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Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tomorrowland organisers race to build new stage ahead of opening after fire
Organisers of the Tomorrowland music festival in Belgium are racing to rebuild the event's main stage after it was destroyed in a fire earlier this week. Overnight, trucks, cranes and workers arrived to reconstruct the colossal edifice, which measures 70 metres wide and 8 metres tall. Organisers said the event in Boom, Belgium, would go ahead two hours later than planned with or without a new main stage. If a new stage is not finished in time, the festival will open to a reduced capacity on Friday and open fully on Saturday. Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told a press conference that the campsite at DreamVille and festival grounds would operate separately, with main stage artists to perform at the Gathering Stage on the campsite instead, but this means campers will not be able to access the rest of the event's grounds. The festival was originally scheduled to unlock its gates at 12pm today (18 July) and continue into the late night on Sunday, with more than 400,000 people expected to attend over the three-day electronic music event. Tomorrowland bosses reiterated that safety was their top priority, but that the event would not be halted and would continue its full operations by Saturday. Some of the world's most popular DJs are due to appear on the stage over the weekend, including Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Fisher, Swedish House Mafia and Steve Aoki. The festival's main stage was destroyed in a fire whose cause is yet unknown (Belga/AFP via Getty Images) Images shared on local news sites and social media showed flames and plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday (16 July). Fireworks apparently ready for performances were also seen exploding into the air. Nearby residents were urged to close all windows and doors until the fire was contained. No members of the public were present at the time of the blaze, but 1,000 employees were on site. One staff member described 'an apocalyptic scene' after the fire engulfed the stage. Fireworks burst and smoke rises as a fire engulfs the main stage of Tomorrowland, an electronic music event, in Boom, Belgium (Morgan Hermans via Reuters) At least three-quarters of the stage, dubbed the Orbyz Mainstage, is believed to have been damaged. A statement from Tomorrowland called the structure a 'creation from pure passion, imagination, and dedication', adding: 'This wasn't just a stage. It was a living, breathing world.' Dozens of emergency teams were seen rushing through the festival grounds just after 6pm on the day of the blaze in an attempt to extinguish the flames and evacuate those inside the grounds. The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Flames tear through Tomorrowland's heart — but ‘we're in the mood,' say fans as EDM festival pushes on
BOOM (Belgium), July 18 — Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium yesterday, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames. Organisers said the event, which was expected to draw 400,000 people over two weekends, would go ahead after the massive blaze was put out. But the first DJs would not begin performing until 2pm (1200 GMT) today at the earliest, two hours later than originally planned, the organisers announced. The festival has 15 other stages spread over 34 hectares of land in Boom, northern Belgium, which were not affected by the fire. But its main stage, due to host dozens of DJs including the likes of David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Steve Aoki, 'is no more', organisers said. 'It's impossible to put into words what we're feeling,' they said in a statement. 'We spent the night working on possible solutions.' Images of the blaze circulated widely on social media, showing flames tearing apart the impressive set design depicting a frozen fairytale kingdom, with a giant ice-covered lion, castles and snow peaks. All that remained of the 160m wide, 45m high set up yesterday was the charred scaffolding. 'This is heartbreaking', Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte wrote to her almost four million followers on Instagram. 'We almost cried' About 40,000 people were expected to spend the festival's first night at the 'DreamVille' campsite yesterday. 'It was so sad, we almost cried, it was horrible,' Marie, a festival-goer who gave only her first name, told AFP as she arrived on site with her rucksack and camping equipment. 'But we're glad it's still happening, we're in the mood, and Tomorrowland is a big family.' Several of the planes chartered for the event have already landed in Belgium, and events planned in Brussels and Antwerp to welcome visitors from all over the world were going ahead as planned. 'There's no main stage, but it's better than nothing,' said Giulio, who travelled from Italy with a small group of friends. The causes of the blaze were not yet clear. Some witnesses said they heard fireworks, possibly launched as a test, going off around the time the fire broke out. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said Wednesday it has opened an accidental fire investigation. Founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers in a country that pioneered the genre, Tomorrowland has become one of the world's largest electronic music festivals. The festival relocates to Brazil in October, and a winter edition is held every year in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in France. — AFP
CNA
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland opens in Belgium after main stage destroyed by fire
BOOM: Tens of thousands of electronic music fans arrived in Boom, Belgium, on Thursday (July 17), as the Tomorrowland festival opened just one day after a fire destroyed its iconic main stage. Organisers said the internationally acclaimed festival, expected to attract 400,000 attendees over two weekends, would go ahead as planned after the blaze was brought under control. While 15 other stages spread across 34 hectares were unaffected, the main stage — set to feature global acts including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Steve Aoki — was reduced to charred scaffolding. "The main stage is no more," organisers said in a statement. "It's impossible to put into words what we're feeling. We spent the night working on possible solutions." FAIRYTALE SET IN RUINS Widely circulated images showed the elaborate set, styled as a frozen fairytale kingdom with an ice-covered lion, turrets and snowy peaks, engulfed in flames on Wednesday. The structure, measuring 160 metres wide and 45 metres high, had been a centrepiece of the festival. On Thursday, only its blackened frame remained. "This is heartbreaking," Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte wrote on Instagram, where she has nearly four million followers. FANS ARRIVE TO KEEP SPIRIT ALIVE Despite the fire, around 40,000 people were expected to stay at the festival's DreamVille campsite on Thursday night. "It was so sad, we almost cried, it was horrible," said Marie, a festival-goer arriving with her rucksack and camping gear. "But we're glad it's still happening. We're in the mood, and Tomorrowland is a big family." Several chartered planes carrying attendees had already landed in Belgium, and welcome events in Brussels and Antwerp were proceeding as planned. "There's no main stage, but it's better than nothing," said Giulio, who had travelled from Italy with a group of friends. CAUSES UNDER INVESTIGATION The cause of the fire remains unclear. Witnesses said they heard fireworks, possibly part of a test run, moments before the blaze began. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said it has launched an investigation into the incident as an accidental fire. Founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers in a country that helped pioneer electronic music, Tomorrowland has grown into one of the world's largest and most recognised dance music festivals.
