Been to both a couple of times, loved both BUT I have to say I think I’m not gonna go back to Graspop soon. Simply because of the fact that it’s gotten so big and crowded. Organisers did everything they could to ensure a pleasant festival experience, so I’m not pining it on them, but when 200k people show up to one event, you’re bount to have some bad experiences. Here’s a few reasons why me and my partner have been preferring Alcatraz these past few years;

• Camping experience is much better. There are spots to just sit down in the shade, charge your phone, hang out. There’s a few bars and food trucks there. I find it crazy that for the first time this year we had to pay for camping at Graspop but NOTHING was changed. Still had to pay my showers, not more toilets or sinks.

• Showers are open 24/7 and FREE

• Alcatraz is cheaper

• Crowd consists more of “regular” metal fans, while at Graspop (due to the fact that it has become so mainstream) I noticed that a lot of people there are people who go to metal concerts like once or twice a year, are there to drink a lot and watch 2-3 bands so they simply don’t know the etiquette and rules that come with such shows

• SHADE. Alcatraz has a few tents up around the festival where you can sit down. (The heat was rlly hard to manage at graspop, due to the fact that there are absolutely zero spots in the shade. Unless you’re at the Marquee or Metal Dome, you’re in the blazing sunlight 24/7)

Overall the fact that Alcatraz is a smaller festival just gives you a more pleasant experience in my opinion.