Rock Out at these Summer European Music Festivals
Nothing says summer like a good outdoor rock festival, and all over Europe, there are huge gatherings of metal heads gathering for loud weekends of rock, metal, thrash and more.
So if you like to spend hot summer nights headbanging along with a couple of thousand of fellow fans, here are my picks for the best European all-rock festivals not to miss this summer.
In chronological order:
Sweden Rock Festival – June 08-11, 2011
Solvesborg, Sweden
This rock fest takes place northeast of Malmo and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Headlining are legendary artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Rob Zombie, Thin Lizzy, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Styx, Queeensryche, Mr Big and Stryper.
Single day tickets range from 690 to 1290 Swedish Krona (approx. $110 to $205 US), and 4-day weekend passes are 2390 Krona (approx. $380 US).
Sauna Open Air – June 09-11, 2011
Tampere, Finland
A few hours north of Helsinki, this festival will be rocking two stages over three days. It’s a bit smaller than most of this list’s fests, but it’s more hardcore, too.
Heavy metal and thrash headliners include Ozzy Osbourne, Helloween, Doro, Saxon, Joey Belladonna, Queensryche, Accept and Judas Priest.
Single day tickets are €58 and a three-day pass will cost €112 per person.
Download – June 10-12, 2011
Donington Park, Leicestershire, UK
North of London is where you’ll find this annual festival and there are rock bands on the bill to fit just about every taste.
2011′s lineup includes three stages of headliners like Def Leppard, The Darkness, System of Down, Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Danzig, Cheap Trick, Mr Big, Linkin Park, Bullet for My Valentine, Disturbed, Rob Zombie and Gwar.
Single day tickets start at £82.50, weekend tickets start at £155, weekend tickets with camping included start at £190. There’s also special tickets for those requiring disabled access.
Hellfest – June 17-19, 2011
Clisson, France
This festival, held near the west coast of France, is for those who like their rock loud, dark and heavy.
Two stages and two tents running continuously across three days will serve up headliners like Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Black Label Society, Iggy and the Stooges, Rob Zombie, Apocalyptica, Morbid Angel, Kreator, Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Bolt Thrower, Monster Magnet and Bad Brains. There are also dozens of death metal bands with names written in logos you can’t read – you know the ones I’m talking about.
Single day passes start at €62 and weekend 3-day passes start at €139.
Graspop Metal Meeting – June 24-26, 2011
Dessel, Belgium
A couple of hours east of Antwerp, near the border, is where you’ll find this massive three-day rock fest.
Headliners like Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Black Label Society, Rob Zombie, Korn, Journey, Foreigner, Bullet for My Valentine, Corrosion of Conformity, Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Monster Magnet and Slipknot will be playing over several stages for the massive crowds expected to attend.
Single day tickets are €76 and a three-day pass is only €146 (it’s like getting a day free).
Sonisphere Festival – July 8-10, 2011
Knebworth, UK
Knebworth, just north of London is where you’ll find this massive rock fest featuring five music stages and a comedy one.
There will be a lot of headbanging happening with headliners like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, and Motorhead. Also on the three-day bill are bands like Weezer, Bad Religion, Sum 41, Opeth, Sisters of Mercy, Killing Joke, and The Mars Volta.
A weekend pass starts at £155 without camping and £180 with.
If you can’t make to these, don’t forget about the great North American rock festivals happening this summer, as well.
[Photo courtesy of Michelle Snow]
