This Friday evening, a piece of musical history comes back to life in Leuven with the revival of the iconic Marktrock festival.
The event is being resurrected by sisters Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs as a heartfelt tribute to their late father, Jos Kerkhofs, who was one of the original co-founders of the festival.
Launched in 1982, Marktrock began as a modest success but soon evolved into a major festival, drawing more than 350,000 visitors to the Belgian student city at its peak.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, it became a regional phenomenon, hosting legendary acts like Iggy Pop, Joe Cocker, Radiohead, Kanye West, and Natalie Imbruglia.
However, in 2007, the original non-profit organisation behind Marktrock shut down operations. While the festival limped on with free concerts featuring Belgian artists, its final paid edition in 2015 drew just 21,000 attendees.
The Leuven city council eventually decided to pull the plug, choosing instead to introduce a new summer initiative called Half Oogst.
Now, Kat and Lyn Kerkhofs are bringing Marktrock back with an announcement made on 24 December 2024—an emotionally significant date marking 20 years since their father, “Jokke” Kerkhofs, passed away.
The revival edition is set to take place on 22 and 23 August 2025 and will serve as a tribute to Jos Kerkhofs’ legacy.
The festival will feature two stages: a main, ticketed stage at the historic Oude Markt and a free DJ stage at the Vismarkt.
Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights, running from 18:00 to 13:00.
Marktrock’s return promises to celebrate not just music but also the vibrant cultural history of Leuven, while honouring one of the individuals who helped build its foundation.
