You can never have enough of rock. Echoing this sentiment, the remaining summer months will resonate with the sound of rock music festivals from around the world!
Rock fans will unite all over, as some of the most spectacular rock festivals of the year are lined up the coming few weeks. Let The Sherp take you through them all!
1. Fortarock
Where: Netherlands
When: June 6
With all who associate a certain sense of mildness with Netherlands, because, well we all know why, you’d be surprised to know that the country is all set to have a strong metal makeover next Saturday when some of the greatest rock acts will descend to shake things up. Names include Slipknot, Lamb of God, Venom, Godsmack and Exodus. We can imagine it to be absolutely hysterical.
(image source: Fortarock Facebook)
2. Sweden Rock Festival
Where: Sweden
When: June 3 to 6
Easily one of the older, more established and popular rock and metal events in all of Europe, Sweden Rock Festival is notorious among metal music lovers as the ultimate festival to be at. With Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Slash, Meshuggah, Airbourne, Judas Priest, Opeth, it’s like a massive metal music reunion. If you’re a metal man, and reading this, we can imagine how hard you’re head-banging at the moment.
(image source: Sweden Rock Festival)
3. Rock in Vienna
Where: Austria
When: June 4 to 6
Metallica, Muse, Kiss, Incubus, Limp Bizkit, Faith No More, Within Temptation, The Hives, Airbourne, Gojira, and The Dead Dadies are just some of the names who will be bringing the house down at Rock in Vienna this coming weekend. This is amazing, as this marks the first year of the festival right in the heart of Vienna. Austria will experience rock like never before.
(image source: Rock in Vienna Facebook)
4. Rock for People Hradec
Where: Czech Republic
When: June 4 to 6
In the last 20 years, the grandness of Rock for People has helped establish its position as one of the biggest rock events in all of Europe. Its legendary status precedes it grandly, as it brings together a rock family, full of popular acts, camping provisions and what cannot often be repeated – a hardcore rock atmosphere. Faith No More, Limp Bizkit, Bastille, Three Days Grace and We are Harlot are just some of the names hitting the stage this year.
(image source: Rock for People Facebook)
5. Rock Am Ring
Where: Germany
When: June 5 to 7
Germany’s most popular music festival and with good reason, Rock Am Ring is often supported by its almost thirty year long legacy, with it celebrating its 30th edition this week. Featuring some lip smacking international and local rock acts of superseding talent. Foo Fighters, Slipknot, The Prodigy, Rise Against, Bastille, Marilyn Manson, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, and Godsmack are just some of the names slated to take the stage by storm.
(image source: Rock Am Ring Facebook)
6. Download Festival
Where: Donington Park, UK
When: June 12 to 14
Download is quite easily one of the United Kingdom’s larger rock and metal gatherings with the negative connotation of the word Download quietly infused with rock’s rebellious culture. Not to mention that the festival has varied its reach far into the rock culture space, having included bands such as Slipknot, Muse, KISS, Faith No More, Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Lamb of God, Marilyn Manson along with the seminal bunch of Billy Idol and Andrew WK.
(image source: Download Festival Facebook)
7. Copenhell
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: June 18 to 20
In the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark sees its largest open air metal gathering featuring some of the biggest metal acts of all time, and a dedicated metal family turnout year after year. This year’s rebel fest features acts like Slipknot, Kreator, Gojira, Primus, Rise Against, Hammerfall, Bloodbath, Cannibal Corpse, among other. The fact that the festival enables camping right in the centre of the city amplifies the belonging felt in the metal community.
(image source: Copenhell Facebook)
8. Grasspop Metal Meeting
Where: Dessel, Belgium
When: June 19 to 21
With an almost two-decade history preceding it, Grasspop Metal Meeting is one of the biggest festival draws for Belgium bringing in rock lovers from all over the world to its humbly sized festival areas. And with good reason, as the festival rewards them with just the most amazing line-up experience. This year features acts like A Day to Remember, Marilyn Manson, Hell City, Judas Priest, Slash, Slipknot, We are Harlot, and Within Temptation. The biggest draw of the festival is of course Metal Town, where fans can gather to spend the nights in a caravan or tent.
(image source: Grasspop Metal Meeting Facebook)
9. Hellfest
Where: Clisson, France
When: June 19 to 21
This French rock and metal gathering is quite easily a city of metal within the city. Val de Moine sport complex in Clisson is ably converted to a self-sustaining metal space with a Hell City square, market place, Ferris Wheel, camping, and fan clubs for music lovers to hobnob and interact. Featuring Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Korn, Nightwish, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Meshuggah, Mastodon and Rise Against, it sure looks like a cracker.
(image source: Hellfest Facebook)
10. Bang Your Head
Where: Balingen, Germany
When: July 16 to 18
This German festival scores brownie point for one thing. That it exposes rock and metal fans to band hitherto left undiscovered and unheard of. In spite of not raking in the mainstream music rates, the festival has continued to remain one of the favourite metal gatherings of the year.
(image source: Bang Your Head Facebook)
11. Metaldays
Where: Tolmin, Slovenia
When: July 19 to 25
It’s metal music meeting beautiful landscape, inviting travellers, who also happen to be metal music lovers. This amalgamation makes Metaldays one of the more interestingly organised metal festivals in the world. Taking place between two mountain rivers in Slovenia, along with mountain camping, the festival also features bands like Dream Theater, Abandon Hope, Avatar, Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Kryn, Moonspell, Unearth, Toxic Holocaust and Year of No Light, the festival is a sure shot winner.
(image source: Metaldays Facebook)
12. Wacken Open Air
Where: Wacken, Germany
When: July 30 to August 1
Wacken Open Air is quite easily one of the biggest metal festivals of the year, and is followed with almost a religious fervour among metal heads. The small village of Wacken is transformed into a metal homeland, with a transition that is favoured by all musical lovers with passion. Wacken Open Air’s line-up and cohesive metal experience is unparalleled, featuring artists like Within Temptation, Mushroomhead, Judas Priest, In Flames, Death Angel, Bloodbath!
(image source: Wacken Open Air Facebook)