eNCA
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire
Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium Thursday, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames. Organisers said the world-famous event, which was expected to draw 400,000 people over two weekends, would go ahead after the massive blaze was put out. The festival counts on 15 other stages spread over 34 hectares of land in Boom, in northern Belgium, which were not affected by the fire. But its main stage, due to host dozens of DJs including the likes of David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Steve Aoki, "is no more" organisers said. BELGA/AFP | Tom Goyvaerts "It's impossible to put into words what we're feeling," they said in a statement. "We spent the night working on possible solutions." Images of the blaze circulated widely on social media, showing flames tearing apart the impressive set design depicting a frozen fairytale kingdom, with a giant ice-covered lion, castles and snow peaks. All that remained of the 160 metres wide and 45 metres high set up on Thursday was the charred scaffolding. "This is heartbreaking", Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte wrote to her almost four million followers on Instagram. - 'We almost cried' - About 40,000 people were expected to spend the festival's first night at the "DreamVille" campsite Thursday. "It was so sad, we almost cried, it was horrible," Marie, a festival-goer who gave only her first name, told AFP as she arrived on site with her rucksack and camping equipment. "But we're glad it's still happening, we're in the mood, and Tomorrowland is a big family." Several of the planes chartered for the event have already landed in Belgium, and events planned in Brussels and Antwerp to welcome visitors from all over the world were going ahead as planned. "There's no main stage, but it's better than nothing," said Giulio, who travelled from Italy with a small group of friends. The causes of the blaze were not yet clear. Some witnesses said they heard fireworks, possibly launched as a test, going off around the time the fire broke out. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said Wednesday it has opened an accidental fire investigation. Tomorrowland/AFP | The festival relocates to Brazil in October, and a winter edition is held every year in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in France. By Jeremy Audouard With Matthieu Demeestre In Brussels
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Shock and sadness as Tomorrowland music festival opens after fire
Tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts arrived at Tomorrowland in Belgium today. (EPA Images pic) BOOM : Shocked, sad but determined to dance, tens of thousands of electronic music enthusiasts started to arrive at Tomorrowland in Belgium today, a day after the festival's main stage went up in flames. Organisers said the world-famous event, which was expected to draw 400,000 people over two weekends, would go ahead after the massive blaze was put out. The festival counts on 15 other stages spread over 34 hectares of land in Boom, in northern Belgium, which were not affected by the fire. But its main stage, due to host dozens of DJs including the likes of David Guetta, Lost Frequencies and Steve Aoki, 'is no more' organisers said. 'It's impossible to put into words what we're feeling,' they said in a statement. 'We spent the night working on possible solutions.' Images of the blaze circulated widely on social media, showing flames tearing apart the impressive set design depicting a frozen fairytale kingdom, with a giant ice-covered lion, castles and snow peaks. All that remained of the 160m wide and 45m high set up today was the charred scaffolding. 'This is heartbreaking', Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte wrote to her almost 4 million followers on Instagram. 'We almost cried' About 40,000 people were expected to spend the festival's first night at the 'DreamVille' campsite today. 'It was so sad, we almost cried, it was horrible,' Marie, a festival-goer who gave only her first name, told AFP as she arrived on site with her rucksack and camping equipment. 'But we're glad it's still happening, we're in the mood, and Tomorrowland is a big family.' Several of the planes chartered for the event have already landed in Belgium, and events planned in Brussels and Antwerp to welcome visitors from all over the world were going ahead as planned. 'There's no main stage, but it's better than nothing,' said Giulio, who travelled from Italy with a small group of friends. The causes of the blaze were not yet clear. Some witnesses said they heard fireworks, possibly launched as a test, going off around the time the fire broke out. The Antwerp public prosecutor's office said yesterday it has opened an accidental fire investigation. Founded 20 years ago by two Flemish brothers in a country that pioneered the genre, Tomorrowland has become one of the world's largest electronic music festivals. The festival relocates to Brazil in October, and a winter edition is held every year in the Alpe d'Huez ski resort in France.
