Ieperfest

Ieperfest
Genre
DatesJanuary, February, March, July, August, September
Location(s)Ypres, Belgium
Years active1992, 1994–present
FoundersEdward Verhaeghe
Organised by
  • ATC Vort'n Vis
  • ART Vort'n Vis
  • Republik Vort'n Vis
  • Genet Records
  • Pyrrhus Records
Websitehttps://www.ieperfest.com/

Ieperfest is a Belgian hardcore music festival held in Ypres (Dutch: Ieper).[1] The summer edition of the festival was first held in September 1992,[1] then annually each August from 1994 to 2018 (no summer event was held in 1993). Since 2019, the summer edition has been held annually each July.[2] In February 2008, a winter edition was introduced, which was held annually in either February or March, until 2015 (no winter event was held in 2009). The winter edition has since been held sporadically, namely in 2018 and 2022.[3] In 2012, during its 20th anniversary, Ieperfest became the longest-running hardcore festival in the world.[4][5][6]

From 1992 to 1998, the festival was held inside De Vort'n Vis concert venue in Ypres; but starting with the 1999 edition, outdoor locations have been used to accommodate a growing audience. The 1999 and 2000 editions were held in the open courtyard of the Stedelijke Academie voor Muziek en Woord music school. From 2001 to 2007, the festival was held at the Jeugdstadion Camping Site parking lot (with the exception of 2002 when it was held on the grounds of the CID Lines company). In 2008, Ieperfest moved to its current open air location on Poperingseweg.

The festival was first organized by Edward Verhaeghe, owner of the record label Warehouse Records (now Good Life Recordings), in September 1992.[1] Verhaeghe has had little involvement in the booking of the festival following its first year. Hans Verbeke, owner of Sober Mind Records and an employee at De Vort'n Vis, took over for the 1994 and 1995 editions, until Bruno Vandevyvere, owner of Genet Records and Pyrrhus Records and an owner of De Vort'n Vis, became the main organizer in 1996; a position he continues to hold.[7][4]

Though Ieperfest has historically focused on metalcore bands, a wide variety of hardcore and metal groups have also performed throughout its span, including emotional hardcore, post-hardcore, punk rock, grindcore, death metal, thrash metal, sludge metal, doom metal and stoner rock. The festival has been singled out as influential to Michal Kočan, who cited it as his motivator to start his own Czech music festival, Fluff Fest.[8]

  1. ^ a b c "History of Hardcore Festival". Vort'n Vis. 8 August 2002. Archived from the original on 5 May 2003. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  2. ^ Kamiński, Karol (10 July 2019). "Ieperfest 2019 Warp-Up". Idioteq. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Ieperfest News". Ieperfest. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Giglot, Johan (31 July 2012). "Interview Bruno Vandevyvere (Ieperfest)". Kwadratuur (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. ^ Van Dessel, Marc (11 August 2018). "Ieperfest verwacht 7.500 hardcorefans". VRT NWS (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  6. ^ Kamiński, Karol (11 February 2015). "Ieperfest 2015 details!". Idioteq. Archived from the original on 5 March 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  7. ^ Kamiński, Karol (7 August 2014). "More Than Music! A deep insight into Ieperfest". Idioteq. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  8. ^ Cootcha (21 September 2001). "Interview with Michal Kočan, Fluff FEst". Czechcore - The Sound of Czech Hard Core Music Scene (in Czech). Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2017.