founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers and has grown into one of the world's largest electronic music festivals. It will return to Brazil in October and host a winter edition in Alpe d'Huez, France.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - How a 1950s Trip to Bali Shaped a Generation of Artists
CNA938 Rewind - How a 1950s Trip to Bali Shaped a Generation of Artists In 'Culture Club' Melanie Oliveiro speaks with writer and independent scholar Gretchen Liu who – together with the National Library Board – put out the book 'Bali 1952: Through the Lens of Liu Kang: The Trip to Java and Bali by Four Singapore Pioneering Artists'. It's about four China-born artists whose works were inspired by their sketching trips to Java and Bali in the early 1950s. The hardcover book comes with over 250 photographs taken by Liu Kang, a prolific artist and Nanyang Style painter, and father-in-law of Gretchen Liu.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Couple sets up studio to create art for people with special needs
A remarkable couple is redefining what it means to make art accessible. Living with special needs, they face challenges individually but together, they unlock a world of artistic expression.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Straits Times
Belgium probes death of Canadian festival-goer at Tomorrowland
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Around 400,000 people are expected to attend Tomorrowland being held near Antwerp over two weekends. BRUSSELS – Belgian authorities said on July 19 they have opened an investigation into the death of a Canadian woman who fell ill at Tomorrowland, one of the world's largest electronic music festivals. Prosecutors in Antwerp said they were looking to establish what caused the death of the 35-year-old, one of tens of thousands of festival-goers who attended the event's opening night on July 18. The woman became unwell at the festival held in Boom, near Antwerp, and was transported to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, a spokeswoman for the Antwerp prosecutor's office said. Featuring scores of DJs, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Charlotte de Witte, Tomorrowland draws electronic music enthusiasts from all over the world. Around 400,000 people are expected to attend over two weekends. The event was thrown into doubt this week after a fire destroyed its main stage. But organisers speedily put in place an 'alternative setup', and the festival went ahead as planned. AFP
