Expo: 25 years ago, the curtain fell over Rock Torhout
Together with founder and organizer Noël Steen, the local council launched an exhibition in the Leisure House about the music festival that was still called Woodland in its early years, referring to the Houtland. Noël Steen: “We started in a tent measuring 40 meters by 40. There were about 1800 people, which was a huge boost for us. We never thought there would be so many. There were six to seven groups that performed. Early started, done at 11 pm, so that all young people could leave by train.”
Woodland became Rock Torhout. There were more days, more stages, more groups and more visitors. In 1993 and 95 with Metallica and, REM on the bill, good for 75,000 visitors. Nöel Steen is proud of what he has achieved. But he’s also glad it’s over. “There have always been more and more rules. Everything was possible during the period of the festival. We had no noise standards, no environmental problems. Not that it had to stay that way, I’m not saying that. But it was a lot easy to organize .”
The expo in the Vrije Tijdshuis on the Torhout Market will run until August 27.