Over the years Flanders has built a serious reputation concerning festivals. From late June through out the summer till the end of September, festivals in all sizes and genres flood the country. Mother of all these festivals is Torhout-Werchter, which started in 1975 in a tent with an audience of about 1000 youngsters. Following editions counted around 60.000 visitors and hosted bands such as U2, Simple Minds, Talking Heads, Dire Straits and many others. Nowadays the festival changed into one big event held at Werchter. Also started in the seventies is the annual Folkfestival at Dranouter. These days the festival is considered the biggest folk festival of Europe. It lasts three days and attracts about 25.000 people daily. A third major in this league of festivals is the Sfinks Festival. Held in a big park near Antwerp, this world music festival spreads over two days and two evenings. On five stages it welcomes the fine fleur of world musicians and has a very sharp eye for new talent. As for Blues, the Belgian Rhythm and Blues Festival of Peer is the place to be. Taking place in the midst of July, the festival welcomes the biggest blues acts in a 3 day event. Finally, two other rock festivals have joined these big players. Beach Rock is a festival which annualy attracts about 50.000 people on a site near the North Sea at Zeebrugge. The festival offers big rock acts and is a pioneer in offering progressive house, techno and drum 'n bass. Pukkelpop, held at the end of August, offers alternative rock, hiphop and dance and may be considered as the Belgian version of the British Reading-festival.